Want to share feedback? Contact us.
Once in your life, you might have been confused by the difference between a microwave and a microwave oven.
Are they similar or not? Read on to find out.
Here’s the Difference Between a Microwave and a Microwave Oven:
In everyday conversation, “microwave” and “microwave oven” are often used interchangeably, but technically, there is no difference between them. “Microwave” is simply a shortened version of “microwave oven,” which is the formal term for the appliance that uses microwave radiation to cook and reheat food. Both terms refer to the same appliance.
What Exactly Is a Microwave? (And Can You Bake in a Microwave?)
A microwave oven is a cooking appliance that uses microwaves, a type of electromagnetic radiation, to cook and heat food.
These electromagnetic waves are super-fast, bouncing off the oven walls before getting absorbed by the food you place inside. Microwaves have magnetrons, which are high-powered vacuum tubes that serve as oscillators. You can glimpse the magnetron through the perforated metal cage just behind the control and instrument panel when you open your appliance.
Microwaves work by targeting the water content of the food, causing the water molecules to vibrate. This creates friction, which then generates heat to warm up your food.
Because microwaves use electromagnetic waves, you should never put metal inside the microwave. Doing so can cause sparks, potentially leading to a fire.
Microwave ovens are incredibly easy to use. Unlike conventional ovens, you do not need to preheat them before using them. The microwave operates at full capacity the moment you turn it on.
They also offer options like defrosting, and different power levels ranging from low to high.
While microwaves can perform many cooking functions, they are mostly used for heating, reheating, and defrosting food.
Microwave ovens heat the food itself rather than the air around it, which makes cooking faster and more efficient. The radiation is absorbed by the food directly, with no energy wasted on heating the space around it.
Microwaves are effective for reheating, steaming, boiling, and simmering food. If you’re dealing with pre-packaged or frozen dishes, microwaving them is often the quickest and most efficient option.
One thing a regular microwave cannot do is bake.
This is because microwaves do not provide the consistent dry heat necessary for baking. However, hybrid microwave ovens, such as convection microwaves, can combine microwave heating and basic baking functions.
Convection microwaves are an advanced type of microwave oven that come with both a microwave emitter and a heating element, so they can reheat, cook, grill, and roast food. These models can bake.
A convection microwave works in at least two modes. The first is the standard method, which uses microwaves to cook or heat food.
Most microwaves for domestic use have a circular tray called the turntable. This tray rotates to guarantee that your dish is cooked from all sides when the appliance is operating.
Turntables can turn in random directions, clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on the course it was running when you used it last.
The second mode of convection microwaves uses a heating element.
The heating elements work in tandem with a fan to ensure that heat is evenly distributed throughout the appliance, allowing for uniform cooking. This is also the reason why you can bake using a convection microwave.
If you’re aiming to bake fancy pastries or cakes, a conventional oven is a better choice. Convection microwaves are typically more expensive than regular microwave ovens, but they offer more cooking options, making them worth considering depending on your needs.
What Exactly Is an Oven? (And Can You Microwave in an Oven?)
Conventional ovens primarily use thermal insulation to cook food. Unlike microwaves, which use electromagnetic radiation, ovens generate heat through heating coils or electric currents. This means that actual heat is used to cook the food.
Basic ovens typically have top and bottom heating elements. The broil element is located at the top of the oven and is used for browning or searing meat. When you turn on the bake function, both the bottom and top elements work to heat the oven evenly.
These heating coils warm the oven air and, in turn, heat the food inside. Conventional ovens are versatile, allowing you to cook anything from meats and vegetables to casseroles and desserts.
In contrast to microwaves, putting metal inside a conventional oven is perfectly safe, as there is no risk of sparks.
With conventional ovens, you can select from a range of cooking methods for extensive food options. The temperature gauge in most ovens gives you precise control over cooking temperature, something that’s more limited in a microwave.
Ovens also typically have fans for even heat distribution, ensuring consistent cooking results.
Since conventional ovens offer more flexibility in terms of cooking methods (grilling, broiling, roasting, and baking), they are the preferred appliance for more complex cooking tasks. They also handle multiple dishes at once, which is something microwaves are not as good at.
Which Is Better, a Microwave or an Oven?
Both microwaves and ovens are valuable tools in the kitchen, but which one is better depends on your cooking needs.
Microwaves are ideal for cooking quick meals. If you’re in a rush or need to heat something fast, a microwave is a time-saver.
On the other hand, ovens take longer to preheat and cook food, making them less convenient for people with limited time. However, if you’re cooking large portions or need to slow cook foods like roasts, an oven is your best bet.
Microwaves are less suited for cooking large cuts of meat, which require even, slow cooking to ensure food safety and tenderness. Microwaving thick meats can also result in drier, less juicy cuts, but if you don’t mind sacrificing some quality for speed, a microwave will get the job done.
Ovens, in contrast, let you cook large portions of food at once. They have more room for large cookware and can cook multiple dishes simultaneously, saving both time and energy.
For tasks like browning, crisping, or caramelizing, ovens are also the better option. Microwaves don’t offer the constant heat needed for these reactions, which means you won’t achieve that signature golden-brown texture in your microwave like you would in a traditional oven.
While a basic microwave is generally more affordable (starting around $50), you do not need to worry about installation costs unless you opt for built-in or over-the-range microwaves.
Sources:
