Difference Between OTG and Microwave Oven

It is quite a common confusion among most of the baking beginners when it comes to choosing the right appliances according to their kitchen and their lifestyle necessities.

Managing the right temperature, time of cooking and use of a right appliance accordingly could help you achieve those baking goals which we drool over through our insta-feeds.

Also knowing the contrast between the two is crucial while deciding which one to buy. Both of the parallel appliances run on electricity to perform dry cooking techniques such as baking, roasting, grilling, etc.

Although resembling in their basic functionality and appearance, these two parallel appliances do have some key features that set them apart from each other.

If the “uncanny resemblance” of the device duo is puzzling for you, we are here to help you through it.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before jumping into a conclusion.

What kind of dishes do you want to prepare? How much are you willing to invest in a new baking appliance? And most importantly, are you a dedicated home cook or an easy-going one?

Well, here we’re going to consider these parameters to differentiate the two.

*At the end of this section, there is a comparison chart to help you decide better.

MICROWAVE CONVECTION OVEN:

A microwave oven can be your best friend if you are a new home cook or if you are learning to bake for the first time.

Able to cook a wide variety of dishes, a microwave oven can save you a lot of cooking time during rush hours or those lazy Sundays when you want to cook something delicious putting the least effort possible. And it is also a preferred choice for healthy eating practice.

Working of a Microwave Oven:

As the name suggests, a microwave convection oven emits electromagnetic radiations from microwave frequency range called “microwaves” that immobilises and heats the H2O molecules in the food. Heat energy from these waves transfers into the whole mass of the food cooking it inside out simultaneously.

Some of the first produced microwave ovens were qualified up to just reheating the food but with new innovations year after year, Ovens these days can prepare a wide variety of dishes demanding different cooking techniques. Especially Baking.

There are subdivisions in the type of microwave ovens. Three of the most commercially available ones are:

Solo oven: Ideal for defrosting and reheating the food. These ovens are unable to perform grilling.
Grill oven: Grills and reheats the food. These types of ovens are time taking and thus are ideal for recipes which require slow-cooking.
Convection oven: Most commonly used microwave ovens these days are a convection oven. Such ovens are ideal for baking, grilling and reheating food.

Here we are discussing only a microwave convection oven.

Let's discuss the pros:

It is a better option than an OTG when it comes to easy and effortless cooking. It also saves time as it takes lesser time to preheat (approximately 5 mins).
It consists of both digital and manual controls. Digital controls are undoubtedly more precise. Therefore setting an accurate temperature for delicate and tricky bakes can be easy.
Motor fans in a convection oven circulates hot air inside the chamber ensuring even temperature throughout, for even cooking.
Along with all these qualities, these ovens are quite economical with electricity due to their quick heating ability and using less electricity than an OTG.

But this time-efficient option comes with some flaws:

Before considering the installation of the appliance, make sure you have a spacious kitchen with a permanent place for keeping a microwave oven.
These ovens have no portability due to their heaviness and large size.
The bakewares used for an OTG and a microwave oven are the same but the size of bakeware does matter because the turntable of the microwave oven keeps on rotating so adjusting a bigger baking tin can be problematic.
A microwave oven takes a lot of space but doesn't have much space inside, so it doesn't have the capacity to cook a large meal for an entire family.
It can be more expensive than an OTG. Maximum capacity is 32-36 Litres. Price range lies between 11K to 20K. An oven of 32 Litres capacity from a good brand can cost you about 16K.
Going by a popular belief, a microwave oven can never add that rustic texture and unique taste to your dishes which can only be achieved by a traditional oven or an OTG.

Professional cooks avoid using such ovens while preparing gourmet cuisines. Alas! top culinarians can’t even bear the sight of it near their kitchens.

*Remember Gordon Ramsay throwing one out of the window?!

But a person using a microwave oven can not be labelled as an unprofessional or unskilled. Our fast-paced life necessitates us being thrifty with time, even at trivial chores. And If an appliance can help you with that, Go for it without any guilt.

Nevertheless, If space and budget are not an issue for you, opt for the microwave convection oven as your kitchen companion for an absolute hassle-free cooking experience.

With some microwave handy tricks and techniques, you can achieve traditional oven-like results, spending less time and effort.

OTG- OVEN TOASTER GRILLER:

It is the electric version of a masonry oven or a brick oven. This portable kitchen appliance is apt for conventional baking, grilling and toasting.

So you don't have to compromise with the taste and texture of your prepared dishes.

Working of an OTG:

An OTG consists of two nickel or chromium coils, one at the top and at the bottom. It makes use of electricity to heat those coils. The top coil can be heated for grilling purposes and the bottom one for baking cakes and cookies. These coils are controlled through different modes from the 'function selector' key.

Each of these modes are suitable for unique cooking requirements for different types of recipes. Bigger OTGs comes with a fan which can be turned on through these modes.

The Timer Bypass feature of an OTG keeps the oven switched on till turned off manually.

Let’s discuss the pros:

The Timer Bypass feature is crucial for making pavlovas, meringues, oven-dried fruits etc. This feature is absent in a microwave oven.
Portability of an OTG is more than a convection oven.
It comes in many sizes and in much affordable price range. Ovens with 40 Litres capacity will cost you around 10K only.
OTGs have sufficient space inside to cook for a big family, house parties and Get-togethers.

Now let us discuss some cons of an OTG:

It consumes more electricity than a microwave oven and distribution of heat is uneven sometimes leading to uneven cooking in some cases.
Also, the preheat time for an OTG is about 15-20 minutes and preparing something here takes more time than a convection oven. Thus this makes the cooking process much more time taking.
The controls and modes of an OTG along with the fan feature, are quite tricky to handle for beginners.
A precise temperature cannot be set due to manual time settings so you always have to keep a watch while you're baking something in it.
A convection oven allows you to perform multiple cooking methods but in an OTG you can bake, toast and grill only. You wouldn't be able to reheat food.

The tricky controls are not an issue as they can be mastered over time and continuous use but the biggest setback here is the amount of time it takes for cooking.

OTG is best for people who are willing to devote enough time on cooking like professional chefs and skilled home-cooks.

Let us draw a conclusion after a quick look over the comparison chart:

SPECIFICATIONS	OTG	MICROWAVE OVEN
COST	Low	High
CAPACITY	High	Low
EASE OF USAGE	Tricky to use	Easy to use
EASE OF INSTALLATION IN KITCHEN	Comparatively more than a convection oven	Needs more space
TIME EFFICIENCY	Low	High
PORTABILITY	Very portable	No portability
ENERGY EFFICIENCY	Low	High
ABILITY TO PERFORM DIFFERENT COOKING TECHNIQUES	More	Limited to baking toasting and grilling.

CONCLUSION:

After this discussion, one thing is sure that both of the devices may seem similar but maintain their individuality. Your lifestyle and your enthusiasm for cooking are decisive factors to differentiate the two.

If you don't want to devote much time on cooking and are looking for an easier and faster alternative, go for a microwave convection oven.

On the other hand, if you are a dedicated home cook and are looking for authenticity in terms of taste and texture, look no further and pick up an OTG.

Hope this section was helpful.

We would love to hear from you in the comment section below.