Since their invention in the 1970s, microwaves have become useful for many kinds of daily cooking, but the energy source hasn’t changed: electromagnetic radiation is still required to prepare the food. One recent innovation called the convection microwave took this appliance to a place it hadn’t been before: now, the microwave is as useful as a regular oven. How does the convection microwave do this, and what are its advantages?
What Is A Convection Microwave?
To understand what a convection microwave is, we should compare it with a regular microwave. When you turn on an ordinary microwave, you have only one way to cook the food: an implement emits microwaves (radiation at a frequency near 2.45 GHz) that bounce around the interior until they hit the food. When the waves come into contact with the food, they move through it, agitating the water molecules in what you’re preparing, creating heat, and cooking it from the inside out.
A convection microwave, like the standard microwave, has a setting to use microwaves; however, as the name suggests, the appliance also has convection heat transfer. Convection heat can brown and cook the outside of the food. The technology uses a fan to force air movement and heat throughout the microwave to cook food.
You can use convection microwaves to bake and roast food that would otherwise be prepared too quickly (and not thoroughly enough) in a regular microwave. It’s just one of the benefits of having a convection microwave in your kitchen!
What Are The Advantages Of Convection Microwaves?
There are many advantages to having a convection microwave. This kind of appliance lets you use cooking techniques that aren’t available with traditional microwaves, such as baking, roasting, and broiling. You can even alternate between the convection and microwave modes to cook your food more quickly.
On top of the faster cooking times, users get a more even cooking experience with a convection setting. Many models also have racks – much like full-sized conventional or convection ovens – that allow you to microwave multiple dishes at once.
On top of these benefits, convection microwave ovens can reduce the number of appliances in a kitchen, helping people with smaller rooms or apartments get the most out of what they can fit. If space is a premium in your home, convection microwaves are especially appealing!
How To Use A Convection Microwave
Successfully using a convection microwave for cooking depends on the type of item you’re cooking. You can use the standard microwave setting for reheating or short cooking times – think anything you would normally toss in the microwave, like leftovers, popcorn, prepackaged meals, and frozen entrees.
The convection microwave setting is for cooking items for a longer time, much like you would in an oven. The types of food you can cook include roasts, vegetables, baking, pizza and other items that taste better browned and crisped.
Some models have a combination setting; you can use this to cook items more quickly while still reaching a crispy outer layer. When choosing this setting, make sure to monitor your meal to avoid burning or overcooking the food.
