Will I regret a combination microwave/oven?

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

Redesigning our kitchen and DH wants us to replace our double oven + microwave with a single oven and a combintion oven / microwave / grill. He is willing to splurge on top-of-the-range (he hates clutter and doesn't want a microwave on the worktop) but I am not completely convinced.

I use the microwave a lot - defrosting, warming up tea ready meals so I am most worried that the microwave functionality won't be great, or fiddly to use.

Any experiences or tips?

I use mine mostly for microwave and occaisionally for the oven. The functionality for the microwave is the easiest bit...the oven takes some getting used to

I have had one for 4 years, I love it. But I only ever use it as a microwave though, so plate heating, veg steaming (has 6th sense function) softening butter for baking, defrosting and reheating etc

Mine is touch control so no buttons, and it is so easy to use my 11 year old son can use it.

I couldn't get a double oven in due to layout so this was the compromise.

I have a neff single oven and a microwave combi. The combi has pretty much all the programmes that the single one does plus microwave stuff.

I've got a Neff slide and hide single oven and a Which recommended combination microwave. I'm not much of a cook and often make/heat things just for myself. So I use the oven fuction of the microwave a lot. Being smaller than main oven it's more economical and it cooks things a bit faster.

I only use a combination oven and a slow cooker. It's brilliant and a timer that turns off the oven completely is great.

Much better than a conventional oven in my view.

We have a similar set up. Very happy with it. I do use the combi as an oven as well as a microwave when I am kust cooking one thing like a pizza.

it needs to be quite big. Microwaves are usually smaller than you would wish. We have quite a large combi oven, but in Canada I have seen combis as big as traditional ovens so you can roast your turkey in them. I believe in UK they are sold by brands like Neff but rather expensive. Would like one next time, but I am sure you need (at least) two ovens in your kitchen so you can roast in one, grill in another, and keep hot in the third.

you have to look at the cavity size, not the outer casing. There will be a big difference.

Positive reviews then! Any particular brand or model worth looking at?

The one I have is a Panasonic Slimline Combi NN-CT555W. I got it because it had a very good review by "Which", was one of their best buys and it was reasonably priced. Not sure if if would be big enough for you but the cavity size is good for me (and seems massive compared to the tiny ordinary microwave in the teapoint at my office).

We did this when refitting our kitchen 4 years ago, for exactly the same reasons. We bought a matching single oven and combined oven from AEG. Both are brilliant. I was dubious about the combination oven as I microwave a lot but it's fine. And the kitchen is much neater/smarter this way!

I love mine - got it for the same reasons. It's a Neff and the microwave function is brilliant. The only time I get irritated is if I've been using the oven or grill for something then want to microwave something quickly (it usually happens after a big special dinner, if I've used both ovens and want to quickly heat some custard for pudding or something) because the microwave won't work until the oven is cold again. Literally twice a year or something.

I've got one and it's brilliant, just brilliant. It does a roast chicken in 32 minutes. I have a childlike awe of it.

You can also use the combi function to oven cook frozen meals in 15 mins instead of 45. The microwave on its own is fine - just a normal microwave, with no turny thing though.

Mine is a Bosch speed oven, not sure of the model.

I'm going for the same set up and have chosen Miele appliances. I've used the same model combi-microwave extensively at a friend's house.

Really good for baking in.

And having lived through a period with a broken oven in my current kitchen I'm really looking forward to the redundancy of having two oven options.

My parents have this set up with Neff appliances and the only seriously annoying thing is that you have to let the oven cool down before you can microwave anything.
So if you want to blast cook a bag of spinach or something but have used the combi oven / microwave then you can't do it.

I'd suggest that your single oven also has a grill so that you aren't restricted to just the top oven for that if you often use the microwave at the end of cooking to heat veg or sauces, warm plates, heat up puddings, sterilise baby things etc.

When we redid our kitchen I ended up putting the microwave in the utility room as that was less annoying to me than a combi

We have a Bosch combi microwave and there are two annoying features...

1. the fan makes a continuous loud noise for about 10 minutes after you use the microwave. Even if you only microwave something for 10 seconds you still get the noise for 10 minutes. About same volume as a tumble drier, maybe slightly less.

2. It only does 600W or 1000W, nothing in between. No food packaging gives you a cooking time for either of these powers, so you have to do a bit of maths /guesswork!

Also I personally don't like the large amount of superfluous buttons and menu options on the combi or on the matching Bosch oven which we also have.

Oh just remembered the most annoying feature of the Bosch. Once the microwave has finished cooking, it beeps... and CONTINUES BEEPING until you press a button or open the door! Grrrrrrr!

Oh that is maddening I agree. I hate to be harangued by inanimate objects!

I know Zoloh! Our tumble drier does similar, once it's finished it continues to do short spins at about 30 second intervals for maybe an hour. So if i put it on in the evening and am still awake when it finishes I have to go downstairs and switch it off. Maddening!

I would pay a premium for consumer electronics with NO bells or whistles. Or blinky fucking lights while we're at it.

We have a Neff Combi and whilst it does everything you want - the offset is that it takes longer to use - no quick start button - from memory just getting a 1 min 1000w blast takes 7 button presses.

I've a got single oven and a combi oven/microwave, both Neff. I'm really pleased with them; the microwave functions on the combi seem to work really well and we've saved loads of space by not having to have a separate microwave.

I don't use the microwave much for cooking (just plate warming) but it's been brilliant. I love love love love not having a big ugly microwave on my worktop. I have nothing by my kettle on the worktop and it's heaven.