Best Microwave Ovens
After a long day at work, who wants to come home and take out dishes and then cook on the gas? A microwave is a simple device that will make heating up dinner so much easier.
Nowadays, almost everyone leads a busy and stressful life, and the last thing you want to be worrying about is the hassle of cooking or heating food. The microwave makes everything easier. It can be used in a number of ways, and you do not need to do a lot of work.
In this review, you will read about the Top 10 Microwave Ovens, Types, Buyer’s guide, and FAQs.
Top 10 microwave ovens in India
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Types of Microwave Ovens
The microwave ovens can be categorized into three types: solo, grill, and convection microwave ovens.
Solo Microwave Oven
It is the most basic microwave oven designed to meet the cooking needs of a small family of 2 to 3 members. It features a capacity of 15 to 20 litres.
It employs one single Magnetron for producing microwaves that generate heat. It can be used for reheating the leftover foods as well as for cooking simple dishes.
It is an inexpensive microwave oven that lacks advanced features. It cannot be used for heavy-duty cooking tasks like baking and grilling.
Grill Microwave Oven
It is an advanced microwave oven rather than a solo variant. It is designed for meeting the cooking needs of a family of 2 to 4 members. It features a capacity of 21 to 30 litres.
It can be used for heavy-duty and intensive cooking tasks like baking, roasting, and grilling. It features heating coils for providing delectable grilling food items such as meat, sandwiches, chicken, veggies, cheese, etc.
It functions in conjunction with grills and comes with various grilling accessories. It adds grill marks for perfect browning and garnishing of your cooked food.
Convection Microwave Oven
This microwave oven comprises a heating element that produces heatwaves for cooking food. These heat waves are circulated uniformly in all directions by a fan for cooking every part of the food perfectly.
It is suitable for larger families of up to 4-6 members. It comes with a capacity of 21 to 30 litres. It can be used for baking and grilling food items either separately or together.
Buyer’s Guide
Size and Capacity
The size of a microwave oven refers to the volume of the space inside the oven. It is measured in terms of litres.
Depending on the quantity of the food required to be cooked, the microwave oven comes in 5 sizes, including the smallest range up to 19 litres, 20 litres to 22 litres, 23 to 25 litres, 26 to 29 litres, and 29 litres and above.
The smallest size oven is suitable for smaller families, and larger sizes are designed for larger families. A microwave oven with a large capacity results in high power consumption.
Choose a microwave as per your family size to avoid wastage of energy and money on electricity bills.
Panel Types
The microwave ovens come in three different panels:
Mechanical
This type of panel is normally found in solo microwave ovens. It features mechanical controls for setting the timers and temperature. These panels are durable, easy to use, and last longer.
Feather Touch
As the name suggests, this panel features an innovative touch-control design that operates by sensing your finger’s touch. It allows you to set up accurate timing and temperature using touch controls. They are easy to clean and look stylish.
Tactile Button
This panel enables users to control settings using dirty fingers also. They feature special jog wheel controls that allow for an effortless setting of time and temperature.
Choose the microwave with a panel that suits your preference.
Different Cooking Options
Different brands of microwave ovens provide different cooking features. These features enable you to prepare a wide range of cooking activities, including baking, grilling, pre-heating, de-frosting, etc.
Some technologically advanced microwave ovens feature auto-sensors and auto cook functionality. Choose a microwave oven with many cooking-friendly features for adding more comfort and variety to your cooking.
Timer
Nowadays, most microwave ovens come with an automatic timer feature. It automatically switches off the oven once the food is cooked. In addition to that, you can also set the manual timer.
The automatic or manual timer function allows you to set the appropriate cooking time, depending on the nature of food and weight. Thus, you can freely attend to other kitchen tasks without worrying about the goods getting burnt or over-cooked.
Choose a microwave oven with a timer for enjoying more freedom during cooking.
Auto Cook Menu
This feature of microwave ovens comes with preset programs that super-simplify your cooking for preparing a wide range of recipes effortlessly.
By simply selecting the type of dish and the weight, this feature automatically calculates the time required and accordingly set the required power settings.
Rotisserie & Defrosting
The rotisserie and defrosting features provide high levels of comfortable cooking. They are great for non-vegetarian dishes as well.
The rotisserie is used for barbecuing a range of food items such as meat, cheese, chicken as well as vegetables.
The defrosting feature unfreezes food items quickly without waiting for the frozen food to get back to normal temperature slowly.
