Microwaves have come a long way from the massive post-war units sold to commercial outlets from 1946 onwards.
Now, it’s rare to find a home that doesn’t have a microwave in it. That said, fewer people have convection microwaves than conventional microwaves.
But what is a convection microwave?
What is a Convection Microwave?
A convection microwave uses the same type of low-frequency electromagnetic radiation as the regular models. As it’s a mouthful, these waves are commonly referred to as microwaves. Obviously, this is where this type of oven gets its name from.
However, unlike a normal microwave, it also uses convection – the movement of air – to force hot air around, like a conventional oven would.
So it’s basically halfway between a conventional oven and a microwave. It takes the best features from both and puts them together.
What Are the Benefits?
Microwaves are really fast, and a full meal can be ready in minutes. But the food is often not as good as when you use a conventional oven.
The classic example of this is making a baked potato. Sure, you can cook a potato quickly in a microwave and fill it with cheese or tuna mayo quickly, but regular microwaves don’t give your potato that lovely crispy skin and deep flavor that you’d get from a regular oven.
Rather than baking, they agitate the water molecules in the food, causing it to steam from inside out.
This means that although the cooking process is really fast, the food tends to be less tasty when it comes from a regular microwave.
Thanks to the air flow, a convection microwave will actually bake the same potato. Giving it all the same beautiful crispiness as a normal oven, in a fraction of the time.
Another example is how it handles meat. A convection microwave will brown meat properly. Unlike a normal microwave, which won’t ever produce great results from raw meat.
Are There Any Drawbacks?
We can safely say that in most cases, a convection microwave is better than a normal microwave.
However, they do tend to be bigger, meaning they might not be suitable for very small kitchens. However, they’re smaller than full-sized conventional ovens, making them a solution for small apartments which aren’t too cramped.
Measure out your kitchen and see what you can fit in there.
The only other potential drawback is the price. They’re a little more expensive than some regular microwaves, but you can still snap them up for under $250.
Finding a Convection Microwave
Now that we’ve answered the question, “What is a convection microwave?”, have you decided that a convection microwave is the solution you’ve been looking for?
If so, check out our reviews of some of the best models on the market.
We’re dedicated to bringing you the latest news and reviews from the world of microwaves. Be sure to check back and get our opinion before you buy your shiny new convection microwave oven!
