Should you buy a conventional or convection microwave?

As a small kitchen appliance, the humble microwave can get overlooked. Often tucked away in the corner, discreetly getting its job done, we can take this handy little kitchen assistant for granted - until it dings its last ding.

Although you can get built-in models, most of us have freestanding ones, so this article will focus on benchtop microwaves. When you start looking, you’ll soon see that you have a choice between conventional and convection models. What’s the difference? Convection microwaves have greater cooking functionality than conventional models - but that doesn’t mean that they’re for everyone.

If your old machine has microwaved you farewell and you need to get a new one, the type you choose should depend on what you plan to use it for and where you intend to place it, as well as your budget.

A conventional microwave can reheat leftovers, cook frozen meals and defrost food. You can also use it to cook fresh vegetables, fish, eggs and other foods (often with the assistance of a steamer or other accessory), but not in a way that will give them any browning, caramelisation or crust.

Older style conventional microwaves can cook food unevenly, due to the nature of microwave technology (which agitates water molecules in the food, making them vibrate and generate heat). This means you may need to stir food during cooking, even if the machine has a rotating turntable. If you microwave delicate foods like fish and eggs from raw, you need to keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t get overcooked and rubbery in parts while remaining undercooked in others.

A lot of newer conventional microwaves reduce the challenge of uneven heat through the use of variations in design or microwave technology.

Take flatbed microwave ovens, for instance.

Many newer microwave models feature flatbed designs rather than the traditional turntable. With flatbed microwaves, the food sits on a flat surface instead of a rotating turntable. These microwaves don't require a turntable because they emit microwaves from multiple sources and locations within the oven cavity.

By generating the microwaves from several points, flatbed microwaves can provide more even heat distribution compared to older turntable models that radiate from just one source. The multiple microwave inlets allow the energy waves to hit the food from various angles for comprehensive, multi-dimensional heating.

An inverter microwave is a type of microwave that uses inverter technology to provide consistent, even heat when cooking at lower power levels. Regular microwaves switch between full power and no power when set to, say, 50%. But an inverter microwave outputs a steady 50% power the whole time. This allows for more precise, uniform heating so foods don't get overcooked edges with cold centers.

Inverter microwaves can better maintain delicate textures and prevent overcooking issues that plague conventional models when defrosting or cooking on reduced power settings.

So, what is a convection microwave oven? It’s a microwave that can not just heat food up using microwaves, but also bake, roast and grill it when you select the convection setting. It achieves this through the use of a built-in fan that circulates hot air around the food, cooking it more evenly and giving it a crispy finish. This means that, for a lot of meals, you can achieve similar results to cooking in a traditional oven.

So, can a convection microwave oven replace a traditional oven?

Firstly, benchtop convection microwaves have smaller capacities than standard ovens, so if you are cooking for a bigger household, you might not be able to fit everything you need into it.

They are also unlikely to achieve the same level of heat and precision as regular ovens, particularly newer models with multiple cooking functions, and this can affect the quality of some dishes, like delicate baked goods, souffles and custards. They do, however, have the advantage of speed. Convection microwaves have quicker cooking times than traditional ovens because they use both microwaves and hot air to cook food, which speeds up the cooking process.

Due to their faster cooking times, air fryers have become a popular alternative to not just deep frying, but also oven baking, for certain foods. While they can be a good option, they usually have smaller capacities than convection microwaves and don’t offer the other cooking methods of microwave reheating, convection cooking, grilling, baking, roasting and toasting.

So, while a convection microwave oven may not be able to fully replace a traditional built-in or freestanding oven for a lot of households, if you only ever prepare meals for one or two people, you need a space-saving alternative, or cooking is more of an essential task than a pleasurable pastime for you, you could use it for most of your day-to-day needs.

Where you plan to place your microwave may also affect whether you opt for conventional or convection.

Microwaves often sit at the end of kitchen countertops, tucked away in corners, or in designated recesses in a wall or cabinetry (complete with power points). Any of these locations may mean that you have restricted space in which your microwave can sit.

Convection microwaves are generally slightly larger than conventional models, with the most significant difference being the depth, which can be a few centimetres greater. If you have limited space this may affect your choice, but a greater influence on size is simply the capacity microwave you need. Benchtop microwaves - both conventional and convection - generally have volumes between 20L and 34L, but can go as large as 56L. The capacity you need will be affected by the number of people you cook for, as well as how you plan to use it. Naturally, the internal volume affects the external dimensions.

Ideally, you should also have a few centimetres of space around the microwave to allow for airflow.

If you only have a small space to work with, you can set your preferred maximum dimensions when searching Appliances Online’s range of benchtop microwaves.

Most benchtop convection microwaves have a power range of between 900W and 1100W.

Most benchtop conventional microwaves have a power range of between 750W and 1200W.

Traditional conventional microwaves with higher wattage are more energy efficient than lower wattage models, and also heat or cook food slightly faster and more evenly.

Inverter technology further increases energy efficiency, as well as the microwave's ability to deliver a consistently even heat. So, if you are taking the wattage of different models into account when browsing for a new microwave, be sure to compare like with like, i.e. inverter with inverter. The cooking capabilities of a 1000W inverter conventional microwave, for example, will exceed those of a 1200W standard conventional microwave.

Convection microwaves use more energy when cooking in convection mode, making them less energy efficient than a conventional inverter microwave. However, it's a little unfair to compare convection baking or roasting with standard microwave reheating: a better comparison is with a traditional built-in or freestanding oven, and on this front it is more energy efficient at cooking smaller quantities of food. Modern convection microwaves also use inverter technology, so when used in standard microwave mode they can be as energy efficient as inverter conventional microwaves.

If you do most of your ‘proper’ cooking in a traditional oven or stovetop, and only use a microwave to reheat things now and then, a conventional model may be the right type of microwave for you, though it’s worth looking at inverter models that are more efficient at heating food while also using less energy.

If you like the idea of using your microwave for cooking meals as well as heating things up, either because you cook smaller quantities or because you want to enjoy the speed and efficiency of cooking it allows, a convection microwave could be the best choice for you.

You’ve already bought your new microwave, so why should you have to pay for delivery on top? Simple answer, you shouldn’t. We deliver microwaves, and the rest of our products, to 95% of Australia’s population with Appliances Online's legendary FREE delivery - and we can usually get it to you by the next day (Mon-Fri) as long as it's in stock. Plus, we now offer paid Same Day Delivery in NSW, QLD, and VIC metro areas - you just need to order before 12 pm Mon-Fri. We'll even take your old microwave away for recycling, for free.

Check out the full range of microwaves and if you need a few more tips on choosing the right one for you, check out our Microwave Buying Guide or call our friendly team 24/7 on 1300 000 500.