Do you need a microwave yet you do not want to dispose of that rusty oven due to a small kitchen space? Are you looking for an easier and healthier cooking lifestyle but you’re not sure how to go about it? This article introduces you to the combination microwave, a handy appliance you’ll want in your kitchen.
Better than your basic microwave, a combination microwave is a special microwave that has a combination of different microwave cooking techniques with benefits of fanned hot air (convection).
It combines grilling, steaming, roasting, and baking. They are entirely different from the conventional oven and in some cases can replace the traditional oven completely. The more sophisticated the combi oven, the more microwave cooking functions it has. This is what distinguishes a combi microwave from a conventional oven or basic microwave.
Some units are advanced with specialized functions like yoghurt making and steaming. In this article, you will learn a lot more about combination microwaves, the factors to consider before purchasing one, and the different brands you can get in Malaysia.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Multi Cooker
Before buying a multi cooker, there are various factors you should put into consideration. If you do not know what type of combination microwave oven to get, you should evaluate the features you need. Nevertheless, below are general factors that cut through every aspect.
Cooking Options
The main function of a combi microwave oven is defrosting and reheating. In considering buying your microwave, you should ensure that you explore all the cooking functions you need in a microwave. This is very vital because you will not want to purchase something that will be useless to you. Vital features like convection (hot fanned air) and grill makes cooking a lot easier.
A convection microwave is excellent for roasting and baking (much like a conventional oven). When used as a convection oven, this type of microwave utilizes a convection heat cycle with the aid of fans that circulates extremely hot air inside the microwave.
The grill feature of the microwave gives a brown and crispy end result with the aid of its heating elements. These two features are vital in purchasing combination ovens.
Size and Capacity
Like every other home appliances, a combi microwave come in different sizes. The bigger the size, the higher the capacity. If you’re living in a smaller space and you don’t often cook for many people, small microwave ovens might be sufficient for you. The size factor is dependent on the quantity of food you want to cook with it. Are you just microwaving ready meals or bigger spreads?
Asides this, the best microwave should be able to cater for your family’s food. Pay attention to the usable space in the microwave. Some microwaves have a bigger exterior and smaller interior. Also, a microwave with too many shelves might not necessarily be ideal for you.
Interior Coating
There are various types of interior coatings. The stainless steel, ceramic coating, acrylic, and enamel. Enamel interior coating is mostly found in microwave models of low cost. It easily gets damaged and it is hard to clean. Stainless steel interior coating on the other hand is much more durable than enamel.
However, it scratches easily and soaks up all smells during cooking. This can affect the taste and aroma of the food with time. Ceramic interior coating is the best coating to have and it is very easy to clean and does not soak up smells from cooking. We advise that you opt for the ceramic coating when planning to purchase a microwave.
Power
The power capacity of the microwave is another crucial factor to consider when purchasing a microwave. Buying a microwave that does not have a large power capacity is a waste of time and resources. A higher power capacity microwave cooks food faster and evenly (it does not leave any part of the food raw).
Some food recipes have specific power usage of at least 800 watts to ensure that the food is cooked well and evenly. Microwaves generally have power capacity ranging from 600 watts to 1200 watts. This only goes to show that you should purchase the one with optimum power capacity.
Special Features
Some advanced combination microwave oven units come with special features that are of great help during the cooking process especially if you are a perfectionist in cooking food. Some of these microwave ovens come with in-built menu settings that makes it easier to select the perfect choice for your food. Settings such as cooking time, temperature and power capacity. Also, additional features such as humidity and defrost sensors are things to look out for when purchasing a microwave.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are very vital and you should pay attention to them. It is in customer reviews that you get hidden truths about the products or brands you want to buy from. Checking combination oven reviews gives you a precise and accurate idea about the features of the microwave brand of your choice. Also, you get insights on how well the features perform and avoid unforeseen danger of purchasing the wrong brand. Brands like Sharp and Panasonic have a vast array of kitchen appliances (particularly microwave ovens) to choose from and are highly trusted by their customers.
