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The world has come a long way when it comes to cooking appliances. From cooking over a fire, we have progressed to using stoves and other kitchen aids. Clearly, we have become increasingly dependent on technology for our cooking and meal preparation needs.
While there are many types of kitchen appliances used for whipping up delectable meals at home, one stands out from the rest when it comes to convenience – the microwave oven.
Anyone who loves to speed things up in the kitchen needs a microwave oven. Owning a standard model or the more advanced convection microwave oven has its benefits. Not only will it help you save time, but it will also provide for plenty of options to prepare a restaurant-style meal. It’s also economical since you will be having more delicious meals at home, letting you resist the urge to dine out frequently.
Many rely on this kitchen tool for their meals but not a lot of people know that the microwave oven was invented by accident. Yes, a few decades after the Second World War, a man named Percy Jackson had a theory involving magnetron tubes that were used in radars during the war. Jackson wondered if the microwaves produced by the tubes can be used to heat food. He tested his theory on popcorn kernels and other food items and he was right. He then filed a patent for the “use of microwaves for heating food” in 1945.
The first microwave ovens became commercially available in 1946. The microwave ovens back then were huge and pricey. Intended for commercial use, the ovens were approximately 6 feet tall and were sold at $5000 per piece.
It wasn’t until the 1960s when a microwave oven small enough for residential use became available. The smaller microwave ovens were first introduced in the United States and Japan and by 1975, the fantastic kitchen tool has found its way to millions of homes.
Admittedly, the microwave oven is not a primary cooking tool, especially for those who prefer to cook from scratch. In India, for example, since the cooking process takes longer, most households use gas or electric stoves. However, times have changed and people have become busier. Naturally, women cannot spend as much time in the kitchen as they wish to. They need a cooking appliance they can use to quickly reheat or cook food. For this reason, the microwave oven, along with stoves, is now considered an essential kitchen appliance.
If you take a look at today’s microwave ovens, you’ll see that they come in different types, sizes, colours, and power outputs. A modern microwave can reheat food, in addition to a host of functions. You can use it to defrost frozen food, grill meats, steam vegetables, and make popcorn. You can even use it for dishes you’d normally cook in the crock-pot. Additionally, microwave ovens now come with unique features – smart display, auto menu, and rotisserie, among others.
If you’re currently in the market for a multi-purpose cooking appliance, you’ve probably realised by now that with the many microwave oven types available, choosing one that’s ideal for your needs can be challenging. Should you buy one you can place on your counter or a model you can position over your gas range? Should you go for a solo microwave oven or a bigger size? What features should your new oven have — is multi-stage cooking essential?
In this guide, we’ll help you choose the best microwave oven in India. We’ll compare microwave ovens and go over their features in detail. We’ll also share with you the most important things to consider before deciding on which product to purchase.
No matter how busy life gets, you’ll always want home-cooked meals. In this case, you will need a compact yet multi-purpose microwave oven such as the IFB 20SC2 20 L Convection Microwave Oven.
Ideal for single-person households and small families, the IFB 20SC2 is a lightweight, feature-packed microwave oven.
Boasting multi-stage cooking capabilities and 3 types of pre-set cooking cycles, this 20 L convection microwave oven addresses various cooking needs. It is perfect for recipes that require baking and grilling. Its “combi tech” grill seamlessly blends two modes – microwave and grill – to ensure your best dishes are cooked and browned to perfection.
Furthermore, with this microwave oven’s multi-stage cooking and 24-menu auto cook settings, preparing meals for yourself is easier than ever. Reheating and defrosting food is also more efficient with the weight-based defrost and auto reheat functions.
In addition, the IFB 20SC2 has an easy to read display and is equipped with a child lock function. A 1-year warranty and an accessory starter kit are also included with each purchase.
If you’re looking for a stylish microwave oven that also comes with a lot of exciting features, you’ve found your match in the IFB 30BRC2 30 L convection microwave oven. Designed for grilling enthusiasts who value aesthetics and performance, this nifty kitchen appliance won’t disappoint!
