Are combination microwaves any good?

[jaybee]

We have a combi oven/microwave built in thing. It's an oven/grill and microwave all in one. We find it well helpful having it as it can do everything. We use the main fan assisted oven for most things requiring oven cooking, but when we do a roast or something larger and need additional temps etc, we use the top one.
As for its microwaving functionality. It's pretty crap. I mean we use it as a microwave a lot, but because it does not have a turn table, things don't get cooked evenly and need a lot of stopping, stirring, repositioning, placing back in etc until cooked. However, I can live with that for not having another ugly big box on the kitchen worktop, as it's built in. Looks nice.
We also have an air fryer but that can go back in the cupboard when not in use.

 

[tom_nieto]

Might try jacket potatoes on microwave and oven mode in ours. Probably the only thing I can think of… although the salmon en croute would have been good reheated using both!

 

[TBirdUK]

if you do get a combi do not get a Samsung - had 2 and after about 18 months both started to play up with some buttons working, others not - Samsung were useless and wanted to charge me for another PCB even though it seems to be a well known issue. Love the combi side, great for doing frozen pizzas.

 

[decto]

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.

When I measured, it was around the same width and an inch less depth as my current unit. Though it is a good 3 inches higher which isn't an issue on the counter top.
It does look much bigger in the pictures though, and yes... not cheap for a microwave.

 

[R.C.Anderson]

IMO it depends on what else you have. If you already have a double oven, it's probably not much benefit, but if you have a single oven, I'd definitely say it's worth it. It's not often I need more than 1 oven, but when I do, having the extra makes such a difference & the price difference isn't actually that big comparitively (although you can get much cheaper & smaller microwaves).

When I moved into my current house, there was a gas oven, so I did 99% of my cooking in my combi microwave. Now that I've renovated everything, I put a single oven & combi microwave in. I still use the oven function on the microwave occasionally, and wouldn't do without it unless I had space for 2 ovens.

 

[jpaul]

microwave if you don't already have one adds a lot of versatility -
- porridge at breakfast (used to use the works one in the office)
- folks use one to cook up chopped apples very quickly, plus, more elaborate microwave specific recipes like xmas puddings
..... and, again, those baked potatoes you wouldn't turn the oven on for, alone

 

[BinnsY]

I had one in the past and it was both a poor microwave and a bad oven.
You would be much better off getting a microwave and an air fryer or halogen.

I dont think its quite as clear cut as this as this certainly doesnt match my experience.

The one I have is better as a microwave than the standalone microwave it replaced (I went from a 800w Russell hobbs to my current panasonic combi) and I find it heats things more evenly whilst offering more room inside. Whilst I'm not sure I'd describe it as a great oven, mines certinaly not a bad oven, and some things it cooks better than my actual oven. Other things its much worse. I'd certainly agree its less consistent than my actual oven but it didnt take long to establish what it's good at and what it's bad at, and the flexibility it gives is great. Given it uses essentially no more space than a stand alone microwave, its a no brainer for me.

 

[jpaul]

I believe that's the invertor characteristic of the panasonics, superior to flat-bed ideas of most of the opposition,
it provides more uniform/regulated power/heating - much the same as the problem with many induction hobs that pulse on and off versus continual uniform power

 

[decto]

I believe that's the invertor characteristic of the panasonics, superior to flat-bed ideas of most of the opposition,
it provides more uniform/regulated power/heating - much the same as the problem with many induction hobs that pulse on and off versus continual uniform power

I agree, inverter makes a big difference especially on lower power settings as it can output a continuous 100 - 1000W vs pulsing 1000W on and off every few seconds top get the same effect in cheaper units.

 

[China Man]

I had one in the past and it was both a poor microwave and a bad oven.
You would be much better off getting a microwave and an air fryer or halogen.

Same experience, Had it for 6 years and only use as microwave, air fryer on the other hand get use almost every other day.