Both the types of ovens can be used for heating but have very different purposes. Conventional Ovens are good for any cooking that requires baking or browning of food. A microwave does not bake or brown properly but is good for re-heating, roasting and almost all other kind of cooking. Microwaves are a good replacement for conventional cooking rather than to all types of cooking requiring ovens (like baking).
Microwave: A microwave heats water and molecules in the food by using microwave radiation. It will heat food efficiently and quickly, but does not brown or bake like a conventional oven. The cooking of food is from inside to outside.
Microwave always uses such kind of process that is known as dielectric heating that always causes the polarized molecules in the food for rotating and building up the thermal energy that results in the heating of the food efficiently and really very quick. The basic purpose of the microwave is to pre cook the food and also for the heating the slow cooking items like the butter chocolate and such kind of fats. Though, the microwave cannot be used for the professional cooking since the flavors produced for the purposes of frying or baking can’t be done with the help of the microwave.
Oven: Fueled by gas or electricity and heats from the bottom (baking, roasting) or from the top (broiling). The heat is from a single direction and not uniform
The cooking of food is from outside to inside.
Oven is one of the most common appliances that are used in the culinary world. There are so many kinds of ovens and among these types kilns and furnaces are used the most for metalworking and pottery that are really very different from their culinary cousins. Conventional oven is the best way for the making of the pizza or the cupcake or waffle. They are cooked perfectly in the oven as ovens are actually made for these things. In the conventional oven, the electric current flows with the help of the metallic elements for heating up the elements and then in turn it helps in cooking of the food properly. The thermostat that is present in the oven helps in the measurement of the temperature and it also adjusts the current through some kind of element that always maintains the temperature. Some ovens also have the fans that help in distributing the heat uniformly.
List of food cooked
Making pizza or cupcake or waffle: Conventional oven
reheating burgers, pizza, Microwave oven for the burger. The cheese and toppings of pizza will heat much better in the microwave, but care should be taken not to let the crust get soggy -- put paper kitchen towel under the pizza or use a special dish that allows air to circulate under the pizza.
making stew: The conventional oven will be slower, allowing melding of flavors, and will give the meat time to become tender. The microwave oven will be faster.
Reheating stew: The microwave oven will be much quicker.
Making chicken: The conventional oven will brown the skin of the chicken, but will overcook the wings and legs in the time needed to cook the thicker body parts. The microwave will cook the meat from the inside, leaving the skin soft and less enjoyable; Areas near the bones may be overcooked.
Reheating chicken: The microwave oven will be quicker. Use of a covered dish and some added moisture will avoid overcooking.
Cooking and energy efficiency
Electricity contributes very little to the energy consumption in a kitchen. Cooking gas is a major component and we will discuss more on that in a future post. But we would certainly like to point out a few things over here:
A microwave consumes lesser energy (40% less) than a cooking gas, but cost of electricity is higher than cost of gas.
Compared to conventional oven microwave oven uses 75% less electricity for activities like cooking a potato.
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