The two important appliances in the kitchen are the microwave and the convection toaster oven. Walking into a kitchen without these two seems unimaginable. Both appliances function for different cooking purposes that allow convenient process.
If you ever likely to own both or one of them, you should know the contrast for both appliances. There will always be microwave vs convection toaster oven debates that result even more confusion in you. In this article, you are going to read about what makes the two appliances different from each other. We compared which one is more efficient, better for your health and more.
There may be households that seem to live without one of them for their own reasons. But it is wise to actually own both, especially that they function differently such as the microwave for quick heating processes and the toaster oven for six different heating elements that allow food to appear crispy after the heating process.
How the two are different
The difference between convection toaster oven and microwave lies entirely on their purpose. Both of the appliances have advantages and disadvantages that you must consider.
For example, if you prefer heating large quantities, you better cook with a microwave because it can accommodate different food at the same time. It is also flexible with sizes due to its wide space.
They have different cooking processes when it comes to their cooking times. Microwaves use electromagnetic waves that heat up water molecules at the same time. This explains why it can heat up your food in mere five minutes. And don’t worry if you’re using your glass bowl because the microwave doesn’t melt glass or plastic.
The toaster oven works differently. The toaster oven, on the other hand, has fast-warming elements located on the top and bottom of the unit. The air will be heated in the oven cavity and this enables the air to be heated in the oven cavity and circulated through its fan.
You can manage the panel easily with its different cooking functions that you cannot do with the microwave.
These functions include standard toasting, broiling, and baking. Other advanced functions include defrosting and roasting. If the microwave uses electromagnetic waves, it uses ceramic and quartz infrared heating elements.
Cooking with a toaster oven is usually takes longer than the microwave because it cooks the exterior of the food first then the interior. But it guarantees that it will have a crispy result unlike the microwave that merely heats it.
In the end, both appliances have clear description of their temperature accuracy. It depends on the user too how to determine its temperature.
Health issues myths and truths
All electronic appliances come with health risks such as many inventions. The issues include the radiation that is associated with cooking with microwave and the burns from cooking with a toaster oven. Another issue is all about the health risks associated with eating burnt food.
According to Jane Lear, the executive director of Cured, a magazine devoted to food preservation, microwaves is merely emitting a non-ionizing form of with a frequency so low they can’t possibly damage the DNA in our cells. Another commonly asked question is, do microwaves kill nutrients? Lear claims that too as a misconception and the situation is quite the opposite.
Another research revealed that eating overly done food such as burnt toasts causes cancer. The Food Standards Agency based in the UK states that a compound called acrymaline is formed with overly done food. Consuming it will likely cause cancer.
Cooking with a toaster also imposes health risk with burns, but this is already given. Users should handle with care especially when cleaning it. Use gloves to ensure that your skin is protected.
Which one is more energy efficient?
Both appliances undeniably save time. Both is more energy efficient than the conventional wall toaster.
Microwave ovens use between 700 to 1000 watts while a typical toaster uses between 1200 to 1800 watts. But it actually depends on many factors to consider such as frequency, the economy and etc.
Both are functional
As they say, “different strokes for different folks.” It will depend on what you will use for a certain time considering your cooking processes. Consider the energy efficiency, the functions, and what food will you be cooking. Just be sure that you will take care of them. According to durability testimonies, appliances can last from eight to ten years if being taken care properly.