microwave: Explained: What is the difference between OTG and a microwave oven – Times of India

An OTG (Oven Toaster Griller) and a microwave oven have many similar features, which help to cook food items that can be made in both the appliances without much change in the end result. The two appliances, however, are not the same. So, how will you understand which one to buy? Well, let us help you through how the two stand different from each other.
The functions of an OTG include baking, grilling and toasting. If a person wants to buy for these purposes only, s/he cannot go wrong in selecting an OTG for daily use. But then, if you wish to cook various kinds of food in a single appliance, a microwave oven may be the better choice.
How They Operate
OTGs are small, portable ovens, which need no additional set-up. Compared to Microwave ovens, an OTG uses less electricity and is considered to be the more economical among the two. This appliance has coils, which are made up of nickel/chromium metal alloys that convert electricity into heat. The heat then helps in cooking the food inside out. Almost all OTGs come designed with knobs for selecting time, temperature and switching between the features. Some ovens, however, come with additional features like a defrost cycle.
On the other hand, Microwave oven is a type of appliance that uses microwaves to heat up the food from inside. So, what are microwaves? Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic waves that have their frequency between 300 MHz (0.3GHz) and 300 GHz. A microwave oven runs purely on electricity and it does not require any additional set-up.
Food preparation and pre-heating time
Apart from usability, OTGs and microwaves have differences in food preparation and pre-heating time. While OTG uses traditional heatwaves for heating food, microwave ovens use microwave for heating, which is why they have a faster food preparation and pre-heating time than OTGs. In an OTG, the average heating time is about 14 to 15 minutes. However, modern microwave ovens just take 5 to 6 minutes to preheat.
Both Microwaves and OTGs do not require any additional setup and are portable to use. All of them need to be just plugged in to be made operational. While OTGs are used for baking items like bread and desserts, microwave ovens can not only do all of that but also heat food very fast. Most households have these two appliances and are almost a must-have product for all kitchens.