combined microwave/oven do you use the oven function?

[pinkbalconyrailing]

I'm trying to use less energy.
my oven is big (range) and takes ages tobheat up and using it for small dishes is wasteful.
we have a microwave/oven combo of which we never have used the oven part.
but I am thinking for heating up garlic bread or other small things it might be a better option energy use wise.

do you use the oven part? are the results good?

We have a neff one, it came with the house and is quite old but is a really good second oven. We don't often need two ovens but it works well when we use it.

I've got one to cook one item instead of putting the oven on. However I've only used it twice for falafels and both times I was disappointed. It still took about 30 mins and I had to go through the pre heating process to put them back in for a bit longer. I've never used the grill facility either. It's also massive.

If I need another microwave it will just be a basic one.

We had an Aga so got a Panasonic combi but it packed up, so we bought another one the same. It also packed up. I believe that the oven function kills the microwave in some way. Also as it's small and you have to use the grill with the door shut, and fat )eg from sausages) spits onto the elements, which are impossible to clean properly. We got a different range in the end - all electric, and it's brilliant as there are 3 ovens - you can heat up and use the smallest one quickly and efficiently. Worth thinking about something like that?

in the long run I want to replace the range with an electric one with 2 or 3 ovens but that's not an option right now.

@AlwaysLatte that's interesting what you say about the oven part killing the microwave part.

We have had one of these for over ten years. We used to use it quite a lot for things like garlic bread or baked potatoes. Now we have an aga in our new house we don't really use it but I've noticed that when using it as a microwave it's not really as powerful as the 1000watts it's meant to be. When it does I will probably just get a little microwave.

I’ve had 3 combi microwaves over the years but never really used them for anything but basic microwaving to heat things up because it was just too much hassle.

thanks all. will have to dig out the manual...

I’ve had a combi microwave for many years - it has a grill too - and I use the oven a lot instead of the big one, if whatever it is will fit.

I also use both oven and microwave together - often - to get 2 large jacket potatoes with crispy skins in about 14 minutes.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

I’ve had a combi microwave for many years - it has a grill too - and I use the oven a lot instead of the big one, if whatever it is will fit.

I also use both oven and microwave together - often - to get 2 large jacket potatoes with crispy skins in about 14 minutes.

sound great! yes def baked potatoes. feels silly to run the oven for 2 hours to bake 6 potatoes...