Combination microwave ovens

outtatune

Definitely recommend a combi. I hardly ever use my under the counter oven.

Of course, it means you're limited on what food you can cook concurrently.

Oh, and the prices for built ins are ludicrous. Get a freestanding one and screw a couple of stops behind the feet to stop it getting pushed back.

Photoframe55

Thank you for all your answers, they're really appreciated       so, can anyone recommend a particular model, we don't do anything fancy, just everyday meals and snacks.?    

Bendy_House

It's BIG, but it'll then do pretty much all your meals for you. It even has shelves and racks like a 'normal' oven.

Sharp R959

getmore4less

We had Panasonic dimension 4 for years when that gave in 2018 we went to 

Samsung MC32k7055. (white)
(Not sure the equivalent today)

https://youtu.be/_7b1nvuExjI

Use for most things now trying to reduce main oven use

Loads of preset programs 50+

Can turn the turntable off for bigger dishes
2 racks more food and a crisper pate which works.

Drop down door great much better than a swing.
Can pull plates out to stir turn.

2person household  32ltr big enough most of the time

Major flaw with ours is the timer is 1hr max for manual settings.

Have to be around to do long low slow roasts that need 3-5 hours.

Yesterday whole shoulder of lamb had to go in the main oven 100c for 3.5 hours
(Went to pub)


I did notice that they are starting to make conventional size ovens with similar features to air fryers, steam ovens  and combos. Not cheap.


When you short list down load the manuals and have a good read and look for YouTube reviews.

Bendy_House

That looks a cracker, GM4L. 

Have to say, Samsung are pretty innovative, and pretty thoughtful in their designs. Is this one intuitive to use?

We had a Samsung once that made me giggle with delight (ok, I exaggerate); it was a 'guiding light' model, where you'd start at the top row of buttons - fan, micro, grill, etc. - and this button would illuminate in blue with a further blue LED track lighting a path to the next row of buttons options - 'power', I guess, and so on to the 'start' button. 'Thought it very nifty, as I couldn't go wrong...

getmore4less

Bendy_House said:

That looks a cracker, GM4L. 

Have to say, Samsung are pretty innovative, and pretty thoughtful in their designs. Is this one intuitive to use?

We had a Samsung once that made me giggle with delight (ok, I exaggerate); it was a 'guiding light' model, where you'd start at the top row of buttons - fan, micro, grill, etc. - and this button would illuminate in blue with a further blue LED track lighting a path to the next row of buttons options - 'power', I guess, and so on to the 'start' button. 'Thought it very nifty, as I couldn't go wrong...

We like it,
if you watch the vid there is a hint guide to the various presets just inside the door

Which is fine for the ones you use.
We need to keep the manual handy.
https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/model/MC32K7055CK/EN/

For a lot of things we just manual set temp time
Eg pizza, maybe the built in settings might be better.

I did quite a bit of research and picked main features we wanted to narrow down choice.

Drop down door eliminates loads 
Turntable off even more(mixed reviews on the no turntable models 4 years ago)

There was a deal with cashback 

Found my HUKD post, forgot it was such a bargain at the time.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-mc32k7055cw-32-litre-combination-microwave-219-crampton-moore-samsung-50-cashback169-3068795

BUFF

That Sharp 959 is a big micro but if you have the room looks a good shout.
If not, then the Panasonic models are good - pick a size/finish/budget to suit.

Mnoee

I've had a Sharp R861 since 2018 that I'm very happy with. Definitely on the cheaper side compared to some - £140 on amazon at the moment. It has presets listed on the inside of the door so you're not always searching for the manual, and I love the flatbed style of it - dead easy to keep clean. We use the grill all the time for things like melting cheese on nachos or toasting burger buns, as well as the microwave, but rarely crack out the oven feature as we just don't eat that much oven food. 

Bendy_House

No question the R959 is a beast. BUT, it'll pretty much replace your main oven.

It's DEEP too, so watch out for that aspect. 

A further plus point is that you can actually build it in to a unit if you buy the kit for that - essentially a vented surround trim, and a deflector for the back. It vents out and upwards from the back.

GaleSF63

If you go for a microwave combi make sure to check its top temperature - they don't all go as high as a "normal" oven. (It's a pain when you can't do toad in the hole!)