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Buying guides

Combination Microwave Oven Guide 2025

When choosing the best combi-microwave oven for your kitchen, it's important to understand the available options and differences. Our buyer's guide to combi-microwaves walks you through everything you need to know for 2025. 

Microwave ovens are a staple in most homes, loved for their convenience and versatility. Yet, despite their usefulness, they’re often relegated to basic tasks like reheating leftovers or defrosting frozen food. However, with growing awareness of the need to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency, combination microwave ovens are emerging as a smarter choice.

Whilst not being a new concept, combi microwave ovens offer a range of cooking options that go far beyond traditional microwaving. By combining microwave technology with grilling, baking, and even roasting features, these kitchen appliances can significantly reduce your reliance on your main oven—saving both time and energy. 

In this guide, we’ll explore the key benefits, considerations, and features of combination microwaves to help you find the perfect model for your kitchen.

What Is a Combination Microwave Oven?

A combination microwave oven  (often called a “Combi microwave”) combines a traditional microwave oven - which uses microwaves for cooking - with a method for convection cooking. This allows you to reheat, bake, roast, grill, and even crisp food using one appliance, and can be useful when space in a kitchen is limited or when you only need to cook smaller meals for 1 person.

Historically, a microwave with a grill was sometimes referred to as a combi microwave, but as technology has evolved and more options have become available, these are now simply referred to as a microwave with a grill, which helps differentiate them from more advanced solutions. 

  • The microwave function is the foundation for the appliance, using electromagnetic waves to heat and cook food quickly. This makes it ideal for everyday tasks like reheating leftovers, defrosting frozen items, or cooking simple meals in a flash! 

  • For more advanced cooking, the convection feature steps in. This mode uses a fan and a heating element to circulate hot air evenly throughout the oven, similar to a traditional oven. It’s perfect for baking cakes, roasting meats, or preparing dishes that require consistent, even heat.

  • The most innovative models also include a grill function, which adds the ability to crisp or brown food using a grill-heating element, ideal for creating a crispy pizza crust, melting cheese on a dish, or grilling vegetables!

  • Finally, Combination Mode allows you to use multiple functions at once, such as microwaving and grilling simultaneously, to speed up cooking and enhance results.

Beware of Similar Terminology!

Before we go any further, it’s worth being aware that there are a couple of very similar terms which may cause confusion for the unaware; 

  • “Combi ovens” - A combi-oven (short for Combination Oven) is an oven (i.e. not a microwave) which includes another heating or cooking method such as a steam cooking feature.

  • “Combi oven with microwave” - is an oven with a microwave cooking capability built-in (i.e. the primary purpose is that of an oven. The microwave is secondary, unlike a “combi microwave” where the microwave oven is the primary purpose)

Combination Microwave Vs Standard Microwave

  • A standard microwave oven uses microwaves to heat/cook food but may also come with a grill feature.

  • In contrast, combi microwave ovens also have the ability to use convection heating and can use various heating methods at the same time—hence “combination”.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Combination Microwave Oven

When choosing a combi microwave, there are a few factors to consider which can help you narrow down your choices, helping to identify the best model for you.

Choose Your Installation Type:

Freestanding
For those who like a compact appliance to sit on their worktop, a freestanding combination microwave oven is ideal for your needs. This fit type means the appliance can be easily moved as and when needed. 
View all freestanding microwaves
Built-In
If you love the aesthetics of a wall-mounted appliance within existing cabinetry, a built-in combination microwave oven will provide you with the desired sleek look! This installation type, sometimes known as "in-frame," helps save space for food preparation.
View all built-in microwaves

Choose Your Wattage:

Wattage refers to the power output of a combi microwave oven and determines how quickly and efficiently it cooks food. Higher-wattage ovens (typically 900–1200 watts) cook faster and are ideal for dense or large meals. Lower-wattage models (600–800 watts) are slower but can be more energy-efficient and suitable for lighter cooking needs. 

When choosing a combi microwave, consider your cooking habits: higher wattage is better for frequent, robust cooking, while lower wattage may suffice for occasional or simpler use.

