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.
- 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.
- It performed equally well as a standard combi microwave, scoring highly in our soup, jacket potato, ready meal and defrosting tests.
- We wished the air fryer tray was dishwasher-proof for a quicker clean-up, but otherwise, we can’t complain.
- Some models can even steam food or air fry; the possibilities really are endless.
- Note that you can’t change the temperature of these functions though – only the time – which limits its versatility when compared with an actual oven.
- Not all combination microwaves have the same features; some have a grill, some have convection cooking, and some have both.
- You can check cooking times, follow guides and recipes, and even add ingredients to your shopping list from your phone.
The grill gave our sausages a patchier finish than most, but given its extensive capabilities, this microwave is excellent value – especially for often pricey Panasonics. It also has a whopping 40 auto programmes, including ones for rice and fresh fish, alongside a nifty “keep warm” function. We programmed it to defrost a 1.5-kilogram chicken, and it calculated the right length of time, fully defrosting it within 24 minutes. Another impressive combination microwave from Panasonic, this one does everything the above model can, and it steams food too. It’s ideal if you tend to cook for only one or two people, as it saves you heating a large oven and performs just as well.
TOSHIBA 5-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven
- It’s a premium buy, but because of its many functions, it can be a tad confusing to use, so keep the manual close by at first.
- Its dual-level cooking allows you to prepare multiple dishes at once, saving you time and effort.
- The fan-assisted convection cooking feature mimics a conventional oven, allowing you to enjoy perfectly cooked meals.
- 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.
- 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.
- The TOSHIBA Combo Microwave Oven offers remarkable versatility with its five cooking functions, including microwave, air fry, broil, bake, and combi modes.
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…
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.
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.
Sage Combi Wave 3 In 1 Air Fryer, Oven & Microwave
Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. In her free justbit time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. 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. Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers.
Detailed instruction manuals also cover how to cook everything from a jacket potato to sausages. If all this seems daunting, many come with a host of pre-programmed auto-cook options that do all the hard work for you. Toast lovers take note though, the grill element may not be as powerful as conventional grills, so it may be slower to brown your bread than an oven or a toaster. Essentially, it’s like having a small oven on your kitchen counter. Master every meal with smart cooking
With the Fast Combi function, you can combine cooking methods for quicker results, making meal preparation easier and more efficient. This means you can effortlessly prepare crispy fries, roast a succulent chicken, or quickly defrost food, all with one appliance. The powerful 1300W quartz grill provides the ability to achieve perfectly grilled dishes, enhancing your cooking repertoire. Its spacious 30-litre capacity can accommodate a 12” dinner plate, perfect for cooking family-sized portions.
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.
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.
Ratings and reviews
It effortlessly baked fluffy fairy cakes, grilled crispy-yet-juicy sausages, and produced a golden-topped mac and cheese. Note that you can’t change the temperature of these functions though – only the time – which limits its versatility when compared with an actual oven. It was fantastic at cooking ready meals from both chilled and frozen too. This reasonably priced design put in a stellar performance in our lab, scoring full marks when heating up soup and cooking jacket potatoes. Like the Sage above, this Salter is ideal if you want to join the air fryer train without sacrificing precious kitchen space. This combi microwave was the simplest to use of all the models we tested, with an easy-to-read manual and responsive buttons that make cooking effortless.
One appliance, more ways to cook
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.
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.
Panasonic NN-CS89LBBPQ 4-in-1 Combination Steam Oven
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.