What determines the preparation quality of a microwave?

To determine the preparation quality of a solo microwave, we look at the properties below. This list of properties applies to both solo and combi microwaves.

• Distribution microwaves: dishes heat up evenly in a microwave with multiple openings or 1 rotating antenna.
• Inverter: heats continuously instead of with intervals, to get an even result.
• Number of automatic programs: the more automatic programs, the more dishes you can accurately heat up or prepare.
• Maximum power microwave
• Number of power settings
• Grill
• Timer

To determine the preparation quality of combi microwaves, we also look at the following properties in addition to the properties above.

• Crisp function/HotBlast: for extra crispy dishes like fries, crispy chicken, and pizza with a crispy crust.
• Lower heat
• Rack levels: combined with hot air, you can prepare multiple dishes at a time.
• Controls: a combi microwave with electronic controls has a constant oven temperature.
• Maximum oven temperature
• Minimum oven temperature
• Even upper and lower heat
• Hot air

A microwave has a high-end preparation quality if it has 70% of the relevant properties. In this range, the microwaves have an inverter motor and the microwaves are distributed via a rotating antenna or multiple openings. As a result, dishes heat up very evenly. With a 900 or 1000W output, dishes heat up moderately fast or fast. Combi microwave in this range have a low minimum oven temperature for slow cooking meat.

A microwave with a mid-range preparation quality has at least 50% of the important properties. Mid-range microwaves don't have an inverter motor, but they do have more than 1 opening to distribute microwaves. This heats more evenly than a basic model, but less evenly than a high-end microwave. The maximum power varies between 800W (low) and 1000W (high). In addition, a mid-range microwave has enough power settings, so you can heat up or defrost any type of food with the right setting.

A microwave with a basic preparation quality means you get less useful functions. We call a microwave a basic model if it has less than 50% of the properties. Don't want to hit a frozen core after warming up your microwave meal? Heat it a low power setting. Do keep in mind that this'll take a little longer. In any case, the maximum power of most basic microwaves is low. Some models still have mechanical controls, which makes the settings less accurate.