Combination Microwave - Convection Oven, Your Opinion?

[journeymom]

Have you used one? Do you use the convection mode? Especially if you also have a standard oven, do you use the convection mode in the microwave oven as well? When would you use it over the regular oven?

We've had a Sharp Carousel microwave convection oven for six years. Ds broke the door hinge and to repair it will cost almost as much as it would to buy a whole new one.

I found it difficult to figure out how to use the convection mode. I did finally figure it out and used it to bake a few times. It worked fine. I can totally see how if this was our only oven it would be very useful.

I use a microwave to defrost, to cook frozen dinners, re-heat leftovers, cook fresh veggies and to melt butter.

Here's another angle: this oven fits in the wall above the conventional oven. it's not a small counter-top model.  So when we move it will stay here. If you were home shopping would you care if the kitchen had a micro-convect oven or not? Have people come to expect a combo microwave oven?

I may have answered my own questions, but are there other considerations I haven't though of??

[ChristyMarie]

We have one and have only used the convection feature a couple of times.  Ours is dying and the cost to replace is about the same as to purchase new - without the convection feature.  We've decided that is what we'll do.

[A&A]

The convection oven doesn't heat up the house like the regular oven does, so we especially like to use it in the summertime. 

[Hykue]

When I grew up, our only oven was the convection oven in the microwave, and maybe it was a bad model or they didn't make them as well back then, but I thought it sucked.  It was okay as a microwave, but the convection feature didn't work very well.  Two things I remember being particularly awful were roasts and muffins.  I thought I just had a problem with understanding muffin instructions until I moved out . . . and the roasts were always nasty dry, so we just never ate roast.

I would never value the convection feature in a microwave because of these things (although I guess they might have gotten better, I would never expect them to work very well).

[Arduinna]

I grew up with one years ago when they first hit the home market, we used both functions pretty often. I now have the breville convection toaster oven and love it. I can't recommend a micro convection though since I haven't used any of the ones currently on the market.

[Arduinna]

Originally Posted by Hykue 

When I grew up, our only oven was the convection oven in the microwave, and maybe it was a bad model or they didn't make them as well back then, but I thought it sucked.  It was okay as a microwave, but the convection feature didn't work very well.  Two things I remember being particularly awful were roasts and muffins.  I thought I just had a problem with understanding muffin instructions until I moved out . . . and the roasts were always nasty dry, so we just never ate roast.

I would never value the convection feature in a microwave because of these things (although I guess they might have gotten better, I would never expect them to work very well).

Were you reducing the cooking temp when using the convection feature? Ours worked awesome and browned perfectly, but you need to reduce the cooking temp by 25 degrees. I would have also checked the temp as it might have needed to be recalibrated, any oven can sometimes run hot.

[journeymom]

Well, we've decided to replace the broken one with another of the same, simply because we know it will fit the existing shelf and metallic trim.  Neither of us are handy and it's just not worth it to us to get an oven with different dimensions, risk the possibility that there will be gaps around it and then have to fiddle around measuring for new trim.  As it is, the present microwave lines up perfectly with the regular oven underneath.

The microwave oven by itself has been very satisfactory. It's big inside, has a rotating turn table and does a good job cooking. That's all I need.  It seems to be reliable and we wouldn't be replacing it now except that our youngest hasn't learned not to pull down on the door when he opens and closes it.  

Thanks everyone!