Are combination microwaves any good?

mrochester

mrochester

mrochester

Soldato
Joined
29 Sep 2003
Posts
5,826
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Hi all.

My microwave has just gone pop.

My current double gas oven is also a bit knackered and we are currently having to use the small top oven for cooking everything.

To mitigate this I was wondering if a combination microwave would be any good.

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations? How do they compare to air fryers and other countertop electric ovens?

Many thanks.

M.
 
I’d only ever buy a plain microwave now. With the explosion in cooking tech over the last few years, there other options now to do the oven bit better. For example, the ninja air fryer cooks a fantastic chicken or bit of beef.
 
robfosters said:
I’d only ever buy a plain microwave now. With the explosion in cooking tech over the last few years, there other options now to do the oven bit better. For example, the ninja air fryer cooks a fantastic chicken or bit of beef.
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True, but with a limited amount of bench space I don’t have enough room to fill it with appliances, nor the cupboard space to store them away. A microwave is pretty much essential so I have to dedicate some space for one of those at least.
 
I don't have an air fryer so can't compare to that but I used a convection microwave for a few months while re-doing the kitchen. Took a long time to heat up and didn't have a lot of space inside but it was fine overall.
 
jpaul said:
yes I'd get a combo - like the ct54 that cooked our baked poatoes on 26&27th , warmed plates on xmas day, cooked a cup of cocoa ..
more energy efficient and versatile and elegant and cleanable than an air fryer - I've already evangalised on them and the data that supports that in air fryer thread.
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I'd second this. I have the ct57 of this and it's brilliant. Jacket potatoes are paticularly good and what used to take an hour+ in the big oven now takes 20-25 minutes in the combi and I honestly can't tell the differnce. As a microwave it's great as well and larger / more powerful than the more basic microwave only machines so has advantages that way.

When using it purely as an oven I do have to give a bit more thought to whats going in it mainly due to the fact it's only a top element. For some things I actually find it better and most frozen potato style things it actually does better than my £700 AEG oven. Things like chips / hash browns / chicken nuggets etc crisp up better in this than they do in my actual oven. Conversely things like quiches dont go well at all and whilst it does the job, you generally end up with the top starting to burn before the inside is really cooked, a problem that doesnt exist in the real oven.

I think I'd sum it up by saying its certainly not as consistent, but for quick cooks, and to just act as a secondary oven on top of the main one it's great.
 
I have a 23 year old panasonic 3 in 1, Grill, Fan oven, 1000W microwave. Looking a bit tatty but still works (Had too swap the magnetron after a slight accident)
Gets used daily for one thing or another, heats up quick and cooks really well.

A lot of the newer models don't have the rear fan and element and instead use the grill as the oven, these work OK but if you can get one with a rear fan they cook better.
My dad got a replacement without the rear and it's just not been as good.

Ones with a rear fan are expensive now though.

Have my eye on a Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ 31 Litre Combination Microwave Oven .... when it eventually dies. These have gone up ~ £100 in the last year or so.
More space would be useful, current one around 17-20L at a guess.
 
decto said:
Have my eye on a Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ 31 Litre Combination Microwave Oven .... when it eventually dies. These have gone up ~ £100 in the last year or so.
More space would be useful, current one around 17-20L at a guess.
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yes looks like a nice piece of kit & seems to be their first price point with fan in the back
- but it's becoming as large as top built in oven (albeit don't have fan in most) and at £500 I'd be considering updating built in with one combined with uwave.

sage @ £300 has the fan https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/microwaves/bmo870.html
but not sure I'd now trust that brand as much & reviews iffy
.. thought that following Aussie mergers they have some products in lower market segments (like cheaper panasonic tv's coming from vestel)
 
decto said:
I have a 23 year old panasonic 3 in 1, Grill, Fan oven, 1000W microwave. Looking a bit tatty but still works (Had too swap the magnetron after a slight accident)
Gets used daily for one thing or another, heats up quick and cooks really well.

A lot of the newer models don't have the rear fan and element and instead use the grill as the oven, these work OK but if you can get one with a rear fan they cook better.
My dad got a replacement without the rear and it's just not been as good.

Ones with a rear fan are expensive now though.

Have my eye on a Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ 31 Litre Combination Microwave Oven .... when it eventually dies. These have gone up ~ £100 in the last year or so.
More space would be useful, current one around 17-20L at a guess.
Click to expand...
I have the older version. When it dies I'll be instantly getting another. Maybe even the model up with steam.
 
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