![]() Combi mode took longer but resulted in brown, crispy skin and a soft, mash-like middle. ![]() A raw jacket potato took only 7mins to cook in the microwave-only mode, coming out soft and fluffy. The rice itself was prepared using the minimal-effort rice programme. The manual outlines specific functions, including which receptacle to use for which mode, and recipe ideas are available as an e-book on the Sage website.ĭefrosting frozen bread and reheating cooked rice yielded even results overall. But it’s versatility is handy, as are the combi mode-compatible metal trivet and crisper pan with foldable legs. With its spaceship-like design and proportions, the Sage Combi Wave 3 in 1 isn’t for every kitchen, and it’s also rather pricey. As a combination microwave, it also works as a convection oven and an air fryer, as well as boasting a grill function and a range of smart programmes and pre-sets. The quality of the Sage Combi Wave 3 in 1 is obvious: the intuitive design has a premium feel, and the large LCD, clear buttons and shortcuts make it very easy to use. Best budget combi oven: Hotpoint MWH 26321 MB – check price.Best budget microwave: Russell Hobbs Scandi Digital Microwave – check price.Best combi oven: Panasonic NN-CS89LBBPQ – check price.Best integrated microwave: Hotpoint MP676IXH – check price.Best overall: Sage Combi Wave 3 in 1 – check price.In this list, we’ve got microwaves for every budget and need. Where available, we also looked at grills’ ability to toast, cooked potatoes in combi mode and tried out any special programmes or features following manufacturers’ recommendations. We tested the microwaves’ ability to defrost frozen bread, reheat cooked rice and cook raw jacket potatoes. Some microwaves feature touch-sensitive surfaces, while others rely on buttons and knobs. Controls can be manual or digital – although manual ones tend to give less precise timings. Usability was another factor we considered: some microwaves were intuitive, while others demanded constant reference to the manual. The best turntable combis come with an array of accessories and provide metal crisper plates that are still safe to use in combi mode. With a turntable combi microwave, an important factor to bear in mind is the availability of suitable containers for convection or combi modes – as only round or smaller rectangular shapes will work. Having said that, most flatbeds come at mid-range or high-end prices, and the ones we tested were all combi microwaves. More importantly, flatbed microwaves often have more space and they can take rectangular dishes that wouldn’t be able to spin on a turntable without hitting a wall. While in our tests, turntable microwaves often demonstrated more overall evenness, any perceived unevenness with flatbed microwaves could easily be fixed by rotating food during cooking – stopping to flip or stir the food is often recommended for defrosting or grilling tasks anyway. Yet, microwaves usually have different power levels, so you should be able to reduce the power on higher-power models to avoid having to calculate a new cooking time.Īnother consideration is whether to opt for a flatbed or turntable microwave. But if you frequently cook supermarket-ready meals following suggested cooking times for standard 800W ovens, some of the default full power settings can prove too high. Power levels varied, with many more expensive microwaves having higher wattages. Some programmes we saw were gimmicky, while some focused on straightforward staples, such as cooking veg, potatoes or fish fillets, and others aimed to take the guesswork out of common tasks, such as softening butter or preparing popcorn. Solo microwaves are usually fuss-free, straightforward appliances, while combination microwaves come equipped with convection, grill or other functions to tackle a variety of cooking tasks.īut not all combi microwaves are created equal: while the high-end ones have dozens of programmes, the cheaper ones come with only a handful. When picking the right capacity, it’s best to be guided by your household’s cooking needs – but it’s also worth bearing in mind that lower-volume microwaves (20 litres and under) tend to be too narrow for larger dinner plates and sometimes a little low for taller containers. The measurements of a microwave are normally linked to its capacity. While integrated microwaves are fitted into a specific space, freestanding microwaves often need a certain amount of space between their top/sides and any nearby walls or objects. Freestanding or integrated, solo or combination, flatbed or turntable – we’ve tested a variety of models with different power levels, capacities and selection of programmes. Microwaves are a fast and easy way to heat up food, but they can also be much more than that.
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