Combi microwave - anyone?

I’m on my third Panasonic Combi microwave.

The first one got left behind when we moved house and the second one was running when we had a power drain and it shorted out. (Is that the expression?)

It’s used as a normal microwave most days (I microwave frozen veg in it) and occasionally as an oven if I don’t want to put a main oven on.

I also use my Acti-Fry most days too. I successfully baked 3 frozen pain au chocolate in the ActiFry yesterday. Very happy with the results as there’s no need to wait for it to warm up.

DH can manage to work the microwave too, so that’s a bonus. He’s generally hopeless with any sort of technology and doesn’t drive either.

I am on my second Panasonic comb in 17years and when thos one goes I will buy another. I still have a Smeg 5 ring hob and oven 'in the back store' waiting to be moved on, never missed it.

kittylester

Ashcombe what is a micro air?

It's another name for a combi oven. My DH has had one for 30 years, apparently.

I have a Neff, but I just use it as a microwave. Maybe I'll get the instructions out.

I had one years ago and didn't really rate it, but we were staying in a holiday let a few weeks back and there was one in there which was surprisingly good. I think it was a Samsung.

both=for.
of course..even i didn't assume there were two of you

LadyGracie

Yes welbeck Iceland bought out Bejam in the late 70’s early 80’s.

thank you both bothering to reply.
good to know some of my thoughts are linked to reality. cheerio.

Can anyone tell me if they rate the convection setting on their combi microwave please?
I would need that to be impressive as it would be in regular use as well as the combi settings.
I need to replace my Tricity model which is failing. Thank you.

The mother only used the oven to store cake tins!

JackyB a word of advice from my MIL - if you don't have time to do the washing up and visitors are arriving unexpectedly, shove it all into the oven out of the way! ?
That was in the days before dishwashers.

Ashcombe what is a micro air?

grannycakes

I use one (alongside an airfryer and pressure cooker) as I am uable to proceed with planned kitchen renovation until next year. Mine is a Pansonic and bought on Amazon for around £300 in the spring of this year.

You can use it as a microwave/grill/oven separately but you can also use it in combination mode which mixes microwave cooking with a fan oven therefore cutting the cooking times

I have used for roast/baked meals and also cakes/biscuits

Mine the same and I use it pretty well daily, especially in combination mode. I rarely/never use my main oven nowadays. I also have an air fryer (sorry!) and a slow cooker.

It has been well worth getting to know my combi microwave and being able to make the most of its facilities.

Hah! JackyB just like me. I use my main oven very rarely, but my Panasonic combi is in daily use in all its combinations. Second one I’ve had over the years, this one I’ve had about 10 years. Thoroughly recommend, though all this talk of air fryers has had me googling like mad. Not sure I really need one, though. Would probably join the Ninja bullet at my youngest offspring’s house!

Yes welbeck Iceland bought out Bejam in the late 70’s early 80’s.

I learnt to use one when I was au pairing in France. The mother only used the oven to store cake tins! I had one for a long while but it had to go in the cellar when we renewed the kitchen until our youngest took it to his flat share in Berlin where it is put to good use. I now have one which only microwaves and grills, but I do use all functions. I use the oven a lot, but we don't have to watch energy consumption so much as we make our own with PV panels on the roof. I have reverted to cooking at lunchtime now so that I have the oven on in the daytime, when I am using the home-produced electricity. After dark I may be using the more expensive power from the grid.

When I bought my flat in 2014, my (soon to become) DH persuaded me to buy a micro air as he and his late wife had used one for years. It’s perfect for cooking for me (he lives partly in France) or both of us.

Mine is a Kenwood and usually in daily use when I’m home. In fact, I’ve only used my main oven once in eight years! I also have an air fryer in regular use and a gas hob. As I have a smart meter, I can see how little electricity is being used by checking the display in my living room.

I would advise you to consult the handbook initially but once you start using one, you’ll be converted! Good luck! ?

I've got one, but have only ever used it as a conventional microwave.

Next time, I'll save money and just buy a normal one.?

We’ve got one but I mainly use it as a microwave. A bit complicated unless you use it everyday . My excuse is ‘Covid brain’! That’s my excuse for a lot of things these days …

Bejam ! now there's a name from the past.
i never used them, as i didn't have a freezer, but they seemed to disappear about the time iceland emerged.
did they buy them out, or was that just around here.

I've got a Panasonic combi, I use it to warm plates,
for baked potatoes, making porridge heating milk and keeping covered food warm mainly.
I don't like that the grill goes on and off to keep the temperature static, it burns the top of whatever your cooking particularly sugary items, cakes etc.
Years ago I had a Bejam combi and it was great I even used it for meringue unfortunately it packed up.

I had one years ago but didn't use the conventional option much at all.

It went wrong fairly quickly too, after it was out of warranty.

We do have a double oven, perhaps I should experiment with using the smaller one as I've only ever used it as a grill or to warm plates and serving dishes.

Had one for years mostly used when I am feeding lots of people and I use it as a second oven. DH uses the microwave in it to cook bought curry while mine goes in the little microwave. The trouble is you have to remember to take out the racks before you use the microwave option. I will maybe use it more to just cook in as it will be cheaper to run than the oven .

I have a Panasonic combi which is very old now. Considering changing it for Panasonic combi with air fryer. I get on very well with mine

Mine is a Panasonic too. Seems like the majority recommend this brand.

Panasonic. Love it. One of our best buys. Bought 2nd one for the caravan.

I have a double oven and use the small oven, if I ever need to oven cook anything (which is quite rare). I think I'd prefer the option of a double oven and ordinary microwave, if I were planning to change my kitchen, but I guess it depends what you actually cook.