Microwave vs OTG, what’s the difference between these two gadgets? Several people mistake one for the other because of their similarities in shape, size, and sometimes, function. It is still necessary to re-emphasize that both gadgets are entirely different and are generally used for different purposes.
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A microwave is not an OTG oven. A microwave is a kitchen gadget that serves as a food warmer whereas an OTG oven as the name implies does more than food warming. An OTG oven will bake your pies, cakes, and chops to the fullest.
WHAT IS AN OTG OVEN
The Oven, Toaster, and Griller popularly called an OTG is a portable, microwave-shaped, multi-purpose kitchen gadget that serves as an oven, a toaster, or a griller depending on what the user wants to do at a particular time.
I once had a friend who mistook an OTG for a microwave and went ahead to buy the OTG, thinking it was a microwave. Don’t blame her though, blame the seller who did not bother to explain his products to an ignorant customer. Did she regret her purchase? Well, last time I checked she was happy with her OTG and had abandoned her conventional oven.
WHAT IS A MICROWAVE
A microwave on the other hand is a rectangular-shaped kitchen gadget that is specifically designed for the heating and reheating of cold food. The microwave has a circular shaped knob with numbers written in degrees. These numbers advise the user on what degree to heat a food depending on how cold the food is. Hence, very cold food will require a longer duration and a higher degree than warm food.
Some use microwaves to not just heat foods but also defrost iced foods like frozen meat, frozen fish, or frozen soup. Though some arguments have ensued on whether it is ideal to use this equipment for the defrosting of frozen food, there is no indication of any harmful effects this singular act might cause.
Microwaves are not ovens and trying to subject a microwave to perform the function of an oven can be harmful to the microwave and the food you are trying to bake. This is because there is a required degree of hotness needed for a food to get baked properly. The required degree of hotness ranges from 180°c to 230°c or from 350°F to 450°F.
MICROWAVE VS OTG
Below you will get to know the differences between Microwave and OTG;
| Microwave | OTG |
| Best for reheating and defrosting | Best for baking, toasting and grilling |
| Takes faster to heat up | Takes longer to heat up |
| Portable | Portable |
| Rectangular shaped | Rectangular shaped |
| Heats up food using electromagnetic waves | Heats up food using fire coils |
| Usually double partitioned | Multi partitioned |
| Heats food in degrees | Ideal for professional cooking |
| Heats food in degrees | Heats up food in degrees |
| Functions with a timer | Functions with a timer |
| No external fire needed | No external fire needed |
| Uses electricity | Uses electricity |
FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING EITHER AN OTG OVEN OR A MICROWAVE
Use, Size, Cost, and Model which I have termed the ‘USCM principle’ is a sure guide when looking out for factors to consider when trying to purchase a microwave or an OTG.
An understanding of what the microwave and the OTG oven are best used for will help you decide whether to get either of them or both. If you are a baker, The OTG oven since it is ideal for baking will be your go-to.
Both the microwave and the OTG can come in different sizes depending on what the user wants. A small-sized OTG might be ideal for a spinster who stays alone but might not be ideal for an industrial chef who runs a bakery.
Knowing how much each item costs, will help you plan your budget accordingly.
Some models can either consume more power or less power as the case may be. Hence, a market survey of different models and their capacity will help you decide on which brand to eventually purchase.
Let’s take a look at some good OTG that will suit your style, kitchen, and budget;
BLACK+DECKER OTG OVEN FOR FAMILY
the BLACK+DECKER combines ease and adaptability. Owing to its roomy interior, it can easily fit 12″ pizzas and 9″x 13″ oven pans, making it ideal for cooking a variety of meals.
This OTG oven heating technology guarantees quick and even cooking, producing consistently tasty results. It has a powerful convection fan that circulates warm air throughout the oven for fast, even baking. You can also enjoy this oven for baking, broiling, toasting, and keeping food warm.
Its exact control over your cooking experience is provided by its customizable temperature and timer settings.
This oven goes from straight from oven to table, because it is capable of fitting most standard pans.
The extra-wide design makes it simple to reach your food, while the removable crumb tray and bake/broil pan make cleanup easier for you.
This oven is perfect for any kitchen size and is best for you and your family.
HAMILTON OTG OVEN
The Hamilton OTG Oven is the ideal OTG oven for baking cakes and pizza, for those who like to bake. This device has three heating modes, so it can satisfy a wide range of culinary needs.
It is perfect for anyone searching for a space-saving solution or a smaller kitchen because of its small size.
