Inverter microwave: what it is and how it works

A new generation of microwave ovens has long appeared, which, as the manufacturer promises, is better, safer, more economical. Panasonic products are more common than others, and Siemens, Bosch and Whirlpool are the leaders among embedded models.

What is an inverter microwave, its advantages or features, what is it, What is its feature and benefit to the consumer, is there any point in overpaying?

Inverter technology - just about the features

In new microwave ovens, as well as samples with old technology, food is cooked, heated as a result of exposure to electromagnetic waves (frequency 2450 MHz). The water molecules contained in the products begin to move, there is heat, the water boils. The waves penetrate into the product (up to 3 cm), so heating occurs throughout the volume, and not just outside. If the food contains little moisture or has a strong crust on it, then warming up goes from the inside, therefore, products such as bread with a dense crust, popcorn grains, eggs, others, are heated more strongly inside, they can even burn inside or explode.

A microwave generator in a microwave oven is a magnetron, the voltage to which is supplied by a transformer. The voltage is supplied continuously, and the regulators in the furnace already turn off or turn on the magnetron. It turns out that there is a kind of bombardment with the maximum flow of waves that the magnetron is capable of, intermittently when it turns off. This strong, aggressive effect on the food product inside the chamber is the constant boiling of water inside the dish.

The voltage is supplied continuously, and already the regulators in the furnace turn off or turn on the magnetron

In an inverter microwave oven, instead of a transformer, another block is supplying electricity to the magnetron - an inverter or a DC / DC converter. It smoothly regulates the voltage supplied to the wave generator, depending on the cooking program or preset parameters. Usually, first there is a quick heating of the product, and then a gradual decrease to a minimum of heating. The product’s molecules act smoothly, sparingly, which leads to a noticeable difference in taste and appearance of the finished dish. This is the main difference, which leads to the features of the new type of furnaces.

An inverter microwave - an advertising move or a real benefit?

In the process of comparing microwaves of one manufacturer plus testing (cooking) at the same power, it was proved that this is not an advertising move, the differences are significant. The advantages of this technology are based on the fact that the inverter is smaller, more efficient, more mobile in terms of supplying energy to the microwave generator.

The first obvious difference when comparing two similar models is the weight of the product. The transformer is 5 times heavier and more voluminous than the electronic unit. Therefore, a new type of furnace is 2-5 kg ​​lighter than similar non-inverter type models.

The first difference is the size of the device

The second difference, which is immediately visible - the camera inside is noticeably more spacious. Again, this is the merit of the inverter - the converter is several times smaller than the transformer, so the dimensions of household appliances are used as rationally as possible - the inner chamber of the inverter furnace is more spacious, with the same outer dimensions.

The second difference is about the internal volume

Another successful solution implemented in inverter ovens is that they have no plates. This means that the useful volume becomes even greater. So, it’s very convenient to wash the inside walls of the oven, you don’t need to be afraid to break a glass rotating plate or pour drops of a washing solution during cleaning.

Useful volume due to the lack of plates is 60% more!

Still furnaces differ in the principle of supply of electric waves. In a conventional microwave model, the magnetron always works at full power with flashes, discretely, then on, then off. Therefore, the product is more aggressive. And in microwave models with an inverter, the Inverter Combination Cooking approach is used, the power is regulated - first the maximum mode goes, then the power goes to decrease. The food is not so damaged, it is not so dry. That is, cooking goes smoothly, like stewing.

This mode of operation affects the efficiency of the model - inverter consume less electricity on average 1.5 times. All this is due to the fact that the converter constantly reduces the supply of electricity to the magnetron, and in a conventional microwave the maximum voltage is supplied to the magnetron.

Inverter-type models use Turbo Defrost, which has a variable power mode. Thanks to the correct application of the "theory of chaos", which uses the principle of irregularity and irregularity, defrosting is 2 times faster.

Uniform heating over the entire surface of the dish

New microwave ovens with inverters guarantee the user increased safety, triple protection - no harm from magnetron radiation, heating or exposure to electricity.

Practical test of the benefits of new technology

It was experimentally tested and proved that milk boils in both models, but a small amount flows in the inverter, while a third or even half a glass spilled in a conventional microwave oven. This is due to the slow heating of milk using inverter technology and fast, strong heating in a conventional microwave.

When baking fruits and vegetables, the finished dish in a regular microwave is slightly deformed due to excessive digestion of the internal contents. But the taste is very similar, except that the pulp is boiled in non-inverter mode.

Cooked fish and meat steaks using different types of equipment at the same power proved that in the case of non-inverter exposure, a dried skin appears, and the product itself is dryer than a control sample from a modern inverter microwave.

An even more fluid consistency, like an omelet, in an inverter microwave oven turns out to be homogeneous, evenly cooked.

The dish is not only baked, but also does not burn - due to the uniformity of heating

And when cooking the liver, lamb, fatty meats, when cooking is smooth, the pieces do not break, the fat does not spatter, the meat or offal does not deform. Therefore, you can not use an extra lid when stewing such products, they look much more appetizing than when cooking in microwave with conventional technology.

The practical health benefits of this challenging technology?

According to the research institute, the structure of the products during smooth cooking remains almost intact, does not change, more moisture remains in it. Ready meals are juicy, aromatic, with lots of vitamins. Vitamins are stored 6-40% better for inverter mode.

Inverter microwave preserves the beneficial properties of products

Advantages of the inverter furnace

So, the main advantages of inverter microwave ovens:

• The weight of the equipment is 2-10 kg lower than its counterparts on transformers.
• The dimensions of the inner working chamber are larger with the same outer dimensions.
• Energy efficiency is 1.5 times higher.
• The cooking process is insidious - starting from rapid heating and bringing the dish to readiness with a decrease in power.
• The structure of cells and fibers is not destroyed.
• More vitamins are stored - depending on the stability of the vitamin - 6 - 40% more than when using a conventional microwave oven.
• Ready meals are distinguished by their holistic shape, mild taste (more moisture is retained), and a delicate, non-dried crust.

Food molecules are not destroyed - hence the pleasant texture and rich taste of the finished dishes

Are there any disadvantages of inverter-type furnaces?

At the moment, there are no shortcomings in microwave ovens with inverters, except for a higher price than classic models. But with the new year and the new model, inverters are becoming cheaper. If the difference immediately reached 50%, now between the two models there may be a difference of only 10-20% (for example, the Panasonic NN-GD392S and NN-GT352W models).

If you approach the issue globally, then there is nothing radically new in inverter microwave ovens. It’s just a logical development of household appliance technologies - the desire to make it more progressive, which means it is economical, comfortable, safe for the person and the product that it produces. This is how to compare an electric kettle with a spiral or on a disk - the water will heat in two kettles, but it’s more convenient, faster and better to use a modern model without a spiral.

Yes, the food is juicier, healthier, more beautiful. Noticeable saving of electricity, space in the kitchen (the model will be more powerful more compact). It is more convenient to take care of them - a spacious inner chamber, no plate and access to the internal mechanism (hole under the plate). Inverters have the necessary functions plus their combinations - grill, defrosting, heating, steam, convection, others. Differ in silent work. New products guarantee the user increased protection against any harmful effects.

Soon inverter furnaces will completely supersede models with outdated heating and cooking technology.