It’s an outstanding cooker though; our testers declared its roast chicken one of the best on test and awarded its mac and cheese and jacket potatoes a perfect score. Its clear manual and intuitive interface also make preparing more than your traditional microwave meals easy – even a roast chicken. Proving a real all-rounder, our experts awarded this microwave full marks for its microwaved jacket potatoes and near perfect marks for its roasting, baking and grilling. Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute eat well during this test, as they use each combination microwave to heat, grill, bake and roast. We’ve highlighted the maximum wattage for each function below (or in some instances, the max temperature of the convection cooking function depending on manufacturer information).
Daewoo 25L Combination Microwave with Grill
Everyone loves an air fryer, so unsurprisingly, this multitasking appliance with air fryer functionality was a hit with our experts. It was efficient too; cooking our jacket potato used just 10p of electricity. And opting for a combination microwave over a traditional solo microwave can unlock even more culinary possibilities in your kitchen…
What can you cook in a combination microwave?
You no longer need to worry about reheating meals, as the genius sensor automatically determines the optimal cooking time and power. Both performed excellently on test, but the former has a larger capacity and more presets while the latter costs half the price and comes with an air fryer function. On test, we enjoyed evenly cooked food, well-defrosted minced beef and crispy jacket potatoes with fluffy insides. This microwave offers convenience and flexibility with its cooking options. Its large 31-litre capacity means it competently doubles as an oven when needed, with ample room to roast a big chicken or bake a generously sized cake. This powerful combi does it all, including cooking up a Sunday roast thanks to its 29 auto-cook programmes that include roast lamb and beef.
How we test combination microwaves
Our testers were impressed with its tender, juicy roast chicken and found the grill and combination cooking modes effective. Combining all the best air fryer and microwave benefits, this smart machine from Sage, which is also a grill and convection oven, is another great multitasker. When testing the air fryer mode, they enjoyed a well-cooked, tender whole roast chicken and delicious sausages – add some fluffy mash and that’s dinner sorted in just ten minutes. For example, using the grill and microwave at the same time to cook your ready meal means it would emerge quickly cooked and with a mouth-wateringly crispy topping.
Detailed instruction manuals also cover how to cook everything from a jacket potato to sausages. If all this seems daunting, many come with a host of pre-programmed auto-cook options that do all the hard work for you. Toast lovers take note though, the grill element may not be as powerful as conventional grills, so it may be slower to brown your bread than an oven or a toaster. Essentially, it’s like having a small oven on your kitchen counter. Master every meal with smart cooking
FindThisBest (UK) aims to create a platform to help you make better shopping decisions with less time and energy. Mohammed has gathered enough experience from his time practicing as a professional architect and now has vast knowledge in home designs and aesthetics. Enjoy consistent outcomes and delightful flavours with this innovative kitchen companion. You’ll appreciate the 10 auto menu settings justbit that simplify meal preparation, allowing you to select options like pasta or pizza with ease. Additionally, the Dough and Yoghurt Function provides the perfect environment for fermentation, allowing you to create fresh meals with ease.
- On test, we enjoyed evenly cooked food, well-defrosted minced beef and crispy jacket potatoes with fluffy insides.
- Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute eat well during this test, as they use each combination microwave to heat, grill, bake and roast.
- Head to our microwave buying guide for all you need to know about each.
- One way to increase your microwave’s cooking capacity is by looking for a model with stackable racks, as that will allow you to cook a couple of dishes at the same time.
- Still, that’s not a dealbreaker and there was a lot to love about this machine, including its large viewing window, easy-to-clean interior, and delicious fairy cake-baking skills.
- As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs.