All you need to do is simply input food’s weight for automatic defrosting, or you may manually set up the defrosting option as per the weight of the food.
Choose a microwave oven that features rotisserie and defrosting functions.
Child-lock Feature
A microwave oven generates immense heat inside, and you need to exercise great caution for using it safely.
It is very risky to open the oven in the middle of cooking. To prevent your kids from doing so, the microwave ovens come with a handy child lock feature that locks all the oven’s controls and keys by using one code.
If you have kids at your home, choose a microwave with a child lock feature.
Deodorizing Power
It’s important to have a microwave oven with deodorizing functionality so that you can avoid the bad odour of previously cooked food from ruining the freshly prepared dishes.
This feature expels out the bad odour from the microwave and leaves your food smelling fresh and tasty.
Turntable
To ensure that your food gets uniform heat distribution for precise cooking, your microwave should have a rotating turntable.
Choose a microwave with a rotating turntable that ensures every part of your food gets cooked properly.
Wattage and Power Rating
A microwave with higher wattage consumes more electricity and provides faster cooking. Depending on your cooking style, you may require a higher wattage or lower wattage oven.
You should choose a microwave oven that provides the ideal balance between cooking efficiency and low electricity consumption.
Budget
Many brands offer microwave ovens with various features. A branded microwave oven with advanced features and larger capacity is usually more expensive than others. You may not need all the features a microwave oven comes with.
You should look for a microwave oven of a leading brand that offers maximum features within your available budget.
Top 11 Microwave Ovens in India
1. LG 28 L Convection Microwave Oven (MC2846BG)
LG MC2846BG is a convection microwave oven that comes with a concealed Quartz heater that reduces the risks of any accidental hand injury.
It provides a faster and safer cooking experience while cooking large portions of food items in one go with its 28-litre capacity.
- All-in-one freestanding black coloured microwave oven that features 28 litres capacity
- Designed for large families with 4-6 members
- Features 900 watts microwave output and 2450 microwave frequency
- Suitable for heavy-duty cooking such as baking, grilling, reheating, defrosting, and cooking
- Features touch-sensitive control with touch keypad
- Child lock feature designed for complete safety for homes with kids
- Comes packed with a wide range of special features such as quartz heater, stainless steel cavity, intellowave technology, keep warm, health plus menu, 251 auto cook menu, 175 Indian auto cook menu, etc.
- Provides 1-year comprehensive warranty on the product
- Comes with a recipe book for preparing delicious and exotic dishes
- Allows you to prepare hygienic ghee without smell in just 12 minutes
- Enables you to prepare paneer and curd at home
- Keeps food warm for up to 90 minutes
- May leave the bottom of cakes and pizzas etc. slightly uncooked
2. IFB 17 L Solo Microwave Oven (17 PM MEC)
IFB 17 PM MEC1 is a solo microwave oven that features Flexi power levels for changing power levels during the cooking without stopping in between.
It comes with a detailed user manual that contains easy-to-follow instructions for performing various functions.
- A white coloured solo microwave oven that features 17 litres capacity
- Features 5 power levels including high, medium-high, medium, medium-low, defrost, and low
- Suitable for small families and bachelors
- Features mechanical timer and overheating protection
- Ideally suited for cooking, reheating, and defrosting
- Durable and long-lasting jog dials that are convenient to use
- Provides 1-year warranty on product and three years on magnetron and cavity
- Ergonomic mechanical knob for controlling time and power settings
- Comes with 3 auto cook menu options
- The quality of the product could be better
3. Samsung 28 L Convection Microwave Oven
Samsung convection microwave oven is a multipurpose appliance that can grill, bake, and cook yummy and healthy meals. It is a must-have appliance for families who like a splurge on delicious delights.
The microwave comes with a child lock feature and other amazing features that make it safe to use. It is suitable for large-sized families.
- The microwave has a capacity of 28 litres
- It comes with slimfry technology that makes healthy food cooked with low oil
- It has a touch control keypad
- The microwave has a child lock feature
- It uses 2900 watts of power
- The appliance has a scratch-free ceramic enamel cavity and doesn’t discolour over time
- The microwave can be turned into a tandoor by setting it at a temperature of up to 200 degrees Celsius
- It comes with an auto cook menu. You can choose your favourite dish from the list and set the microwave to auto-cooking mode
- The appliance has a fermentation function that lets you make curd
- The microwave is easy to clean
- The slim fry technology may give a rubbery smell to the food
4. BPL 20 L Convection Microwave Oven (BPLMW20C1G)
BPL BPLMW20C1G is a convection microwave oven designed in India using cutting-edge technology to provide a flawless cooking experience.
