What is a Microhood?

A microhood is a small ventilation system attached to the microwave that allows hot air to escape, usually outside the home. Microhoods are placed atop over-the-range microwave ovens, so that hot air, steam, and smoke from the oven below can disperse, rather than remaining in the kitchen.

It is very common for over-the-range microwaves to have microhoods, though not compulsory. The thinking is that if you have a microwave above your range (which is common), you cannot have a dedicated ventilation system there as well, so the microhood helps to alleviate the heat and smoke.

The microhood has one or more fans inside that pull the air through and away from your kitchen. Be sure to check the product specifications to see:

1. How many fans the hood has, and
2. How fast the fans spin.

Faster fans will be more effective at eliminating exhaust. Some ovens also have multiple speed settings, allowing you to adjust to the current needs. This way you don’t need to keep a powerful fan on, which may be noisy and require more energy, if you are only producing a small amount of smoke or steam.

Find the Right Microhood for your Kitchen

Take a look at the Microhood Microwave reviews available on this site for more information.

Countertop Microwaves are the most common type of kitchen appliance. As the name suggests, they generally sit on the kitchen counter, though they can be placed anywhere that is flat and stable.

The term ‘Countertop’ refers simply to the placement and structure of the microwave; this is in contrast to Over-the-Range microwaves, which are placed within the cupboards, above the oven range. As such, countertop microwaves can include convection, microhoods, or any other feature you may find in a microwave.

The advantage to a countertop set-up is that its placement is flexible. You can move it anywhere you want, thus freeing up space for other appliances and cooking. Generally, countertop microwaves are cheaper than over-the-range machines, because they require no extra structural parts, simply four padded feet to hold them up.

Compact microwaves are perfect for any kitchen, no matter its size. They are generally countertop units that can be placed on any stable, flat surface. Have a little extra room on top of the fridge or in the corner of your counter? Drop a compact machine anywhere you want.

Advantages of a Compact Microwaves

The main advantage is visible right in the name: it’s a small piece of equipment. If you find yourself running low on counter space in your kitchen, a small microwave is a great way to maximize your available space. Plus, they tend to be lighter than full-size microwaves, so they can be easily moved around, whether you’re completely re-arranging your kitchen or simply want to get it out of the way.

Additionally, compact microwaves are generally the cheapest kind, due to their size. True, you can still get a wide range of options on a compact model, but smaller generally means cheaper, so this is great for people on a budget, especially singles or college students.

Drawbacks

That said, if you’re going to be cooking larger meals, you may find that some dishes simply don’t fit into a compact model. Plan on cooking for a family of four? You’re probably better off sticking with a full size or over-the-range oven.

Still not Sure?

See what other customers have had to say about compact microwave ovens.

A convection oven microwave combines traditional microwave technology with convection to heat meals incredibly quickly and evenly. Whereas a traditional meal might leave the inside of something cold or not completely cooked, convection will ensure that the food is cooked thoroughly inside and out.

What is Convection?

A convection oven works by using a fan to circulate hot air around an enclosed space. This high-speed fan moves the heat equally around the oven, thus providing equal heat to everything you’re cooking.

Why Use a Convection Microwave?

Microwaves are known to cook fast, but with the additional power of convection, entire meals can be cooked at astonishing speeds. Additionally, it can bake, cook, reheat, broil, or brown any meal, as opposed to the traditional ‘heat’ setting that microwaves come with.

Convection microwave ovens produce foods with brown outsides and moist, fully-cooked interiors. They also have a fast-baking feature that uses both microwave and convection at the same time to cook completely and quickly. Generally, cooking speeds are reduced 20% when convection is added.

Because convection ovens cook so fast, you can cook with less oil, which makes your meals healthier. And they cook at lower temperatures, so you won’t burn away all the food’s nutrients and minerals.

This also keeps the heat down in the kitchen, which is great, because a lot of cooking can raise temperatures 15 or 20 degrees.

Finally, convection ovens use considerably less energy than traditional microwaves, saving on energy bills and helping the environment.

Not Convinced Yet?

Check out customer reviews of Convection Microwave Ovens and see what others think.