Combination microwaves - max temperature

davtom

I'm looking at purchasing a combination microwave oven because my "proper" fan oven has given up the ghost.

I see that there is quite a bit of variation in terms of the maximum temperature supported by the convection function in these microwaves. Cheaper ones tend to limit to 190 deg C or so in general, whereas more expensive ones tend to have a higher limit such as 220 or 230 deg C.

How important is that with these ovens? If I want to do oven chips, for example, the guidelines for fan oven cooking on the packaging tend to state you need to cook them at 210 to 230 deg C for about 20 minutes. Is it the case that you could cook them at a lower temperature for a little bit longer and achieve the same result?

I am considering the one that's coming in Lidl tomorrow for £80 which looks very good for the money, but it doesn't say what the maximum temperature is.

Thanks.

HappyMJ

Well I buy potatoes and chop them up and they don't have any instructions on them. I cook them at 200C for half hour and they come out fine. I think 190C should be enough to get them crispy enough...depends on how crispy you like your chips. If I do potato wedges tossed in oil and herbs I tend to leave them in for about 45 minutes and they are excellent....better than shop bought.

Cisco001

I've tried using oven function of combi microwave, the result don't really satisfy me (really smoky + takes time to clean). I suggest you consider halogen oven instead.

Bettie

my combination goes up high but even then it can take an age sometimes, then I change it to grill which is only one temperature and soon gets the oven really hot.

davtom

Thanks all.

I think I will try the Lidl one if it comes in. It's supposed to come in my area but their offers don't always materialise (though they usually do). If nothing else, it should be a worthwhile stop-gap.

LadyDee

I've been using a combination oven for years and cook everything in it (never used my main oven). My Panasonic goes up to 220C and I cook oven chips at 200C - they take about 25 minutes. My oven never gets smokey, so perhaps it's better to cook at a slightly lower temperature.

davtom

In case anybody else is considering this purchase, I just bought one. Convection temperature settings are 110 to 200 deg C. Combi convection + microwave are 110, 140, 170 or 200 deg C.

Bettie

keep us updated on how it goes. I have had many combinations and found with every one the light went and I can never change the bulb as hidden away behind a square thing that I cant remove. They usually last about three years for me so a new one may be due soon and that Lidl one looks ok, and half the price I normally pay.

davtom

Bettie, I certainly can, but stuff like this doesn't stay in Lidl all that long, and I won't get a chance to put it through its paces for a few days. I was lucky in a way that this became an option for me since I've only been without an oven since Monday, but I couldn't go long without an oven.

It seems very expensive to change an oven just because the light has failed. If you can't do it, do you have any friends who could take a look at it for you? I'm sure it's fiddly but it must be doable...

I can tell you that my mother used a combi microwave oven from Aldi for about two years. She had two failures. The first time it was picked up by the manufacturer and she received a new replacement. The second one couldn't be fixed, so they gave her a full refund instead. Aside from the failures, she was happy with them while they lasted.

I don't know whether the manufacturer was the same. The badge was Medion and not Silvercrest, but the badge doesn't tell you who the manufacturer is.

Of course, this, like the Aldi one, is built down to a price. I think it is reasonable to expect a life of three to five years out of a microwave at this price. Having said that, my current microwave was one of the cheapest available when I got it around 13 years ago, and it still works as well as the day I bought it.

davtom

I can report successful convection cooking today.

I did frozen oven chips and chicken fingers.

The cooking advice for the chips said 200 deg C in fan ovens for 20 minutes after preheating. For the chicken fingers, it was 210 deg C in fan ovens for 12 minutes after preheating.

When my main oven was working, I always used to leave the chicken fingers in for the same length of time as the chips. I used to allow 5 minutes for preheating and I would have used the higher temperature, so it would have been 25 minutes at 210 deg C in this case.

This microwave doesn't have that option. 200 deg C is available, so I used that. I first set 20 minutes without using a preheating period. (You have the option with this microwave of preheating or not, as you wish.)

The oven seemed to reach full temperature after about 4 minutes 30 seconds.

I took the chicken fingers out after the 20 minutes, but the chips did not look all done, so I put them back in for a further 2 minutes 30 seconds.

Everything was done splendidly and was delicious.

So I'm happy with what I've done today, but I won't be doing much more with it for a week or so.

The oven itself allows you to set different combinations of grilling (top, bottom, both), grilling with microwave, convection (110 to 200 deg in 10 deg steps), convection with microwave (110, 140, 170 or 200 deg), and also calculates times based on weight for various types of food such as beef, pizza, potatoes and all that sort of stuff.

I'm happy with what I've done with it so far!

Bettie

Thanks for update brilliant.

sorry if I wasnt clear. I carry on using the oven without a working light, just have to keep opening the door to make sure all is ok. The ovens usually stop working for various other reasons after a few years. The one I have now has kept really clean with hardly more than a wipe.
I never use my big oven. :money: