Choosing The Best Combination Microwave For Families
Updated January 2018 - Combination microwaves are kitchen multi-tasking appliances and they are heaven sent for those who have limited space. These appliances can bake, grill, heat and defrost a whole host of meals. Whether you are into cooking, live on reheated frozen pizza, baking cakes or simply heating soup, a combi microwave is an excellent choice.
As you would expect, combination microwaves are more expensive than solo microwaves, however, their versatility is worth the investment. You still don’t have to spend a fortune for a combination microwave, you can find some models for slightly above £100. The issue is if that particular model will be suitable for your needs. Put your guessing aside and let’s lead you the best combination microwave for your kitchen.
In this article, we review 6 combination models that distinctively match different needs and we are convinced one of the models can be just perfect you. Our models are highly rated and they offer great value for money. If you want to check them out straight away, you can skip to our combination microwave reviews. But hold on, our buyer’s guide is worthy of going through if you need to know how to choose the right model for you
Below is the winner of our 'Best Pick' which is the Russell Hobbs RHM3002 Microwave which we think is currently the best microwave for most people. A suitable size for most families and 5 power levels and 10 auto-cook menus for versatile cooking this model is hard to beat and offers excellent value for money making it budget friendly.
Combination Microwave Buyers Guide
When looking for a combination microwave, it’s crucial to balance your requirements with price. A combination microwave is indeed powerful and quite versatile but you have to be careful in your selection. Below are the highlights of the advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages
Disadvantages
Best Large Capacity Model
If you have a large family, or tend to entertain guests now and then, you’ll definitely need a combination microwave to feed everyone. The Sharp 40 Litre - 900 Watt Combination Microwave is just ideal when size matters.
It offers double layer cooking possibility, allowing you to prepare dinner for a whole family and guests. In addition, it has 11 power settings and can be combined with 3 cooking stages.
Furthermore, this model comes with some of the most sophisticated features such as Sensor cook, Auto Defrost, and Quartz Grill, so you’ll find it extremely convenient.
How to choose the right combination microwave
Consider the model type
Ease of use.
The best combination microwaves won’t require you to refer to the instruction manual now and then. They have easy-to-use controls and meaningful instructions on the display.
For instance, automatic functions prompt you to input the type of food and weight and automatically calculate the time needed to prepare the food. Quick start/boost function allows you to start the appliance with the press of button, while most combi microwaves increase cooking time in specific increments when the button is pressed again.
Time adjust function can let you increase or reduce the programmed time without stopping the cooking while delayed start function will let you program the appliance to start cooking at a pre-set time. Therefore, pay attention on how simple it is to input settings and where the dials are placed.
Visibility
A large transparent viewing window plus a bright interior light can help you have an eye on your food as it cooks. Not every other model has these features but then if you find one you’ll be a step ahead.
Size
Consider if your cooking dishes will fit in the appliance. Additionally, find if the capacity of the model you want can effectively serve the number of people in your household. This is measured in litres and you can find models as little as 14L capacity to more than 40L models. Obviously, large models often have bigger capacities, however, some models often employ space saving designs. If you live solo, a 20L model is just standard whilst a family will need a larger combination microwave.
Power
The power of a combination microwave determines how fast and effectively the appliance cooks food, and is measured in Watts. Combination microwaves range from 600W to 1000W. A standard combination microwave will have a power of 800W, which is enough for most people. Keep in mind that combi models usually have different power levels for grill and oven, so make sure to consider both before buying.
Multi-stage cooking
Some combi models come with this feature which allows you to program the appliance to perform a series of functions, such as defrost, and cook and then standby.
Child lock safety
Electrical appliances such as combination microwaves can be hazardous if interfered badly with kids. A child lock feature can allow you to deactivate the appliance in case you are not at home so kids can’t use the microwave oven.
Appearance
This is not such an important aspect but some people will always try and find something that’ll look good in the kitchen. If you are looking for a black, silver or cream model, you’ll find many of those but you won’t easily find exotic colours.
Cooling fan
Many combination microwaves come with a fan to cool the interior after cooking, however, some are noisy. These fans can run for a couple of minutes after the using the oven. Reading customer reviews of the model you want to buy is the best way to know if the fan is too loud or not.
Ease of cleaning
Check if there are too many gaps or holes inside the appliance, or crevices and seams on the exterior that may trap grease and food. It can be hard to clean around such exposed spots. Stainless steel exteriors are quite appealing but can need extra attention to prevent them from fingerprints. In short, look for smooth, wipe clean coatings for peace of mind.
