OTG VS Microwave, Which Is Better?

Everyone craves food that has been baked, grilled, or roasted. Using various equipment for baking, grilling, and roasting, on the other hand, is not only complicated but also inconvenient. An OTG oven or a Microwave oven is a kitchen appliance that may ease up your work of cooking your favorite foods at home. Nowadays, every household consists of either an OTG or a microwave. In fact, if you don’t have one, your kitchen appears to be incomplete.

However, one of the major issues that arise while buying one is that a majority of people don’t have adequate information and face doubts such as what is an OTG oven?, what is a Microwave oven?, the difference between OTG and microwave oven?, OTG or Microwave convection, which is better, and so on. In case you are caught up in such thoughts, here is an article that will help you have a clear understanding of both OTG and Microwave and the differences between them.

What Is OTG Oven? 

OTG stands for Oven, Toaster, and Grill, and it is a smaller and more compact version of standardized ovens. Its sole functions include baking, toasting, and grilling, hence the name. An OTG contains 2 heating coils on the top and bottom of it. And it is these heating coils that serve as the major difference between a microwave and OTG. For cooking meals, these heating filaments are required to be heated. 

However, OTGs with fans (like Convection Microwaves) are becoming more common these days. Depending on the operation and purpose of using them, all OTGs can turn on one or both the coils. The time it takes to bake or heat in an OTG is something you should consider when buying one for yourself.

The overall cooking time with an OTG oven is double as compared to other ovens due to the time it takes to heat up the electric coils. An OTG may cost anywhere between 2,500 and 10,000 INR in India. A few of the most well-known OTG brands of India include Philips, Bajaj, Borosil, Agaro, etc. The capacity of an OTG might range between 10 to 60 L, depending upon its operation and usage.

1. What Can You Do With An OTG Oven?

An OTG is a great kitchen appliance for baking, grilling, and toasting in general. When compared to a microwave, the level of baking you can accomplish with an OTG is highly professional. You may also use an OTG for baking cookies, cupcakes, vegetable puffs, muffins, croissants, spaghetti, grill meat, toast bread, or prepare pizza or bruschetta. This is something that cannot be done in a microwave.

2. Why Should You Buy An OTG Oven? 

There is nothing better than an OTG if you have some time to spare or a desire to bake. Buy using best OTG for home you will get your desired flavor and crispness in your baking. It is widely recognized that OTGs are favored for the delectable meals they prepare rather than their cooking speed.

Pros And Cons Of OTG 

What Is A Microwave? 

Microwave ovens are appliances that use microwave-frequency electromagnetic radiation to heat and cook food. It uses a technique known as dielectric heating to create thermal energy, which is subsequently used to heat food. Even though microwaves are widely appreciated for reheating food items, they may be used for various other tasks as well. 

The majority of Indians prefer microwave ovens because they can quickly reheat food. Depending on the kind of microwave you have, you may use it for baking, grilling, or reheating. Microwaves use the same amount of energy as a refrigerator and an iron. Hence, they can do your task in a matter of seconds. 

Microwave ovens can be found under 5000, under 10000, under 25000 depending on how much youu are willing to spend, depending on the type. LG, IFB, Samsung, Bajaj, etc. companies are among the top microwave oven brands in India. In general, a microwave oven’s capacity ranges from 15 to 35 L.

Solo Microwave Ovens:

• Heating, Reheating, and defrosting
• No grilling

Grill Microwave Ovens:

• Cooking, Heating, Defrosting, and Grilling

Convection Microwave Ovens:

• Cooking, Reheating, Defrosting, Grilling, and Baking

A majority of people in India prefer microwave ovens because they can reheat meals in a matter of seconds. You may use the microwave for grilling and baking, and reheating, which depends on the Microwave model you have. The power consumption of microwaves resembles that of a refrigerator and an iron.

This is why they require just a few seconds to get your job done. In India, the price of a microwave oven ranges from 4,000 INR to 25,000 INR, depending on the model of microwave you choose. Some of India’s best microwave oven brands are LG, IFB, Samsung, Bajaj, and others. The capacity of a microwave oven ranges between 15-35 L.

1. What Can You Do With A Microwave? 

Microwave ovens are considered ideal for instant and rapid cooking as well as reheating. You can instantly cook Idlis, dhoklas, pastries, mug pizzas, mac n cheese, omelet, and several other items with the help of a microwave oven. You may even make meals from scratches, such as moong dhal, Kale chips and khichdi or make ready made packets like popcorn, chicken nuggets and pasta.

In addition to heating and defrosting in the microwave. In addition, a microwave enables you to bake a cake, make scrambled eggs, steam vegetables, peel garlic, dry herbs, soak beans, and whatnot.

There are many more things you can using your microwaves features. Read this microwave guide to learn all the features that are available in the latest microwaves.

2. Why Should You Buy A Microwave?

One should consider buying a microwave if he/she has limited time, either due to their hectic working schedule or their impatience in reheating or cooking on a gas stove. This is because it can both heat the already-cooked food and prepare meals from scratch.