It features superior in-built facilities such as smart power selection and auto cook.
- Grey coloured microwave oven that features 20 litres capacity
- Designed for bachelors and small families
- Features 800 watts microwave output
- Comes with 11 power levels, pre-heat and child lock functions
- Suitable for baking, grilling, reheating, defrosting, and cooking
- Features touch-sensitive control with easy to clean touch keypad
- Comes with a stainless steel cavity for uniform heating
- Features auto-cook menu that perfectly set the time and heat settings
- Provides 1-year comprehensive warranty on product and one year on magnetron
- Comes with different power levels for different cooking functions
- Features quick defrost mode
- A sleek look adds to the interior of the kitchen
- Does not require any installation and comes assembled
- The turntable may not always rotate
5. Bajaj 20 L Grill Microwave Oven (MTBX 2016)
Bajaj MTBX 2016 is a grill microwave oven that is designed for reheating food and cooking delicious meals effortlessly. It’s a countertop microwave that provides the power of combination cooking with microwave and grill.
- A black coloured microwave oven that features 20 litres capacity
- Suitable for bachelors and small families
- Features 1200 watts microwave output
- Comes with mechanical knobs for power and time settings
- Long-lasting and convenient jog dials
- Comes with 11 power levels, pre-heat and child lock functions
- Provides 1-year warranty on the product
- Provides 30 minutes of cooking time alarm
- Offers multiple cooking levels by adjusting the power levels
- Suitable for grilling, reheating, defrosting, and cooking
- The grill function could be faster
6. Godrej 23 L Convection Microwave Oven (GME 523)
Godrej GME 523 is a convection microwave oven that is packed with amazing features for preparing health and delicious dishes. It features a combination mode of grill and convection. It allows you to cook international recipes with its Instacook menu options.
- Black coloured freestanding microwave oven that features 23 litres capacity
- Suitable for bachelors and small families
- Can be used for heavy-duty cooking, including baking, grilling, reheating, defrosting, and cooking
- Features easy-to-clean touch-sensitive keypad for controls
- The presence of child lock ensures complete safety in homes with small kids
- Comes with deodorizer/steam clean function for preparing fresh-smelling food always
- Provides 1-year comprehensive warranty on product and one year on magnetron and cavity
- Features Instacook menus for preparing delicious Indian recipes
- Designed for preparing a wide range of healthy dishes such as oil-free recipes, Indian tadka, health barbeque, paneer, ghee, curd, dessert, soup, etc
- Some of the buttons may not work properly after some time
7. AmazonBasics 30 L Convection Microwave
AmazonBasics convection microwave oven is a sleek designed microwave that prepares a wide range of Indian and international recipes with great ease and comfort.
It comes packed with a host of special features, including an auto-cook menu, auto-defrost, pre-heat function, and multi-stage cooking.
- Countertop black coloured microwave oven that features 30 litres capacity
- Designed for large families with 4-6 members
- It comes with high-quality stainless steel cavities for conveniently meeting daily cooking and heating requirements
- Features digital control panel with LED display for easy handling
- Suitable for a complete package including baking, grilling, reheating, defrosting, and cooking
- Child lock feature designed for complete safety for homes with kids
- Provides 1-year warranty on product and three years on magnetron
- Features 65 auto-cook menu options for preparing numerous Indian and international dishes
- Comes with a timer that allows you to track the progress of the heated or cooked dishes
- LIttle expensive for its quality
8. Bajaj 20 L Grill Microwave Oven
Bajaj ETB 2005 is a grill microwave oven packed with various cooking options such as smart-timer, safety lock, and multi-stage cooking to provide super safety and functionality.
- A white coloured countertop microwave oven that features 20 litres capacity
- Designed for smaller families and bachelors
- Suitable for grilling, reheating, defrosting, and cooking
- Features 800 watts microwave output
- Tactile electronic control buttons for setting time and temperature
- Features child lock for enhanced safety
- Comes with five power levels to cook and heat as per one’s preference
- Provides 1-year warranty on product and 1-year on magnetron
- Provides 60 minutes of cooking time alarm
- Long-lasting and convenient jog dials
- 9 auto-cook menus that allow to preset optimal time and temperature
- Inside light may stop working after some time
9. Haier 20 L Convection Microwave Oven (HIL2001CSPH)
Haier HIL2001CSPH is a convection microwave oven that is designed to inspire your hidden Masterchef for cooking and enjoying Indian delicacies.