The IFB 30BRC2 has the capacity to meet all your requirements. Its auto cook setting comes with 101 standard menus and allows you to switch settings without the need to cancel the previous one. There’s also a rotisserie you can use for making the tastiest Tandoori chicken or paneer tikka. In addition, you can also use this microwave oven to ferment dough and milk products as well as sterilise formula bottles and utensils.
The product also allows for multi-stage cooking, so you can program 3 different cooking cycles – eliminating the need to change the power settings as you cook. You need not worry about overcooking your food, either, as you can keep it warm for up to 90 minutes.
It’s worth noting that this stylish microwave oven comes with a deodourising feature and a steam-cleaning function that removes grease from inside the oven within minutes. The quick defrost, express cooking, power save, safety lock, and time delay modes are nice touches, too.
However, some customers who purchased this product say that the quality needs to be improved and that the grilling rod gets burned out with regular use. Thankfully, this IFB oven comes with a 1-year product warranty for your peace of mind.
Available in black, this 30 L convection microwave oven includes a free 6-piece starter kit consisting of containers, stands, and measuring glass.
If you’re wondering which type of microwave oven is best for home use, the Bajaj 1701 MT might be the perfect one for you. Designed for single users and small families, this solo microwave oven packs solid features at an affordable price tag.
Sleek and lightweight, the Bajaj 1701 is a 17 L microwave oven is ideal for small households and compact kitchen spaces.
This solo microwave oven comes with 2 durable knobs for controlling temperature and time. It also has a 30-minute timer, inbuilt alarm, and 5-level power settings that allow you to control the cooking process.
Built for specific cooking needs such as reheating, cooking, and defrosting, the Baja 1701 boasts a sturdy stainless steel body for increased durability.
Before purchasing this product, do take note that it needs regular maintenance and doesn’t have auto cook menus. Some consumers also said the build quality needs to be improved.
Produced by one of the world’s leading home appliance brands, the LG MC2846BG is undoubtedly the best convection microwave oven in India for many consumers.
Suitable for large families, the LG MC2846BG 28 L convection microwave oven boasts a robust design and excellent performance. Marketed as a “Cooks all. Cooks easily” type of convection oven, it does live up to the claim – you can use it for grilling, baking, frying, and more!
This convection microwave oven offers 251 auto cook menus so you can prepare delicious ghee, curd, and paneer in a matter of minutes. Furthermore, this LG microwave oven is fitted with a quartz heater. This heater doesn’t only allow for faster and safe cooking, it also time-saving as you can make larger food portions. It also has a child lock for your peace of mind.
This product comes with a 1-year warranty plus 4 years on the magnetron. Each purchase also includes a starter kit and a recipe book.
If you are looking to purchase a microwave oven that is easy to use, compact, and value for money, you can’t go wrong with the IFB 17PM MEC. This 17 L solo microwave oven from IFB – best for quick meals and reheating food – is designed for smaller families and single-person homes in mind.
This IFB microwave oven has all the basic features you would want in a solo microwave oven. There are 3 auto cook menus and you can adjust the oven temperature, including the cooking time. It also has 5 power levels so you can also easily choose the temperature while you cook.
Unlike other microwave oven models, the IFB 17PM MEC comes with jog dials for increased durability. In addition, it also boasts a weight-based defrost function that allows you to thoroughly defrost food before cooking.
The manufacturer offers a 1-year warranty on the product while 3 years is offered on the magnetron. However, no started kit is provided.
Looking for a stylish microwave oven that meets your cooking needs? The Samsung MS23F301TAK might just be the perfect choice for you.
Best for small families with 4 members or less, the Samsung MS23F301TAK solo microwave oven is designed to meet your reheating, cooking, and defrosting requirements.
Featuring a stylish and elegant design that will surely complement your home’s interiors, this 23 L microwave oven has an easy to clean, discolouration-free, and scratch-resistant ceramic enamel cavity. The ceramic enamel used also ensures that the oven interior remains hygienic and free from pathogens.
It also boasts a triple distribution system ensuring that microwaves are spread out in such a way that food is uniformly cooked. This particular oven, despite its basic features, is also great for cooking food based on Indian recipes. There are heat settings to choose from, and you can switch modes using the touch control panel and mechanical dial. Should you wish to heat or cook a specific food ingredient like chocolate, butter, or sugar, you can just choose the right heating level and let the oven do the job without worrying.
Another thing you’d like about this solo microwave oven is that it is very easy to maintain. Once you are done cooking, you can just wipe it clean. Furthermore, there’s also a useful energy-saving Standby feature which you can activate by pressing a button. Also, those who have little ones at home would also be delighted to find out that this Samsung oven has a much-needed child lock for safety.
It’s worth noting that this product comes with a non-transparent door and short power cord. Moreover, while a 10-year warranty is offered on the cavity, this Samsung microwave oven only comes with a 1-year warranty on the product and magnetron.
Many consider Samsung the best microwave oven brand in India, therefore, it is not surprising why there are several of their products in this top 10 list. Samsung dominates the Indian market by producing durable products featuring innovative technology and visually appealing designs.
The Samsung CE1041DSB2 is yet another excellent microwave oven from the company. This 28 L convection oven – perfect for a larger family – is designed to add that elusive “it” factor to your kitchen.
Many consumers are loyal to the Samsung brand because of their high-quality microwave ovens but this particular oven model is inarguably a cut above the rest when it comes to innovation.
Featuring the super cool Slim Fry Technology, preparing healthy food just got easier with the Samsung CE1041DSB2 convection oven. It allows you to cook food with less or no oil, eliminating the need for a deep fryer in your kitchen. Imagine indulging in fries and other fried treats minus the excessive calories from trans fats. And what’s more, you can use it to make curd at home. With this Samsung microwave oven, one can prepare heart-healthy meals for a group of people or even large families.
Since this is a 28 L convection microwave oven suitable for large families, you can prepare more of your favourite tandoori dishes and other delicacies. Cooking Indian dishes will be easier as well since the product comes with pre-programmed local recipes. You can also reheat and defrost food in no time.
One thing you’d love about this microwave oven is the spacious interiors. Every inch is utilised so you can use bigger food containers to prepare large food portions. In addition, the scratch-resistant ceramic cavity is easy to maintain and has anti-bacterial properties. Complemented by the device’s deodourisation settings, the interiors work to ensure that your food tastes and smells fresh.
The Samsung CE1041DSB2 convection microwave oven comes with a special safety feature to protect children and persons with special needs. A 1-year warranty is offered on the product while 5-year and 10-year coverage are given for the magnetron and cavity, respectively.
It is worth mentioning that unlike other brands and models, this appliance is quite heavy. No extra accessories or starter kit is provided with every purchase.
If you’re still looking for the best convection microwave oven for your needs, consider the Samsung CE73JD-B. Great for baking and grilling, this provides for a convenient way to whip up local Indian dishes in no time.
The Samsung CE73JD-B is the ideal 21 L convection microwave oven for those who are looking for a grill microwave. Useful for baking and grilling in addition to reheating and defrosting food, this microwave oven is particularly handy when preparing Indian food such as tandoori and paneer.
The highlight of this convection oven is its capability for ensuring a wide and even distribution of microwaves inside the scratch-proof and rust-resistant ceramic enamel interior. This technology, aptly called the triple distribution system, results in evenly cooked food. On the other hand, this kitchen appliance’s defrost function is one of the best we’ve seen in the microwave ovens we reviewed.
Using the power defrost mode, you can defrost food items within minutes. Moreover, keeping food warm has never been easier. You can easily use the “keep warm” mode to ensure the best temperature levels are maintained while you attend to last-minute preparations. Maintenance is pretty easy too. If there’s an issue, the error code is displayed in bright blue.
