Combination Microwave Tips and Recipes

[Deleted User]

I am awaiting delivery of a Hotpoint MWH 338 SX. It has microwave, forced air heating, grill and crisper functions with high and low stand, crisper dish and microwave dish.

But having a problem finding combination microwave recipes. Actually a lot more on the Panasonic Webpage. Some on the net, but quite a lot are really old and not what I want to explore cooking with this microwave. As this microwave has a crisper function as well, there is virtually nothing that looks into that. The hotpoint site has three or so recipes on it, their user booklet misses a lot of stuff out of the recipes in it.

Only used a standard microwave before so no idea what I can do with this new one, if using the hot air cooking with microwave does actually speed things up (like when cooking a chicken).


Any hints and tips from anyone? I've heard the glass base plate can crack if you aren't careful.., that won't be good lol.

PollyWollyDoodle

Sorry I don't have any tips - I have a Panasonic, but I tend to just use the convection part as a mini-oven, or use the grill. About the only 'combination' thing I do is jacket potatoes, and that's brilliant, they come out with a nice crunchy outside but in much less time than the conventional sort.



I have tried doing combination cooking, but found I tend to overcook things - occasionally I refer to the instruction booklet (what a novel idea!) but have never got it quite right, so I'll be following this with interest to see if anyone else can make suggestions.

Eenymeeny

I'd like to echo PollyWollyDoodle's comments. I also have a panansonic combi and have never really got the hang of the combo methods although I use it on micro and oven methods all of the time.
I find the frozen pizza auto cook method quicker as the weight is on the box. Otherwise, for things like frozen potato products you have to weigh them which means extra washing up for me! One of the things that I found is that if you use oven then micro method you have to give some thought to which containers you use! Pyrex has become my main choice now as it can be used for both.
Sorry can't help further but will watch this thread with interest...

[Deleted User]

I don't think mine does convection heating, it does forced air cooking which means a fan directs heat from the grill at the top of the cavity towards the food. From what I can see, at the same time as nuking the food.

Yes, lol, I am going to be very careful about using the metallic crisper plate. I mean, in my past experience, you don't put metal in a microwave without getting a firework type spark show. So how come this microwave has metal racks, a metal crisper plate and you can use two functions at the same time (but this is something I need to get familiar with still, hopefully I have misunderstood something).

At the moment my head just goes round after reading a few of the 'chef' functions and recipes so how to use it is something I will learn by doing I suppose.

I think there is room for Youtube videos on how to use these 'combi' type ovens, there isn't much there. Definitely a gap. I shall be noting down what I learn as I go along.

I am very proud of my new kitchen, only thing I wish is that there was a way to get the horizontal handle on the microwave at the same height as the one on the new cooker without completely stripping out the cupboard the oven is in. I wish i had known the microwave would need replacing two months after the new kitchen was installed ha ha. Sods law, rules my life lol. Currently the microwave is on the worksurface next to the oven. Different makes but exactly the same look. I was hoping to make cooking easier and quicker. Hopefully it will be once I have figured the microwave out - will be cooking cookies later.

Eenymeeny

I asked the same question about using the rack and metal plate when I first started using it. Apparently it is designed so that the microwaves will pass through the gaps... I was also worried about the 'plastic' feet on the rack until I realised that they were silicon. Silly me! If it's any help I just leave the baking tray on top of the glass one for all programmes now and use the rack if I am cooking two items at the same time for grilling or oven cooking. Of course, I realise that I am talking about a different oven but it might help you to gain confidence!
I agree that there isn't a lot of info out there although I have seen a thread on here somewhere. Maybe the old style cooking thread?

[Deleted User]

Well I have made three attempts to make cookies using the crisp plate and a recipe on Hotpoints website. It mentions the dual crisp facility so should work on my microwave.

Except it doesn't. I now know how to make cookie pancakes and soft dough cookies like you get in a certain pizza shop. I will be trying a completely recipe completely next time. I've tried reducing the butter content to avoid the lava like spread, increase the eggs, increase the flour, nothing has helped. Goodness knows if the recipe was ever tested before it was put on the hotpoint website.

And making another attempt at roast potatoes (my son loves them but I messed up using the microwave and gave up).

It does take a bit of getting used to, the website is useless, it won't even accept the microwave model number, in spite of inputting it in every way I can think of. Its like a 'find the secret password' game.

The whole thing may be going back lol.

PipneyJane

I have a "combi" oven, a 20-year-old Panasonic which has an electric element at the top and a fan. For the best part of 10 years, it was my only oven and it's still the one that I use the most. I never use the combination feature; I either use it as an electric fan oven, as a grill or as a microwave. If I use it as an oven, I'll take 5 minutes off the cooking time recommended in the recipe, but still use the regular oven temperature not the fan one.

The largest thing I have roasted in it, is a duck. For a baking dish, either use a deep, round pizza dish or a 10 inch square lasagne dish.

It makes great cakes. The only thing it doesn't do well is toast, IMHO. That gets too dried out.

- Pip (I love mine. I'm hoping it lasts forever.)