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Combination microwaves are a great appliance to have in one’s home for multiple reasons.
Combination microwaves are increasing in popularity especially for people who live in small apartments or student housing. They are a way of having all the speed and effectiveness of a microwave and the slower deeper cook of a normal oven.
You can go from heating up your ready meals to thoroughly cooking a pizza. On a cold night when you’re craving homely food, with that one appliance you can bake your jacket potatoes and heat up your beans all with a press of a few buttons!
They are incredibly easy to use and, with their array of features, they can provide the best of both worlds. You can even cook a Sunday Lunch as this short video by Panasonic shows whole chicken with mixed vegetables and spiced yoghurt! Simply & genius.
What is a combi microwave?
A combi microwave is a microwave that combines the features of a microwave with the features of an oven.
Although it looks more like a microwave (though combination microwaves tend to be bigger), do not be fooled into believing that that is all it is capable of. Yes, you can microwave your popcorn, your ready-made dinner, or re-heat yesterday’s leftovers, but you can just as easily cook your pizza, lasagna, even bake cookies! Combi microwaves also have a grilling option you can use for any kind of food you would like!
The idea behind the combination microwave is to save space, money and time. With a combination microwave you may not feel the need to buy a larger oven and you definitely will not need a separate microwave. For people living in smaller spaces, this is a great alternative.
Due to its – though larger than a microwave – still very compact size, it will take you a bit longer to cook entire meals such as a roast for yourself, or bigger meals for multiple people. You will be able to cook the different foods with no problem, but you most likely won’t be able to fit them in all at once. People have been known to cook entire chickens in there, but you may have to bang it back in quickly before serving!
What can you cook in a combi microwave oven?
You can cook almost anything in a combination microwave oven!
The main purpose of the combination microwave oven being that it combines the best of both the microwave and the oven, means that you can prepare almost anything in that one appliance! It can be used to bake, to grill, to microwave and to slowly cook. Whether you need it for a quick snack, maybe for a fast meal, or you need it to make a whole chicken and some roasted vegetables, your combination microwave oven will do it perfectly!
With the various programs and features available on the machine, you will without a doubt find what you are looking for. If there is a particular style you are looking for and can’t seem to find on the buttons of the appliance, do check the instruction manual, as some settings require a certain sequence of button pressing.
What is a combination microwave convection oven?
A combination microwave convection oven uses the same technology as a standard convection oven to heat your food.
In a combination microwave convection oven you will use a fan, just like in a normal convection oven, which functions as a second heating technique within the machine, allowing for the heat to circulate.
In bigger versions of this appliance, you will find a cooking tray, allowing you to cook multiple things at once, on multiple levels, at the same temperature. If you are trying this technique for the first time, try to make cookies or other baked goods as a great treat for everyone!
Is it worth buying a combination microwave?
Depending on your living conditions and travel tendencies, it can be worth it to buy a combination microwave.
If you are living on your own or in a small home and don’t necessarily have the extra space for a microwave as well as an oven, then a combination microwave can be a great choice. Its’ diverse features and compact size mean that it takes up barely any room compared to a full sized oven and provides nearly all of the same capacities.
If you are buying on a budget as well, a convection oven is great because you can find them at very reasonable prices. They tend to not be much more expensive than regular microwaves and are significantly cheaper than ovens.
They may be a good option to have even if you already have an oven and are just looking for a microwave. In the event of your oven breaking down or been replaced, having a combination microwave means that you will not have to sacrifice any planned meals and will be a fine replacement whilst you are waiting for your new/repaired oven.
Perhaps you enjoy travelling and opt for a camper van or caravan. In that case, you could not do better than buying a combination oven. They are easy to store and easy to carry, yet have the potential to properly cook a decent meal!
What does combi mean on a microwave?
Combi means combination.
When using the combi button on your microwave, it means you are using the combination of both of the heating methods of a microwave and a convection oven. When using both, it means that your food will heat relatively quickly and thanks to the fan assisted heating system of a convection oven, the heat will circulate around the oven the entire time it is cooking.
Combination Microwaves: Further Reading
We hope that you have found this article interesting and if you had any unanswered questions around buying a combination microwave and if its worth it, we have answered these for you.
We have a few more microwave guides and reviews that you may find interesting and helpful:
The 10 Best Combination Microwaves
The 10 Best Built-In Microwaves
The 10 Best Compact Microwaves
Microwaves Reviewed
