There are lots of microwave ovens for you to choose from, all the different brands have different features and conveniences to offer. Microwave ovens are generally used for time efficiency in both restaurants and at home, while the convection microwave ovens are generally used for cooking a prepared dish. Recently, many manufacturers have added a high power quartz halogen bulb to their convection microwave models and are marketing them under the names of “Speed cook", “Advantium" and “Optima wave" to highlight their ability to cook food rapidly and with the same browning results, which is classically expected out of a convection microwave.

A good microwave will give you some additional cooking options such as “sensor" cooking, which allows you to easily cook something based on a particular kind of food and how much you have to cook. Convection ovens which are also known as combination ovens work on the principle of circulating hot air around the food instead of using direct heat from an element. These ovens prove to be a little expensive, but they can actually replace a conventional oven because by using convection microwave ovens you get the same effect as in a conventional cooking oven and without the open heating element.

The consumer microwaves essentially come in two different types and in three sizes which are:
Counter Top microwaves which are designed to sit on a counter or a table and Built-in microwaves which are designed into the cabinetry form similar to traditional ovens. The Built-in microwaves are generally more expensive than counter-tops because they are combined with an exhaust fan. They basically come in three sizes, as in Medium capacity microwaves, large capacity microwaves and compact microwaves.

Increasingly, microwaves are sold with additional features along with some convection cooking elements such as “top-browning" that activates the broiling function in an oven. Most of the microwaves have white enamel interiors but the high- end models are often stainless steel, such as the original Rearrange. Microwaves have definitely revolutionized food preparation and have become an important kitchen appliance.