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Choosing between using a microwave and an oven can be tricky.
However, you might not have to choose. According to many users, a convection microwave combines the best of both worlds.
Convection microwaves are worth it if you live in a small space and want to avoid the need for both a microwave and an oven or even a microwave and an air fryer. However, a convection microwave is typically more expensive and, in our experience, can have an extensive repair bill.
In this article, we’ll dive into everything you need to know if you’re considering picking up a convection microwave.
Expert Insights on Convection Microwaves
In preparing for this article, I spoke with James, our resident appliance repair expert, about convection microwaves. He had this to say:
For convection microwaves, the biggest complaint I get in the field are horrible smells coming from the microwave.
A convection microwave is like an air fryer. It can reach temperatures upwards of 350F (175C) – so super hot! This means there’s a lot more happening when you’re cooking and that food can really get burned into the appliance. Smells can linger a lot longer and be harder to clean, leaving you with a constantly stinky microwave.
Don’t worry, though. The likelihood of smells just means you need to be more vigilant with your cleaning and maintenance.
When your microwave builds up some gunk, I recommend placing a small glass of water and vinegar in the microwave and cooking on high heat to evaporate the liquid. This will steam and loosen any burnt-on food in the microwave, meaning you can easily wipe the microwave down and keep it smelling fresh.
Breaking Down the Pros and Cons of Convection Microwaves
When deciding if a combination microwave is worth it – especially with a higher price tag – weighing the pros and cons is often a good idea.
Here are some general advantages and drawbacks of convection microwaves, but make sure to relate them to youn home and family.
Which matters most to you?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Space-Saving. Dual purpose function allows small kitchens to contain an oven and a microwave at the same time. | Small Size. Like traditional microwaves, convection microwaves are compact. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to cook more than one dish at a time in these. |
| Easy Programming. Many convection microwaves have specialized programs to let you balance convection and microwave functions at the touch of a button. | Small Size. Like traditional microwaves, convection microwaves are compact. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to cook more than one dish at a time in these. |
| Simplicity. When everything you need to cook is combined in one device, you always know what to use. | Higher Cost. These have a higher price tag than a standard microwave, BUT they can be cheaper than buying both a microwave and an oven or air fryer. |
So, Are Convection Microwaves Worth It?
Unfortunately, the answer is that it depends!
A convection microwave might be perfect for you if you live in a small space but want to cook more. These convenient appliances take up barely more room than a standard microwave. However, they can cook everything from popcorn to a Sunday roast.
On the other hand, if you already have a full-size kitchen, complete with a microwave and an oven that works, a convection microwave probably isn’t worth your money or space.
However, they can be helpful. If you regularly cook large meals and need extra cooking space, a convection microwave is a compact way to increase your kitchen’s abilities.
Convection microwaves are also a fantastic choice for vacation cabins, motor homes, dorms, and small flats. If the space is too small to support a full oven, then a convection microwave can widely expand your culinary options.
How Does A Convection Microwave Oven Work?
Convection microwaves cook your food in two ways at once. The combination of microwave and convection cooking is what makes them so powerful.
If you set your convection microwave to microwave something, it works like a standard microwave.
On the other hand, when you use the convection settings on your convection microwave, it works more like an oven or an air fryer. The heating element in the microwave converts energy to ambient heat. The neat trick with convection cooking is the fan: it blows the hot air at the food to cook it more quickly.
Convection cooking creates the brown, crispy outside coating on foods like roast chicken and baked goods. Even better, it’s completely fine to use metal when only the convection heater is running.
The best part of convection microwaves is when microwaves and convection are used at the same time. Convection microwaves can cook food quickly while still getting that crispy brown exterior quickly.
Many convection microwaves have special programming included. You can touch a button, which will set the convection microwave to run as a microwave for a certain amount of time before turning the microwave off and finishing your food as an oven. This saves you time and guesswork in the long run.
Our Final Verdict on Convection Microwaves
I love the concept of a convection microwave but find them a little too complex for my liking. Don’t get me wrong – they can be great! But the extra cleaning and potential of a complicated repair puts me off. I’d rather microwave a meal and then pop it under the grill to finish.
When deciding if a convection microwave is worth it for your home, you need to determine your priorities.
- If you don’t have a lot of space and don’t yet have an oven or an air fryer, then a convection microwave can be a great all-in-one choice.
- However, be prepared to keep on top of cleaning it. Or you may end up with a permanently stinky microwave!
- On the other hand, if you already have a good oven or air fryer, you could save a lot of money by just getting a normal countertop microwave.
I hope this quick guide on convection microwaves has helped you understand whether one is worth it for you and your family. If this article has helped you, please consider supporting us by checking out some more of our articles.
Thank you for reading, and have a great day!
-Craig
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