Consumer Reports – December 2018

Better in a Toaster Oven

Product Update

Check this rating column in our charts

to ensure that a microwave will do its

primary job well. According to our

survey, 98 percent of members use

their microwaves for reheating at least

weekly. All models come with buttons

for adjusting power levels or the

percentage of power used to heat food

or drinks, so as you get to know your

appliance, you can change the settings

to your preferences.

Size up shortcuts.

Shortcut buttons are labeled for

particular foods (pizza, popcorn, etc.)

with preset cook times. Reheat buttons

are sometimes backed by sensors

that stop the heat so that it doesn’t

overcook your food. In this way, they

FACE-OFF:

Should You Zap It or Toast It?

eliminate guesswork and can make

your life easier.

Take control of the controls.

If the control buttons are confusing,

you could be setting yourself up for

a world of frustration. We factor into

our ratings how easy it is to program

a microwave and whether the model

has a smart, well-designed set of quick

keys. And for those who don’t want to

use keypads as much, Alexa-enabled

microwaves—which allow you to call

out commands—are on the way. (CR

has tested one model and will test

others when they’re available.)

Have a close encounter.

Some manufacturers have redesigned

the touchpad on certain microwaves,

often at the expense of ease of use.

Once you’ve narrowed down your

options, it’s wise to i nd them at a

retailer near you and play around with

them. Seeing microwaves in a store

rather than online also gives you a

real-world sense of size. Dimensions

on paper are one thing, but assessing

a countertop cube in person and fully

understanding how much surface area

it will occupy is another.

Microwave Safety Tips

Most people know not to put metals or

aluminum foil in a microwave to avoid

sparking and i re risk. But it’s also

smart to keep the following objects

out, too:

Nonmetal sharp objects.

Sharp objects that aren’t metal, such as

toothpicks, can set of a phenomenon

known as arcing (sparks l ying) inside

a microwave.

Kitchen sponges.

Heat can kill the bacteria in sponges,

but a quick microwave zap is unlikely

to kill all of them. Worse, the bacteria

that survive will become heat-resistant

and possibly more harmful. Your best

bet is to toss an old sponge outright.

Eggs in the shell.

They can explode in a microwave or

after you’ve removed them. The

sound is quite loud, and hot l ying bits

can sting. PHOTOS, FOOD: GETTY I

MAGES (11)

In this corner we have the microwave, which works by agitating water,
sugar, and fat molecules to prepare food, and is known for its speed. It’s
especially effective at heating food that has a lot of liquid in it, and it works
well for steaming. In the opposite corner is the toaster oven. With hot coils
that heat the ex ternal par t of food first, it’s like a mini version of your main
oven, meaning it’s good at crisping and baking.

Popcorn Reheated

noodle or

rice dishes

Reheated

stews

and soups

Steamed

vegetables

Steamed

fish

Baked

fish

Small batches

of cookies

Reheated food

with a crust

(egg rolls, pizza)

Baked

potatoes

Roasted

vegetables

Better in a Microwave

VS.

22 CR.ORG