Ease of cleaning
Combination models can be quite expensive than solo microwaves. These appliances typically cost from £100 to £500. Of course, this depends on the features of every model. Find one that offers enough power for your cooking and one that matches your budget.
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Top 6 Combination Microwave Reviews
Russell Hobbs RHM3002 30L Digital Combination Microwave with Grill & Convection Review
OUR BEST PICK
Russell Hobbs RHM3002 30L Digital Combination Microwave with Grill
Russell Hobbs RHM3002 is a stainless steel model family microwave that is multi-functional and ideal for a busy kitchen. It is packed with a variety of features that makes it a true workhorse of a microwave.
It is a stylish designed model with a typical stainless steel exterior, and features a selection knob and control buttons used for adjusting your cooking settings. Its compact design has a shiny finish that makes it a perfect model that will suit well in your kitchen. Also, it features a spacious interior and a removable glass turntable to hold large dishes that you would like to prepare.
RHM3002 is a combination model. It comes with a power grill, a 2500W fan-assisted convection oven and a regular microwave. These outstanding features makes this digital combination microwave makes it a highly versatile cook that is able to prepare a wide range of foods.
Also, its high cooking power is something not to be assumed. A 900W microwave power provides a fast and effective cooking performance, and its combined 1100W grill power for browning and convection oven for roasting, gives you a chance to cook a variety of recipes like when you are using a regular oven.
RHM3002 microwave’s grill and convection oven allows you to use it for genuine cooking instead of reheating. This model includes 10 power levels that give you precise control over how dishes are prepared. It also features a weight/time defrost settings, 10 automatic cook menus and a child lock function for your kids’ safety.
PROS
CONS
Product Specifications
Whats in the box
Our Final Conclusion
Despite a few drawbacks; a slow heating grill and short power lead, the Russell Hobbs RHM3002 30L digital combination microwave is an excellent model for you or your big happy family. Also, it’s quite affordable with a low buying price.
It is a true combination model with impressive features of good design, high power output, simple cleaning and durability. Without forgetting, its large capacity will be there to serve family and friends during parties.
Sharp R959SLMAA 40 Litre Combination Microwave Review
Sharp 40 Litre 900 Watt Combinatoon Microwave
Sharp R959SLMAA combination microwave is one of the most popular in the United Kingdom from decades up to date.
This model is designed to offer you a variety of different cooking options. It features a quartz grill, microwave and convection ovens that makes it suitable for baking, roasting or grilling at a very high speed. The grill provides more internal space and it is very simple to clean. Also, its large capacity means that it is capable of handling big meals.
Being made from stainless steel, this sharp combination microwave is very durable and impressive, and with its perfect design, it will wonderfully suit into your modern big kitchen. However, despite this model being of large capacity, it is also suitable for smaller kitchens.
This digital microwave oven comes with a wide range of advanced features. It has a 2 shelf cooking system that allows you to cook on both shelves simultaneously, 5 power controls and 8 auto cook menus for effective cooking. Also, its grill, microwave and convection oven options make it an ideal replacement or addition to a conventional oven.
It has a 900 watt motor that provides enough power for it to cook quickly and efficiently. This machine also features INFO button that guides you step by step through your cooking process, an LCD digital screen that shows output information from the microwave, and a sensor cook that measure the humidity level of your food inside the oven during cooking process.
The microwave is pre-programmed to ensure that your food can easily be defrosted by simply inputting the weight of the food, and the machine will do the rest.
PROS
CONS
Product Specifications
Our Final Conclusion
By buying this sharp combination microwave, you will be sure to have bought an excellent model. It offers good value for money and a wide range of different features, suitable for its applications in your kitchen. Depending on your requirements, this machine is very good and faster in cooking despite the amount of meal you want to make.
Therefore, if you are looking for a large capacity and powerful combination oven, this Sharp R959SLMAA Combination Microwave will be a suitable choice for you.
Panasonic NN-CF778SBPQ Combination Microwave Oven Convection Review
Panasonic NN-CF778SBPQ Family Size 100w Combination Microwave Oven
Panasonic NN-CF778BPQ is a powerful, attractive and versatile model of a combination microwave oven suitable for family size, with a flatbed microwave and back lining that is made of a self-clean catalytic material.
This model is well built up with stainless steel material, making it a stylish microwave oven to look at. It has an attractive front panel, viewing window and easy to use round buttons, which makes it suitable for almost all modern kitchens. Also, its large volume capacity is perfect enough to prepare good amount of food for a whole family.
This model is well built up with stainless steel material, making it a stylish microwave oven to look at. It has an attractive front panel, viewing window and easy to use round buttons, which makes it suitable for almost all modern kitchens. Also, its large volume capacity is perfect enough to prepare good amount of food for a whole family.
