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Combination oven (convection microwave) - what to ask before you buy

If you're thinking of buying a convection microwave combination oven, which combines the speed of a microwave with the browning abilities of convection cooking, here are some questions to ask to help you choose the right one. See also the list of questions about mini-ovens.

Click on a question below for more information.

1. What is it: What is a combination (convection microwave) oven?
2. Features: What features are available for a combination oven (convection microwave)?
3. Size: How big is the combination oven?
4. Advantages: What are the advantages of a combination oven?
5. Safety: What safety precautions need to be taken?
6. Uses: What can I cook in the combination oven?
7. Controls: What kind of temperature control does the combination oven have?
8. Cleaning: Is the combination oven easy to clean?
9. Ease of use: How easy is it to use the convection microwave oven?

1. What is a combination (convection microwave) oven?

The combination oven combines the microwave and a conventional convection oven and/or grill. They are more expensive than microwave-only ovens but they will save time and energy. They also cook things faster (rough guess, 60-70% of the time taken by a conventional oven).

The convection microwave combination oven looks like a microwave or mini-oven. If you have to keep your convection microwave oven on your kitchen bench, you probably want to choose something well designed. Some are better to look at than others. Also some have the controls on the side and some on top.

Combination ovens (convection microwaves) are great for warming food, cooking a roast or a cake, and even grilling your toasted cheese. The microwave cooks the food from the inside and the convection oven browns it, so your pies aren't soggy.

If you want one to replace your normal oven, you'll want more features and probably a larger size than if you just want it to re-heat some leftover pizza.

Check the manufacturer's instructions for what kind of pans can be used.

2. What features are available for a combination oven (convection microwave)?

• Smooth touch controls or a simple dial for easy program selection and cleaning.
• Digital display at the top or side of the oven.
• Pre-set programs for defrosting, cooking and reheating - they help you get the power level and cooking time right.
• Sensor cooking which will cook the food just the right amount as it takes into account the amount of food and moisture in the oven. The cooking (or defrosting) is even through the depth of the food.
• Find out if you can actually see into the oven when it's cooking, so you can check if the food looks ready. Some are easier to see into than others.

3. How big is the combination oven?

Cooking capacity

• Convection microwave combination ovens can range in size from small to medium and large.
• Note: If you plan to cook or reheat commercial or frozen pizzas, or you want to make your own on a standard pizza tray, make sure it will fit in the oven. You'll need at least 30cm (12in.) depth and width.

Storing the oven

• The main question here is whether you have the bench space (or cupboard space) to store the combination oven when not in use. Some models have the controls on the top, instead of the side, meaning the oven is taller but takes up a bit less bench space.
• You'll need to allow at least 5-10cm around the oven so that air can flow freely around it. Check the user manual.
• If you have a laminated benchtop, make sure the combination oven is not placed directly over a join, as the joins are often heat sealed and could come unstuck.

4. What are the advantages of a combination oven?

The main advantages of a convection microwave combination oven are that they:

• use less power than a regular size electric oven
• tend to cook faster than a regular oven because of the microwave function
• heat up faster
• can replace an oven if you get one the right size (or can replace both a microwave and a mini-oven with a single appliance)
• don't heat up the room to the same extent as a regular electric oven - a big advantage in summer!

5. What safety precautions need to be taken?

Using the oven

Make sure you always choose the correct setting (microwave, convection, or a combination) and that you use suitable cookware. If the microwave will be used (either alone or in combination with convection) make sure you use microwave and/or oven safe cookware.

Also, there is a risk that you may choose microwave accidentally when you mean to select 'convection'. If you are using a metal container, it may result in 'arcing' or damage to the oven.

Exterior

• The exterior may get very hot, in which case, you'll need to take care when using it, especially if there are children around. Check the manufacturer's information.
• If you are placing the oven on a laminate benchtop, do not put it near a join in the laminate. The joins are heat sealed and may come unstuck.
• The convection microwave is compact but very heavy, so take care when lifting it for any reason.

Interior

• The interior also gets very hot when using convection or combination settings. When removing hot dishes, make sure you don't burn yourself on the hot element or the hot walls of the oven. You may be used to using a small microwave, where it doesn't matter if you accidentally touch the sides when removing food. And you are probably very careful removing food from a large oven. But a small, very hot oven where the walls are close to the dish you are removing requires extra care. Always use pot-holders (oven mitts) when accessing the oven.
• When wiping out the oven after use, be aware that there are often very sharp edges to the metal parts of the interior. Be careful!

Door

• Be aware that the door will be hot when using convection or combination cooking.
• See if it has a child-proof lock.
• Check if the door opens sideways or down - if downwards, don't rest things on it. If sideways, watch it doesn't spring back and burn you when you're taking things out of the oven.

Cookware

• Use the correct cookware. Find out if you can use metal cookware when cooking using the combination (microwave + convection) mode. If you do, you should make sure the metal is not touching the sides of the oven as it may cause arcing (flashing) and may damage the oven. If you're only using the microwave function, use microwave safe cookware, and if using the convection function only, use normal ovenware. Silicone cookware can be used in both, but only up to a certain temperature when used in convection cooking.

6. What can I cook in the combination oven?

Find out if you can use it for:

• Toasting
• Defrosting
• Baking/roasting
• Grilling (broiling)
• Re-heating
• Browning
• Pizzas (check the depth of the oven to make sure it fits a large pizza)
• Keeping food warm
• Raising bread dough

Most have several or many different preset or auto programs for the various types of cooking, making it easier to use.

Read the manual carefully before you use the combination microwave convection oven so that you have some idea of what it can do.

The thing to watch is to make sure you choose the right program when you're using the oven. If you want to convection cook a quiche, for example, for 20 minutes and you accidentally microwave it for the same length of time, you could be very disappointed in the result!

7. What kind of temperature control does the combination oven have?

Check if it has an auto sensor, which means it will cook/heat the food automatically - it somehow measures the humidity in the oven to determine if the food is cooked. Otherwise it may have preset programs for different tasks (defrosting, re-heating, cooking etc.).

Find out if the controls are electronic 'pressure' controls (touch pad), or a dial, or a combination of both. Make sure the controls are easy for you to operate.

8. Is the combination oven easy to clean?

Some convection microwave ovens are easy to wipe over after use, others have deep holes or grooves that may make cleaning more difficult. Have a careful look inside the oven and also read the manufacturer's recommendation for what to use to clean the oven.

Generally, avoid harsh cleaners like solvents and caustic oven cleaners. Just use warm soapy water, or heat some water to boiling in the oven and let it steam for a minute or two before cleaning with normal washing up detergent and a rag.

Some have a removable tray to catch crumbs and drips.

9. How easy is it to use the convection microwave oven?

• Find out how easy it is to access the food being cooked in the oven.
• Does the door provide sufficient viewing area to see how the food is cooking?
• Does the light shine on the food?
• Is the distance between the grill tray and the grill element sufficient? If you want to brown the cheese on top of a casserole, you'll want enough space to fit the whole dish under the element

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