What Is The Difference Between Convection And Solo Microwaves? When looking for a microwave you may have asked yourself the very same question.
Solo microwaves use microwave energy to heat your food. They can also be used to defrost frozen food. Convection microwaves on the other hand can use microwave energy to heat your food in addition to being used like classic ovens to roast and bake food.
Let’s take a more detailed look at what the main differences are between the two types of microwaves.
What Is The Difference Between Convection And Solo Microwaves?
Contents
| Feature | Solo Microwave | Convection Microwave |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking | Yes | Yes |
| Heating | Yes | Yes |
| Boiling | Yes | Yes |
| Defrosting | Yes | Yes |
| Roasting | No | Yes |
| Baking | No | Yes |
| Browning and Crisping | No | Yes |
What They Do
Solo Microwaves
As stated solo microwaves use the energy produced by a device called a magnetron to heat the water molecules in your food which then spreads throughout the food. This is typically why when you put a plate of food in the microwave you can often find the food is warm but the plate is not as hot (though of course you should always approach items with caution).
Solo microwaves are typically used for:
- Heating food and liquids
- Cooking food
- Boiling food and liquids
- Defrosting food and liquids
The majority of microwave users tend to use their microwaves simply for heating their food.
Convection Microwaves
Convection microwave ovens combine the functions of a solo microwave with the addition of a heating element and fan oven that circulates heated air through the cavity of the oven.
This results in food that can be cooked over a longer period of time at a lower temperature and in the best instances, more evenly.
They can usually be used in combination (solo microwave then convection oven) or separately giving you lots of flexibility. In some instances people use them as their main oven as well as microwaves.
Convection microwaves can be used for:
- Roasting food
- Baking food
- Brownining and crisping food
- Heating food
- Cooking food
- Defrosting food
How Much They Cost
Solo Microwaves
As they only carry out the one function solo microwaves are not very complicated and the technology has been around for decades. As such solo microwaves tend to be some the cheapest available on the market with units starting from around £50 onwards.
Convection Microwaves
Convection microwaves can often be some of the most expensive types of microwaves available on the market as they combine a number of features in one machine. They typically start from around £150.
Also Worth Mentioning
Grill Feature
In many instances you may find that convection ovens also come with an additional grill function meaning you get a 3-way combination microwave (solo; grill; convection oven).
Availability
You may find that when you’re looking for combination solo and convection microwave ovens you do not have the same range of choice as you do with solo microwaves. This may well be due to the fact that there is not as much demand for the combination models as there is for solos.
Which is the best type for you?
When deciding which type of microwave is the best for you, it may be best to focus on what you actually intend to use it for.
If you need a microwave mainly for re-heating leftovers and cooking simple dishes then a solo microwave may your best bet.
On the other hand if you believe you’ll likely use the full functionality of a convection microwave oven then this is something you may want to consider.
What Is The Difference Between Convection And Solo Microwaves?: Tell Us Your Thoughts.