Types of Combination Microwaves Available
There are two main types of combination microwaves. This classification is based on available kitchen space and size. They are:
- Built-in combination microwave
- Freestanding combination microwave
Built-in Combination Microwave
Built-in microwave is a type of microwave that is built-in, as the name implies. It helps to solve space problems and does not give your kitchen countertop that bulky look. They come in different sizes and colors to fit in perfectly into your kitchen. They however require a ventilation kit. The ventilation kit is available from the manufacturer. The kit is to be installed by a professional.
Pros
- Space friendly
- Gives your kitchen style and classy look
- Sleek aesthetics
Cons
- Its installation is more expensive.
Freestanding Combination Microwave
A freestanding combi microwave as the name implies is a microwave combis that stands independently of other kitchen appliances. It will sit on your countertop or wherever you choose to place it. This means that it is location friendly and you can be flexible with where you want to place it. Freestanding combination microwaves are usually similar in size to solo microwaves, but they can be slightly bigger than the solo microwaves..
Pros
- Cheap installation.
- Flexibility with location.
- No installation fee needed.
Cons
- It is not space friendly.
Features of a Combination Microwave
Combination microwaves come with specific or distinct features that make them unique or different from the conventional microwave. However, all these features are not necessarily embedded in a particular microwave. For instance, not all microwaves come with accessories. Nevertheless, we will give you all the information you need on the features of a microwave. That way, it will guide you when purchasing one.
Capacity
Manufacturers most times state the capacity in litres, but this doesn’t tell you how to go about it. Especially what you will be able to put inside. We take our measurement by measuring the widest dish that can fit through the door without tilting the dish. Here’s what we found, while some microwave combis are big enough for a 29cm dish, the largest microwave combi has room for dishes of 46cm width.
Flatbed or turntable
The flatbed microwave feature gives you an extra cooking space. This is for people with limited cooking space. You can configure a longer oval or rectangular dish inside the flatbed without having to leave the space to rotate.
Accessories
Not all microwave combos come with accessories. Only a few do. Those that come with accessories have added functions to achieve maximum results. Accessories include rice steamers, vegetable steamers and so on.
Auto-cook Programs
Auto-cook programs automatically cook food for the accurate time with an accurate combination of microwave, grill, and convection. This feature comes in handy when cooking some meals that need a specific time and microwave settings. Input the weight of the food and the microwave combi will do the rest. Most microwave combis have nothing less than a couple of auto programs. However, some have more than 30 programs.
Multi-step Programming
Multi-step programming allows you to program different cooking modes progressively and simultaneously. This alleviates the stress of going and coming back to reset the cooking functions. So you can set your combi microwave to defrost your turkey, then cook it. Afterwards, you can grill at the end.
Auto Sensor
Some microwave combis have an auto sensor setting that cooks or reheats your food item automatically. These microwave combis monitor the steam coming out of your food. It uses the steam to calculate the time and power needed. The calculation is done automatically.
Benefits of Using a New Combination Microwave
The following are the benefits of using a new combi microwave.
Saves you kitchen space
Using a new combination microwave saves your kitchen space. This benefit is peculiar with the in-built combi microwaves. Not only that, the space that individual items (oven, griller, and traditional microwaves) will ideally occupy is eliminated with a new combi microwave. This is a benefit that cannot be traded for anything.
Cheaper
The total cost of buying the individual kitchen equipment when in comparison with a new combination microwave is high. The new combination microwave is cheaper because it has all the combined functions of an oven, a steamer, a grill and a microwave.
Faster
Speed is what you look out for when cooking. You are always looking out for the fastest available cooking option to get food on the table for yourself as well as for your family. This is one of the benefits of a new combination microwave. It makes cooking easier and faster. It also gives you a stress free time when cooking.
Finding the Best Combination Microwaves
Below are 11 best combination microwaves that you can find in Malaysia. These combination microwaves come with distinct features and specifications that differentiate them from other brands. Your choice of combination microwave is largely dependent on your needs, budget, family size and kitchen space. Regardless of your demands and factors, your perfect combination microwave choice is among these list items. We hope these bite-sized combination microwave reviews will help you out!
1. Lebensstil Kollektion Combi Microwave 23L [LKMW-2301SS]
Specifications
- Capacity: 23L
- Power (Microwave): 1400W
- Power (Grill): 1000W and combination cooking
- Cavity material: Stainless steel cavity
- Door type: Stainless steel panel
Features
- Digital control panel and LED display
- Weight defrost function With grill rack.
- 9 Auto Cook Menu
- Menu action button that displayed power, cooking time, clock time, and action indicators.
- Combi mode that allows the selection of multiple cooking programs.
Pros
- Combi mode.
- LED display.
- Auto Cook Menus.
- 95 minutes timer.
Cons
- Stainless steel interior cavity.
2. SHARP Microwave Oven with Grill 25L [R607EK]
Specifications
- Capacity: 25L
- Category: Microwave with Grill
- Turntable size (diameter): 315mm
- Door Opening:Pull-Top Handle
- Weight: 15.5kg
- Power (Microwave): 900W
- Power (Grill): 1000W
Features
- Top Swing Handle that helps to open the door of the microwave easily.
- Blue LED Display to aid vision by helping you see more clearly.
- 6 Auto Cook Menus that helps you cook conveniently with just a touch of a button.
- 2 Way Defrost allows you to defrost your food either by weight or by time.
Pros
- Safety child lock
- Two-way defrost
- ECO mode
Cons
- High power consumption.
3. Panasonic Compact Electric Oven 38L [NB-H3801]
Specifications
- Capacity: 38L
- Power Consumption: 1500W
- Temperature Setting: 70-230°C
- 120-minute timer and stay on function
- Convection function
- Fermentation and rotary
- Upper and lower tube temperature setting
Accessories
- Baking tray holder
- Cooking rack
- Crumb tray
- Enamel baking tray
- Extraction bracket
- Rotisserie spit
Features
- The rotisserie function in the oven allows the microwave to thoroughly roasts meat by slowly rotating the meat 360°
- The large capacity of the microwave can take up to 20cm cake pan or grill a pizza of 20cm width. This brand has a large capacity yet it is compact in size. This feature saves space with encouraging maximum usability.
- Simple Operations to help you see and understand the operations and indications easily and clearly.
- Durability. The microwave comes with a double layered insulated glass that prevents temperature fluctuations.
- The microwave is safely designed with a heat-resistant handle and a heater cover underneath the door handle to prevent you from touching the hot surface directly after cooking.
Pros
- Exclusive Kit for Rotisserie pit
- Double heater and grill convection
Cons
- High power consumption
4. Samsung 23L Solo Microwave Oven with Quick Defrost [MW3500K]
Specifications
- Installation Type: Freestanding
- Capacity: 23L
- Door Type: Handle
- Cavity Material: Ceramic Enamel
- Display Type: LED
- Output Power (Microwave): 800 W
- Power Consumption (Microwave): 1150 W
Features
- Ceramic Enamel Cavity that is easy to clean. It also has anti bacterial protection and durable interior
- The quick defrost feature defrosts food evenly and rapidly. It has an automatic defrost program that automatically calculates the defrost time for your food
- Preprogrammed malaysian local recipes that stimulate your taste buds and save time in preparing your meals.
- It has an ECO Mode feature that helps minimize power consumption.
- The Deodorization feature forces air out of the interior cavity of the microwave so that lingering odors can be eliminated.
Pros
- Deodorizer.
- Local recipe.
- Ceramic interior.
- Keeps food warm.
Cons
- No child safety lock.
5. Rinnai 25lt Built-in Combi Microwave with Grill [RO-M2561-SM]
Specifications
- Capacity: 25L
- Cavity: Stainless steel
- Control Panel: Rotary Selector Dial
- Display: Digital
- Timer: Max 95 mins
- Glass Turntable size: 27cm
- Accessories: Grill rack
- Power Output: 1,400W
- Grill Power: 1,000W
Features
- 8 Auto Cooking Menus you can choose from:Potato, Coffee, Popcorn, Auto Reheat, Pizza, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Steaks, Fresh Vegetables
- Grill Mode that is suitable for thin slices of meat, sausages, steaks and chicken.