With a wide range of interesting and useful features, this microwave oven is complete and ready for work. It features a 1300W quartz grill with 3-settings which provides excellent versatility, a flat oven base that allows placement of large dishes, a built in energy save mode that ensure that it uses 0.1W of power during standby mode, a 1000W cooking power, and a family size 27 litres cooking capacity.
This family size combination microwave oven delivers power uniformly compared to the conventional microwaves. This means that, meals can be dissolved more consistently and about 30% faster than usual. Therefore, you should not get worried any more about uncooked spots or frozen patches in the middle of the food.
Being built in inverter technology, your meals are not only prepared faster, but also in a gentle manner. By doing so, important nutrients and healthy vitamins are retained in your dishes, resulting to a delicious meal for you or your family.
PROS
CONS
Product Specifications
Whats in the box
Our Final Conclusion
Despite the Panasonic NN-CF778SBPQ family size microwave oven being expensive, its outstanding features are worthy the investment. It is very effective and efficient in preparing dishes in your home or office.
The ability to thaw dishes very fast while retaining nutrients and vitamins will attract your attention since everyone would prefer nothing other than a delicious satisfying meal. Therefore, going into the shop or market place and asking for this microwave model should not be a big deal for you, so as to fulfill your dreams.
Russell Hobbs RHM2565BCG 25L Digital 900w Combination Microwave Review
Russell Hobbs RHM2565BCG 25L Digital 900w Combination Microwave
Russell Hobbs RHM2565BCG is a digital combination microwave with a stylish design that makes it a perfect suit for your modern kitchen. This machine combines microwave cooking with grill power and convection oven which enables you to cook a variety of recipes with just a single appliance.
This microwave features a durable stainless steel interior and a 31.5cm wide removable glass turntable for easy cleaning, time and weight defrost settings, a simple to operate functional control panel that includes a digital timer and clock, and a true fan assisted oven that acts exactly like a conventional oven, giving you the option of an extra cooking facility for large occasions like family gatherings and dinner parties.
The combination aspect of this microwave model enables you to combine a grill, convection heating, and microwave energy thus you can roast, heat, crisp and brown your foods. Also, this combination microwave is ideal for cooking pizzas, cottage pies and even baked potatoes.
With 10 auto cook menus and a very high powerful microwave power, this model makes cooking meals for your family or friends a simple and easy task. Its large volume capacity allows for cooking and reheating large plates of food with no problems at all. This combination microwave is also ideal for food defrosting.
Russell Hobbs RHM2565BCG digital 900W combinations microwave comes complete with a baking tray and grill rack ensuring that you are all equipped to use this machine for your cooking requirements. Also, you got to enjoy and use every function of this combination microwave.
PROS
CONS
Product Specifications
Whats in the box
Our Final Conclusion
Cooking meals always requires a fast, effective and efficient cook that will always give you a peace of mind. Talking about wonderful cooking, that is when we have to remind you of the Russell Hobbs RHM2565BCG with 25 litres food capacity digital combination microwave, which is now the hot cake in the market to solve your general cooking issues.
Its standard features will always be in your mind when you are looking for a suitable combination microwave for your household or office use. With a cheaper buying price, it solves your finance issues since you will need to spend less compared to other models of the same class on the market.
Panasonic NN-CF873S Combination Stainless Steel Microwave Oven Review
Panasonic Combination Stainless Steel Microwave Oven
Panasonic NN-CF873S is a premium combination microwave designed for quick cooking of delicious and nutritious meals for your family and friends. With a large 32 litres oven capacity, it is capable of holding high amounts of dishes that you want to prepare according to your requirements.
This microwave features a modern compact design that makes it ideal addition to your contemporary kitchen. It has a stainless steel interior for easy cleaning. Also, it features a flatbed instead of a turntable. The flatbed creates a large cooking area and allows you to place foods of all shapes inside the oven.
A unique feature about this combination microwave is a 2-level convection cooking that allows you to cook in both levels simultaneously; hence it is capable to carter for even large families. It as well has a fun that circulates heat evenly throughout the oven so that food is cooked uniformly and efficiently. This uniformly distributed heat also makes the microwave ideal for baking and roasting of your recipes.
Panasonic Combination Stainless Steel Microwave also features an advanced electrostatic touch panel with blue LED screen for smart and easy settings operations using swipe and touch technology. Another outstanding feature about this microwave is the built-in 8 sensor programmer that selects the optimum cooking time and makes preparing efficiently cooked meals very easier.
