Difference Between Domestic And Commercial Microwaves?

Commercial microwaves are designed specifically for professional kitchens and cannot be substituted with microwaves used in private homes.

Commercial microwaves are built differently than your average microwaves at home. They withstand heavy usage and offer a range of power settings for different types of cooking.

Microwaves are designed for convenience with quick cooking times and weightless meals, but they lack the heat distribution necessary for a high-volume kitchen.

Here’s all the information you need to know about the difference between microwaves for commercial and domestic use, compiled in one handy guide.

1. Construction:

Domestic microwaves are not as strong or durable as commercial microwaves because the materials are cheaper. Commercial microwaves are made of stainless steel to be long-lasting and easy to keep sanitized.

2. Max Usage Limit:

If you are a home cook, your microwave is only used 3 to 5 times per day. On the other hand, commercial microwaves can be used 200+ times because they are built for long hours in the kitchen, making them more durable than household models. 

Domestic microwaves were built to quickly heat up food, but commercial microwaves were built for heavy usage. This means that domestic microwaves will have the potential to break down if they are used too much, while commercial microwaves can withstand hours of use each day with no problems.

3. Speed:

Domestic microwaves typically have around 700-900 watts of power, while commercial microwaves often have 900-2200 watts. This has important consequences for how easily and quickly a specific microwave will cook food. If you want your kitchen to run more efficiently by cooking food faster, you need the power of a commercial microwave.

4. No Turntables:

Commercial microwaves are different from domestic microwaves. They use a stirrer system which means that the microwave energy is distributed all throughout the cavity, rather than just in one place. This results in more even distribution and faster cooking time.

Commercial microwaves can hold large amounts of food and heat it more evenly and easily, so there’s no need for turntables.

5. Ease of Cleaning:

To keep your microwave oven in a food-safe condition, you need to regularly clean it. Menumaster commercial microwave ovens come with stainless steel interior and exterior, which makes cleaning faster and easier.

6. Controls and Programmability:

Domestic microwaves come with preset buttons, such as the popcorn and pizza button. However, the main benefit of a commercial microwave is the fully programmable control panel that allows you to cook many different dishes by simply pushing one button—fast, consistent cooking for all your food and no need for manual control when cooking.

7. Price:

High-quality microwaves are high quality because they are built to last a long time and withstand heavy usage. Domestic microwaves, on the other hand, are cheap for a reason. They may be convenient in the short term but will likely break down quickly if you use them often.

Like all professional kitchen equipment, a commercial microwave is a worthwhile investment in terms of quality, endurance, and speed. A high-quality commercial microwave will be a long-lasting fixture in your kitchen, and you won’t need to deal with the headache of frequent repairs or replacements.

8. Warranty & Servicing:

Manually operated microwaves may not be covered by insurance and may violate safety standards. With Menumaster microwaves, there is a 12-month warranty for parts and labor plus an additional 2 years of warranty on electronics.

Read Also: What is the Difference Between a Microwave and an Oven?

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are commercial microwaves better?

Definitely, yes, commercial microwaves are much more powerful than home microwaves. They have a higher wattage and can heat food faster. This is because microwaves have to do much more work to heat up food as they have to heat the water directly, as opposed to home microwaves which heat the air around the food. Therefore, a commercial microwave is better for restaurants or canteens where the chef needs to heat food quickly.

How do I know if my microwave is commercial grade?

A good way to tell if you’re buying a commercial grade microwave is to look at the machine’s wattage. If you have a standard residential microwave, they will produce between 700 and 900 watts of power. If you have a commercial microwave, these normally produce anywhere between 900 watts and a whopping 2,200 watts of power. Now, of course, the higher the wattage, the more expensive the microwave will be. That’s about three times as much as your standard residential microwave.

Another way to tell is to look at the price. Residential microwaves are often a lot cheaper than commercial microwaves. So if you’re going to be using the microwave in a commercial setting, it will be worth the extra investment to buy a commercial microwave.

What makes a microwave commercial?

Commercial microwaves use a higher power output than microwaves for home use. A commercial microwave should be able to cook food faster than a home microwave. There are also specialty microwaves like popcorn machines, conveyor belt ovens, and bain marie ovens. These are used in a restaurant or a pretty expensive hotels. For instance, a regular microwave uses around 700 to 1000 watts of electric power, and a commercial grade microwave uses 1500 to 2500 watts of electric power. It heats up the food faster and cooks it thoroughly.

Why do commercial microwaves not have turntables?

Commercial microwaves are made to cook larger quantities of food. This means that the machines can also handle larger dishes, which would not fit on a turntable. In addition to the size, commercial microwaves are also designed to heat food much more evenly, which removes the need for a turntable. Because of the higher cooking capacity of commercial microwaves, they can also function without a turntable.

How long does a commercial microwave last?

A commercial microwave will generally last 5-10 years. In the same situation, a domestic microwave may only last 6 months. When buying a new microwave, you should check if it complies with the EU and US standards. A good commercial microwave will have a significant amount of metal in its body.

Conclusion

In conclusion, microwaves are one of the most common kitchen appliances. They are used for everything from warming up leftovers to re-heating coffee. While commercial microwaves are a great addition to any restaurant or café, they are also a fantastic addition to any home.

A commercial microwave can be a great tool for you to use in your home, giving you the ability to quickly cook food and heat up leftovers; however, they can be rather expensive, and they are usually large. On the other hand, domestic microwaves are great for smaller households, as they are much cheaper and are small enough to fit on the countertop.

Domestic microwaves are also cheaper than commercial microwaves. They are not made to be installed in commercial kitchens, so you can save some money by buying a domestic microwave for your home.