A microwave oven and an OTG are often confused with one another. We do not blame you for that. They do have some common purposes. However, using them for their ideal purpose will give you the best cooking results.
Read on below to understand the distinct features of a microwave oven and an OTG, their pros and cons.
Furthermore, we have compared them against different parameters to understand their practical usefulness.
What is a Microwave Oven?
A microwave is a multi-purpose oven that uses microwaves to vibrate the water molecules in food. The vibration of these molecules generates heat. The microwave oven is ideal for reheating and defrosting canned foods and meat.
A microwave oven uses a component called ‘magnetron’ to generate microwaves. When the food contains more water, you can cook it faster due to the vibration of many water molecules. Furthermore, they come with many user-friendly features and settings.
This oven is compact-sized. You can not heat a large quantity of food in a single go. The other major drawback is that it does not heat the food evenly. There will be hot and cold spots in the food.
Pros
- Heats and defrosts food in less time
- Cooks food in less time
- Easy to clean
- Heating does not destroy nutrients
- Auto-cook feature
Cons
- High power consumption
- Heating of food is uneven
- No temperature control settings
- Can not use metal vessels
- Heavyweight
- Comparatively expensive
What is an OTG Oven?
As the name implies, an OTG oven is used for baking, grilling, and toasting. It uses heated coils to generate heat and cook food. The oven uses electrical energy to heat the coils. They consume less electricity than other ovens.
The OTGs have a thermostat to measure the temperature inside the chamber. The oven automatically adjusts the current to maintain a steady temperature.
It is ideally suited for professional bakers and commercial purposes. It bakes better than other ovens. Furthermore, it does not require any installation. They are small and portable. You can easily carry them from one place to another.
Pros
- Best baking quality
- Affordable
- Lightweight and portable
- Consumes less power
- You can use metal vessels
- Maintains steady temperature
Cons
- Takes more time to cook
- Complex settings
Microwave Vs OTG
| Parameters | Microwave | OTG |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking time | Less | More |
| Heating time | Less | More |
| Power consumption | High | Low |
| Auto cook feature | Present | Absent |
| Use of metal vessels | Can not be used | Can be used |
| Baking quality | Good | Best |
| Capacity | Less | More |
| Weight | Heavy | Lightweight |
| Ease of use | User-friendly settings | Difficult to change settings |
| Cost | High | Low |
| Best suited for | Domestic purpose; reheat and defrost | Professionals who want high quality baking |
Comparison Parameters of Microwave and OTG
We have compared the microwaves and OTGs against different parameters to understand their value for money.
1. Cooking Time
As stated earlier, microwaves generate heat by vibrating the water molecules in food. It produces sufficient heat to cook the food in a short amount of time. If the water content is more, you can cook the food sooner than normal.
On the other hand, OTG follows the conventional method of producing heat. It converts electrical energy into heat energy and heats the coils. It raises the overall temperature and cooks the food. However, it is a very time-consuming process.
2. Heating Time
Similar to cooking time, the heating time is also less in microwaves. The vibrations of water molecules heat the food rapidly. You can heat the food using a microwave within 5 minutes.
If you use an OTG to heat the same food, it will take almost 15 minutes.
3. Power Consumption
When it comes to power consumption, OTG is the clear winner. Microwaves perform multiple tasks and have a heavy workload. They also heat food faster. As a result, they consume more power.
In the case of OTGs, the workload is less. Hence, the electrical consumption is also less.
4. Auto Cook Feature
The auto cook feature senses the steam level in the chamber and adjusts its power consumption. The feature is exclusive to microwaves. It comes very handily if you have no experience in using an oven. The OTG ovens lack this feature.
5. Use of Metal Vessels
You can not use metal vessels in a microwave. The metal vessels do not allow microwaves to penetrate through them. As a result, the microwave can not heat the food.
OTGs use conventional methods to heat the air inside the chamber. Hence, you can use metal vessels in an OTG oven.
6. Baking Quality
While microwave ovens do a good job in baking food items, OTG ovens take it a level higher. The OTG ovens are specifically designed for baking. They are used by professional chefs for commercial purposes.
7. Capacity
OTGs are smaller in size, however, have more capacity. Microwaves have thick surfaces that reduce chamber space. Since OTGs have slimmer surfaces, they have more chamber space. You can place more items in an OTG than in a microwave.
OTGs can have a capacity of up to 60 liters. But the microwaves can occupy only 32 liters of space.
8. Weight
Microwaves are heavy and bulky. They weigh 13 to 25 kilograms. You can not easily lift them or carry them. On the other hand, OTGs are smaller and lightweight. You can easily lift them. They weigh 7 to 15 kgs.
9. Ease of Use
When it comes to user-friendliness, microwaves are way ahead of OTGs. Microwaves have an LCD that displays simple figures, shapes, and temperatures. You can easily understand and operate them. Additionally, it is also easy to configure the settings.
OTGs use a mechanical settings system that is difficult to understand. If you are a beginner, you will find it difficult to understand the different options. You need to take some time to understand the different configurations.
10. Cost
The cost of ovens vary widely depending on their capacity, brand, and other features. Having said that, the price of microwaves are generally higher than that of OTGs.
When you compare microwave and OTG with similar features, you will notice that the microwave is expensive.
11. Best Suited For
Microwaves are multi-purpose ovens. They do a great job in fulfilling your basic baking, reheating, and defrosting needs. They are ideal for domestic use.
However, if you want an oven for commercial purposes, you will have to go with the OTG oven. The OTG ovens are used by professional chefs. They can meet your high-quality baking needs.
Frequently Asked Questions?
1. Is OTG safer than a microwave?
There is no evidence to prove that OTGs and microwaves are bad for health. Microwaves generate heat quickly and cook the food soon. Hence, it is believed that microwaves retain the nutrients in food.
2. Which type of oven is best for home use?
A microwave oven is best for home use. It performs different tasks such as baking, heating, and defrosting. Additionally, you can cook the food sooner. On the other hand, an OTG is ideal for commercial purposes.
3. Which is better for pizza – an OTG or microwave?
An OTG is ideal to make a pizza. A microwave does not produce sufficient temperature to cook the pizza. OTG creates a hot base to bake the pizza. Furthermore, OTGs provide the best baking quality food.
4. Can we warm food in OTG?
Yes, you can heat food using an OTG. However, they take a lot of time to heat the food. For heating and defrosting food, we recommend you to get a microwave oven.
5. Which consumes more electricity – an OTG or microwave?
A microwave oven consumes more electricity than an OTG. Microwaves have a heavy workload as they perform multiple tasks. Moreover, they heat food very quickly. As a result of these factors, they consume more electricity.
6. Can we use a glass bowl in OTG?
Yes, you can use a glass bowl in OTG. However, the temperature should not be very high. Sudden fluctuations in temperatures can cause the glass to shatter. Look for the sign that says oven-safe in glasses. These glasses are specially-designed for oven use.
Conclusion
By now, you would have understood that microwaves are multi-purpose ovens. You can heat, defrost, and bake food using them. They are ideal for domestic use.
On the other hand, OTGs are specialized ovens used for professional baking needs. They provide the best baking quality. They are ideal for professional and commercial use.
If you have any queries or doubts, let us know using the comments section below. You can also share your thoughts in the comments box.