With its versatility and ease of use for baking, toasting, and grilling, this is the best OTG oven toaster grill available. However, due to its lowered capacity, cooking elaborate dinners or serving larger dishes may be constrained.
Its several temperature settings allow for customized cooking, and its compact design ensures that it can be used practically in a range of kitchen situations.
Hamilton OTG Oven works well for basic cooking and baking tasks.
NINJA DIGITAL OTG OVEN FOR BEGINNERS AND PROFESSIONALS
The Ninja Digital OTG Oven is the perfect kitchen assistant that will transform your culinary adventures. Say goodbye to disorganized worktops and embrace ineffective appliances with this elegant silver marvel that redefines efficiency, ease, and versatility.
The Ninja SP201’s increased height design gives you plenty of room to create your culinary masterpieces and can easily fit even larger plates. Its incredible XL capacity lets you cook wonderful meals for your family and friends every time, whether you air frying, baking, roasting, toasting, or drying.
One of its standout features is the ingenious Flip Up & Away Capability, which saves valuable storage space when not in use. Simply flip up the oven and stow it away, reclaiming precious countertop real estate for other tasks.
This 8-in-1 oven’s wire rack, crumb tray, and air fry basket ensure that it is easy to use and versatile for a variety of cooking needs. With just a button click, you can produce flawless results every time, from crunchy fries to tender roasts.
You can easily choose from a variety of cooking functions and precise temperature adjustments thanks to the user-friendly digital interface. Additionally, you may enjoy quicker cooking times and uniformly cooked food without using too much oil thanks to its rapid heat circulation technology.
With the Ninja SP201 OTG Oven, you can take your cooking to the next level by combining innovation and superior cooking. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a novice cook, this adaptable gadget will motivate you to prepare gourmet meals that will please your palate and wow your guests.
The BLACK+DECKER
The BLACK+DECKER is a versatile kitchen appliance perfect for personal use.
With its 5 cooking functions, including air frying, it offers a variety of cooking options in one compact unit.
The stainless steel design is both durable and stylish, fitting well in most kitchen settings. And with a 30-minute timer, you can easily keep track of your cooking progress.
It is a good convenient addition to any kitchen for those who enjoy the benefits of air frying and toaster oven cooking.
COMFEE OTG OVEN
I Present to you the Comfee Oven, a small kitchen necessity that will improve your cooking. This compact toaster oven combo is ideal for any contemporary kitchen; say goodbye to large, heavy appliances and welcome elegant efficiency.
This oven was designed with convenience in mind and has a compact design with great functionality. It has two racks and can hold a 9-inch pizza, so you can toast, bake, or broil your favorite foods with ease.
This oven can handle a variety of tasks, such as making a quick breakfast, toasting sandwiches for lunch, and baking tasty desserts.
With its 950W power capacity, this small oven ensures that your food is always cooked to perfection with consistent, dependable performance.
Its simple controls make using it a pleasure, and you can easily change the cooking settings and temperature. Its sleek black finish also gives any surface a dash of contemporary elegance.
With the Comfee Oven Countertop, enjoy the convenience of diverse cooking.
This tiny toaster oven combo is a great addition to any kitchen because it is both powerful and compact, saving you time and space without sacrificing quality or taste.
 This Comfee Oven can help you create better meals right now.
READ ALSO: SIMPLE MICROWAVE OVEN FOR ELDERLY
READ ALSO: WHAT IS A GOOD SIZE MICROWAVE FOR A FAMILY
WHICH IS HEALTHIER? OTG OR MICROWAVE?
The microwave has not been proven to kill 100 percent of bacteria contained in food. The OTG on the other hand helps in the retention of food nutrients as opposed to other methods of frying which makes foods cooked in the OTG oven healthier for consumption
WHICH IS BETTER FOR PIZZA? OTG OR MICROWAVE?
An OTG might take longer and might require extra effort to prepare pizza than a microwave oven would do. However, the end product is what matters. Pizza prepared using an OTG will appear better and tastier than pizza prepared with a microwave oven.
In a get-together of high school besties, the difference may not matter but as a professional pizza company, the difference will go a long way to determine how many people would come for more.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AN OTG OVEN AND A MICROWAVE CONVECTION
A lot of comparisons abound between the microwave and the OTG oven. Let’s compare the OTG oven and the microwave using the following parameters.
Use:
An OTG can serve as a microwave, however both gadgets were designed for different purposes. A standard kitchen will contain a microwave and an OTG because while the microwave functions as a heater for the warming and defrosting of cold foods, the OTG on the other hand burns hotter and is ideal for all sorts of baking and toasting.
