Best Convection Microwave Oven Reviews (2023)

First things first, this convection microwave has a fairly large cooking cavity; 1.5 cu. ft. to be precise. To put that into context, we’ve had no problems fitting in a whole chicken for roasting. This provision in particular gives the EC042A5C an upper edge over my formerly favourite CMW-200 from Cuisinart. Also, besides having ample cooking space, the combination microwave/convection has a pretty acceptable footprint making it ideal for most countertops.

Another thoughtful feature that I’d like to highlight is the stainless-steel interior. The mess that we created in the first attempt was effortlessly cleaned with our DIY oven cleaning hacks. Also, the simple keypad layout makes it a very user-friendly model. Overall, an easy-to-use, easy-to-clean model that I reckon should be ideal for most kitchens for daily usage.

Coming to our preparations, the roast felt nothing different than out of a traditional oven. The heating element at the top aided with a robust magnetron and a convection fan in the rear replicates oven-like results to say the least. This microwave, I believe takes it away right here. 

Amidst musty and passable convection microwave variants that demand quite a lot of complicated programming to work; GE has recently introduced a microwave convection oven that indeed competes with established models toe-to-toe. Priced at par with our other top picks, the GE 3-in-1 countertop microwave boasts a humble 1.0 cu. ft. of cooking cavity and a 1050 watt of cooking power.

The back of the cavity has a powerful convection fan which when used with broiler mode, helps you achieve crisp and golden brown roasts. For added convenience, the microwave comes with a rack to be used in convection mode so that the hot air circulates all around the cavity.

The microwave also has an air fryer mode which allows you to cook healthier and crispier versions of your favorite snacks with much less oil and calories. Using the microwave is further made more convenient because of the preset buttons.

Thanks to the growing popularity of multi-purpose convection microwaves, more brands have recently come up with their contributions and we have more options to choose from as compared to about a year ago. The NN-CD87KS from Panasonic is one such state-of-the-art convection microwave that we just can’t admire enough.

The 4-in-1 compact microwave features an air fryer setting besides convection bake, broil and Inverter cooking. You could use these settings individually or in combination to come up with your own custom blend of cooking techniques. In essence, this means that there is virtually no horizon to what you can do with this little gizmo.

Despite having a tight footprint of 22” x 17”, the microwave convection oven combo has a spacious cooking capacity of 1.2 cu. ft.  This is what we think makes it an apt fit for any countertop. The cavity features a 14.2” glass turntable and can take in fairly large dinner plates for reheating.

Besides, the same compact cavity on your countertop could be your air fryer and oven simultaneously. The appliance comes with an air fryer basket, a rack and an enamel tray to complement these modes.

White colored appliances go well with your kitchen decor? We’ve found a perfect countertop microwave that’ll do more than just blending with your kitchen. The SMC1585BW from Sharp has a capacity of 1.5 cu. ft., enough to whip out large servings of baked, roasted, browned and combination cooked meals. The cavity has a large 14.1″ ceramic turntable that easily handles the largest of dinner plates. This Microwave now also comes in Stainless Steel and Matte black color.

The built of this convection microwave form Sharp is pretty sturdy and complements the beautiful matte white finish. The front door has an appropriately large peeking window that’s scratch resistant. A1 standards with regard to looks and robust construction. 

Regular microwave controls including auto defrost, reheat, beverage and popcorn settings are all 10 on 10 with respect to time and efficiency. The convection feature too ranks right up to the mark. We’ve found no evenness in all baking and roasting tests. In fact, we found it to give out the most consistent results among our top choices. The only reason why we didn’t place it a bit higher is because it took a while longer than the others. 

The comparatively slower cooking can be explained by a lower power rating of 900 watts. Although the microwave isn’t significantly slow at preparing large meals, it certainly loses an edge over more powerful variants.

Have a thing for Spotless stainless steel modern appliances, have a look at this neat countertop convection microwave from General Electric. The grey colored front panel adds a beautiful contrast to the stainless steel exterior. Top-rated for looks in our list without a doubt!

With a built-in sensor that automatically adjusts cooking time and power for optimal microwave and convection cooking results, this one also happens to be among the smarter picks on our list. Also, this GE microwave is approved for built-in installation, which means you get a perfectly fitting trim kit if you choose to install it as a built-in microwave.

Coming to the functional specifications, the microwave has a large 1.5 cubic feet capacity, at par with our first pick. Generous enough to fit in a whole chicken for convection roasting. The cooking cavity further houses a 13.5 inches glass recessed turntable to facilitate even cooking by means of uniform rotation. The microwave also comes with two removable pedestal racks to account for consistent baking results.

Rated at a 1000 watts with a stainless interior, the microwave exceeded our expectations as far as cooking speed is concerned. Certainly not as thorough as the sister GE advantium series, but still competes well with other contenders on this list. Additionally, the baked and roasted recipes we tried came out just right, given we followed the instructions precisely. Only thing to point out from our tests is, you need to use one of the two racks while baking on the convection setting to get uniformly baked cakes and rolls.

Having used this model for over a year now, I consider myself fairly familiar with the good and bad of this convection microwave form Cuisinart. The prime reason why I bought it in the first place was the fact that it seemed go very naturally with my kitchen décor scheme and it had a 3-year limited warranty. Also, the claims were promising and seemed to meet my cooking requirements.

