At a Glance:
Best Brand for Your Buck: 4 Oven Microwave Combos Compared
So Which Microwave Combo is Worth the Price?
Oven microwave combos are certainly a more high-end or luxury version of a basic microwave. But in most cases, it is worth paying a higher price for an appliance if it is extra convenient. Oven microwave combos fall into this category. That is because they offer many more cooking methods than a standard microwave and cook much faster. Below we will discuss what a microwave oven is and if they are worth bringing into your kitchen space.
Find Out Which Brand is Best
Viking, Cafe, KitchenAid, and Bosch are some of the best microwave oven combo brands on the market
Shop Microwave Oven CombosNext, we will review four oven microwave combos from Viking, Cafe, KitchenAid, and Bosch. For each oven microwave combo, we will provide its features, pros and cons, pricing, and how the unit compares to the others on the list. Finally, we will answer the question you may already be asking yourself: which microwave combo is worth the price?
What is a Microwave Oven?
An oven microwave combo is almost exactly what it sounds to be yet different than an average ‘microwave’ unit. Visually, the unit looks like a microwave and is about the same size as a standard microwave. But instead of only microwaving foods, microwave ovens can also bake foods. As you’ll see below, some microwave combos can cook foods in up to 5 different ways including grilling and roasting. There’s not only a microwave inside, but a convection oven and sometimes a broiler as well with each providing a certain wattage of power.
Are Microwave Ovens Worth It?
Microwave ovens are great for households that want the benefits of a stove but maybe do not have the space for a stove. Those in small homes or apartments may find microwave ovens to be very beneficial appliances. But any home would greatly benefit from a microwave oven combo. Whereas standard ovens take some time to preheat before you can place your food in them, microwave ovens speed up this process tremendously. That also goes for cooking in general. Microwave ovens can cook foods much more quickly than standard ovens. For families who are always in a rush or would prefer to have their meals cooked faster, a microwave oven is a great addition to the kitchen.
Best Brand for Your Buck: 4 Oven Microwave Combos Compared
Below we will compare four oven microwave combos from trusted and reputable brands: Viking, Cafe, KitchenAid, and Bosch. You will notice that we also provide each unit’s features, pros and cons of the unit, what it is priced at, and how it compares to the other units on our list. Hopefully, this will be helpful in giving you a broad picture of different oven microwave combos and what sort of features and power they bring to the table.
Viking® 5 Series 30" Stainless Steel Microwave Oven
Features
The Viking® 5 Series 30" Stainless Steel Microwave Oven is an all-in-one microwave oven with the ability to microwave, bake, roast, and grill. Inside you’ll find 1.6 cubic feet of cooking space and 2 cooking racks—large enough to fit a 9x13 pan. There is also a 16” diameter turntable. Some features include the Melt/Soften/Warm option, Automatic Sensor, and Speed Cooking options. With Speed Cooking, users can choose to Speed Bake or Speed Roast. Speed Bake cycles the oven’s power between 10% microwave power and 90% convection oven power. Speed Roast cycles the oven’s power between 30% microwave power and 70% convection oven power.
- Model: VMDD5306SS
- Dimensions: 29.5” W x 17.88” H x 25.81” D
- Power: 1600W convection, 900W microwave
Pro: 4-in-1 microwave combo
Pro: Speed Cooking options
Pro: Melt/Soften/Warm option
Pro: High convection power
Con: Least powerful microwave
Pricing
The Viking 5 Series 30” Microwave Oven is $3,000 - $3,100. It is the second most expensive microwave combo on our list.
How It Compares
The Viking Microwave Oven has a powerful convection oven at 1600W (the most powerful on our list is Bosch’s at 1700W) but has the least powerful microwave. It offers a decent number of cooking options and some cool features like the Melt/Soften/Warm option. This oven microwave combo is pricey, but the Speed Bake and Speed Roast cooking options might be worth the purchase.
Café™ 30" Stainless Steel Electric Built-In Oven/Micro Combo
Features
The Café™ 30" Stainless Steel Electric Built-In Oven/Micro Combo is a 5-in-1 microwave. It can be used to bake, microwave, toast, warm/proof, and cook with precision. With True European Convection, microwave power, and halogen lighting, foods are cooked quickly and efficiently. When it comes to reheating foods, this microwave combo includes 20 reheat programs to perfectly warm up your leftovers. Homeowners can connect their smartphones to the Café Oven/Micro Combo with Café Wi-Fi Connect. This convenient feature allows users to preheat, adjust the temperature, and adjust cooking timers all through the Café app.
