Best Countertop Microwave Convection Ovens of 2021: Reviews With Comparison
Owning the best countertop microwave convection oven can give you a two-in-one appliance that can tackle a wide variety of recipes with ease.
Instead of traditionally reheating your leftovers, you can experience several luxurious features that will return the ingredients to their original restaurant-quality allure.
These phenomenal models are highly recommended for an assortment of items, ranging from pizza to vegetables.
Comparison Chart
Best Countertop Microwave Convection Oven Reviews
1. Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven
The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven has plenty of high-end features ranging from an easy-to-clean interior to unique cooking modes that use less energy over time.
This product is one of the more exciting options to consider if you’ve been searching for a basic microwave oven.
Product Highlights
Like a convection oven, this microwave comes with an assortment of pre-programmed sensor options in its menu, allowing you to heat plenty of pre-made meals and ingredients with ease.
You’ll also find that navigating through the menu is simple, thanks to the user-friendly buttons located on the front-facing control panel.
The sleek black stainless steel exterior will fit perfectly into your kitchen, and it’s not too large to be placed in smaller areas since it measures 20.5”x15.1”x12.8” with just over one cubic foot of interior space.
There are ten different power settings to choose from within the 1100-watt microwave, as well as a digital clock and a kitchen timer to ensure your meals are cooked to the best of their ability.
By far, the easy-to-read digital display will become one of your favorite features, as well as the one-touch start programmed settings.
You can also choose to turn the sounds of the microwave on or off or enable the power-saving mode for more eco-friendly operation.
With the help of the smart sensor technology, the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven will detect the humidity within the cavity, automatically adjusting the cooking time for the best possible results.
The six settings available in the sensor menu include reheat, frozen pizza, frozen entree, potatoes, rice, and fresh or frozen vegetables.
What to Like About It
The black stainless steel is an excellent option for households that prefer appliances that don’t show a lot of fingerprints.
You can adjust the interior light fully, whether or not you want it to remain on while cooking.
There is ample space within the cavity for different ingredients, and its simple yet effective design is ideal for any household looking to replace their existing microwave oven.
What Not to Like About It
When it comes time to defrost, you will want to keep an eye on your ingredients, as the setting is quite aggressive and could start cooking the ingredients.
Also, it’s quite noisy while operating, as the turntable may growl at regular intervals, and you might want to consider turning the buzzer off, as it is loud.
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2. Cuisinart CMW-200 Convection Microwave Oven with Grill
The Cuisinart CMW-200 Convection Microwave Oven with Grill is quite impressive in that it will become one of the most used appliances in your kitchen.
With plenty of great features to help you get the most out of your recipes, you’ll appreciate having a microwave oven that also doubles as a convection oven for heartier meals.
Product Highlights
Inside of the microwave, there is just over one cubic foot of space, and it provides up to 1000 watts of cooking power, which is ideal for most average-sized meals.
The exterior of the unit is beautifully designed, as it has a sleek brushed stainless steel body with the embossed Cuisinart logo as well as a dark tint applied to the front glass window.
Fortunately, the stainless steel is easy to keep clean and won’t retain any unappealing odors, making it easier to keep clean than with other materials.
You’ll find a 12-inch glass turntable inside of the microwave, as well as a reversible grill rack included with your order.
In terms of the controls, you’ll appreciate the intuitive touchpad coupled with the LCD that boasts many presets and adjustable features.
There are two different defrost options (by weight or time), convection baking, convection roasting, and more.
In addition to the adjustable cooking methods, you can also choose from nine different presets depending on the ingredients you’re working with, such as frozen vegetables, roast chicken, cake, pizza, potatoes, beverages, and popcorn.
We also appreciate the eight cooking functions, which include grilling, convection fast baking, memory settings, and traditional convection.
What to Like About It
The Cuisinart CMW-200 Convection Microwave Oven with Grill is excellent for households searching for a microwave with plenty of settings to help you achieve the perfect cook for many ingredients.
Seniors will also love to use this unit, as it is very user-friendly, sleek, and stylish, which could be a significant upgrade from their existing appliances.
Also, you’ll find the microwave setting works better than expected, allowing you to reheat meals faster.
What Not to Like About It
Unfortunately, the microwave setting appears to be the only setting that is worth your time, as the grill and convection modes work poorly.
Also, the unit is said to have poor longevity, with plenty of components failing within the first year of use.
Unlike other manufacturers, it can be tough to get your unit replaced or repaired under its warranty.
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3. Toshiba ML-EMP45P Countertop Microwave Oven
Similar to the previous Toshiba microwave oven we explored in this guide, the Toshiba ML-EMP45P Countertop Microwave Oven has a few smart features to help you control your cooking and reheating capabilities.
As a significant upgrade from Toshiba’s previous models, this microwave oven has more interior space, and additional presets for you to choose from.
Product Highlights
With 1200 Watts of power, you’ll find this microwave reheats or cooks ingredients faster than other models within the same price point.
There are ten different power levels you can choose from as well as a sensor menu that has been pre-programmed into the unit for your convenience.
