[moorandr]

Time for kitchen modernisation and a new microwave is on the list.
Thinking of going for Combination Microwave.
Any views on whether a combination microwave is a good idea and any recommendations.
Thanks

[DPinBucks]

We've had combo microwaves for years and wouldn't be without one.


The most useful ones have a grill, fan oven and microwave all of which can be used independently or in any combination. Ours have been Panasonics, so can't answer for the features of others, but what we have found it especially good at are:

• It's programmable, with 3 steps, including delay. I often use it to defrost & heat in one go, starting & finishing with a short burst at full power with a longer bit at medium in the middle. Ditto things like oven chips or scampi: use oven/microwave to heat them and get them started, then switch to oven/grill to crisp them up. Works a treat;
• Baked potatoes are especially good. Soft interiors and crispy skins. Ours has a special programme where you just enter the weight and it does the rest, but all it is is a combination of fan oven, grill and microwave. Perfect large baked potato in 13 minutes. The same applies to pizzas.
• Cooking & heating small quantities which wouldn't justify putting on a full oven.

The main drawback, I suppose (apart from cost) is that they tend to be larger than a basic microwave oven. If your new kitchen also includes a new cooker, there are one or two suppliers who put these features into the top oven of a double. Alternatively, go for a cheaper single oven cooker and a built-in combo microwave.

To cut a long story short: cost apart, a combo oven is a no-brainer.

[Speedoguy]

Try & get one with a stainless-steel interior, our other ones all had a plastic inside that soon goes manky . This one is still fine inside after 3 years.

[Matt_C]

I've had a combi MW since I moved in two and a half years ago - never used it for anything other than what you'd normally use a MW for tho! I never read the instruction manual, now I can't find it, and have no idea how it does the grill or "oven" functions, and don't like the idea of putting something metal in it in case I blow it up! LOL

[GasDad]

As part of re-doing our kitchen, which involved a lot of building work, we used a two ring camping hob and a combi micro wave for all our cooking for a couple of months. We'd never used the combi part in anger before - but we ended up doing a fairly reasonable roast chicken in it

On specing the new kitchen we went for a normal double oven but went for this combi microwave Neff C57M70N0GB. Worked very well so far.