Looking for a new microwave? We’ve got you covered. Check out our top tips to find the best microwave for you
We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of convection microwave ovens, including Daewoo, Samsung, Panasonic, Toshiba, BLACK+DECKER. We found that most customers choose convection microwave ovens with an average price of £160.60. We collected and analyzed 26,494 customer reviews through our big data system to write the convection microwave ovens list. With a generous 30-litre capacity and 1000W microwave power, you can easily prepare anything from quick snacks to hearty family meals. With a powerful 900W microwave performance, it ensures quick heating, while the 1100W grill feature is perfect for achieving that crispy finish on your favourites. The Russell Hobbs Microwave Oven offers a spacious 25-litre capacity, making it an ideal addition to your kitchen.
If you’re replacing an existing microwave, there are plenty of places for you to safely recycle your old one. It’s not the fanciest of combis, but it’s more affordable and compact than many on this list – ideal for smaller kitchens. Still, that’s not a dealbreaker and there was a lot to love about this machine, including its large viewing window, easy-to-clean interior, and delicious fairy cake-baking skills. Though not the sleekest or most powerful model on test, this means your electricity bill should be lower – we used just 11p of electricity for a jacket potato.
While this Samsung model doesn’t have a convection oven (so skip if you want one for cakes and roasts), it does have a grill with one temperature setting that’s perfect for giving microwave meals a crispy finish. With a 26-litre capacity, it offers lots of flexibility; on test, our experts cooked a roast chicken in 41 minutes, and praised its ready meal and jacket potato prep skills too. Not all combination microwaves have the same features; some have a grill, some have convection cooking, and some have both. Using a combination of microwave and convection heating, these ovens can cook, bake, roast, and grill a wide variety of foods quickly and efficiently. The auto convection setting cooked a whole chicken well with lovely moist meat, and it grilled sausages beautifully.
- Our experts have trialled hundreds of kitchen appliances, including the best solo microwaves and best air fryer microwaves, so we know exactly what makes a top buy.
- Master every meal with smart cooking
- While we don’t have any on this list, it’s also worth noting that some combination microwaves are available as built-in models too.
- We programmed it to defrost a 1.5-kilogram chicken, and it calculated the right length of time, fully defrosting it within 24 minutes.
- If you’re often in a rush, the auto defrost function makes thawing seafood, poultry, and meats quick and easy.
Samsung MG23K3575AK/EU Combination Microwave
With the Fast Combi function, you can combine cooking methods for quicker results, making meal preparation easier and more efficient. This means you can effortlessly prepare crispy fries, roast a succulent chicken, or quickly defrost food, all with one appliance. The powerful 1300W quartz grill provides the ability to achieve perfectly grilled dishes, enhancing your cooking repertoire. Its spacious 30-litre capacity can accommodate a 12” dinner plate, perfect for cooking family-sized portions.
It’s a premium buy, but because of its many functions, it can be a tad confusing to use, so keep the manual close by at first. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Finally, our testers judge each microwave for its ease of use and design, considering its overall quality and accompanying instructions. Generally, they will use less electricity than traditional ovens because they heat a smaller space. Some models can even steam food or air fry; the possibilities really are endless. Head to our microwave buying guide for all you need to know about each.
Thanks to their quick-heating powers, microwaves can be dinner-time miracle workers for many busy households. These figures show how much power you can use to cook, rather than directly reflecting how much electricity a microwave may use when cooking. Automatic cooking settings can be helpful too, but some models only have pre-set programmes for combination cooking. While we don’t have any on this list, it’s also worth noting that some combination microwaves are available as built-in models too.
Its 30L capacity allows you to cook larger meals or multiple dishes at once, making family cooking more efficient. Its Element IQ system employs smart algorithms to provide precise power distribution, ensuring perfectly cooked meals every time. The BLACK+DECKER Microwave Oven is a versatile 3-in-1 appliance that combines a 900W microwave, 1100W grill, and 2500W convection oven. The additional nine air fry auto menus enable you to enjoy healthier meals, as they require no added oil while still achieving that crispy texture. The Panasonic CF87 Oven features a spacious 31-litre capacity, making it ideal for cooking large family meals. The Samsung Convection Microwave offers innovative cooking solutions for your kitchen.