- Model: CSB913P2NS1
- Dimensions: 29.75” W x 20.13” H x 21.5 “ D
- Power: 950W microwave, 1200W broiler
Pro: It is available in Stainless Steel, Matte White, or Matte Black.
Pro: Smartphones can connect with Café Wi-Fi Connect
Pro: 5-in-1 microwave combo
Con: Most expensive model
Pricing
This Café microwave combo is the most expensive on our list (just slightly more expensive than the Viking) at $2,800 - $3,100.
How It Compares
For a high price, the Cafe microwave combo is worth the purchase if you’re looking for a lot of convenience in one place. With 5 cooking methods, 20 reheat programs, and the ability to control this unit with a smartphone, it can’t get that much more convenient. The cooking power is one aspect of this unit that is the least impressive.
KitchenAid® 1.5 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Microwave
Features
Another featured unit is the KitchenAid® Microwave Oven Combo. It features 1.5 cubic feet of space, a 13.5” diameter recessed turntable, and three cooking methods: microwave, roast, and grill. A two-tier grilling rack is included. The 1400-watt convection oven can heat up to 425 degrees. There are also 6 quick-touch cycles including 5 sensor cycles that automatically adjust cooking time as needed.
- Model: KMCC5015GSS
- Dimensions: 21.75” W x 12.5” H x 20.5” D
- Power: 1400W convection, 1000W microwave
Pro: Available in Stainless Steel or Black Stainless Steel
Pro: Least expensive microwave combo
Pro: Includes two-tier grilling rack
Con: Not as much interior space; may not fit a 9x13 pan like the other units
Pricing
The KitchenAid Microwave Oven Combo is our least expensive unit at only $700 - $800. This is truly a great deal for homeowners who are looking for a budget-friendly oven microwave combo.
How It Compares
For a budget-friendly microwave combo, the KitchenAid microwave oven has a lot of power behind it. There are only three cooking methods and not that many settings compared to the other microwave ovens, but this one gets the job done without breaking the bank.
Bosch Benchmark® Series 30" Stainless Steel Electric Built In Oven/Micro Combo
Features
The Bosch Benchmark® Series 30" Stainless Steel Electric Built In Oven/Micro Combo is a 3-in-1 combo and can microwave, bake, and broil. With SpeedChef™, users can choose from 9 cooking cycles so that foods are ready to eat quickly. The microwave has 10 power levels to choose from. This Bosch microwave combo can be installed flush with a wall oven, steam oven, or warming drawer for a clean and cohesive look.
- Model: HMCP0252UC
- Dimensions: 29.75” W x 19.63” H x 22.38” D
- Power: 1750W broiler, 1700W convection, 1000W microwave
Pro: SpeedChef™ cooking cycles
Pro: 10 microwave power levels
Pro: Most powerful convection and broiler
Con: Not as many extra features compared to the other units
Pricing
The Bosch Benchmark Microwave Combo is $2,500 – $2,700—just a few hundred dollars cheaper than our most expensive unit.
How It Compares
Visibly, the Bosch Microwave Oven looks aesthetically pleasing. It has the most powerful convection and broiler system compared to the other units. The downfall comes from its lack of cooking methods and settings given its price is not that much cheaper than our most expensive microwave combo (Cafe model).
So Which Microwave Combo is Worth the Price?
When it comes down to it, the Viking® 5 Series 30" Stainless Steel Microwave Oven seems to be the unit that gives you the most bang for your buck. If you did not notice the first time, it also received the most ‘pros’ compared to the other microwave ovens. While it isn’t a budget-friendly choice, the price is worth it given what comes with the Viking microwave oven. You’ll have plenty of settings to work with, 4 cooking methods, and enough space inside to fit a 9x13 pan. Some of the microwave ovens disappointed with convection and microwave power, but the Viking does well with a 1600W convection oven and 900W microwave. The option to speed bake or speed roast is a huge plus. All in all, the Viking 5 Series Microwave Oven is worth the price.
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