With just under two cubic feet of interior space, you can cook an assortment of items without worrying about running out of space.
If you’re planning a family movie night, be sure to take advantage of the one-touch popcorn function as well as the eco-friendly mode, which helps you to save energy when reheating your food daily.
Also, you can opt to turn the sounds of the microwave on and off if you want to limit the amount of noise your kitchen makes while cooking.
You’re bound to appreciate the innovative turntable, which features position-memory technology that will automatically reset the turntable to its original position for added convenience.
Users will love the fast cooking, auto defrost, memory, and multi-stage cooking features that help make the unit more convenient to use.
Also, there is a child safety lock, kitchen timer, and clock available along with the high-quality modern aesthetic of the black stainless steel finish that will look phenomenal.
What to Like About It
Fortunately, the Toshiba ML-EMP45P Countertop Microwave Oven works quickly and will fit perfectly on your counter, especially if you already have a designated space for your previous microwave.
While operating, you’ll appreciate how quiet the microwave is since there isn’t any grinding from the turntable or loud fan noises.
What Not to Like About It
The microwave is relatively lightweight, which means it could fly off of your counter if you pull on the door too hard.
Also, many have found the included instructions are difficult to follow, which can make some of the settings hard to understand.
One of the most massive issues is that the touchpad is inconsistent, sometimes it will respond to your touch while other times, you might have to push a button multiple times.
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4. Farberware FMO13AHTBSE Microwave Oven
Many of the features you’ll find in the Farberware FMO13AHTBSE Microwave Oven are similar to other microwave ovens on the market, making it a convenient replacement for your old appliance.
This unit is available in three different sizes ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 cubic feet, depending on how much open space you have in your kitchen.
Product Highlights
This microwave offers plenty of cooking space while still being able to fit comfortably on your counter.
There are 1100 watts of cooking power at your disposal and the opportunity to choose from ten different power levels, ranging from 10% to 100%, so you can easily adjust the type of cook you achieve.
You’ll also love the black stainless steel exterior, which helps to reduce the appearance of smudges and fingerprints throughout the week.
The most exciting feature of the Farberware FMO13AHTBSE Microwave Oven is its Smart Sensor Cooking, which allows you to choose from different presets to reheat and cook ingredients with little effort.
There are nine one-touch cooking functions to choose from so you can quickly heat everyday ingredients without putting in a specific cook time for each.
Also, the multi-stage cooking feature is highly recommended, as it adjusts the cooking style mid-cycle to ensure your ingredients reach the perfect consistency.
Like most other microwaves, there is an interior LED light that lets you keep an eye on your meal while cooking.
It also has a memory function that enables you to program your desired settings.
What to Like About It
The Farberware FMO13AHTBSE Microwave Oven is aesthetically pleasing to the blue display against the black stainless steel exterior.
You’ll find that it’s an excellent option for mid-size meals, especially if you want to reheat any leftovers quickly, and it also defrosts in less time than other models.
What Not to Like About It
The main issue with this microwave oven is that it is very lightweight, meaning you have to hold the base when you open the door to prevent it from sliding off your counter.
Also, the LED lights might be too bright, and you cannot adjust their brightness.
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5. Farberware FMO10AHDBKC Microwave Oven
With even more options than the previous Farberware microwave, the Farberware FMO10AHDBKC Microwave Oven is a fantastic choice if you want several cooking styles at your disposal.
Not only can you microwave ingredients, but also air fry, grill, and convection bake.
Product Highlights
With this unit, you will have one cubic foot of cooking capacity as well as a stylish black stainless steel exterior with a stainless steel interior.
You can easily choose between three wattage outputs, depending on the amount of power that you need to use, as it ranges from 1000 to 1800 watts.
The 11 programmed cooking programs are ideal for managing an assortment of recipes with minimal effort, including pasta, soup, vegetables, meat, potatoes, reheat, chicken, pizza, and popcorn.
Along with the standard microwave feature, you can take advantage of the healthy air fry technology that allows you to achieve the ideal crispy texture of your favorite fried food.
Nine different air fry options are pre-programmed, including hash browns, french fries, frozen fish, onion rings, and chicken nuggets.
If you want to take advantage of even more versatility, the Farberware FMO10AHDBKC Microwave Oven also has a grill option.
By enabling the grill function, you can perfectly reheat pizza or achieve the perfect browning of a grilled cheese sandwich, not to mention you can also cook steak and vegetables with ease.
You can also choose to use combination cooking, which is both grilling and convection for the perfect crispy texture on the outside with delicious juiciness on the inside.
Also, it has an interior fan, which will always keep the interior smelling fresh and help make it easier to keep clean.
What to Like About It
The Farberware FMO10AHDBKC Microwave Oven has plenty of interior space for air frying, which can be a significant upgrade from a standalone fryer.
Also, you’ll find all of the intuitive functions are easy to use thanks to the high-quality design of the unit and its accessories.
Overall, it’s a highly versatile appliance that has plenty of functions in one convenient space.
What Not to Like About It
You’ll find that the grilling feature might not work to your expectations because it doesn’t perform like a traditional grill.