Pros And Cons Of Microwave

Difference Between Microwave And OTG

Both OTG oven and Microwave ovens have time and again proved their efficiency to us in several ways. However, both of them have their set of benefits and shortcomings that make them different from one another. This often tends to confuse the customers as to which one is better or what is the difference between OTG and Microwave. So, our next segment is going to be all about Microwave vs. OTG in detail.

POINT OF DIFFERENCE	OTG	MICROWAVE	WINNER
Heating time	Slow	Fast	Microwave
Power consumption	High	Low	Microwave
Cooking duration	Longer	Faster	Microwave
Costs	Less	More	OTG
Auto-cook option	Not available	Available	Microwave
Heat distribution	Uneven	Even	Microwave
Container options	Compatible with metal	Only microwave compatible containers can be used	OTG
Weight	Lightweight	Bulkier	OTG
Baking option	Yes	Not really	OTG
Most suitable for	Toasting, Baking, and Grilling	Simple baking, defrosting, reheating	OTG

1. What is the Difference Between OTG and Microwave in terms of Health?

Both OTG and Microwaves utilize different techniques to accomplish the same job. Microwave ovens cook food using high-frequency electromagnetic waves, which explains their rapid cooking and reheating abilities. These high-frequency waves are believed to be harmful to people since they render the food radioactive in nature up to some extent and reduces its vitamins and minerals. However, with regard to scientific research and facts, there is no conclusive proof that one is safer than the other for OTG vs. Microwave. Basically, it is up to you what you choose for yourself and your family.

2. Microwave VS OTG, Baking and Cooking Time 

When it comes to cooking, a microwave oven cooks food considerably faster than an OTG. In addition, modern microwave ovens offer distinct grilling and air-frying/low-oil frying modes. Moreover, there are also intriguing auto-cook menu choices in certain microwave ovens that let you cook food with pre-set cooking time and temperature settings. However, in an OTG oven, this functionality isn’t available. The major functions carried out by an OTP are only baking, toasting, grilling, and boiling. In an OTG, there is no actual “cooking.” Nonetheless, the baking time in both is the same, unlike the cooking timing.

3. OTG Vs Microwave, Which Is Better for Baking?

Baking can only be done with Best Convection microwave ovens and not with the other two variants, i.e., Solo and Grill microwaves. However, if you are a professional or advanced baker, we highly suggest you to opt from best baking ovens available in market.

An OTG uses heating coils and hot air from the fan to bake, and this degree of accuracy is difficult to achieve with a microwave. It’s fascinating to observe how both operate. When a cake mold is placed in a microwave oven, it bakes in a circular motion, but in an OTG, the equipment does not move. If you often bake or grill, an OTG will come in handy. Considering other factors:

1. The inner cavity of a microwave is small in size and limited in terms of capacity.
2. In a microwave of this capacity, you might be able to bake a 9 or maximum of 10-inch cake.
3. Even if you purchase a larger microwave oven for baking larger cakes and fitting larger cake molds, it would consume more power and take a toll on your electricity bill.
4. It is impossible to bake more than one cake at a time due to the compact size.
5. An OTG contains more temperature settings than a microwave, and in the oven panel, you can find a wide range of temperatures. Whereas a microwave has just 5-6 temperature setting options.
6. In an OTG, since the baker can set the heat level utilizing 2 rods, they have the liberty to place the lower rod on or the upper rod on or both rods on. This has a significant impact on baking performance.

Due to these shortcomings of a microwave, an OTG is usually preferred over a microwave oven by a majority of the bakers.

4. What is the difference between OTG and Microwave in terms of Energy Efficiency?

The principle behind a microwave’s working is that the water molecules inside the food are heated by radio waves, thereby cooking the food. As a result, while using a microwave, you will notice that the dishes are heated from the inside as well. Because a microwave heats up all of the food simultaneously, it takes less cooking time and, as a result, less energy. However, an OTG uses a slow cooking method that includes hot air surrounding the food and heating it up slowly as the heat passes from the outside to the inside of the food. Hence, cooking for longer periods results in more consumption of energy.

Should You Buy An OTG Or A Microwave?

If you plan on baking frequently and have the room in your kitchen for two ovens, you might want to consider getting a separate OTG for your baking requirements. If you need to heat and cook food in your oven in addition to baking, a convection microwave oven is the one you should choose. Although a convection microwave cannot replicate the baking effect of an OTG, it is the quickest and most convenient option.

Similarly, an OTG can’t match the range of cooking options or the speed of a convection microwave. If you’re going to bake once in a while and don’t have a lot of room, a convection microwave oven will suffice. Purchase only one device and make good use of it. If you want to start baking as a hobby, though, you need to invest in a nice OTG – they aren’t that costly.

Conclusion

By now, you must have gotten an overview of both OTGs and Microwave in detail. However, in the battle of OTG vs Microwave, there are no winners or losers. It simply depends on your requirements and the set of operations you will carry out with the help of the oven. I hope this article helped determine which appliance is best for you.