Choose Your Capacity:

This will be largely determined by whether you 

  • 15 to 20 Litres: Compact and ideal for small kitchens or single-person households, these are perfect for reheating, defrosting, or preparing small meals. You’ll typically only find traditional microwaves at this size, since they have the most basic capabilities. 

  • 21 to 30 Litres: A versatile mid-range option suitable for small families or those who are space-conscious, offering enough room for baking, grilling, and cooking medium-sized dishes. Microwaves with grill functions typically are found in this capacity range. 

  • 31+ Litres: Designed for large households or avid home cooks, these models handle large meals, bigger cookware, and advanced cooking tasks like roasting or baking multiple dishes. Combination microwave ovens usually have an oven cavity of 30+ litres since they offer a greater range of cooking abilities. 

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Combination Microwave Oven?

Pros:

  • By integrating multiple cooking functions—microwave, convection, and grilling—into a single appliance, it frees up valuable kitchen space.

  • The ability to perform various cooking methods allows for a wide range of dishes, from reheating leftovers to baking cakes and grilling meats.

  • Combination microwave ovens often cook food faster than traditional ovens, leading to energy savings and quicker meal preparation.

  • When built into existing cabinetry, combination microwave ovens often look particularly sleek, perfect for those who like a stylish kitchen space!

Cons:

  • The array of functions and settings may take some time to master. However, many models, including those from Smeg, come with user-friendly interfaces for ease of use.

  • Combination microwave ovens usually have smaller capacities compared to combi ovens, making them less ideal for busier households. 

  • The initial investment can be higher than that of a standard microwave. However, the multifunctionality, energy efficiency, and space-saving benefits often justify the cost over time.

What Are the Key Features of a Combination Microwave Oven?

A combination microwave oven integrates multiple cooking options into a single appliance, giving you the freedom to shape meals exactly how you want them. Here are some of the best functions this useful appliance involves:

  • Inverter Technology: Provides continuous and precise microwave emissions to cook or defrost food more consistently, giving you more precise temperature control. 

  • Combination Cooking Modes: Allows simultaneous use of microwave and convection or grill functions, reducing cooking time while achieving desired textures.

  • Grill Function: Provides the ability to grill or brown food, enhancing texture and flavour.

  • Convection Cooking: Employs a fan and heating element to circulate hot air evenly, enabling baking and roasting similar to a traditional oven.

  • Defrost Modes: Defrosting can be determined by either weight or time, allowing for accurate thawing of your favourite foods. 

  • Circulaire Function: Provides quick, multi-layered cooking with excellent browning results, as well as the elimination of flavour and odour transfer between foods. 

  • Superior Tangential Cooling: Models with a tangential cooling system help keep your microwave cool, protecting your appliance from damage caused by high heat. 

  • Pizza Function: This function precisely cooks pizza quicker by using microwaves.

FAQs

Is a combination microwave oven energy-efficient?

Yes, combination ovens are energy-efficient appliances, especially those equipped with inverter technology; delivering a consistent power level throughout the cooking process, reducing energy consumption and cooking time.

What types of cookware can I use?

The safest cookware options are glass or ceramic dishes, as they are generally microwave-safe and can withstand the higher temperatures used in convection mode; always check for "microwave-safe" labels before using any cookware.

Can you bake cakes in a combination microwave oven?

Yes, you can bake cakes in a combination microwave oven using the convection mode, which functions similarly to a standard fan oven. Keep in mind that baking times may be shorter than in conventional ovens; for instance, if a cake takes 30 minutes to bake in a fan oven, it might require less time when using convection mode.

Can a combination microwave replace a conventional oven?

A combination microwave oven can perform many tasks of a conventional oven, such as baking and roasting, while also offering microwave functions. However, it may have limitations in cooking capacity and certain cooking techniques; therefore, while it can handle a variety of cooking tasks, it may not fully replace a conventional oven in all scenarios!

Save Space in Your Kitchen With Smeg’s Combination Microwave Ovens!

If you’re looking for a microwave that is practical, stylish, and easy to use, look no further than our freestanding combi microwave oven and built-in microwave with grill range. These stainless steel appliances are designed to create a more flexible cooking experience for your household, giving you more mealtime options while using less energy and kitchen space!