The Ultimate Guide to 5 Combo Oven Microwaves

Imagine whipping up a perfectly crispy roast chicken in half the usual time, or defrosting frozen vegetables so they taste fresh, not soggy. Sounds like a kitchen dream, right? Many of us dream of a countertop appliance that can do it all: bake, roast, microwave, and crisp food beautifully. That dream appliance is the Combo Oven Microwave, but finding the perfect one can feel like a puzzle with too many pieces.

Choosing a new kitchen gadget is tough. Do you need more speed, better baking power, or just more counter space? Different models promise different things, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed trying to figure out which features truly matter for your busy life. You want the best of both worlds—the speed of a microwave and the quality of a real oven—without buying two separate machines.

This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down exactly what a Combo Oven Microwave does, explain the key features you must look for, and show you how to pick the model that fits your cooking style and budget perfectly. Get ready to unlock faster cooking and better meals!

Top Combo Oven Microwave Recommendations

No. 1
TOSHIBA Air Fryer Combo 8-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven, with Convection, Broil, Odor Removal Mode, 12.4" Position Memory Turntable, Child-Lock, 1.0 Cu.ft, Black Stainless Steel, ML2-EC10SA(BS)
  • Two-Step Child Lock: This mandatory safety feature for microwaves helps prevent unintended use by younger family members, plesase open the machine according to the steps shown in the figure.
  • 8-in-1 Multifuntional Microwave One microwave with multi-functions of microwave, air fry, bake(convection), broil (grill), combi., low temp., odor removal, defrost can fulfill more usages.
  • Healthy Air Fryer Microwave Combo: Enjoy your wholesome fried food with original taste but less fat with healthy air fry.
  • Microwave output power 1000 watts, input power 1600 watts. External dimension (WxDxH): 20.6*18.0*11.8 inches, internal dimension (WxDxH):14.0*13.2*9.5 inches, 12.4-inch position memory turntable
  • Compact Size but Large Capacity & Powerful: Small Footprint as Kitchen Essential, 12.4inch removable turntable can fit a whole roasted chicken, 12 inch pizza and 8*4 inch casserole, offers the perfect balance of size and convenience.
No. 2
BLACK+DECKER 5-in-1 Microwave Oven with Air Fry, Combi, Bake, Roast, and Convection Cooking, 0.9 cu. ft. Countertop Microwave, Stainless Steel, 900 Watts, Child-Lock, ES9P032NA
  • 5-in-1 Microwave Oven: Use this essential countertop appliance for cooking in five functions: microwave, air fryer, combi (grill/convection), bake, and roast for all of your culinary needs.
  • 10 Cooking Levels: Featuring a 900-watt output, this compact microwave has 7 auto menus, including settings for Beverage, Fresh/Frozen Vegetables, Oatmeal, Potato, Popcorn, and Frozen Pizza.
  • Air Fry Presets: This small-but-mighty microwave has 11 preset air fry menus, including for cooking frozen French fries, steak fries, squid rings, chicken nuggets/wings/legs, fish sticks/fillets, cheese sticks, vegetables, and spring rolls with an easy-to-use operation.
  • Speedy Cooking: Directly press the start button to cook food at 100% power for 30 seconds and press again for an additional 30 seconds.
  • Child-Lock Setting: Press the stop button for 3 seconds to lock the control panel to keep little hands from clicking buttons on the appliance.
No. 3
FRIGIDAIRE 1.2 cu ft Microwave, Digital Air Fryer, Convection Oven, Combo-Fry with XL Capacity, Stainless Steel Finish
  • Multi functionality: BAKE, ROAST, MICROWAVE, CONVECTION OVEN
  • 5 ONE TOUCH COOK MENUS: POTATO, POPCORN, BEVERAGE, REHEAT, FROZEN DINNER
  • Air fryer: Up to 70% less fat than traditional frying methods
  • SPECIAL PROGRAM: DEFROST/TIME/WEIGHT; 1000W power
  • 10 POWER LEVELS
No. 4
Toshiba Air Fryer Combo 4-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven, Smart Sensor, Convection, Mute Function, Position Memory 13.6" Turntable, 1.5 Cu Ft, 1000W, Silver, ML-EC42P(SS)
  • 4-in-1 Multifuntional Countertop Microwave One microwave with multi-functions of microwave, air fry, convection, combination cooking (microwave plus convection) can fulfill more usages
  • Healthy Air Fryer Combo Enjoy your wholesome fried food with original taste but less fat with healthy air fry
  • One Kitchen Appliance, Better Texture Combines microwave and convection cooking in one appliance, with auto bake, defrosting and auto roast menus. Also with pre-programmed sensor menu for optimum result of popular foods like frozen pizza, vegetables and more
  • Large Capacity for a Family Size 13.6inch removable turntable can fit a whole roasted chicken, 12-inch pizza
