1. What is standing time and do I need to bother with it?
Microwave and food manufacturers often recommend leaving food to stand for a few minutes after cooking or defrosting. This is important for safety as it helps to even out the temperatures and eliminate hot spots. A good rule of thumb is to leave food to stand for roughly half the microwaving time.
2. Should I buy the microwave with the highest wattage?
The higher the wattage, the faster food will cook. However, don't be tempted to blast everything on the highest setting: this burns the edges, leaving the centre cold. For reheating small ready meals, it is better to match your microwave's heating category (A to E) with the pack instructions rather than the wattage. If you are not sure whether food is hot enough in the centre, keep putting it back in for 30-second intervals until the container's base feels hot to the touch.
3. What are automatic defrost programmes? How do they work?
Most microwaves have one or more auto programmes for defrosting. Most auto-defrost programmes (including all the ones tested) automatically set the time after you enter the weight of the food. Some defrost programmes (such as those on the De'Longhi MAK675FI and the Hinari MX310TC) are really just a low-wattage button, so you have to enter the defrosting time manually.
4. What are the most useful features to look for?
If you want a simple microwave but with some shortcuts, choose one with a range of auto-defrost programmes that you are likely to use. With auto-cook/reheat programmes, the most useful options are for soup, ready meals and jacket potatoes; these offer a selection of sizes, and the time is set for you. With combis, there are extra features to look for, such as a lockable turntable and shelves for large dishes. Quartz grills are far quicker and brown more evenly than radiant grills. If you plan to use your microwave for lots of grilling, check that it has a high rack. For foods such as fruitcake or roasts, which require long cooking times on convection, a timer you can set for more than 90 minutes is a bonus.
· Next month's product test, to be published on April 3, will be bread makers. Subscribe to Good Housekeeping and save £5. To order, call 01858 438844, quoting ref. 2595/6. www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk
