Various kitchen appliances make it convenient to warm and cook food. These appliances have multiple features ranging from saving time to energy conservation.
A few examples of such appliances are speed ovens and microwaves. However, both may seem to serve the same purpose, but do you know there is a difference between the two?
We have prepared a comparison between speed oven vs. microwave to help you understand the two appliances.
Let’s get started.
Key Takeaways
If you are a new homeowner or planning on improving your kitchen – a speed oven will save you the cost of buying two different appliances(an oven and a microwave).
Invest in a speed oven if you are an investor in a food outlet or planning a startup. That way, you can save the cost of running your business.
If you’re interested in speed ovens, here is our research on 6 Best Speed Ovens Reviews & Buying Guide
Table Of Contents
Main Differences Between Speed Ovens And Microwaves
1. Functionality
Microwave
A microwave is a kitchen appliance that can heat and cook food by exposing electromagnetic radiation in a small wavelength.
It uses a cavity magnetron to produce the waves, which makes the molecules in the food rotate, thus creating friction to produce heat.
It is most suitable for foods with high water content.
Speed Oven
A speed oven uses various ways of heating food, including microwaves, convection, and even halogen or infrared to cook food.
This new evolution in the market combines the benefits of a convection microwave and oven in one appliance.
A speed oven can also combine conventional and microwave modes when cooking, thus making it faster when using it as an oven.
2. Design
Most speed ovens have a drop-down door, unlike microwaves with doors opening to the side. Most speed ovens require a built-in cabinet, but you can place a microwave in a drawer or on countertops.
Microwaves are also designed for portability and can be fitted in outdoor vehicles for use when camping.
3. Food That You Can Cook
When thinking of food types, there are other considerations like food quality and the capacity you can cook. Another factor is the loss of nutrients while cooking.
Microwave
Unlike a traditional oven, a microwave is the best since minimal nutrients are leaching due to the speed of cooking.
However, a microwave is limited to just some form of baking and reheating food. When using a microwave, you will not achieve the crusty result you expect in some food and browning.
The non-ionizing radiant cooking method in the microwave also results in moisture loss in food.
Speed Oven
A speed oven is more diverse than a microwave concerning the food types. It can roast as well as bake and preheat.
4. Cost
Currently, speed ovens have higher prices than conventional microwaves. A speed oven, however, will offer you an all-in-one appliance for your kitchen.
5. Cooking Time
Speed ovens and microwaves do not differ much in terms of cooking time.
A speed oven with a microwave feature will significantly reduce the time it takes to bake using a standard range.
6. Added features
A speed oven has more features compared to a microwave. They come with pre-programmed recipes from top chefs for use when preparing your meals.
Both boast of timers and temperature settings.
7. Power Consumption
Both speed ovens and microwaves are designed to conserve power while in use.
However, due to other heating methods, a speed oven has a higher rating in terms of power consumption than a microwave. Most microwaves run on 120v while speed ovens run on 240v.
8. Cleaning
A microwave is harder to clean the interiors because of the stainless steel design.
A speed oven is made of nonstick material, making it easy to clean and maintain.
9. Bottom Element
A microwave has no element for heating from underneath, limiting you from cooking foods requiring browning and being crispy at the base.
Speed ovens have a bottom heating element, so they are ideal for foods like pizza, pastry, and pies. When using a microwave, you will not achieve the desired results.
You may like: Air Fryer vs Microwave: Which is Better?
FAQs About Speed Oven and Microwave
Speed oven vs. microwave drawer: What’s the difference
A microwave drawer is designed to slide in and out as a standard drawer in the kitchen.
Microwave drawers are usually built-in for convenience in the kitchen and to save on countertop space. It differs from the standard microwave, which has an outside door and is mainly placed on top of counters. It can be positioned at a height convenient for children and people in a wheelchair.
Microwave drawer differs from a speed oven since it’s a regular microwave, unlike speed ovens that combine technology convection and a microwave.
Further reading: 8 Best-Rated Drawer Microwave Reviews & Buying Guide
Speed oven vs. convection microwave: What’s the difference
A convection microwave incorporates the tech of the traditional microwave and also offers convection heating methods.
Most use coils to heat the air within the compartment and have a fan to circulate the hot air. Some may also include a hot plate for heating the food from underneath.
A speed oven will have all the features of a convection microwave and thus is superior. It also offers more of what you can cook than a convection microwave.
A speed oven will enable you to cook dishes within half the time compared to a normal range. It’s even cooking environment ensures food does not dry out, unlike in a microwave.
Does a microwave heat faster than an oven?
Yes, a microwave will heat faster compared to a convection oven.
Microwaves also do not require preheating time, unlike ovens. However, a speed oven will work similarly because of its microwave features. Speed ovens being an upgrade to microwave, gives more.
Can a speed oven replace a microwave?
The singular microwave unit is possible to replace. Microwave technology for heating food is still valuable since a speed oven is both a microwave and a convection oven.
Which is better, microwave oven or convection oven?
It depends mostly on your intention when using either to answer the question.
A microwave oven is designed for convenience and speed in cooking and heating food. However, it has its limits on the food you can cook.
A convection oven is not as reliable in a rush when warming food. Its capabilities in cooking are far much better as compared to a microwave oven.
So if you have a microwave oven, you can preheat your takeaway pizza comfortably, but you can’t make one to the expected standards.
Conclusion
If you love cooking, a speed oven will offer flexibility in food types. This appliance will also come in handy when preheating takeaways and leftovers, just like a microwave.
Although the appliance has various heating methods, you must use one mode when operating. Therefore you can’t warm your coffee while baking in the same machine.
The preloaded recipes will allow you to explore new cooking ideas and try various other dishes without much struggle. Speed ovens come in space-conscious designs to fit even in small kitchens, unlike conventional ovens.
A speed oven adds to your kitchen appliances and comes with many benefits. Speed ovens allow you to have a microwave and oven in one unit; thus, you will save on kitchen space.
