Microwave died! Normal or combi?

[mindgone]

That's it really, our microwave sadly seems to have died today . DH wants to rush out tomorrow (today!) and buy a new one, so I just wanted to check out the advice of wise Mumsnetters who have nothing to sell me! I'm not sure if I fancy a combi one, they have never appealed to me before, but in a year or so it will be just the two of us, so it might be a wise move. Any advice?

[D0oinMeCleanin]

We've had a combi for years. STBX bought it during one of his feeling flush moments. I'm still not sure what the 'combi' bit is for. Other than that, it is does nothing more than my £30 Tesco value jobby did.

It's not on the list of furniture I intend to steal.

[ZingHasAHotCrossBunInTheOven]

I think a combi is when you can use it as a grill also.

pointless.
I'd buy normal

[CrispyHedgeHog]

I've just got a bog standard basic one but a friend of mine has one that can be used as a proper oven, grill and slow cooker. It's a thing of wonder and I think when mine gives up the ghost I'll get one similar to hers because sometimes it seems a waste to turn on the big oven just for me.

[4littleones]

surely it depends what you want to use it for? We mainly use ours for heating up left overs or for then kids to have warm milk, or if we want to heat something from a tin.

so for us, we certainly don't need anything more than a normal microwave.

[LoisEinhorn]

Combi, they do really quick, yummy jacket spuds in them.

[PigletJohn]

A combi will be more expensive, and usually bigger. It will have a fan oven and/or grill as well as the microwave function. If you already have a good cooker you might never actually use these features. But if you only have a single oven it is handy for doing puddings or something in while the main oven is in use.

It may have preprogrammed combination cooking options which you will almost certainly never use.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Mine was £30 from morrisons. It has a time dial, a heat dial and no clock.

I only use it for porridge, baked beans, soup and warming plates when the main oven isn't on.

[haggisaggis]

I have a combi but have never used the grill function - so a complete waste of money for me. And with mine, because the grill element is at the top it is also a lot harder to clean.

[homeaway]

I have a combi and I love it. It is a small oven so is great for cakes and the extra dishes that won't fit into the big oven when we are cooking for a crowd. I also use the grill :). Each to their own :)

[LumionaMoonsplash]

Get a cheapy one and halogen oven. They are really good.

[mindgone]

Thanks everyone for your advice, I shall mull it all over!