Heavy-duty commercial microwave ovens use more power, cook or reheat foods faster, have all stainless steel exteriors and have several programmable features. These units are ideal for operations that reheat a lot of different food items. Light-duty microwaves are ideal for establishments that do not have a lot of space and only reheat or warm small amounts of food throughout the day. These smaller models use less power than heavy-duty models, may or may not have a stainless steel exterior and have more basic programming options than their heavier-duty counterparts.
Kitchens that want to gain the benefits of steam and microwave cooking can look into a microwave/steamer all-in-one unit. These pieces of equipment combine the best of both worlds. Food is cooked quickly with microwave technology while the steam helps retain the food’s moisture, color and nutrient content.