As the years pass by, technology evolves and new products are put on the market. With better functions and designed to make your life better than before, the house-related products may do exactly that, or, if you are not exactly a fan of technology, can make your like harder than before.
One of the most frequently used kitchen tools, one that you will find in almost all houses, is a microwave. Usually easy to use, it quickly heats up your meals, preventing you from wasting precious time dealing with the oven.
But with advancement in technology, the microwave too received an update, several types being now already on sale.
Microwaves types
Depending on where you prefer your kitchen equipment to be, you have several possibilities when it comes to microwave placement:
-
Countertop
Placed on the counter itself, this type of microwave is one of the most commonly used ones. Cheap and yet of a great quality, its only downside is that it takes a bit of counter space in the kitchen.
-
Above
Situated above the stove, it is easy to access and it does not take any counter space. However, it might be harder to install than a normal one, its price also going higher depending on what functions it has.
-
Suspended under the cabinet
Does your kitchen has a suspended cabinet under which is just a big dead-space? Then, perhaps this type of microwave is exactly what you need. Placed right under a suspended cabinet, the hanging microwave takes no extra kitchen space.
-
Under counter
Put right under the counter surface, this type of microwave can be, at the same time, useful but also quite annoying. It is useful because it does not get in the way. However, it is quite hard to bend down all the time to use it.
-
Built-in
It is one of the best choices when it comes to kitchen renovation. You can place it anywhere you want, at any height.
Moreover, you have all counters free to use as you want.
Moreover, not only the placement is important when you decide to buy or modernise your microwave; its functions and features also play a very important role.
-
Grill – two different types: quartz and radiant, it gives you the possibility to choose how you want to cook your food.
-
Steam – cooking with steam is one of the healthy eating methods. And if you can cook it in your microwave instead of on oven, then that is even better!
-
Defrost presets – it takes away the time you would otherwise lose waiting for frozen food to defrost. With this function, you can have your defrosted food ready in no time.
-
Cooking time – if you wish to use your microwave more like an oven and actually cook something on it, pay attention to the cooking time. Many models tend to have from 30 up to 60 minutes available for cooking.
-
Digital or dial – according to your tastes, you can choose either digital or dial microwaves.
-
Sensor – you are not sure your food is done cooking? With the help of a sensor, your microwave can now actually specify when your food is properly cooked.
-
Door opening – another up-to-taste feature. Choose the method in which you prefer your microwave door to open: with a button push or by being pulled on.
Microwave maintenance – cleaning
Cleaning a microwave may sound easy at first, but it is a lot trickier than it seems at first. Based on where it is placed, you might find yourself put in a difficult position in order to reach inside it to clean.
And if some time had already passed since the last time you cleaned it, then, for sure, you will find out how hard hardened food is to clean.
You cannot exactly pull it out of its place and put it under a strong water jet to make the food wastes and hardened goo go away from it – that would severely damage the appliance.
However, it is best to avoid using cleaning products – the vapours they leave inside the microwave might still be there and stick onto the food the next time you heat something up.
Instead, try to use vinegar. A healthier and better alternative to cleaning products, a combination of vinegar and water is everything you need to be able to easily clean your microwave.
Firstly, in a small bowl for microwaves, mix vinegar and water in equal proportions. There is also another trick to it, but this one is optional.
If you are afraid of the bowl exploding while inside the microwave, put a wooden toothpick inside it. That way you can be sure there will be no explosion involved.
Secondly, put the bowl inside the microwave and heat it up from 5 to 10 minutes – depends on how dirty your microwave is. When it is done, let it sit for a moment and take it out.
Last but not least, with a clean sponge, gently rub the goo off the walls. It will make your microwave spick and span in just a moment.
You would be surprised how many things can actually be cleaned with vinegar and how well it cleans.
Now you do not have to scrub your microwave, or be afraid of hardened food.
Clean it simple and easy.
