OTG vs Microwave Oven: Which Is Better?

If you are into baking, you need either a microwave or an OTG. The two boast several similar functions and will help you in baking and toasting.

Does this mean that they’re the same? What are their differences? Is one better than the other? Stick around to get the answers to these questions.

When it comes to OTG vs microwave, understanding the differences between the 2 might help you decide with ease.

The main difference between an OTG and a microwave is that an OTG is limited to baking, grilling and toasting, while a microwave can help you prepare different types of food such as pizza, rice among others.

To help you understand the two kitchen appliances better, we’ve compiled this post for you. Read through to learn more.

Quick Overview of OTG vs Microwave Key Differences

Difference	OTG	Microwave Oven
Heating element	Uses Chromium/nickel heating coils to change electrical energy into heat energy. Uses a fan to distribute the heat evenly.	Uses microwaves to heat your food.
Capacity	Big capacity	Small capacity
Size and weight	Compact and lightweight hence portable.	Bigger and heavy
Cooking time	Slower cooking time	Faster cooking time
Baking quality	Better baking quality (professional quality).	Bakes just fine
Compatible cookware	Glass, metal and silicone utensils	Plastic, glass and silicone
Ease of use	Relatively harder to use	Easier to use
Power consumption	Consume more energy	More energy-efficient
Cost	Low upfront cost, expensive in the long run.	High upfront costs, affordable in the long run.
Cleaning and maintenance	Relatively harder to clean than microwaves.	Easier to clean
Best for	Grilling, baking and toasting	Reheating, defrosting and cooking simple meals

What is an OTG?

An OTG (oven, toaster, and griller) is a traditional oven that uses heated coils to cook. It has heating elements both at the top and bottom of the cavity.

And although it might appear similar to a microwave, it varies a lot when it comes to the cooking mechanism it uses along with its capabilities.

You can use an OTG to make cookies, bread, cookies, pizza, tarts, baked snacks, kebabs, baked fish/chicken, rotisserie chicken, among others.

The Pros and Cons of an OTG

Pros

• OTGs are lightweight; hence portable
• Compact enough to fit in a small kitchen
• Has a large interior capacity
• Relatively cheaper compared to microwaves
• 3 in 1 appliance therefore highly versatile
• Most models come with a rotisserie to help handle the baked foods easily

Cons

• Take more time cooking
• Limited application
• Long preheating time stretches the cooking time
• Require regular cleaning and maintenance
• Not suitable for newbies

What is a Microwave?

A microwave is an oven that heats and cooks food using electromagnetic waves. The appliance produces thermal energy that is used to heat your food.

A microwave takes lesser time to cook and can also bake and cook tasty cookies (convection microwave).

The Pros and Cons of a Microwave

Pros

• Multifunctional
• It saves time and space
• Highly efficient in saving energy
• User-friendly
• Ideal for reheating
• Affordable

Cons

• Limited inside interior capacity
• Cooks only one meal at a time
• A little heavy hence not easy to move around
• Make food less precious

Main Differences Between OTG and Microwave Oven

Understanding the differences between an OTG and a microwave enables you to determine the best product for your home.

Here’s an in-depth discussion of the differences between OTGs and a Microwave

1. Heating Element

OTGs use chromium/nickel coils to heat up the compartment within. It also comes with a built-in fan that helps circulate the heat evenly, just like a charcoal oven.

And since the generation of heat in an OTG is solely dependent on the temperature from the coils, it takes more time to preheat and bake food.

On the other hand, the microwave heats food using electromagnetic waves that are absorbed by the food being cooked. These electromagnetic waves usually range from 300 MHz to 300 GHz.

Microwaves take very little time to pre-heat, thanks to their electric nature. This means that these appliances cook food really fast.

It doesn’t come with a fan as the heat gets absorbed by the food with a lot of ease. However, the appliance comes with a turntable that helps to heat your food evenly.

2. Spacing

OTGs have racks installed, which allow you to slide multiple trays on top of each other. This way, you can bake batches of cookies or bread hassle-free.

