NEXT GENERATION MICROWAVES
Combination microwave ovens, which have a grill and a conventional heat function as well, have been around for decades. By using the functions together, you can cook food more quickly and brown or crisp the outside – brilliant for baked potatoes. Now, manufacturers are inserting extra features into their microwave ovens.
Microwave with steam
Steam ovens work fast and efficiently, as steam is a much better conductor of heat than air (that’s why putting your hand in an oven at 100C shouldn’t do any harm, but a splash of water at the same temperature will give you a nasty burn). Microwave ovens produce results similar to steam – you won’t get any browning in either – but arguably the steam function will heat more evenly.
Panasonic 4-in-1 steam combination flatbed microwave oven with grill; amazon.co.uk/PanasonicNN-DS596BBPQ-SteamCombination-Microwave/dp/amazon.co.uk/PanasonicNN-DS596BBPQ-SteamCombination-Microwave/dp/amazon.co.uk/PanasonicNN-DS596BBPQ-SteamCombination-Microwave/dp/B01G6Y7PIS
Wi-Fi microwave
Not widely available here yet, future microwave ovens are likely to be Wi-Fi enabled so that you can control them from another room – or, indeed, another country. Amazon has a model in the US that can receive spoken instructions via Alexa, although it has had mixed reviews. More useful is the function that will allow you to scan a code on a ready-meal box to enter cooking instructions automatically, as well as accessing large libraries of recipes. Bosch has a built-in compact oven with microwave in its Serie 8 range. bosch-home.co.uk/productlist/cooking-baking /ovens/ built-in-compact-ovens/ CMG656BB6B
Microwave with air fryer
Air fryers blow hot air on to food to speed cooking, much as a hairdryer dries hair faster than just sitting by the radiator. These are domestic versions of professional ovens called “impingement cookers”. Sage makes a combined microwave, convection oven and air fryer that gives impressive results.
Sage Combi Wave; sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/microwaves/bmo870.html