Whether you're cooking at home or running a small cafe, a combination microwave is one of the most useful kitchen appliances. Combination microwaves are slightly different from regular microwaves as they have additional cooking modes, most often a convection oven and grill, that allow you to cook food quickly while also providing a crisp outer layer. Some even come without a turntable, using a flatbed instead to allow space for larger dishes.
This buying guide will help point you towards the right features to look out for, depending on your needs. We've also created a list of the best combination microwaves available in the UK, including options from popular brands like Samsung, Sharp, and Russell Hobbs. Best of all, these are all available on either Amazon or Argos for you to peruse from the comfort of your own home!
Quick List - Top Combination Microwaves
Toshiba
An Affordable, Powerful, and Reliable Combi Microwave That’s Easy to Clean
Morphy Richards
A Great Bargain Option With a Sleek Design, Perfect for a Small Family
De'Longhi
A Combination Option for Small Apartments With Popular End Results
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Table of Contents
Key Points to Consider
Whatever amount of food you plan on making, you'll want to be sure there's enough space inside your combination microwave to cook everything at the same time. A microwave's capacity is measured in litres, and you'll want to find one large enough for your needs without it taking up too much space in your kitchen.
A combination microwave between 20-25 litres is the standard size for the average family kitchen. This will allow you to prepare enough food without it taking up too much space. If you're looking for something more suited to a commercial kitchen or small cafe, 30-40 litres is a safer bet.
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The main benefit of owning a combination microwave is that you can perform several actions and cook a variety of food with a single piece of equipment that doesn't take up much space. The most common modes a combi microwave includes are a grill and an oven.
All the best combination microwaves have either a grill or a convection oven setting, and the best often have both. It should go without saying that all combi microwaves have a microwave function that allows you to steam vegetables, but some even have an air frying mode!
Checking how powerful the best combi microwaves are is a good way to tell how quickly they can cook food. The power is measured in watts, and each function of a combination microwave will likely have different wattage, with the microwave function being the lowest and the convection oven being the highest.
You'll want to look at microwaves with at least 900 W for the microwave function, between 1000 W and 1200 W for a grill, and over 1400 W for a convection oven. Opting for something with lower power doesn't mean the food will taste any worse; it will just take longer to get it right!
Make sure your roast is cooked to perfection with a meat thermometer!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Toshiba 25L Microwave Oven | ![]() | An Affordable, Powerful, and Reliable Combi Microwave That’s Easy to Clean | |
2 | Morphy Richards Combination Microwave | ![]() | A Great Bargain Option With a Sleek Design, Perfect for a Small Family | |
3 | De'Longhi Enamel Cavity Combination Microwave | ![]() | A Combination Option for Small Apartments With Popular End Results | |
4 | Sharp Combination Flatbed Microwave|R861KM | ![]() | A Fold Down Door and Flatbed Makes for a Unique Option | |
5 | Russell Hobbs 30L Digital Combination Microwave|RHM3002 | ![]() | A Huge 30-Litre Combination Microwave That Presents Great Value for Money | |
6 | Sharp Combination Microwave Oven|R959SLMAA | ![]() | A Large Capacity Makes This a Great Option for Cafes and Commercial Kitchens | |
7 | Russell Hobbs 25L Digital Combination Microwave|RHM2574 | ![]() | A 25-Litre Microwave Oven With a Powerful 2500 Watt Fan-Assisted Convection Oven | |
8 | Samsung Combination Microwave | ![]() | A Compact, 28-Litre Option From a Well-Known, Reliable Brand | |
9 | Sage Combination Microwave|SMO870 | ![]() | A Unique Air-Fry Feature and Large Capacity Make This a Great Choice for Cafes | |
10 | Toshiba 23L Eco-Friendly Microwave Oven|MW2-AG23PF | ![]() | An Eco-Friendly Option That’s Well-Suited to a Home |
Whether you're grilling, baking, or microwaving, this offering from Toshiba is one of the best combination microwaves out there, thanks to its high power output. It features ten cooking presents to ensure that everything you're cooking is done to perfection.
The easy-clean ceramic enamel cavity means that the inside of the microwave requires a lot less elbow grease to get sparkling than the average microwave. It's also scratch-resistant and has anti-bacterial properties!