This microwave oven comes with a safety feature to ensure children are protected. A 1, 5, and 10-year warranty are provided for the product, magnetron, and ceramic cavity, respectively. However, this product doesn’t come with a starter kit. A bit of a letdown everything else in this model lives up to its expectations.
Another contender in our list is a product from what many consumers consider the best microwave brand in the country – IFB. The IFB 23BC4 – with its unique black and floral design – is easily one of the most elegant and the best convection microwave ovens on the market.
Featuring a striking floral panel on its door, this microwave oven will surely make a lovely and elegant addition to your kitchen space. It offers 71 menus, allowing you to experiment with different dishes and cuisines with a touch of a button. Using this feature, you are provided with many cooking options to prepare whatever it is that catches your fancy, from pastry to pizza, tandoori, dosa, yoghurt, and curries. It also uses a “combination cooking” technology, meaning, you can use both the heating and grill modes at the same time to come up with perfectly cooked food.
This IFB microwave oven has stainless steel interiors that aid in lower energy consumption. Because steel is a good conductor, heat is conserved inside the oven. Aside from that, this IFB stainless steel 23 L convection oven has a touchpad control panel and a larger display. Cleaning is easy, too, thanks to its cleaning and disinfecting options. A safety mechanism is also included to protect children and individuals with special needs from accidents. Additionally, the IFB 23BC4 has been given a BIS certificate.
The IFB 23BC4 comes with a starter kit that includes one Daffodil dish with a lid, a measuring cup, Idli stands, a medium serving dish, a roti crisper, and a spoon. IFB tries its best to provide the customers with exactly what they need. Most companies do too, but this brand does a little more. This is the reason why IFB is more popular than other brands.
IFB offers an extended warranty with each purchase. While there is a regular one year warranty on the product, the manufacturer offers a 3-year warranty on the magnetron and cavity.
Completing our list of the top 10 best microwave ovens in India is the Morphy Richards 20 L Solo Microwave Oven. This brand has been gaining increasing popularity not only locally but in the global market as well.
Perfect for small families and singles who barely have time to prepare decent meals, the Morphy Richards 20 MS is the perfect kitchen companion. With a compact size that you can easily fit in the most limited kitchen spaces, this solo microwave oven is a delight to have – whether its for reheating meals, defrosting frozen food, or cooking simple dishes from scratch.
Featuring five power levels for different cooking needs, you can practically do everything with this solo microwave oven from Morphy Richards. You can bake pastries, crisps, and fish. You can also use it to steam vegetables, make popcorn, and cook rice.
Furthermore, this oven also comes with a topnotch defrost feature that makes defrosting food really easy. It is advisable to do a manual defrost before initiating the actual cooking process. In addition, it also comes with an overheat sensory protection; the microwave oven automatically turns off if any food item or the inner cavity is overheated. However, there’s no safety feature that prevents children from opening the device so please position this device away from their reach.
It is also worth mentioning that the glass door and cavity are easy to clean and maintain. The mechanical controls are also durable even with heavy use.
A downside to this product is the limited warranty. While a 2-year warranty is offered on the product, no additional coverage is provided for turntable or cavity defects.
Microwave ovens are equipped with advanced technology for cooking as well as heating food. What sets microwaves ovens apart from other cooking options is the fact that these kitchen gadgets are all about efficiency and convenience.
They are so powerful that they are able to direct heat energy to the food molecules. Once you turn on the microwave oven on, it sends electromagnetic waves resulting in the vibration of water molecules inside the food. When this happens, friction is produced and the food heats up.
However, the food we wish to cook with microwaves may not have the same quantity of water in it, so the heating is not even every time. This is the reason why microwave ovens have glass turntables, to ensure that food is cooked evenly.
As the microwave oven’s popularity grows, it is time to clear up some misconceptions.
