Microwave Combination Oven Can Change the Way You Cook Food
It’s easy for someone like me to get caught up in the hype of new kitchen appliances because my job taps into the two most obsessive parts of my personality: my love of shopping and my love of cooking. Luckily, I’m also extremely skeptical of almost everything, otherwise I’d go broke and drown in junk tech. So when the Combi Wave—Breville’s catchy name for a microwave/fryer combo—came my way, I was intrigued.
So, what is this thing and do we all need it in the kitchen? Here’s what I learned so you can decide for yourself.
A brief overview of combination microwave ovens in this article:
What is a combination microwave oven?
At first I thought the Combi Wave was a type of combi oven , but it’s a little different. “Combi Wave” is the Breville term for a microwave/fryer combination oven, also called a multi-oven microwave or microwave combination oven. There are several models out there at the moment and they all seem to claim that they do everything, which can be a bit misleading.
For example, Breville claims that the Combi Wave is a three-in-one combination appliance: microwave, air fryer, and convection oven, but the air fryer is a convection oven (they won’t fool us). Likewise, the Toshiba Combo 8-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven (oh really ) equates “roasting” with “grilling” in its description. Again, it’s still just convection heating with varying temperatures and fan speeds. This is not the same as grilling hamburgers.
In other words, keep in mind that companies are stretching the definitions a bit here. Honestly, I don’t know why: a microwave oven that also air-fries is a damn cool idea in itself. It’s like creating a flying car and saying: “Well, it also glides and floats.” You saw me in the “flying car”, you can stop there.
How to use a combi perm?
I’d venture to guess that most people interested in purchasing combo waves grew up with microwaves, so there isn’t much of a learning curve. Combination wave control may seem something new and familiar at the same time, especially since this gadget is the same size and appearance as a regular microwave oven. Luckily, combination waves have many useful settings.
For example, the Breville has presets that adjust the power and heat time, so you don’t have to fuss too much. It has settings designed to melt chocolate and even soften butter. Press the “microwave” button and navigate the display to defrost, pop popcorn, or simply set the time, just like any old microwave. Take care to use the correct glass turntable included with the combo wave, and don’t do anything you wouldn’t do with a regular microwave (like heating crumpled up foil).
Press the “Air Fryer” button (which may be called “convection” or simply “oven”) to turn this system on. Then, just like your deep fryer, the electric heating element heats the air and the fan turns on, creating a hot breeze around your food until crispy nuggets or perfectly baked cookies are achieved. Again, take care to use specific pans and suitable utensils depending on your device’s user manual.
Is it worth buying a combination microwave oven?
Whether a combo wave is worth buying depends on your priorities, cooking style, and budget. Conceptually, I think a single appliance that can be microwaved and air fried is really very attractive. If you use these two tools frequently, combining them will make life easier and free up some much-needed counter space (which is especially helpful for apartment dwellers like me). However, combi-wave is still young, so unfortunately they are quite expensive. Both the Panasonic Multioven Microwave and Breville Combi Wave cost $500, while the Toshiba Combo 8-in-1 and Toshiba 4-in-1 remain “cheap” options at around $200. I’m guessing we’ll all have them once they come down in price in a couple of years. For now, I’ll stick to my uncombed waves.