Combi-Microwave Ovens

A combi-microwave oven gives you the speed of a microwave and the cooking performance of a conventional oven in one appliance. This makes it a smart choice for smaller kitchens, second cooking zones or households that want microwave convenience without sacrificing proper oven function. At Bing Lee we stock combi-microwave ovens from leading brands in built-in wall formats. Our FAQs below explain how they work and who they suit best.

FAQs

1. What is a combi-microwave oven?

A combination microwave oven (or combi-microwave) is an appliance that can function as a standard microwave for quick reheating, as a convection oven for baking and roasting, or as a combination of both at once. When using the combination mode, the microwave energy cooks food quickly from the inside while the convection heat browns and crisps the outside - so you can roast a chicken in a fraction of the time it would take in a conventional oven, and still get a properly browned skin.

2. What can I cook in a combi-microwave oven?

A combi-microwave can handle most of what a conventional oven can do - roasting, baking, grilling and reheating - though the cooking cavity is usually smaller than a full-sized wall oven. It is well-suited to roasting chicken pieces, baking small cakes and muffins, reheating leftovers and grilling. Where it excels is speed - combination mode cooking is considerably faster than using a conventional oven alone. It is less suitable for very large roasts or multiple baking trays due to cavity size.

3. How do I choose the best combi-microwave oven for my kitchen?

Think about how it will be used. If it is replacing a full-sized wall oven in a compact kitchen, make sure the capacity in litres is large enough for your everyday cooking needs. If it is being added alongside an existing oven as a second cooking zone, a smaller model may be perfectly sufficient for reheating and light baking. Also check whether the model can be built into a wall cavity or if it is freestanding - built-in versions look much neater in a fitted kitchen.

4. What is the difference between a combi-microwave and a steam oven with microwave function?

A standard combi-microwave combines microwave energy with convection heat (a fan-forced dry oven function). A steam-microwave oven adds a steam function on top of this, which allows you to steam, bake with steam injection or cook in a true combination of steam, microwave and convection. Steam-microwave ovens are more versatile but also more expensive. They are worth considering if healthy cooking, bread baking or keeping food moist during reheating is important to you.

5. Can a combi-microwave replace a full-sized wall oven?

For a single person or couple with a compact kitchen, a good-quality combi-microwave can cover most everyday cooking needs. For families that bake regularly, cook large roasts or need to cook multiple dishes at the same time, it will feel limiting due to the smaller cavity size. Many households use a combi-microwave as a second cooking zone alongside a full-sized oven, rather than as a complete replacement.