If you're looking for the best budget combination microwave on the market, this option from Morphy Richards represents excellent value for money. At 23-litres, it's just the right size for a small family home, and the small and sleek design means it can fit almost anywhere.
It comes with a child safety lock, and whether you're reheating leftovers, defrosting frozen sauces, or even baking bread, you'll be happy with the end product. As a bargain option, it has a quality finish and style that means it feels anything but cheap.
With a maximum oven temperature of 220°C, this combi microwave oven and grill somehow fits a 25 L capacity into a small form factor, making it great for small apartments. Its baking results can also rival an oven, so if you're struggling with space, you won't have to compromise on your cooking.
It features an enamel cavity that's easy to clean, stretch-resistant, and anti-bacterial, so you won't have to worry about keeping your microwave in tip-top condition. Many customers even prefer the results over a traditional cooker!
While most microwave ovens feature a rotating turntable, this offering from Sharp has a flatbed that allows you to use larger dishes and really get the most out of the 25 L capacity. The drop-down door also allows you to put the oven into small and compact spaces.
With 15 automatic programs for defrosting, re-heating, and cooking all manner of ingredients, the Sharp Combination Flatbed Microwave can handle anything a traditional oven or grill can. With a maximum power of 2050 W, this microwave can reach temperatures of 200°C without issue ensuring a nice crisp finish when desired!
With a whopping 30-litre capacity, this microwave from Russell Hobbs can cook a lot of food without taking up any more space than the average microwave. It comes with ten power levels that go up to an impressive 2500 W when using the convection oven setting.
Suitable for both a home kitchen to save space when replacing a traditional oven or a small cafe, what you get for the price presents excellent value for money. It also has ten auto-cook functions, weight/time defrost settings and a child safety lock!
Narrowly missing out on our top five is this combination microwave oven from Sharp that has an enormous 40-litre capacity that's perfect for cafes and commercial kitchens. It could also be an option in the home if you're looking to replace a gas oven but still cook large roasts and the like.
While a premium option is a good investment for a business, it's a little expensive for the average customer. The power output is also a little low for the size, but it may also mean you can save money on your electricity bills!
Just like the 30-litre model, this 25-litre oven from Russell Hobbs has a powerful 2500 W fan-assisted convection oven to hit the highest temperatures possible. It's ideal for cooking lasagnas, pizzas, baked potatoes, cottage pies, and anything else that requires a nice brown crisp.
While it comes with a manufacturer's 1-year guarantee, the 30-litre model has the same external dimensions available at a very similar price point. Unless you really want a smaller model, and it's available at a lower price, it's worth opting for the bigger model instead.
With an impressive 28-litres in a relatively compact package, this option from Samsung has a unique dough-proofing and fermenting function. It also has a variety of pre-set healthy recipes and a ceramic enamel interior that's easy to clean.
While a fantastic multi-tasker and jack-of-all-trades, many customers have reported that it's not the most user-friendly option on the market, and the instructions are confusing. Still, fans of Samsung will likely get a lot of joy out of this product.
The Sage Combination Microwave combines multiple cooking technologies, including air frying, which isn't found on any other microwaves on our list. While it appears to have a low power output, it's very efficient and can reach temperatures of 230°C - the highest of all our featured products.
The obvious drawback of this microwave is its high price which makes it only really a viable option for a business with a commercial kitchen. If you're happy to invest in the best, this is worth picking up, but it's a bit of an overkill for the home.
There is a lot to like about the 23L Eco-Friendly Microwave Oven by Toshiba; it's affordable, has a decent capacity for the home, and has an innovative position-memory turntable. You can reduce standby power by turning on eco mode which helps save on bills.
What keeps this at the bottom of our list is that it only has a grill function and no convection oven. This is a large drawback, but if you only want some browning on top of a lasagne or shepherd's pie, this does the job.
Written and researched by David Sexton
No. 1: Toshiba|25L Microwave Oven
No. 2: Morphy Richards|Combination Microwave
No. 3: De'Longhi|Enamel Cavity Combination Microwave
No. 4: Sharp|Combination Flatbed Microwave|R861KM
No. 5: Russell Hobbs|30L Digital Combination Microwave|RHM3002
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