Microwaving might take longer than expected if you haven’t adjusted the wattage output to a higher level for faster reheating.
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Buyer’s Guide
To make sure you’re buying the perfect microwave convection oven, you need to have plenty of features that you can use daily.
By paying close attention to the power rating, capacity, and functions of your desired unit, you can quickly determine whether or not a particular model is worth the investment.
Be sure to use this buyer’s guide to learn more about the top features found in the best microwave convection ovens on the market.
1. Power
When it comes to microwave ovens, power is noted in Watts and will have a large bearing over how quickly your food cooks, regardless of the cook setting you’ve chosen.
Most average-powered microwaves will have 1000 watts for you to use, which will allow you to reheat pre-cooked items in a matter of minutes.
However, if you want to invest in an appliance that can speed up your cooking times, we recommend opting for a device that has between 1500 and 1800 watts, especially if you want to use the convection option.
The more powerful your microwave is, the more efficiently it will work, allowing you to spend less time preparing and more time enjoying meals.
2. Presets
Every microwave will come with presets, which are pre-programmed into the appliance that will adjust the cooking time depending on the type of ingredients you’re working with at the moment.
For example, you might find your microwave has a “Popcorn” function, which will automatically adjust the cooking time to accommodate different bags of popcorn.
Presets are a fantastic feature to look for since they can help to take the guesswork out of cooking everyday meals.
You can easily choose the “Pizza” function if you’re baking a frozen pizza or even a “Chicken” option if you want to roast slices of chicken.
The more presets you have, the less you’ll have to research the appropriate cooking times and temperatures for your meals.
3. Capacity
Having enough space inside of your microwave is one of the more critical things to consider since you’ll want to ensure you can fit all of your ingredients with ease.
That said, not every household needs a two-cubic-foot microwave, especially since it would take up a lot of space on your counter.
Ideally, opting for a unit that is between one and 1.5 cubic feet will give you plenty of interior space without forcing the microwave to be too bulky.
4. Material
You’ll find the most common material used to make microwave convection ovens is stainless steel.
It’s a highly resilient metal that is easy to keep disinfected.
An even better alternative is to opt for darker gray since it can help hide smudges and fingerprints far better than its predecessor.
Stainless steel is also a phenomenal option in terms of quality, as it can help to make your microwave look brand new for longer than enamel, for example.
5. Functions
Similar to presets, you will want to make sure to consider a microwave convection oven that has different functions or cook types.
These settings will determine whether you will be baking, convection baking, microwaving, grilling, or slow cooking your ingredients.
You will first want to consider the meals you typically make to ensure you choose a product with all of the functions you’re most likely to use.
FAQs
1. Do Microwaves With Convection Ovens Work Well?
Microwaves with convection ovens can be a useful tool in your kitchen, but they aren’t likely to work as well as a standalone microwave and convection oven.
Some homeowners prefer to have separate appliances so that they can use all of the units' available power more efficiently.
Many have said that separate appliances cook faster and are far more reliable.
With that said, finding a two-in-one option can be a great solution if you are looking to buy your first convection oven but don’t want to spend money on an appliance that you don’t know if you’ll use or not.
2. Do I Need a Microwave If I Have a Convection Oven?
Deciding whether you should have both a microwave and convection oven is all based on your personal preference, as some prefer to reheat food in a convection oven compared to a microwave.
Often, convection ovens can replace traditional microwaves, as long as you can choose between regular convection baking and other cooking functions, such as defrosting and reheating.
You might also find that using a convection oven might dry out certain ingredients more than if you were to heat them in a microwave.
3. What Should Not Be Cooked in a Convection Oven?
The central premise behind a convection oven is that a fan pushes hot and dry air throughout the cavity, allowing the food to become perfectly crisp on the outside.
This point proves that most baked goods are not suitable to be made in a convection oven unless there is a particular setting for baked goods on the unit you’re interested in purchasing.
Using a regular convection oven can cause an unappealing crust to form on the outside of cakes, bread, and cookies, and it also prevents the center of cakes from baking thoroughly.
4. Can You Put Metal in a Microwave Convection Oven?
It’s always best to read your instruction manual before using metal in a microwave convection oven.
However, most models cite that it is safe to use metal in one of these appliances during the convection cooking setting.
With that said, you wouldn’t want to keep the metal in the oven if you are using the microwave setting, but you should confirm with your specific model.
5. Can I Use Glass Pan in Convection Oven?
There is an assortment of pans you can use in a convection oven, including glass, stone, ceramic, and aluminum.
Like your traditional oven, you’ll have a simpler time using different types of bakeware than if you were to use a microwave.
It’s important to note that the thicker the material is, the less effective the convection cooking will be, which can increase your cook times drastically.
Final Recommendation
Our selection for the best countertop microwave convection oven is the Farberware FMO10AHDBKC Microwave Oven, as it is highly versatile and offers several different cooking styles.
It takes all of the guesswork out of making a fantastic meal with the ability to grill, convection bake, and microwave an assortment of ingredients with access to plenty of pre-programmed settings.
