In our constant quest to improve the lives of Drivers that live and work on the road, we are continuing our series on the best appliances that you can take with you on the road.
Last time we spoke about Microwave Ovens. In that blog post, we discussed their versatility with the dishes they can now cook. We even suggested a few appliance options for the room you have in your truck.
Once again, we discuss how each appliance excels at:
- Space the Appliance Takes Up
- Average Cost
- Effective wattage use
- Variety of Food to Cook
- Ease of Cleanup
We continue our series with Microwaves!
The classic stand by. Microwaves are one of the most versatile and easy to use appliances in any household.
Microwaves are incomparable when it comes to the ability to thaw or even fully cook prepared foods in a matter of a few minutes. These appliances also extend the life of leftovers from the rare experience dining out.
But when you are living on the road you need to provide your body with food fresher than warmed up leftovers. Nor do you want to be stuck eating cup noodles every day.
Variety of Food to Cook
Frozen or premade boxed foods for microwave cooking can be useful in a pinch if you carefully read labels. If you avoid foods above 600 or 700 milligrams of sodium and only a few grams of saturated fat, you are on the right track.
Fortunately, there are more options than ever before when it comes to healthy prepackaged frozen meals. Instead of being forced into eating Hungry Man meals, you can purchase anything from plant-based vegetarian meals to hearty burrito bowls.
But eating fresh is the healthiest way to go, and microwaves are more than helpful in that regard. There are thousands of recipes that take full advantage of every function a Microwave has to offer.
From delicious Risotto to Mason Jar Pancakes, and even desserts like mug cakes and chocolate chip cookies in a cup, Microwaves can offer a lot when it comes to their versatility of dishes.
A favorite of many of our Drivers is to make is a single-serve microwave macaroni and cheese in a mug.
Space the Appliance Takes Up
One of the best aspects of Microwaves is that they can be relatively small. Many average microwaves in homes are just under a cubic foot.
With the sheer volume of foods you can cook with relatively few ingredients, the investment of time, money, and space will pay off.
Effective wattage use
Even the most expensive microwaves with the highest end features do not take up a lot of space or even power.
These little wonder machines have even become incredibly energy efficient. Many microwaves can be used just by plugging them into a cigarette lighter, let alone requiring the power of a 2000-watt inverter.
In fact, many microwaves fall between 700 watts and 1500 watts, making them very easy on any power source you would have in your truck.
Ease of Cleanup
Not only are they fast and effective, with proper, timely upkeep, but they are also a breeze to clean. You can get by with cleaning the entire appliance with a few sanitizing wipes and elbow grease.
If you have particularly nasty stains or remaining food, this video below will give you some much-needed guidance with only a single lemon, some water, eight minutes, and a sponge.
Learning Curve
The most challenging part of Microwave ownership is not keeping the appliance clean, but the learning curve.
Most modern microwaves have dozens of variations and options when it comes to how to cook a dish. From the different functions to the power levels that you can access, getting the hang of a Microwave can have its difficulties.
Instructions that say to cook a dish in the microwave for four minutes might work for some microwaves, but the one you purchase may require greater or fewer minutes for the same results.
GE Appliances suggests placing a bowl with a quart of room temperature water (between 59 an 75 degrees Fahrenheit) in the center of the microwave and heating the water for 2 minutes and 30 seconds on high. If the temperature rises between 28 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, then the microwave is cooking correctly.
If not, play with your microwave’s settings until you have similar results.
Average Cost
One of the best aspects of modern Microwaves is how inexpensive they are. Lowest end microwaves often cost $50-$60 with the most expensive microwaves selling for $300. Below we have a few microwaves at different price points that you can compare.
Microwaves have made massive advances since their early days as a six-foot-tall Radarange that weighs 750 pounds and costs $56,000 in today’s money. With their ease of use, compact design, and the ability to cook a wide range of dishes, Microwaves have become indispensable tools for preparing on the road.
Consider picking up a Microwave when you head out on the road next.
Watch this space for our next Cooking Appliance Post regarding Blenders! Drive safe out there!
Disclaimer:
This blog post is for informational purposes only. ShipEX makes no warranties about the completeness, reliability or accuracy of this information. Any action that you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk, and ShipEX will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection therewith. Furthermore, nothing in this blog alters ShipEX Policies which are subject to change without notice.
