A combination microwave oven pairs an ordinary microwave with a grill, and often a convection fan oven as well, so it can bake and roast as well as reheat. If you live in a flat with no proper oven or want a second one for Christmas, this will help you decide whether one can do the job, which modes to insist on, and whether freestanding or built-in suits your kitchen.
What to look for
01Can a combination microwave replace a conventional oven?
For one or two people, a convection combination microwave can handle most everyday oven cooking, including cakes, chicken portions, oven chips and pizza, in a much smaller cavity. The Panasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ has a 34L cavity and the Beko MCF25310B has 25L, while the built-in oven in the Cookology oven and microwave pack is 72L. In practice that means one tray at a time, batch baking in rounds, and no room for a large joint and a tin of potatoes together. Combination mode runs the microwave alongside the grill or convection heat, so a jacket potato or a gratin cooks faster than in an oven alone and still browns on top. If you roast for six most Sundays, keep a full oven. If you mostly cook for two, a combination microwave can be your only oven.
02Convection or grill-only: which combination microwave do you need?
Buy a convection model if you want to bake or roast. A grill-only combination microwave browns and crisps from above, but it can't bake a cake or a loaf. Both types are sold as combination microwaves, so look for a convection figure in the listing. The Beko MCF25310B lists a 1950W convection oven and a 1950W grill, and the Rediffusion REDCMW30B lists 2200W convection with a 1200W grill. The Toshiba MW3-AG20PF has a 1000W grill and a combi setting, with no convection oven, which makes it a good fit for cheese on toast, bacon and browning a lasagne. The two Cookology 25L built-ins are also sold as combi microwave and grill models. Convection heats the air with an element and a fan moves it around the cavity, and that moving hot air is what lets a small box bake evenly.
03What will fit inside a combination microwave?
Measure your favourite dishes before you buy, because the turntable width and the height under the grill decide what fits more than the litre figure does. Of the combination models here, the Panasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ is the largest at 34L, followed by the Rediffusion at 30L and the Baridi at 28L. The Beko, the Haden and both Cookology built-ins are 25L, and the Toshiba MW3-AG20PF is 20L. A rectangular roasting tin often catches the sides as a turntable rotates, so round and oval dishes are easier to live with. Height matters for anything tall, such as a chicken on a rack or a risen loaf, which can end up close to the grill element. Check the internal dimensions in the manual or product details, then compare them with the dishes you already own.
04Freestanding or built-in: which suits your kitchen?
Freestanding combination microwaves sit on the worktop and move house with you, which suits renters and students. Built-in models go into a housing unit and free up the worktop, but they need a cabinet of the right size. The Rediffusion REDCMW30B is sold as freestanding and needs only a socket and a stretch of worktop with space around it for ventilation. The black Cookology 25L built-in combi microwave and grill is 59.5cm wide, and its stainless steel sibling is the same 25L size. If you are refitting and want a matched pair, the Cookology pack combines a 72L built-in oven with a 44L compact microwave. A built-in combination microwave above the main oven is a common way to get a second oven without giving up any worktop.
05Do you want an air fryer mode in the same box?
If you would otherwise buy a separate air fryer, a microwave with an air fry mode saves a second appliance and a second plug. The Baridi DH277 is a 28L microwave and air fryer combination, with a 900W microwave, a 1850W air fryer and a 1800W grill, plus 9 presets and multi-stage cooking so one programme can follow another. The Panasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ adds air frying to its convection, grill and 1000W inverter microwave modes in a 34L cavity. Air frying inside a microwave cavity works best with food spread in a single layer on the rack or tray, so a big bag of chips may need two rounds. If you cook frozen snacks most days and roast rarely, a standalone air fryer may still suit you better, but for occasional crisping the combined machine saves space.
Our top picks
Best for replacing an oven outrightPanasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ 4-in-1 Combination Microwave Oven
At 34L, the Panasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ has the largest cavity of the combination models here, and it covers convection, grill and air frying as well as a 1000W inverter microwave. Panasonic also lists Genius Sensor cooking. Pick it for a flat with no main oven, cooking for two or three.
Best for baking in a 25L cavityBeko Combination Microwave MCF25310B | Black
Beko pairs a 900W microwave with a 1950W convection oven and a 1950W grill in the MCF25310B. That convection figure matters if cakes and traybakes are on your list. The black finish and 25L size make it a sensible second oven for a small household.
Best freestanding second oven for ChristmasRediffusion 30L Digital Combination Microwave
The Rediffusion REDCMW30B has 2200W convection, a 1200W grill and a 900W microwave in a 30L stainless steel cavity. A grill rack comes in the box, and it has 8 auto menus and 5 power levels. As a freestanding model, it can come out of the cupboard for the Christmas sides and go back in January.
Best microwave and air fryer combinationBaridi 28L Microwave Air Fryer Oven
Baridi's DH277 combines a 900W microwave, a 1850W air fryer and a 1800W grill in a 28L cavity. It has 9 presets, and multi-stage cooking lets one setting follow another without you stepping in. The child lock is useful in a family kitchen.
Best built-in combi for a fitted kitchenCookology 25L 59.5cm Built-in Combi Microwave
Cookology's 25L built-in combi microwave and grill runs at 900W and is listed at 59.5cm wide, in black. It grills but has no convection mode, so it works best fitted above a main oven. Choose it if you want the worktop clear.
Frequently asked
Can you put metal tins in a combination microwave oven?
On convection or grill alone, metal tins and the supplied rack are generally fine, because the microwave isn't running. In combination modes the microwave is on, so follow the manual for your model, as some allow metal on the rack and some don't. Heatproof glass and ceramic dishes are the safe choice for every mode.
Do you need to preheat a combination microwave?
For convection baking, yes. Most models preheat like a fan oven, and cakes and pastry rise better when they go into a hot cavity. Combination modes can usually start from cold, because the microwave does much of the cooking. Check the manual, as some models run the preheat for you when you pick a convection temperature.
Can I cook Christmas dinner with a combination microwave as a second oven?
Yes, for the sides. A whole turkey belongs in the main oven, but a 25L to 34L combination microwave can take the stuffing, pigs in blankets or a batch of roast potatoes while the bird cooks. Plan the order in advance, as you'll only fit one dish or tray at a time.
Is a combination microwave a good idea for a student flat?
It is if the flat has no oven, since one appliance covers reheating, grilling and oven meals. A freestanding model like the Rediffusion REDCMW30B needs only a socket and a clear bit of worktop. Check the tenancy or halls rules first, as some ban cooking appliances in bedrooms.
Are combination microwaves harder to clean than a solo microwave?
A little, because grilling and roasting splash fat that then bakes onto the walls. Wipe the cavity once it has cooled after each roast, before the next grill session sets the splashes hard. A stainless steel cavity, which the Rediffusion REDCMW30B has, stands up to regular scrubbing.