Can anyone recommend a good combination microwave

Icey77

I ahve a Panasonic NNA554W combi oven and I'm very, very pleased with it - http://www.johnlewis.com/230364945/Product.aspx

I got used to having one when I lived with my ex and decided to buy one now that I'm back in my own place.

Reasons why I like it:

• Quick to heat up - cooks 20 min stuff in 20 mins. No need to wait for main oven to heat up
• Microwave and grill as well in the same unit - no extra worktop space used
• Extra oven space with making big dinner (eg Christmas dinner)
• Makes yummy jacket potatoes in 15 minutes - soft in the middle and crisp skins on the outside

Haven't had any problems with it. Got mine from John Lewis so I know if something goes wrong I won't have any issues taking back and getting it repaired/replaced.

Really depends on how much you're going to use it. I use mine a fair amount, more in the winter obviously as more hot food eaten in the winter. I rarely turn on my main oven now unless I am doing something big or multiple items that need the big oven space.

In addition, there is a larger version than this one if you want it. I decided it was too big and took up too much workspace.

Good luck! :beer:

Rowan9

We're on our 2nd one. I love it. Quick to heat as an oven and that helps with low electricity bills. I don't use the microwave much I suppose but do use the oven part - saying that, I use the combi bits like baked potato,. which part nukes, part cooks so the skin is crispy in a short time. M<ine is Sanyo fan-assisted.

meanmarie

My first microwave, years ago was a combi and I used it often if I only had one thing to cook....think that it was a Sharps and can't remember how much I paid for it, it was when microwaves were much more expensive than they are now so irrelevant really. I loved it as everything cooked very well...

HTH

Marie

Burp_2

I would defintely recommend one! :T

My parents bought ours as a house warming present for our first house last year they had one and it used to make fab oven cooked jacket potatoes in 25 minutes when using the combi function of 'oven cook/micro/grill' and I always threatened that I'd be back at weekends so that I could get my fix of crispy jackets ... and then they bought us a combi microwave as a present .... guess it was more of a hint really! :rotfl:

Its nice and large so can fit big things in it like whole chickens and long garlic bread sticks and large pizzas with ease I've started using it a lot more than I expected I would ... my folks only use their combi function for jackets and then its just normal micro use ... but I've definitely seen the light with the combi function ... I use it all the time if I've just got 1 or 2 items to cook ... but if I need to oven cook lots of items then I see the point in switching on my normal oven

Burp x

ktpie

Thanks for all of your replies, I have been trying to cook loads of stuff at once in the oven but often something needs to go in when I haven't had time or don't want to make anything else.

I like the idea of jacket potatoes, I sometimes fancy one for lunch but it is such a waste of electricity using the oven, and it takes ages.

Did have a quick look at the table top halogen ovens and DH has suggested a mini oven from Argos for £20 but if I'm going to have something taking up the space it makes sense to me to have the microwave and grill functions as well.

Ches

I have a Panasonic and I use it to cook for the two of us every day. My large oven gets used at Christmas or if the family come to visit. Then its cleaned and the rest of the time I use it as an extra cupboard for my baking tins.

deebee

ok got one of these and never used the grill function much, like the sound of crsipy jackets - anyone suggest timings, programme, etc for these??? - they sound yummy

juliapenguin

I LOVE my Panasonic combi oven and never used the big stupid range cooker oven again (my grill didn't work either...). I 100% recommend it: gorgeous jacket spuds, you never need to preheat the oven, everything yummy and delicious, including home made oven chips in a ridiculously short time.

Burp_2

deebee wrote: »

ok got one of these and never used the grill function much, like the sound of crsipy jackets - anyone suggest timings, programme, etc for these??? - they sound yummy

Does yours not have a preset 'combination button' where u can press it and just select time?

Burp x

rosieben

deebee wrote: »

ok got one of these and never used the grill function much, like the sound of crsipy jackets - anyone suggest timings, programme, etc for these??? - they sound yummy

I think you'd need to look at the manual for your specific machine. Mine has several combinations (about 7 I think including a couple of auto combi); I select the combo setting then set temperature and time separately.