Buying a new kitchen appliance can feel like an overwhelming experience, especially when you’re stuck between three popular cooking appliances – an OTG, a microwave oven and an air fryer. At first glance they may seem like similar options. They do all the cooking, they save time, and promise to make cooking easier. But taking a closer look, you’ll realize that they all cater to different tastes and produce different results.
Of course, microwave ovens have been in Indian homes for centuries and have become a staple for reheating food and cooking basic dishes, but air fryers offer a healthier alternative as they use almost no oil for cooking. Then there is the OTG oven, which looks like a microwave oven but is actually far from it. The difference between these appliances lies not only in the way they cook food, but also in what they can be used for. In this guide, we’ll tell you all the differences between OTG, microwave oven, and air fryer so you can find the right product for your home.
Main differences between OTG, microwave oven and air fryer
Speciality |
OTG (Oven Toaster Grill) |
microwave oven |
air fryer |
| working mechanism | Uses heating coils (top and bottom rods) | Uses electromagnetic waves to heat food | Uses intense hot air circulation |
| cooking speed | slow | very fast | medium |
| use of oil | medium | Very little | Very little |
| ease of use | manual controls, learning curve | Very easy, beginner-friendly | Easy, preset-based cooking |
| energy efficiency | medium | High | High |
| price range | budget friendly | Mid to High (depending on features) | mid-range |
| maintenance | Easy but requires manual cleaning | Easy, minimal effort | Easy, Non-Stick Baskets |
| best for | Baking, Grilling, Toasting | Reheating, defrosting, basic cooking, steaming | Fry in less oil, get crispy |
Who should buy OTG?
Cooking is an art and making a dish taste good requires high-quality ingredients and special techniques as well as the right equipment. Another factor that helps make a dish delicious is using the right home appliances. Take the example of OTG or oven toaster griller. OTG is not for everyone. But if you love baking, grilling, and toasting, this could be a game changer. OTGs are ideal for baking cakes, cupcakes and recipes such as cookies and lasagna. They are also good for roasting meat, vegetables, making tikkas and kebabs, and roasting a whole chicken. However, if your primary use is to reheat and defrost food then they are not the appliance for you.
What factors should be considered when purchasing OTG?
Capacity and Space: One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing an OTG is capacity. These appliances are available in different capacities between 10L and 60L and buyers can choose the appliance to suit their cooking needs. For example, families with maximum two members can opt for an option with a capacity of up to 20L, while medium-sized families with three to four members can opt for an OTG with a capacity of 20L to 30L and larger families can opt for an OTG with a capacity of more than 30L. Higher capacity OTGs will also take up more space. Therefore, it is important to check whether the space available in your kitchen will be able to accommodate the model you choose.
power consumption: Another feature to consider is power consumption and wattage. Most OTGs consume 1200W to 2000W of power. Larger OTGs and OTGs with higher wattage cook food faster but they also consume more energy. Therefore, consider your usage frequency and electricity bill budget before choosing OTG for your home.
Construction and Maintenance: The material your OTG is made from will help determine how long it will last and how easy it will be to maintain. OTGs made of stainless steel are more durable and easier to clean than OTGs made of aluminum. The removable tray and cool touch handle make the appliance easy to use.
features: What you want to cook in the OTG will help determine what features you want to focus on. For example, the rotisserie function is ideal for making kebabs and tikkas and roasting whole chickens, while the convection mode is a must-have for bakers as it ensures uniform cooking. A timer helps ensure that your dish does not get overcooked and the auto shut-off feature automatically turns off the function after a certain time to prevent the appliance from overheating. Additionally, installing multiple racks can help adjust the distance between food and the heating element or cook multiple items at once.
Who should buy an air fryer?
The air fryer is a relatively new addition to the Indian kitchen. These appliances use rapid hot air circulation to deliver crisp and evenly cooked food with little or no oil used. Their popularity is driven by the recent change in how Indians approach everyday cooking, both in terms of calories and ease of cooking. These appliances are ideal for frying and roasting foods. They are an excellent choice for calorie-conscious users who want to eat fried snacks while using very little oil. Users can roast vegetables and make tikkas, French fries, chicken-based snacks and pizzas.
What factors should be considered when purchasing an air fryer?
Capacity: Capacity plays an important role when deciding which air fryer is better for your home. Air fryers are available in capacities ranging between 2L to 12L. Small families with two to three members can choose air fryers with a capacity of between 2L to 3.5L, while medium-sized families with around four people can opt for appliances with a capacity of 4L to 6L and larger families can opt for appliances with a capacity of more than 6L.
power consumption: Most air fryers use power in the range of 1,200W and 2,000W. Higher wattage results in food cooking faster. An air fryer with a capacity of 1500W strikes a balance between energy consumption and efficiency and is ideal for most households.
maintenance: The user-friendly design will make it easy for you to cook in the appliance and clean it afterward. Look for features like non-stick and dishwasher-safe baskets.
Security: Safety should be your priority when purchasing an air fryer. To maximize safety, look for features like cool-touch handles and exteriors and overheat protection. Additionally, features like auto shut-off help prevent overcooking of food and overheating of the appliance.
presets and controls: One benefit of using an air fryer is that they come with presets, meaning users don’t need to set temperatures or timers to cook popular foods. When choosing an air fryer for your home, look for a variety of presets.
Who should buy a microwave oven?
Microwave ovens have been a part of Indian kitchens for a long time. They are the OG appliances that are popular not only among families but also among working professionals, students and workplace canteens and act as reliable partners when cooking simple meals, reheating food and even baking when used with the convection function. They are also a great option for steaming vegetables and fish and even cooking rice and dal.
What factors should be considered when purchasing a microwave oven?
Capacity: Like OTG, capacity is an important factor to consider when purchasing a microwave oven. For small families or couples, microwave ovens with capacities between 15L to 20L work well. While medium-sized families with three to four members can opt for appliances with 21L to 30L capacity, larger families with more than four members can opt for microwave ovens with more than 30L capacity.
size: Before purchasing a microwave oven, it is important to ensure that your microwave oven will fit in the space you have.
power consumption: Most microwave ovens use power in the range of 800W and 1,200W. Higher wattage results in faster cooking. However, it also consumes more power. Therefore, appliances with 900W to 1000W wattage are ideal for Indian kitchens.
maintenance: The material your microwave oven is made of determines how long the appliance will last. Stainless steel is durable and lasts a long time. Also see Cool-Touch Top
features: Nowadays, microwave ovens come with many different features that make cooking easier and safer. For example, a child safety lock prevents your children from accidentally using the device and the auto cook menu lets you cook specific dishes at the click of a button. Find the cooking presets that best suit your cooking needs.
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