If anyone needs a basic microwave oven with easy to use features for cooking, solo microwave ovens are an excellent choice. These basic oven models are perfect for smaller families or for someone who doesn’t depend on microwave ovens for grilling, baking, and roasting food.
There are plenty of solo microwave ovens in India. These models can also be used for simple recipes and warming your food. When you compare it with more advanced ovens, they are very affordable because they are designed with simpler features in mind, although these kitchen tools also come with different power levels.
If you want a microwave oven with all the functionalities of an OTG, then a grill microwave oven is a good cooking option for you. A grill microwave oven is specifically designed with heating coils so you can grill, roast, and toast food as often as you want. This oven is built to provide the tastiest grilled food enabling you to grill sandwiches, meats like lamb and chicken, vegetables, and cottage cheese (paneer). A grill microwave also comes with accessories so you can look forward to enjoying perfect browned grilled food any day of the week.
A convection microwave oven works by combining the effect of microwaves and heat to grill, bake, roast, and crisp food. It has a fan that ensures the hot air is circulated evenly, resulting in uniform cooking. Simply put, the oven produces heat waves, and the fan distributes it evenly inside the stainless steel or ceramic enamel cavity. This helps in cooking any food as it should be and absolutely no under-cooking! The best convection microwave ovens come with an LED display for easy monitoring of baking, cooking, and grilling times. However, since convection ovens provide more cooking options and are packed with advanced features, they generally cost more than traditional microwave ovens.
Choosing the right size of the oven is very important. Think of how big your family is and how much food you’ll be preparing each day. Choose a bigger capacity if you have more than 4 members in your household. For reference, a small-sized or a solo microwave oven will work just fine for a family of 2 to 4.
More importantly, do you have enough space in your kitchen? If you are not very sure, you can measure the kitchen counter or any section where you plan on installing your microwave oven. Remember, some models eat up a lot of space while others are space-saving by design.
For those looking to purchase a multi-purpose kitchen tool, a microwave oven with grilling accessories such as a rotisserie is always a good thing. It is handy when grilling tandoori, paneer, or skewered vegetables.
An auto cook menu is one of the most desirable advanced features in a microwave oven. Once a dish selected, you only need to input the weight and the microwave oven automatically adjusts the cooking time and power settings. In India, consumers prefer cooking options that include local recipes in pre-programmed menus for convenience.
A good microwave oven must have a feature with mechanical or touch control panel, even both. Apart from the control panel, an LED display is a great feature you can look for. However, keep in mind that not everyone is comfortable with a touch control panel as they tend to get damaged after a certain period.
When you have young children, especially curious toddlers, you will probably have to distract yourself from cooking to see if they are touching or pulling something they shouldn’t. So, if you have kids, you must buy a microwave oven that has a child lock feature for safety. This feature is also helpful if you are living with someone with special needs.
Nobody wants overcooked food. For this reason, all the modern microwave ovens now come with new technology in the form of sensors that measure steam inside the cavity. This sensor tells your microwave oven if the food is thoroughly cooked. Once the automatic or humidity sensor determines the food is done, it shuts off the oven, preventing overheating.
There are many brands of microwave ovens that live up to their promises. A few brands rule the market worldwide, and a few are local brands specific to the country. You have to remember that a brand’s reputation doesn’t depend on their promotional offers or the accessories included in their starter kits.
Its genuine customer service that brings in more loyal customers. Brands like Samsung, IFB, LG, Bajaj, Morphy Richards, and even a few brands that didn’t make this list have dedicated service centres to assist their customers. Apart from customer service, these brands continuously work on upgrading their existing models with improved product features.
However, the answer to the question, “Which brand of microwave is best?” depends on what you value most. After determining your needs, you can look into what the brands bring to to the table, so to speak. Do more research, if you have to. Don’t just rely on product specifications. Read verified online reviews. Ask friends and family who have used solo microwave ovens, grill microwave ovens, or convection microwave ovens to gain insight on different models and brands. Find out what they recommend based on a specific set of criteria such as features, price tag, durability, and more.