Food Preparation and Pie Heating Time:
The microwave takes less than 15 minutes to heat while the OTG usually takes longer to heat up. In terms of food preparation, the OTG oven will give your baked foods a crispier feel than a regular microwave.
The Baking quality of an OTG is 7 times better than the baking quality of a microwave. I experimented this with chicken pies and the result was glaring, the chicken pies baked in the oven had a richer color than the ones baked in the microwave. The microwave tried but could not do the justice that my OTG oven did to those pies.
The OTG is multifunctional while the microwave is usually stereotyped to heat cold foods or cook some foods like vegetables and microwavable rice. Also, both gadgets are easy to use and easy to understand.
Heating method
The OTG oven has what we can call coils or wires that release heat which is circulated in the oven by a fan designed for that purpose. The microwave heats the water molecules present in food which transforms into hot water that cooks the food.
Heat distribution
The heating method for an OTG is even. This is because of the presence of the fan that distributes heat evenly around the OTG. However, the heating method for a microwave is unilateral since the focus is usually on the water molecules contained in the food being heated. This is one of the many reasons why the microwave is regarded as an ideal gadget for the defrosting of iced food.
Heating time
The OTG takes longer to heat up whereas the microwave is usually faster in heating foods.
Power usage
The OTG takes up less power than the microwave. The OTG can consume about 900 watts or less while the microwave can take up 1000 watts or more.
The Auto cook functionality is available in a microwave but usually not available in an OTG oven
Price: High-model microwaves are more expensive than OTG ovens. When budgeting for either of the two, one should have up to 150 to 300 dollars depending on the model one has in mind.
Container options:
Microwaves will prefer containers made of plastic, glass, or ceramics whereas OTG ovens can accommodate containers made of steel, aluminum, glass, silicone, or stone. When deciding on a container to use for either a microwave or an OTG, it is very important to know which materials are either microwave-friendly or OTG-friendly as carelessness can be disastrous.
Weight:
The OTG oven is portable. Its size usually ranges from 28 liters to 40 liters. The microwave on the other hand can weigh from 15 litres to 32 litres.
Lastly, the OTG is best for baking, toasting, and grilling while the microwave is best for cooking and heating.
OTG AND MICROWAVE COMBO
Simply put, an OTG and microwave combo is a combination of both the OTG and a microwave. Hence, instead of the hassles of having separate gadgets, one can easily get a combo gadget that functions as an OTG when needed and as a microwave when needed.
WHICH IS BETTER FOR CAKE? OTG OR MICROWAVE?
The OTG when it comes to baking is the best by design. The OTG is designed to perform all the functions of an oven and more. Trying to bake a cake with a microwave might be as frustrating as trying to ice up water using a kettle and a stove.
MICROWAVE VS OVEN
| Microwave | Oven |
| Portable | Large and usually comes with a stove |
| Few partitions | More partitions |
| Expert at defrosting and reheating | Expert in baking and grilling |
| Heats up faster | Takes longer to heat up |
| Consumes less energy | Consumes more energy |
| Easy to use | Difficult to use |
| Fewer control knobs | Multiple control knobs |
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF OTG OVEN?
Stereotyped functionality is one major disadvantage of the OTG oven. Unlike the microwave which is an expert at defrosting and reheating, the OTG cannot perform these functions.
OTG OR OVEN, WHICH IS BETTER?
The OTG is better than the microwave oven because of its multifunctionality. With an OTG, one can bake, grill, and toast. The microwave on the other is better than the OTG in terms of reheating and defrosting.
WHAT ARE THE 4 DISADVANTAGES OF USING A MICROWAVE OVEN?
Harmful radiation: The microwave can emit harmful radiation which when exposed to excessively, can lead to serious medical conditions like cancer.
Food poisoning: It is not proven that the heat from a microwave oven can kill 100 percent of all bacteria contained in food. As a result, cases like food poisoning can occur from constant exposure to bacteria.
Limited functionality: Unlike the Oven, Toaster, and Griller, the microwave is limited in the function it performs. Toasting and grilling of foods are some functions that are missing in a microwave oven.
Texture reshape: Constant reheating of foods can change food texture. Food freshness can be lost and there is no proven way to retain freshness using a microwave.
CAN A MICROWAVE BE USED AS AN OVEN?
A microwave can most definitely function as an oven. The convection microwave oven does not heat food using the electromagnetic wave as in most traditional microwaves, the heat is circulated in the microwave by a fan as in OTG ovens.
READ ALSO: MICROWAVE VS OTG