  • Stylish Appearance: Stainless steel finish (color of door frame is stainless steel, enclosure is black) with easy to clean stainless steel interior
No. 5
GE GCST10A1WSS 1.0 Cu Ft Convection Microwave Oven, 1050W Countertop Air Fry Microwave with Broil & Crisper Pan, Compact Stainless Steel Design
  • COMPACT YET POWERFUL: This 1,050-watt & 1.0 CU FT. compact microwave offers the perfect balance of size and convenience, designed to fit perfectly in dorm rooms, offices and kitchens alike
  • AIR FRY MODE: Enjoy healthier, crispier versions of your favorite foods with the built-in air fryer that delivers fast, perfectly browned results
  • CONVECTION MODE: Enjoy perfectly even browning using convection technology and an elevated rack that lets hot air flow around your food for consistent results
  • BROIL MODE: Built-in broiler radiates high heat to sear, caramelize, and finish foods just like a traditional grill rack
  • PRESET CONTROLS: Use microwave preset controls like Fries and Nuggets to make operation quick and easy, while ensuring precisely cooked results
No. 6
TOSHIBA OptiChef Air Fryer Combo Countertop Microwave Oven with 2.4-Inch Color Screen, Origin Inverter Technology, Smart Sensor, Compatible with Alexa, 1100W, 1.3 Cu.Ft, Silver ML2-STC13SAIT(SS)
  • Advanced User Interface: Equipped with a 2.4-inch colorful screen with an intuitive user interface that is highly responsive and easy to operate, making complex cooking tasks simple and more accessible.
  • ChefFry Plus: Features a top fan and heating element that replicates an air fryer oven, allowing for healthier cooking options.
  • Intuitive Humidity Sensor: Built-in sensor ensures even heating and retains moisture for perfectly cooked dishes every time.
  • Origin Inverter: Ensures even cooking, precise temperature control, better textures, juicier meats, and enhanced flavor preservation. It also reduces cooking time and energy consumption to get your meals on the dinner table more quickly.
  • Dimensions: This 1.3 cubic foot microwave easily accommodates a 13-inch pizza or a whole chicken. Overall measurements (W x D x H): 21.8 x 19.4 x 12.8 inches; cavity dimensions (W x D x H): 14.5 x 16.4 x 9.3 inches. Delivers 1100W of output power, 1250 input power.
No. 7
Toshiba Air Fryer Combo 4-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven, Smart Sensor, Convection, Mute Function, Position Memory 13.6" Turntable, 1.5 Cu Ft, 1000W, Black, ML-EC42P(BS)
  • 4-in-1 Multifuntional Countertop Microwave One microwave with multi-functions of microwave, air fry, convection, combination cooking (microwave plus convection) can fulfill more usages.
  • Healthy Air Fryer Combo Enjoy your wholesome fried food with original taste but less fat with healthy air fry
  • One Kitchen Appliance, Better Texture Combines microwave and convection cooking in one appliance; with auto bake, defrosting and auto roast menus; Also with pre-programmed sensor menu for optimum result of popular foods like frozen pizza, vegetables and more.
  • Large Capacity for a Family Size 13.6inch removable turntable can fit a whole roasted chicken, 12-inch pizza
  • Stylish Appearance: Black Stainless steel finish with easy to clean stainless steel interior.
No. 8
Breville BMO870BSS Combi Wave 3-in-1 Microwave, Air Fryer and Convection Oven, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • 3-IN-1 APPLIANCE: Combines Air Fryer, Convection Oven and Microwave into one versatile kitchen appliance; Create French fries with Air Fry function; Enjoy chocolate brownies with Convection Oven function; Defrost delicious soup with Inverter Microwave
  • ELEMENT IQ SYSTEM: Smart algorithms steer power where and when it's needed to create a specifically tailored cooking environment; Enjoy crispy golden results and delicious meals with Air Fry and Bake functions; Power: 1200 W - Convection Input Power
  • FAST COMBI & COOK FROM FROZEN FUNCTIONS: Cook dishes faster than traditional ovens with Fast Combi, which combines Convection Oven, Grilling and Microwave; Cook from Frozen achieves precisely cooked results from frozen; All in one countertop appliance
  • POWER SMOOTHING INVERTER: Automatically adjust intensity and deliver smooth, even power when you need more or less; Breville appliance reheats pizza slices, soup and lasagna with precision; Defrost meats and meals without overheating or drying out edges
  • SMART COOK, SMART REHEAT & SMART DEFROST: 19 built-in smart presets put all the power at your fingertips; Smooth, low temperature delivers heat evenly without overheating and drying out, allowing you to cook, reheat and defrost your favorite dishes

The Ultimate Combo Oven Microwave Buying Guide

A combo oven microwave is a kitchen superhero. It cooks food fast like a microwave. It also bakes and roasts like a regular oven. This guide helps you choose the best one for your home.

