I have to admit that at home we are very fans of the oven. It is healthier, juicier, and also allows you to put the food in and ‘forget’ about it. Something quite useful if you telecommute, as is my case, or if you have to keep up with the kids. AND When a few weeks ago, from LG they proposed us to test the Smart Inverter microwave oven with grill, the truth is that I didn’t even think about it.
I had already read some information about this appliance, promising to renew our cooking by gathering in an appliance oven, microwave, steam cooker and grill all in one, allowing you to save on energy, and maintain the flavor of the dishes. And I was curious to see if all those compliments were true. And today, I’m going to tell you about our experience at home with this microwave oven.
Before starting
Perhaps, before starting to tell my experience with this LG microwave oven, we should explain what the Smart Inverter technology, because really, it is what allows to differentiate this appliance from other similar ones. This exclusive LG technology allows you to cook food evenly, with much more power, and in much less time to save energy. In fact, According to LG, this technology allows defrosting, heating and cooking up to 1.6 times faster than a conventional microwave.
In normal microwaves, whether or not they have a grill, the food heats up unevenly, with the outside very hot and done, and the inside cold, or even raw. In these microwaves, food is cooked and heated. With the LG microwave oven, a direct current is applied that allows a uniform and real cooking that maintains both the flavor and the nutrients. In this way, it cooks like an oven of a lifetime, although in a faster way. In addition, it must also be taken into account that the grill is charcoal, and gratin and brown the food in 5 minutes.
How is the LG Smart Inverter microwave oven
This appliance is a tabletop oven with modern design and straight lines in metallic gray with a 39-liter capacity. As soon as you see it, you already realize that it is a high-end product. It is actually a bit bigger than a microwave, but it is smaller than a conventional oven. In fact, some oven dishes do not fit the LG.
And about how it works, everything controlled by touch buttons and a rotary wheel that is on the front of the microwave that allows you to control the modes of use and time.
To learn how to handle it, the oven comes with a complete guide in which all the characteristics and ways of cooking are explained, in addition to presenting some recipes in an easy and simple way. On the other hand, and this comes in handy, when you open the oven door, on one side, there is a table that indicates the different cooking combinations.
Our experience
Baked sausage with potatoes
From the outset, it must be said that at least to me, it took me a bit to get hold of the microwave. It could be that it was because I have been cooking with the oven for years, and you have to change the chip a bit when it comes to both operating the microwave oven, and to adjust the times, much shorter than in the conventional oven. Really, you have to relearn how to cook using this appliance, above all, for get hold of the baking times (faster than with the conventional oven), to avoid that the food is dry or scorched.
In this sense, at least at the beginning, in some recipes it is not enough to put the tray in, press the button, and let it be done. You have to learn to cook with it, and depending on the weight, or the size of the food, it costs more or less to cook it. For example, the first pork ribs that I prepared came out a bit churruscadas to pay attention to the times recommended by the guide. The following ones, cutting time, were perfect.
Grilled chicken
It must also be said that once you get used to it, this microwave oven is easy to use, fast, and functional. And surely for people who do not cook too much, it will be much easier from the first moment.
The first difference we find is that with this appliance it is not necessary to preheat the oven as in conventional ovens. Only with this detail, we already win in time, and also in money. Once you put the tray with the food, you can choose between several options (next to the paper guide, on the microwave door there is a table that serves as a guide to know which option you should choose, roast mode, inverter, steam or crispy or crispy). Besides, also can be cooked, cooked or heated in the microwave with a power of up to 1,100 w (There are 5 different power levels for microwave cooking).
Grilled chicken
And the second difference is undoubtedly speed. The dishes are well cooked and juicy on the inside, crisp on the outside. Among the recipes that have come out the best, is the Roasted Chicken With Potatoes (two thighs cost around 30 minutes), and the salmon with mustard (in ten minutes it is done). In both cases, I have not noticed any difference in taste or texture when preparing them in the microwave oven or in the traditional oven.
Mustard salmon
The pork ribs They also came out tasty (there, I had to improve, because it cooks in less time than in the traditional oven, and the first time they were somewhat dry: with 30-40 minutes in the oven, leftover and enough).
Pork ribs with ginger and honey
The Fideua It is also acceptable in just over half an hour of total time, being able to prepare even the smoke with the microwave itself (the smoke is prepared in two minutes), following the recipe on the recipe website launched by LG itself (Microcooking with LG) .
Fideuá Seafood
And the fried or roasted potatoes, They are also rich, and without using oil they cook in ten minutes (I have been making them with minced garlic, parsley, a little oil, and some wine). The result of the potatoes is more than acceptable considering the time, and that they are much healthier.
Burger
Among the recipes that we have tried these weeks, we have also prepared hamburgers (perfect juiciness), breaded meat … In the latter case, it cost something to balance the browning of the breaded with the juicy meat).
Breaded filet
For healthy cooking, the microwave oven is also super useful by having the option of steam cook, to prepare for example some beans with potatoes. To steam these recipes, one of the oven accessories is a steel hood.
Green beans with potatoes
In the field of desserts, I also prepared some cookies with chocolate, a sponge cake, or a chocolate brownie, all with a good result and in record time.
Chocolate cookies
For putting a example of a dish that did not turn out well for me, the Spanish omelette is the recipe that resisted me. Although I followed the steps in the recipe, the result was absolutely inedible, so the following times I preferred not to risk it and continued preparing them in the traditional way in the pan. I admit that there I lacked patience to continue improving, but the truth is that the result was so bad, that I lost the desire. What I have been doing has been frying the potatoes first before making the omelette in the pan, and that alone saves you considerable time.
But except for this little stumble, really the experience with the oven has been totally satisfactory. A microwave oven that cooks fast, in a homogeneous and healthy way, and with an excellent result in terms of textures and juiciness, highlighting above all that it is a healthy food when cooking with practically no oil.
If you liked this microwave oven, you can find it on Amazon for € 339.88.
LG Smart Inverter Oven
More information | LG | Microcooking with LG
In Decoesfera | Take advantage of the sales to put order in your kitchen
