ovens with a microwave function - good or bad?

[goonIcantakeit]

So, all this talk about integrated appliances makes me realise that what I really want hidden is the super-ugly microwave oven which we don't use that much.

We're buying a new double oven and I know you can get some with a microwave function.

But will it be more expensive/difficult to repair/likely to break?
And will the children accidently turn on the microwave function whilst there are metal pans still inside?

please share your experiences!

I've had a combi oven/microwave for the last 6 years and it's been great. We bought it because it matches the regular oven which i use most of the time.

There's no way of accidentally switching it to microwave mode whilst it's running so i wouldn't worry about that.

The only downside is that it doesn't have a turntable so i tend to cook things in short bursts and keep spinning the pot round.

Ah that's interesting re the turntable.

So is a combi a decent oven that can sort of microwave, rather than a microwave that can sort of cook ...

If you don't use it much - is there room for it (safely ie not above shoulder height - or in reach of small children ) elsewhere - like a utility room or pantry ?! As a freestanding one is cheap to replace if it does go wrong - and doesn't take the place of your extra oven - so wont interrupt your cooking if you have stiff going in both ovens ( full roast and an apple pie etc) and you want some frozen peas cooked ?!

Yes, i would say you're right. It's more of an oven that you can use as a microwave than a microwave you can use as an oven.

You could always get a fully integrated microwave if you just wanted a microwave?

thanks both. I think the "simpler things do their one job better and go wrong less often" rule applies here. Maybe I need to look harder for a space to hide it.

it's funny - we are all hiding fridges which can be quite beautifully designed and then you are left sticking a nasty-looking microwave on top of your build-in cabinets.....

no - just had a look - absolutely no room at all!

We only use the microwave for christmas pudding and popcorn so I guess a combi single will do the job with an electric-only oven beneath it.

And then if the combi breaks at least the electric-only won't be broken too....

If you have room it could go inside a base cabinet - make sure it has air circulation space or it will overheat and die !

He have one in a cupboard in the tv room ! For popcorn ! ( how lazy am I !!)

We had a combi-over-matching-conventional-oven in our old kitchen (installed by previous owner) and never had any problems in 10 years. Indeed, it worked so well for me that went for the same oven set up when we put in the new kitchen.

Only disadvantage for me was that combi ovens are expensive. Definitely a lot more than a conventional oven + free standing.

You can also do combi-cooking which can be useful. Microwaving and roasting at the same time, for example, so you get the food cooked quicker but it still crisps up.

"qe have one in a cupboard in the tv room ! For popcorn ! ( how lazy am I !!")"

OMG that is not lazy that is a design classic!

i have a neff single oven, with a matching combi neff above. works brilliantly for me.

We have a seimens one as our second oven, it sits side by side with our main oven but it's slightly shorter so we have a plate warmer underneath.

It's great, but I wouldn't buy the seimens one again because it continues to beep forever when it's finished until you switch it off.

Also, the minutes/functions and temperatures are set by turning a dial and I find that ally irritating, I'd rather just key in '2.00' than turn the digital dial.

Ooh thank you greenfolder that sounds like the thing to do.

Sixties - OMG beeping oven - worse than a satnav - thank you so much for the warning!

I've got what greenfolder's got and it's the bizz. Expensive, yes, but less so if you buy it from one of these unboxed appliance places. I got mine (in fact all of my appliances) from John Waring South and saved a huge amount. Everything was brand new with full guarantees and I've never regretted it.

so

neff - tick
siemens - watch for the irritating ticking one

what brand did you get british bakeoff?

You've got to really use a microwave a lot to get an integrated one!!!! The cost alone, let alone the space.... eek. We have a combi microwave but I couldn't give it precious kitchen space, integrated or not, so it's in the boot room!

I got Neff - a single oven below and this sort of thing on top:

www.neff.co.uk/showroom/compact-appliances/combination-oven/C57M70N3GB.html?source=browse

So it's like having a double oven, except that the top one has a microwave option. I use it for cooking most things, microwave or not, and because it's small it uses much less energy.

Anon - yes, it would be a bit extreme to have an integrated microwave!

I mean having an integrated oven that happens to have a microwave option...

Ah, sorry, misunderstood! I had no idea such an option existed.... (I only got my first ever microwave this week....).

PMSL at microwave in the cupboard for popcorn near the TV!!!! Oh yeah!

We have a built in AEG singe oven with an AEG (matching) combi oven/ microwave above. This one: www.johnlewis.com/aeg-mcc3881e-m-built-in-combination-microwave-stainless-steel/p231353063 and this main oven : www.johnlewis.com/aeg-bp5304001m-built-in-single-electric-oven-stainless-steel/p231269447
Absolutely NO chance of DCs accidentally turning microwave on as you have to have an advanced physics degree to work out how to use it, but now that i have finally mastered it I wouldnt change it for the world. It's got a turntable, but also has a big tray to do things like roast potatoes. We had our kitchen redone at vast expense, and then couldn't bear the idea of cluttering up the worktop with ugly microwave. We did consider the utility room option, but I use the microwave function every day (porridge for breakfast, frozen peas etc) so that wasn't really workable. The two ovens look great, work brilliantly and I'm glad I listened to the kitchen designer who insisted it was the best option for us.
If you can afford a built in combi, then go for it.

Our AEG failed after 16 months made by electrolux, only micro i have had fail in 30 years. Ps. The oven part still works