A microwave doesn’t come with racks but has a turntable instead. This turntable rotates your food for even cooking.

With a microwave, you can only cook one food item at a time. Using rectangular dishes in the unit is also a hassle.

3. Capacity

An OTG can have a capacity of up to 60 liters, and therefore, for large batches, it is the best option. Microwaves can only reach a capacity of a maximum of 32 liters. Also, the rotating surface in a microwave is relatively small, which makes cooking larger batches a problem.

4. Size and Weight

An oven’s size and weight determines whether it’s best suited for domestic or commercial use. A bigger size means a higher capacity, which is always great when preparing large meals.

OTGs are usually for commercial purposes hence come in bigger sizes. You can, however, still get a smaller size for home use.

On the other hand, microwaves come in small sizes as they are mainly used for domestic cooking.

If you weighed similar-sized OTGs and microwaves, the OTGs would weigh lesser than the microwave ovens. Actually, a convection microwave weighs 3 times more than an OTG of the same capacity.

5. Choice of Utensils

Silicone, aluminium and glass utensils are the best utensils for baking in an OTG. With a microwave, you can use plastic silicone and glass utensils.

One thing to keep in mind is that you can never use metal utensils in your microwave. This is because while fats, sugars and water absorb the electromagnetic waves, they are not absorbed by metal or plastic.

Placing a metal pan in a microwave can cause a short circuit which can be dangerous.

6. Utility

OTGs come with dials and knobs that help control the temperature and baking time of a specific dish. Its slow heating nature helps cook food evenly for delicious results.

Most microwaves, on the other hand, lack a dedicated temperature control. And although some offer low, medium and high heating modes, they don’t give you the option to set the exact temperature.

One of the main advantages of a microwave is that it boasts quick heating properties. It is, therefore, the best for reheating and cooking food instantly.

7. Baking Quality

If looking for professional-level baking quality, you can never go wrong with an OTG. Although they have limited functions, OTGs work wonders by giving you the best results in every recipe that you make.

Microwaves get the job done, thanks to the versatility of the device. If you like baking at home, a quality microwave oven won’t let you down.

8. Ease of Use

A microwave ranks among kitchen utensils that everyone can use with ease. Modern units come with a dedicated digital display that improves user-friendliness.

Modern microwaves even boast some cooking presets that automatically adjust the cooking time and temperature.

OTGs boast mechanical controls, which can be confusing and a little challenging to use.

9. Energy Efficiency

Microwaves cook very fast and have a lower energy consumption capacity. A microwave consumes 20% less energy than an OTG of the same capacity.

OTGs, on the other hand, take a long time to cook, which results in more power consumption. They are designed to heat up slowly to enhance the texture of the food being cooked.

The slower the unit cooks, the more power it consumes.

10. Price

Microwaves come at a higher price than OTGs. However, although the upfront cost of OTGs is lesser, the unit is more expensive in the long run as it’s not energy-efficient.

Which is Better, OTG or Microwave?

Technically, neither a microwave nor an OTG works best in all situations. Each has a specific field where it works better than the other.

The best model will vary from person to person, depending on their needs.

For instance, if running a pastry and baking business, you’ll definitely require an OTG. But if what you need is a home appliance that will help you prepare meals fast and efficiently, a microwave would be best for you.

An OTG is the best for baking, grilling and toasting. It’s the best appliance for cooking, relatively cheaper than a microwave and highly versatile.

A microwave oven cooks faster, is energy-efficient, saves time and space, is multifunctional and affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

When it comes to OTG vs Microwave, the main difference is in the usage. There are also differences in capacity, baking quality, energy consumption and cost.

However, both work great to deliver excellent cooking results. Although they come with their pros and cons, there’s no denying that the two make working in the kitchen easier a lot easier.

If you need an appliance that can help you bake professional-like cakes, bread and cookies, an OTG is your best bet.

And if all you need is a kitchen appliance for basic cooking, go for a microwave. You can also bake in a microwave if you go for a convection model.

Ensure that you go for the appliance based on your needs to get the best results.