I can still vouch for the fact that the microwave’s exterior looks great and complements my kitchen décor but the performance unfortunately does not match up to our top pick; the Toshiba EC042A5C. What I want to indicate in particular is the impaired convection mode. I’d rather say, the convection mode is not the best feature associated with this one.

The unit works fine in the microwave mode and often times in the convection aided microwave cooking. But the convection mode alone does not reach up to expectations.

I’ve tried to bake cakes and roast chicken while individually employing the convection feature, each time I could make out that the dishes were unevenly cooked. Not to the extent that I had to throw them away, rather up to a noticeable degree.

Sharp R1874T is a sleek Over-the-Range Microwave for the adventurous. This one from Sharp might just prove to be the perfect replacement for the worn out microwave in your home or your RV. Users all over the internet have been loving it owing to the compatibility it offers to their kitchens and/or motorhomes.

The microwave features a stainless-steel interior and is adequately illuminated for better visibility. It has an interactive touchpad on the right end of the front panel which makes for an easy user interface.

The cooking capacity is however not the best aspect of this oven. With a 1.1 cu.ft. of interior capacity, it’s not the roomiest over-the-range oven on this list. But, hey! Unless you’re planning it to use it in your kitchen with a family of over five to six, you got no worries. For a couple of people that are on a quest to quench their wanderlust, its more than enough!

Besides, this over range microwave from sharp includes a convection fan for even heating. If the convection feature matters to you, this is only one in an over-the-range configuration that has it. Regarding the exhaust mechanism, the microwave has a 240 CFM venting fan that can be set to recirculate the air in the kitchen or to vent outside by adjusting the exhaust flaps. For context, a 240 CFM venting fan is enough for a range with 3-4 burners.

As desirable, the bottom surface of this over stove microwave has cooktop lights with 2 brightness settings besides the “off” setting. 

Got a tight budget but still don’t want to miss out on the convection feature? I got you! This budget convection microwave from Daewoo is arguably one of the most affordable models out there. Despite being priced fairly low, the microwave doesn’t skimp on handy features. For context, it includes microwave, grill and convection features that can be used separately or in combination to help you concoct all your cooking fantasies.

The user interface in this one is a combination of buttons and a knob. Touch controls would have been better, but you only get so much on a restricted budget. Also, the claimed 900 watt power output might feel a bit low if you’re getting this one as a replacement for your old microwave. However, people that intend to use it occasionally or for small preparations, you don’t get to see a convection microwave priced at $100 everyday.

Looking for a seamless black convection microwave that’s got more than just looks to offer? Hunt no further! This newly introduced countertop convection microwave from Farberware comes in as a boon for people that like their purchases to be at par dollar-for-dollar. 

With power outputs of 1000, 1150 and 1800 watts for microwave, air fry and grill/convection modes, this compact gizmo offers great competence and flexibility to your cooking fantasies. It’s like combining 3 different types of microwaves in to one with augmented features. The air fry mode mentioned earlier deserves a dedicated mention here. If you were contemplating of a dedicated air fryer for healthy recipes, why not have that feature included in your microwave itself! Sounds like a “must-have” to me. 

Besides, you get the convenience of employing the grill mode individually to brown/crisp your recipes or in combination with the convection mode to keep them juicy from within and crusty on the outside. Indeed a one-stop appliance for all dainty cooks and chefs that want their recipes to come out unblemished. 

Another stand-out feature that comes in handy often is the “low temp control” button. It  can be used to slow-cook recipes, dehydrate fruits and keep warm your preparations after they’re done without overcooking. Above all, Farberware covers this microwave against all malfunctions with an all-inclusive warranty period of 1-year. 

Not denying the fact that convection cooking is already a faster option than standard microwaves, but this one from Samsung is a notch better. With the power convection technology, you can cook 20% faster than regular convection microwaves. Isn’t this the perfect pick for you if you always find yourself rushing?

Despite being a countertop microwave, the doors of this microwave open like a built-in wall oven. So, if you’re scouring the internet for some unique looking options, this one must be difficult to resist. These unique characteristics don’t take a bit away from the desirable features. You can toast, crisp and brown your favorite foods without worrying about them drying on the inside. The fan installed at the side of the microwave cavity ensures uniform circulation of hot air.

Another eye-catching feature is the ceramic enamel interior. If you don’t already know what that implies, I’ll tell you. This provision reduces  the job of cleaning the microwave oven’s interior to effortless wipes. Besides the power convection feature, the power grill function assures that your preparations stay crisp on the outside yet juicy from within.

The only aspect you need to be consciously aware about, is the prescribed clearance requirements. The units needs 20 cm of free space on the top and 10 cm on both the sides to work optimally. If these instructions aren’t followed, the microwave’s exterior gets too hot. So, that’s another reason as to why I think this one is meant to be used as a countertop microwave exclusively.

What is a Convection Microwave?

A convection microwave oven essentially uses a fan to aid uniform heat distribution throughout the cooking cavity unlike a standard microwave. Consequently, a convection microwave cooks food more evenly inside-out. This feature enables convection microwave ovens to eliminate cold spots/temperature variances.

So, a convection microwave inherently becomes a better choice for tasks like baking, browning, roasting and dehydrating.