Key Features to Look For

When shopping, look closely at what these appliances can do. The best ones offer flexibility and power.

  • Cooking Modes: Check for Microwave, Convection Bake, Grill/Broil, and Air Fry functions. More modes mean more ways to cook.
  • Capacity: How much food can it hold? Smaller families need less space. Large families need bigger interiors. Measure your counter space first!
  • Power Levels (Wattage): Higher wattage means faster cooking, especially for microwaving. Look for at least 1000 watts for good performance.
  • Inverter Technology: This technology cooks food more evenly than standard microwaves. It uses continuous power instead of bursts.
  • Sensor Cooking: Smart sensors detect steam released by food. They automatically adjust cooking time. This stops food from overcooking.

Important Materials and Build Quality

The materials inside and outside affect how long your combo oven lasts and how easy it is to clean.

Interior Construction
  • Stainless Steel Cavity: Stainless steel heats evenly and lasts a long time. It resists stains better than painted interiors.
  • Turntable Type: Glass turntables are standard and easy to wipe down. Some models use flatbeds, which let you fit larger dishes.
Exterior and Controls
  • Door Material: A sturdy door with good seals keeps heat in. Look for tempered glass that stays cool on the outside.
  • Control Panel: Digital touchpads are sleek. Make sure the buttons are responsive and easy to read. Some older models use clunky dials.

Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

Not all combo ovens perform the same. Some small things make a big difference in your daily cooking.

Quality Boosters

  • Pre-set Programs: Many built-in recipes simplify cooking. You just press a button for pizza or popcorn.
  • Steam Cleaning Function: This feature uses steam to loosen grime. Cleaning becomes much faster.
  • Convection Fan Quality: A good convection fan circulates hot air evenly. This ensures your cookies brown nicely on all sides.

Quality Reducers (Things to Avoid)

  • Weak Grilling Element: If the grill only heats the center, you will get unevenly browned food.
  • Loud Operation: Noisy fans and humming microwaves annoy users quickly. Read reviews about noise levels.
  • Complicated Menus: If you need a manual every time you use a feature, the quality of life drops. Simple interfaces are better.

User Experience and Use Cases

Think about how you plan to use this appliance daily. Do you need speed, or do you need baking precision?

Use Case 1: The Busy Professional. You need fast reheating and quick weeknight meals. Focus on high microwave wattage and good sensor cooking. You will use the microwave feature most often.

Use Case 2: The Aspiring Baker. You want to save counter space but still bake cookies or a small roast. Prioritize models with strong, true convection heating. Ensure the oven temperature is accurate.

Use Case 3: Small Kitchen Living. If space is tight, a smaller capacity (around 0.9 to 1.2 cubic feet) is best. Look for models that can be built into cabinetry if you want a sleek look.


10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Combo Oven Microwaves

Q: What is the main difference between a combo oven and a regular microwave?

A: A regular microwave only heats food using microwaves. A combo oven adds convection heating elements. This lets it bake and roast food like a small oven.

Q: Can I use metal pans inside a combo oven?

A: You can usually use metal pans when using the convection or bake modes. Never use metal when running the microwave function. Check your specific model’s manual first.

Q: Do combo ovens cook as well as full-sized ovens?

A: They cook very well for smaller portions. For large holiday meals, a full-sized oven is still better. Combo ovens are great for daily cooking and side dishes.

Q: How long do these appliances usually last?

A: With good care, most combo oven microwaves last between 8 to 12 years. Higher-quality stainless steel models often last longer.

Q: Is a combo oven difficult to clean?

A: Cleaning depends on the interior material. Stainless steel interiors are easier to wipe down. Look for models with a steam cleaning option to make it even simpler.

Q: Which function saves the most energy?

A: The microwave function uses the least energy because it heats food quickly. Convection baking uses more energy than microwaving but less than preheating a large traditional oven.

Q: What is ‘Air Fry’ mode on a combo oven?

A: Air Fry mode uses the convection fan and a high-heat setting to circulate air very fast. This makes food crispy, like deep-fried food, but with much less oil.

Q: Should I buy a countertop or a built-in model?

A: Countertop models are cheaper and portable. Built-in models look cleaner in your kitchen design but cost more and require professional installation.

Q: How do I know if the convection temperature is accurate?

A: You can buy a small, inexpensive oven thermometer. Place it inside and compare the thermometer reading to the oven’s set temperature. This checks quality.

Q: Are combo ovens noisy when operating?

A: Yes, they often make more noise than standard microwaves. The fan used for convection cooking creates a humming or blowing sound. Check user reviews for noise complaints.