If you have read other microwave buying guides, you would know that the best microwave oven in India is perceived to be durable, easy to use, easy to clean, energy-efficient, reasonably priced and comes with a host of advanced and safety features. If you ask us, it’s a draw between IFB and Samsung. It’s a tough choice to make, and your answer may be completely different from ours.
There is a correlation between quality and reliability in microwave ovens. When a kitchen gadget is made from quality materials, they are more likely to last longer.
When evaluating a product’s reliability, you need to determine if it performs well and does what it’s supposed to do. A product for small families and equipped with the most basic features, as long as it’s durable and does as advertised, can be considered reliable. Conversely, a microwave with advanced features but breaks down after a few uses is far from reliable.
Most of the products featured in our list are reliable. Then again, most local brands are actually consistent. Based on our analysis, it is a toss-up between IFB and Bajaj for reliability. Bajaj has a reputation for producing affordable yet durable microwave ovens. IFB, on the other hand, known for their upgraded microwave models.
The competition between the companies is always high as each of them invent new strategies almost every time they present a new product. Based on our research, the brands we featured in this guide – IFB, Samsung, and Bajaj – make the best microwave ovens in India. Not included in our list, but still considered reputable brands when it comes to convection microwave ovens are Whirlpool, Panasonic, and Prestige.
Bajaj and IFB (Indian Fine Blanks) are Indian companies that have expanded to global markets. Bajaj has showrooms in every city in India. You can easily reach them calling customer care or just by visiting a dealer’s showroom. Should you wish to learn more about Bajaj products, the dealer would gladly arrange for a technician to visit you for a product demonstration. IFB, on the other hand, may not have as many showrooms as Bajaj does but they are always quick to respond to queries and service requests. All you need to do is call for customer care. Samsung, too, provides excellent customer support.
All things considered, Samsung, Bajaj, and IFB produce quality microwave ovens and provide excellent customer support. However, IFB has retained a major share of the microwave oven market. Judging from what we gathered from other microwave oven reviews and market analysis reports, the company understands the needs of Indian consumers and is recognised as the best company in India for home and kitchen appliances like microwave ovens.
In less than a decade, IFB has developed and manufactured the best convection microwave oven models highlighting a range of advanced features. IFB products generally come with a reasonable price tag, too.
The products we compared in this review are excellent picks for the best microwave oven in India but if we are to recommend just one product, it would be our Editors’ choice – the IFB 20SC2 20 L convection microwave oven.
We consider it the best because aside from the fact that it is a reasonably priced cooking option, the oven is suitable for creating delicious dishes for yourself or for a small family of 4. Thanks to its programmable memory and advanced auto cook settings cooking be easier for you. You can also input up to 3 cooking cycles and choose from 24 menus on the digital display without having to worry about cancelling the alarm or changing the power or heat settings often.
Reheating and defrosting food is also a breeze with this device. You need not worry if you are running late or have to take care of something equally important while preparing your meals. You can activate the convection microwave oven’s auto reheat option, put the dish or food item inside the stainless steel cavity, set the time, and you’ll be enjoying a perfectly warm or hot meal exactly when you want it. To defrost any food item, you simply input the weight and it automatically sets the appropriate power output and duration.
In addition, safety is incorporated in the overall design of the IFB 20SC2 20 L convection microwave oven. It comes with a safety lock mechanism to shield your children from accidents and injuries.
To the delight of their loyal customers, IFB decided to include a few extras. They offer a 1-year warranty on the product and 3 years on the magnetron and cavity. This warranty offer is definitely better than what some brands are willing to provide. What’s more, every convection microwave oven comes with free accessories – Daffodil dish with lid, measuring glass, two idlis or rice cupcake stands, ladle, medium-sized serving, and one roti or flatbread crisper.
We have shared with you tips and recommendations for choosing the best product for your cooking needs. Hopefully, this microwave oven buying guide helped you select your top pick from the models we tested.
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