This premium model combines microwave power, convection, a quartz grill, and a turbo cook feature to save your cooking time. Also, it has an inverter power supply system that ensures the power supplied for cooking is controlled precisely to avoid overheating of your meals in order to prevent them from losing flavour and moisture.
For simple cleaning of the microwave, its outside is built up with standard materials. It’s top and back surfaces uses catalytic self-cleaning plates which does not soil easily, hence no buildup of food remains or grease even when used continuously. The right and left side surfaces have a fluorine coating which is much easier to clean.
PROS
CONS
Product Specifications
Whats in the box
Our Final Conclusion
Panasonic NN-CF783S combination stainless steel microwave oven is capable of preparing enough and delicious meals that your family will love so much. Larger families will never be disappointed by using this model.
This is because of a high powerful microwave oven and its large volume capacity. This two takes care of less cooking time and effective cooking process. However, it’s an expensive microwave, it is packed with very innovative features that will make it a good value for money machine in your modern kitchen.
Igenix IG3091 30 Litre Family Size Digital Combination Microwave Review
Igenix IG3091 30 Litre Family Size Digital Combination Microwave
Igenix IG3091 is a sleek family sized combination microwave with a professional look that will be able to complement any kitchen. It is an ideal appliance to add into your kitchen since it can grill, bake, roast and microwave your foods.
It is a high powered combination microwave since it offers a 900W microwave, 1100W grill and 2500W convection oven output using its 5 power settings. These features makes this multifunctional kitchen appliance ideal for cooking meals as well as reheating large plates of food very easy and simple, hence it can take care of a large number of family members and friends.
This combination microwave features simple to use 7 digital buttons and dial controls. It also comes with a grill rack used for food browning and crisping, 10 pre-programmed auto cook menus including meat, pizza, potato and cakes, thus allowing you to prepare all your preferred dishes by just a push of a button.
As well, it has a stainless steel interior for easy cleaning, with a large space that will fit comfortably even the largest sized dinner plate. Also, it features an automatic defrost setting that will give you an effortless task of cooking since you will only need to input the weight of your food and the microwave will select the ideal defrost time, hence saving time and your energy.
Other impressive features of this combination microwave includes a quick start function and multi stage cooking which will allow you to program 2 simultaneous cooking processes, making it ideal for defrosting and this will allow you to cook just once but make a variety of meals. The safety of your household is also taken care of since it has a child safety lock option that will prevent you children from opening the microwave door or do anything else to this machine.
PROS
CONS
Product Specifications
Whats in the box
Our Final Conclusion
Despite being an affordable kitchen microwave appliance, it is not real the ideal one for you since it does not feature a fan-assisted oven like other models. However, for those looking for a simple combination microwave will settle for this model.
Igenix IG3091 family size digital combination microwave has a good capacity to feed a large family. Therefore, it you are looking for a combination microwave that will suit a large number of people, this will give you peace of mind ever.
Our Final Conclusion
Combination microwaves are the most versatile cooking companions. Cooking with these appliances can take some time to get used to, especially if you’ve been using a solo model.
Therefore, it is essential to find one that is powerful, easy to use, and offers excellent value for investment. Remember there’s no model that suits all situations. The best combination microwave is one that meets your requirements and budget.
Some appliances may be ideal for handling small meals while others can be suitable as full oven replacements. We hope you’ve grasped enough knowledge from our combination microwave reviews to help you choose wisely. Below is our summary:
OUR BEST PICK
The Russell Hobbs RHM3002 30L Digital Combination Microwave with Grill is the best combination microwave in our opinion. It is a family size multi-functional unit that offers 30L cooking capacity, enough to entertain family and friends. It includes 900W microwave power, 1100W grill power and 2500W fan assisted convection oven power. In total, it offers incredible 10 power options and 10 auto cook menus.
Weight and time defrost settings are also useful additions while a child lock function will go a long way to prevent kids from dangerous operation. Those who are into looks will find its crisp stainless steel exterior quite attractive. A removable glass turntable plus stainless steel interior makes the entire interior space easy to clean. This model is a genuine bargain that guarantees major dividends.
Best Large Capacity Model
If you have a large family, or tend to entertain guests now and then, you’ll definitely need a combination microwave to feed everyone. The Sharp 40 Litre - 900 Watt Combination Microwave is just ideal when size matters.
It offers double layer cooking possibility, allowing you to prepare dinner for a whole family and guests. In addition, it has 11 power settings and can be combined with 3 cooking stages.
Furthermore, this model comes with some of the most sophisticated features such as Sensor cook, Auto Defrost, and Quartz Grill, so you’ll find it extremely convenient.
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