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 justbit 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.
Testers were impressed with its general microwaving skills (which delivered a beautifully cooked jacket potato) as well as its grill function. Plus, when we used the convection oven and microwave combination, we tucked into a succulent chicken after just 45 minutes. We’ve rounded up our best air fryer microwaves in a separate buying guide to make it even easier to find the best one for your kitchen.
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.
This smart technology ensures your food is heated perfectly every time, preventing any chance of over or undercooking. Its dual-level cooking allows you to prepare multiple dishes at once, saving you time and effort. Moreover, the 95-minute timer allows you to cook meals without the concern of burning, providing you with peace of mind while preparing your favourite dishes. Alternatively, our best value combination microwave is the Russell Hobbs 900W Combination Microwave RHM2574, and it was also rated the easiest to use in the lab.
Panasonic CF87 Speed Convection Oven with Grill
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.
Sharp R959SLMAA 40L Combination Microwave Oven
On the menu is tinned soup, chilled and frozen ready meals, jacket potatoes, a roast chicken and homemade fairy cakes. This means the microwave power level and convection or grill temperature are fixed, so you can’t tailor the settings to what you’re cooking. 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. While solo microwaves are the more affordable choice, if you are after increased cooking capabilities, combination microwaves are undoubtedly a savvy investment. Additionally, the auto minute start function simplifies the cooking process, making it convenient for you to heat up meals quickly and efficiently.
How we test combination microwaves
With SLIM FRY Technology, you can enjoy crispy food with just a touch of oil, making it a healthier choice. They come in a range of sizes and styles, from compact countertop models to full-sized built-in units, making them suitable for any kitchen.
Convection
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 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.
Consumer Reviews
This determines how quickly your microwave will cook; in general, the higher the wattage, the quicker the cooking time. Or, if you’re ready to shop, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested 41 combination microwaves to find the best versatile cookers on the market. Combining microwave, grill and oven functions in one unit saves counter space and replaces separate appliances. During our convection microwave oven research, we found 124 convection microwave oven products and shortlisted 10 quality products. The Igenix IG3095 Microwave combines the advantages of a fan-assisted oven with the rapid cooking of a microwave, making it ideal for busy lifestyles. Additionally, the 2500W fan oven provides even cooking results, ideal for baking or roasting.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute eat well during this test, as they use each combination microwave to heat, grill, bake and roast.
- On test, we enjoyed evenly cooked food, well-defrosted minced beef and crispy jacket potatoes with fluffy insides.
Not all the features are dishwasher-safe either (although the turntable is) but this sleek microwave is well designed and easy to use, making dinner time simple. Its dedicated setting prepared fluffy yet crispy chips and some delicious chicken Kyivs too. We wished the air fryer tray was dishwasher-proof for a quicker clean-up, but otherwise, we can’t complain. Only mac and cheese proved a challenge – it cooked as we’d expect, but the cheese didn’t become golden.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
It performed equally well as a standard combi microwave, scoring highly in our soup, jacket potato, ready meal and defrosting tests. You can’t set its grill and convection power and temperatures manually, but otherwise it’s a real box-ticker. They also try out the defrost setting on minced meat and use the grill setting to cook toast, macaroni cheese and sausages. Combination microwaves tend to have bigger footprints than their solo counterparts, so measure your space before you shop. But, if you’re feeding a crowd and need to run it for a longer period to cook everything, it may be better to revert to an oven that fits everything in at once.
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.
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.
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…