Convection microwaves can be the best way to cook healthy food quickly while keeping it fresh and crispy.
However, with so many varied options on the market, it’s easy to get confused about which products are great and which are not so great.
In this article we discuss 5 of the best convection microwaves available in Australia.
After our convection microwave reviews, we list the key things you’ll want to watch out for when choosing one to ensure you get the best appliance for your needs.
1. Electrolux 25L Countertop Combination Convection Microwave Oven (Top Pick)
The Electrolux 25L Countertop Combination Microwave Oven cooks extremely well.
Food cooks much faster than a regular oven thanks to the microwave aspect, but it prevents food from becoming soft and soggy, as is common with traditional microwaves.
This microwave has three functions, a microwave, an oven, and a grill, so your food can be cooked just right.
There are seven ways to cook food, and the unit has pre-programmed functions for different types, so you don’t need to worry about setting it up yourself.
This appliance is functional, stylish, and easy to use. It prepares food in record time and in a way that tastes great. This is easily one of the best convection microwaves around.
What We Like:
- Reliable and cooks very well
- Easy to use
- Auto cook options
What We Don’t Like:
- Can be tricky to clean around the grill
2. Sharp 1000W Sensor Convection Inverter Microwave Oven
Here is a great convection microwave from Sharp. It has six power levels and plenty of cook menus, so you can heat just about anything perfectly, and it takes the guesswork out of cooking.
One nice feature is that the door is opened by pulling it, rather than pushing a button like on a regular microwave. The stainless steel finish is nice, and the touchpad and functions are easy to use.
This unit has sensor cooking so it can detect how well the food is done and adjust cooking times to suit. The price may be on the high side for some, but it’s a great convection microwave that’s easy to use and will last a long time.
What We Like:
- Great features
- Sensor cooking
- Easy to use
What We Don’t Like:
- Expensive
3. Kogan Premium 28L Stainless Steel Convection Microwave Oven with Grill
This convection microwave from Kogan provides a good balance between price and functionality. It has all the functions of a high-end model but at a lower price. There are ten pre-set cooking functions, and the unit can microwave, bake, and grill, so you can prepare food anyway that you want.
The control panel is all stainless steel, which is nice to have when preparing food, and the outer design is stylish and functional. The interior is well designed with the grill on top so cleaning is easy.
Overall, this is a very good unit that cooks food well and does everything you need. It doesn’t have sensor cooking, but it’s a great convection microwave for the price.
What We Like:
- Inexpensive
- Stylish
- Stainless steel control panel
What We Don’t Like:
- No sensor cooking
4. Ariston MWA33B Convection Microwave Oven
This convection microwave from Ariston does it all. It has 90 cook programs for just about anything you could possibly think of, and it has a crisp plate to make sure the base of your food is cooked to perfection.
At 31 litres and 2200 watts, it has all the power and space you need to cook for a family. Using the microwave is very intuitive and easy to do, and you can make adjustments to the time and settings without stopping the microwave. Food is cooked evenly and consistently with no hot or cold pockets.
Overall, this is a fantastic convection microwave. The price might scare some, but the features and functionality are more than worth it.
What We Like:
- Large capacity
- Lots of features
- Crisp plate
What We Don’t Like:
- Expensive
5. Panasonic 27L Convection Microwave Oven
This convection microwave from Panasonic is very well designed, with the interior being quite large for its overall size. It has oven, grill, and microwave functions, with a stainless steel control panel and pre-programmed cooking features.
This is a very solid unit that performs perfectly. It cooks steaks just right, and pizza is crispy and heated all the way through. The interior is easy to clean with no nooks or crannies for food to get stuck. It also has a cooling fan which is good to get rid of condensation and cool down the interior after cooking, although it can be a little noisy.
Overall, this is a very good unit that does everything you need and will last a long time.
What We Like:
- Large interior
- Easy to clean
- Cooks perfectly
What We Don’t Like:
- Noisy cooling fan
Convection Microwave Buyer’s Guide
Visibility
Look for a convection microwave that has a bright interior light and a clear glass viewing window so you can check on your food as it cooks.
This is especially important when roasting as you need to judge how well your food is cooking without opening the door and letting the heat out. It is also useful when making cakes or other items that might sink if the door is opened.
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Cleaning
When using the oven function, there is likely to be a lot of grease and food stains that could be baked on. Make sure the interior has smooth walls and is free of crevices and other features that can trap food. Cleaning should be easy and you shouldn’t have to scrape at food to get it off.
Size and ventilation
Make sure the convection microwave is big enough for the food you plan on cooking. It should also be able to hold the roasting dish or cooking tray that you normally cook your food on.
The unit will need ventilation around the sides as well. Make sure that you have enough space in your kitchen to place the microwave so that there are at least five centimeters of space on all sides.
Functions
There are many useful automatic functions that a convection microwave can have. As well as programming cooking times, you should be able to adjust the time during cooking without stopping the microwave. Some convection microwaves can sense the vapours coming off the food and adjust the cooking times automatically to match.
Some convection microwaves have preset cooking times for common foods. You just have to enter the size or weight and the microwave will choose the correct cooking time automatically.
Convection Microwave FAQs
A regular microwave is a stand-alone appliance that uses radio waves to excite the water molecules in food causing them to heat up.
A convection microwave is two appliances in one. It combines an electric convection oven with a microwave, so you can choose to use either one or the other. You can also have both cooking types work together in combination for fast cooking times, but still getting a nice browned crust on your food.
The oven feature of a convection microwave uses a fan to force hot air around the pizza so it can heat quite quickly. The only problem is that it tends not to brown the base as well as other methods. You can solve this by placing a pizza stone in the microwave and preheating it for 20 minutes before adding your pizza. With this method it should cook quite nicely and have a crispy base.