It features a powerful combi function that combines the power of convection, grill, and microwave function for faster and convenient cooking.
- A silver-colored microwave oven that features 20 liters capacity
- Highlights stylish black glass finish and unique pull handle design
- Provides magnetron power of 940 watts
- Designed for bachelors and small family size of 2-4 members
- Suitable for grilling, reheating, cooking and auto-defrosting
- Convenient jog wheels and buttons for control
- Provides 1-year comprehensive warranty on the product
- Allows to save power up to 40% with its standby mode
- The roll steel cavity provides oil-free cooking
- Steam clean function for efficient cleaning
- 66 auto-cook menu for quick and easy cooking of tasty dishes
- Does not come with a starter kit pack
10. Godrej 25 L Convection Microwave Oven (GME 725 CF1 PZ)
Godrej GME 725 is a convection microwave oven that features a unique multi-distribution system that assists in faster and uniform cooking for preparing healthy and delicious dishes.
- Cherry blossom colored freestanding microwave oven that features 25 liters capacity
- Features stainless steel burner and stylish painted cabinet
- Suitable for bachelors and small families
- Suitable for preparing wholesome, healthy fry foods and assorted bread basket
- Features combination of grill plus micro and convection plus micro modes
- Comes with deodorizer/steam clean function for preparing fresh-smelling food always
- Allows you to prepare real Indian tadka, breakfast & snacks, paneer, ghee, curd, desserts, soup, etc
- Enables you to prepare 205 delicious Indian and international recipes
- Easy to clean touchpad
- Designed for multiple cooking tasks such as baking, grilling, reheating, defrosting, and cooking
- Could come with more operating instructions
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which microwave oven is best for home use?
You should choose a microwave oven for home use based on your family size and cooking requirements such as baking, grilling, toasting, etc. The best microwave ovens for home use are as follows:
- LG 28 L Convection Microwave Oven (MC2846BG)
- IFB 17 L Solo Microwave Oven (17 PM MEC)
2. Are the microwave and oven the same?
No, the microwave and oven are not the same. Both these appliances are used for cooking food items, but they differ from each other in terms of the underlying heating mechanism.
Traditional Oven
A traditional oven uses a heating element and an electric current for generating the heat. It comes with a temperature gauge that allows you to choose a temperature for cooking.
It may even use a fan for evenly distributing the heat. It heats the entire chamber of the oven for cooking food rather than the heating food itself.
Microwave Oven
A microwave oven uses electromagnetic radiation from microwaves for heating and cooking food. The microwaves are produced by a special component called a magnetron.
It only heats the food rather than the entire inside space. It provides more efficient heating and cooking. It is easier to clean and use. It provides faster and more hygienic cooking and uses less space.
3. Which microwave is best: Convection or Grill, or Solo?
Each type of microwave has its own pros and cons. Selecting a microwave depends on the family size and cooking requirements.
A convection microwave oven is ideally suited for performing heavy-duty cooking functions such as grilling, roasting, baking, and heating. It is more expensive than grill or solo variants.
A grill microwave oven is suitable for grilling and heating food items. It cannot be used for baking. It is cheaper than convection but expensive than a solo microwave.
A solo microwave oven is best suited for reheating food items and simple cooking tasks. It is the cheapest microwave oven that is designed for smaller families.
4. What is the advantage of a convection microwave oven?
A convection microwave oven cooks the food inside out that retains the moisture and flavour in the food. It comes with a fan that circulates the hot air and radio-frequency for uniform distribution of heat for perfect cooking, grilling, baking, roasting, and heating.
5. Which features to look for while buying microwaves?
A microwave oven comes with a wide range of features such as pre-heat, auto-cook, defrosting, child lock, grill, etc. Read our above-mentioned buyer’s guide for knowing the various features in detail for buying the best microwave oven.
Conclusion
A microwave has become an essential item in almost every kitchen. It makes life so much easier and is suitable for anyone, whether they live alone or with a family.
Our top picks for you are LG 28 L Convection Microwave Oven (MC2846BG), IFB 17 L Solo Microwave Oven (17 PM MEC) and Samsung 28 L Convection Microwave Oven.
Microwaves have helped us lead a more simple and comfortable life. They can be used for a number of food items and are available easily at different prices so that almost everyone can afford one.
