Website Menu

Percy Spencer was the first person to develop the idea of using microwaves to cook food. In 1946 the company Percy worked for was Raytheon, who eventually patented the microwaving process. The problem with the first microwave ovens was the price, around £2000. Raytheon soon began to license it's technology, enabling companies to lower the price. But, it was only until the late 1970s that the technology had improved enough, so that prices were falling rapidly, and within the budget of the man in the street. By the late 1980s the microwave was almost universal in UK households. The most basic microwave oven consists of a magnetron, the magnetron control circuit, a waveguide, and of course the cooking chamber. Basically, a microwave oven works by passing microwave radiation at a frequency of around 2450 MHz. Currently the three main types of microwaves are the standard microwave oven, the microwave with a grill and the combination microwave oven. The most expensive is usually the combination microwave, which can use hot air to cook food in the same way that a conventional oven cooks food. The power of the microwave is an important factor, the power is measured in Watts. The more Watts, the quicker the food will cook. Generally, the most powerful microwaves are a little more expensive. Many microwaves also contain features such as multiple sequence cooking, where a microwave will first defrost the food and then cook it. Some also have a cooking sensor to alarm you when the food is cooked.

• Comet - Microwaves
  They offer a wide range of electrical household products such cookers, microwaves, fridges, juicers, toasters and kettles.
• Empire Direct - Microwaves
  Theysupply a wide range of Microwaves at cheap prices. They currently stock these brands of Microwaves such as Bosch and Zanucci.
• The History of the Microwave Oven
  Network, Who Invented Microwaves?
• How Things Work - Microwave Ovens
  A service providing answers to questions about physics, science, and how things in the world around us work.

Posted on 07 / 01 / 2006

LG MC-806BL

I picked this model after reading a 'Which' magazine review, I have now owned this microwave for around one year. I would have recommended it to anyone interested in a low cost microwave which
can also be used as a small convection oven. I often cook frozen pizza's in it and the auto-cook feature always nicely browns the top of the pizza, but never burns the edges. What more it also comes with a comprehensive recipe.

User Rating -
Sally

Posted on 01 / 12 / 2008

Hinari Lifestyle MX704CSL

Junk, and a health hazard, don't put yourself or your family at risk. Mine was faulty, smoke billowed out of it. Who knows, maybe I was lucky to switch it off before it burst into flames.

User Rating -
n/a

Popularity
Value for money
Ability to find on the Net
Better value than high street

Total

-
-
-
-

 
-

8
8
8
9

 
8

Since their introduction in the early 1980's Microwaves have dramatically come down in price. You can now pick up a low cost microwave for £40 and an expensive one for over £400. Microwaves now come in a range of types, such as the standard microwaves, then there are grill microwaves, which act more like a oven, and finally the combination microwaves which do both. There are all sorts of sizes, colors, and styles, not to mention brands. Some options on a standard microwave are touch controls offer the highest precision and flexibility of settings, followed by jog and then manual controls for chaos defrost for up to 40% quicker defrosting.