Cheap microwave oven

Home : A study of low to high prices

Before highlighting the current price guides, I will need to separate microwave oven's into four categories. Freestanding microwave ovens are currently the most extensive, with around sixty popular models on the market.

Next is combination microwaves, more expensive, but with still in the region of thirty models on the market. Then we have conventional oven's, not quite so popular, but with a healthy number for sale, around twenty.

Finally there is the grill and microwave combination oven's, these are far less popular, with only a handful for sale.

Freestanding Microwaves
- Low quality - £30
- Good quality - £200
- Variation - £170
Conventional Microwaves
- Low quality - £40
- Good quality - £100
- Variation - £60
Microwaves with Grill
- Low quality - £50
- Good quality - £150
- Variation - £100
Combination Microwaves
- Low quality - £70
- Good quality - £300
- Variation - £230

As the above guidelines show, the cheapest microwaves for sale is a freestanding model, at £30. The most expensive is a combination model from Panasonic, priced at £399.99. But the average price for a good combination microwave is £300.

This type of microwave is currently the most expensive. The conventional and grill combination oven's are middle of the road models, averaging out at around £100.

Therefore, what is the main difference between a microwave costing £30 and one which costs £400. First and foremost, reliability and build quality have a primary effect on price.

But after that there is the features, a £30 microwave will contain little more than a timer and a defrost programme setting.

A more expensive microwave may contain two shelves for cooking, steam cook and clean, plenty of heating programmes, a catalytic oven lining and up to 1350 watts of power.