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Choosing Microwave Oven and Stove for Your Kitchen

• Counter top versions ($30 to $250) can be placed anywhere.  Over-the-stove models ($100 to $700) save space and often have lights and exhaust fans on the bottom to be used as vent hoods.  You will need an electrician to install the over-the-stove unit.
• Look for a microwave with 900 to 1,300 watts if you have a large family and if you use the microwave oven to prepare full meals.  The higher the wattage, the faster food will cook.  If you use the microwave oven mostly for reheating, a 600 watts unit should be adequate.
• Consider the ovens with convection technology, which uses a heating element and a fan to circulate air for roasting, baking, browning, and grilling in half the time of a regular oven.
• Microwave ovens with 16 inch diameter turntables are large enough for most households.  Look for turntables that rotate automatically for even cooking results and the turntables that can be removed for easy cleaning.
• Automatic sensors are features that shut off the microwave oven when food is done by calculating how much steam is being emitted from the food.  These help prevent overcooking and undercooking.
• In household with young children, look for child proof doors feature.  Oven door lock can be activated and deactivated via the keypad so children don’t get burned on steams or hot dishes.

• Cook tops can be electric coil, electric smooth top, gas, or induction.  Most are made of porcelain-coated steel, glass ceramic, or stainless steel finish.  Electric cook tops are typically 30 inches wide; gas models are 36 inches wide.
• Coil top models generally heat faster than smooth tops and they are less expensive as a group.
• Smooth tops are sleeker and offer more features.  They have expandable dual or triple elements that let you switch from a large, high power element to a low-wattage element for warming plates or keeping just-cooked food at the optimum temperatures.  Some have a bridge element that spans two burners to accommodate rectangular or odd shaped cookware.
• Electric elements tend to heat faster and maintain low heat better than gas fuel.  But a gas flame makes it easier to see the heat level.
• If you often cook for a crowd, look for at least one high-powered element or burner and a large oven.  More cook tops are available with the ultra high heat once exclusive to professional style stoves.  High heat burners can be useful for searing, stir-frying, or heating in large quantities.
• Electric smooth top are relatively easy to clean but require a special cleaner and can be damaged by heavy impact and sugary liquid spills.  Coil top models are tougher but they require more cleaning time.
• With gas cook- tops, look for heavy porcelain coated cast iron or stainless steel continuous grates.  They will stand up to heavy use and let you slide cookware between burners.
• On electric smooth tops, look for a separate warning light on each element.  It is a key safety feature, since the surface can remain hot long after an element has been turned off.
• Induction cook tops are excellent for quick heating and energy efficiency but they are pricey and require special magnetic cookware.
• Many high priced gas and electric wall ovens have a convection fan that circulates the hot air for speed-cooking option.  A few electric ovens have a low-power microwave feature that supplements the bake and broil elements.  Some use a halogen heating bulb as well as microwaves.  Trivection, an excellent but expensive feature, use three technologies: thermal heating, convection, and microwaves.  These features can reduce cooking time with some food but they tend to be pricey.  Models with special baking modes might not outperform conventional models.
• Some electric wall oven models offer single or double ovens.  Typical widths are 24, 27, or 30 inches.  They can be mounted at waist or eye level to eliminate bending or they can be placed under a countertop to save space.  A separate wall oven and cook top can be expensive.  In combination, they cost about $1,300 more compared with some top performing electric or gas ranges.
• Touch pad oven controls and digital displays are more precise than knobs in setting and monitoring oven temperature.  In front mounted versions they are easy to bump and reset by accident.  Be sure they are well placed and visible while cooking.
• Look for heavy duty oven racks to support the heaviest dishes.
• For safety feature, selecting counter balanced oven doors that do not fall open or slam shut.