- Timer Setting that cooks up to 95mins in total.
- Stainless steel cavity that is easy to clean and maintain.
Pros
- Child safety lock
- Cooking end signal
Cons
- Stainless steel
6. SHARP Microwave Oven with Grill 23L [R639ES]
Specification
- Capacity: 23L
- Turntable size (diameter): 270mm
- Door Opening: Handle-Pull Door
- Power Output (Microwave): 900W
- Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Features
- Energy Saving Mode that helps to lower your power consumption.
- Auto cook feature that allows you to multi program your microwave to cook your food for you.
Accessories
- Turntable
- Rack/Tray
Pros
- Energy saving mode
- Child lock
- Combi mode
Cons
- Limited cooking time
7. Toshiba 20L Deluxe Series Microwave Oven With Grill [ER-SGS20(K)MY]
Specification
- Power Consumption (Microwave): 1270W
- Power Consumption (Grill): 1000W
- Turnable Size: 255mm
- Capacity: 20L
- Control Panel Type: Touch Control
- Display: LED
- Warranty: 1 year Warranty
Features
- Microwave and grill cooking that helps to heat food. It cooks food crispy, effectively, and efficiently.
- 9 Auto cooking menus that encourage cooking varieties.
- Weight & Time Defrost that defrost food either but weight or by time.
- 11 Power Level.
- Multi-stage Cooking.
- Child Safety Lock.
- Kitchen Timer.
Pros
- Child lock
- 9 Auto cook menu
- 2 Multi-stage cooking
Cons
- High power consumption
8. Panasonic 23L Grill Microwave Oven [NN-GT35H]
Specifications
- Type: Grill Combination Oven
- Oven Capacity: 23 L
- Cooking Power: 800 W
- Turntable size (Diameter): 288mm
- Display Panel: 4 digit LCD
- Auto Cook/Reheat
Features
- The Dual Cooking feature of this microwave enables the microwave power to cook food quickly, while the grill makes the food brown and crisp.
- The 12 Auto Cooking Menus gives you ease in cooking as it allows you to make settings based on the weight of the food. The 12 auto cooking menus include: Reheat Meal, Reheat Bread, Reheat Soup, Porridge, Instant Noodle, Double Boil, Vegetables, Casserole Rice, Fish, Roast Chicken, Chicken Piece, and Roast Beef.
- The Quick 30 feature enables you to set cooking time for 30 seconds (or more) quickly and simply without selecting any other settings.
- The Add Time feature allows you to add an extra heating time by pressing the add time button. This feature comes in very handy when you want to heat up your food a little longer.
Pros
- 12 auto cook functions
- Dual cooking
- Add time feature
Cons
- No child lock
9. SHARP 28L Grill Microwave Oven [R759EBS]
Specification
- Category: Grill
- Capacity: 28L
- Turntable size (diameter): 315mm
- Door Opening: Handle Door
- Weight: 12.0kg
- Microwave: 1000W
- Grill: 1100W
- Power Level: 11
- Cooking Time: 99 mins 99 secs
- Control panel Type: Touch Control Panel
- Display: LED
Features
- Energy Saving Mode that helps to lower your power consumption.
- Auto cook feature that allows you to multi program your microwave to cook your food for you.
Accessories
- Glass Turntable
- Rack/Tray
Pros
- Child lock mode
- Energy saving mode
- Combi mode
Cons
- No deodorizer
10. Panasonic MICROWAVE OVEN 20L GRILL [NN-GM24J]
Specification
- Category: Grill
- Capacity: 20L
- Warranty: 1 year
- Cavity: Painted
- Power (grill): 1000W
- Power (microwave): 800W
- Turntable in diameter: 255mm
- Control Type: Touch
- Weight: 12.3 kg
- Accessories: Wire tray
Features
- It is time saving. This microwave makes use of automatic heating that makes food ready within minutes when compared to manual heating. Also, energy is conserved with this microwave.
