Countertop Microwave Ovens

Today, in almost every home in America, you will find a microwave oven. Whether countertop or mounted, compact size or family size, they have become an indispensable part of the way we cook and eat our food.

This high tech addition to the kitchen makes it possible for busy families to get hot food on the table quickly. The precursor to the user friendly model that we see today was called the Radarange. Named because of the radar technology that went into its use, this unit weighed nearly 750 pounds and cost approximately $5,000.

Its’ discovery was quite by accident. A Raytheon technician working with a radar set emitting microwave radiation. He found that a piece of chocolate nearby was melting from the radiation. Fast forward many years later and here we have the consumer microwave! In its earliest models, microwaves would often produce tough, bland food. Over time however, many advances have been made to the microwave oven.

In many cases you can no longer even tell the difference between food cooked in a microwave oven versus a traditional oven. Convection microwave ovens even have the ability to crisp and brown food. Almost all microwaves have the ability to change the power level.

This is necessary when heating certain foods, and especially when defrosting frozen foods. There is an internal magnetron that supplies the energy and has only one level of power. Depending on the power setting chosen by the user, this magnetron will turn on and off as necessary.

The magnetron is also the source of the humming sound that is heard when the microwave is working. Common household microwaves come in many sizes, colors, and with several options. There are desktop, compact, and medium-capacity ovens. The most common size is the compact model which is typically at least 20 inches wide by 14 inches deep by 12 inches tall.

This represents the middle of the line with the other models being smaller or larger, respectively. An outstanding upside to using the microwave oven besides speed and portability is that there is a much lower risk of getting burned. Although food and liquids still get very hot, the actual oven itself does not.

This safety feature makes it easier and safer for the entire family to use. This also means that the food has a much lower chance of getting burned or charred. The microwave oven remains the most popular appliance in homes across the country.

The high tech speed of cooking, compact space, portability, and safety features have made it a useful addition. Since its accidental discovery over 50 years ago it has consistently improved and expanded to fit the ever changing needs of busy families.

Learn more with the Nuwave Oven.