- It is easy to heat. Your food is heated throughout by microwaves without leaving any corner unheated.
- Easy to clean. No detailed cleaning is needed in the absence of dust. A damp cloth or sponge will do the trick.
Pros
- 38 auto menus
- Child lock
Cons
- No deodorizer
11. Samsung 30L Grill Microwave Oven with Healthy Grill Fry Function [MG30T5018CK]
Specifications
- Product Type: Grill
- Installation Type: Freestanding
- Oven Capacity: 30L
- Control Method: Touch
- Door Type: Side Swing with Handle
- Cavity Material: Ceramic Enamel
- Power Consumption (Microwave): 1400 W
- Power Consumption (Grill): 1650 W
- Power Consumption (Max): 3050 W
Features
- Glass Touch Technology that is easy to use and highly responsive. It has a very sensitive touch sensor.
- An healthy grill fry technology that enhances your cooking experience. It provides healthier cooking options for your overall health.
- It has numerous home desserts functions for a variety of home desserts.
- It has an ECO mode that enables low energy consumption that helps you save money and protect the environment at large.
- An auto cook feature that allows you to automatically program your microwave to cook food at a specific time and temperature by just selecting the weight and the type of the food.
- Triple Distribution System to ensure that the food you cook comes out delicious and well prepared. This feature distributes microwaves in three directions for easy penetration at every corner.
Pros
- Cook food precisely
- Easy to clean
- Saves on standby
Cons
- No kitchen timer
Final Thoughts
Combination microwaves have made cooking extremely easy and is a huge step up from your basic microwave. They have come to liberate you from the stress of cooking. They are here to stay. These microwaves combine different cooking techniques with just a click of a button. Asides making cooking easier, these combi microwaves help to save space and give your kitchen a sleek and beautiful look. They eliminate the stress of buying various kitchen appliances to fit your purpose of cooking.
This means that you do not have to buy a grill, oven, or toaster when you can have it all in one appliance. The best combi microwave is based on individual preference. All the list items in this article have been carefully chosen and we attest to the fact that they will serve you with maximum performance and satisfaction. For someone who likes to explore various cooking methods or an individual that loves varieties, we advise that you go for the Panasonic MICROWAVE OVEN 20L GRILL. It has 38 auto cook menus for you.
However, if you are very particular about the aroma of your food and the taste, we advise that you opt for Samsung 23L Solo Microwave Oven with Quick Defrost. It has a deodorizer that expelled any lingering odor from previously made food. It gives your food a fresh taste. So regardless of your preferences, we hope you enjoyed our buying guide and combination microwave reviews. If you pick from any of our list items, you are assured of the best quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which is the best combination microwave to buy?
A built-in combination microwave is the best type to buy if you are someone that is very particular about space. If you have a small kitchen space, we advise that you buy this type of combination microwave. It helps to solve space problems and does not give your kitchen countertop that bulky look. They come in different sizes and colors to fit in perfectly into your kitchen.
They however require a ventilation kit. The ventilation kit is available from the manufacturer. The kit is to be installed by a professional. However, if you have the luxury of space and need a combination microwave that can take a higher capacity of food, a freestanding microwave is the best option.
2. Can I put metal in a combination microwave?
A metal should not be put in a combination microwave. Regardless of what you want to cook in your microwave, metal cookware should not be used. This is because the metal will not allow the penetration of the microwaves. Hence, the food will not be cooked.
Although, microwave convection ovens can allow the use of metals for cooking because of the fanned hot air. However, we advise that you use an aluminum foil to prevent damage of the oven as metals can damage the oven. Also, using aluminum foil helps to promote well cooked meals.
3. What is combi mode in a microwave?
Combi mode, also called combination mode in a microwave simply means a combination of two or three cooking methods, unlike the basic microwave. For example, defrosting + cooking + grilling. Combi mode is a multi-step programming feature of a combination microwave. This mode saves you the stress of going back and forth to change the cooking settings.
