4 Best Microwave Toaster Oven Combos, Tested by Kitchen Experts
These innovative appliances combine the speed of a microwave with the crisp convenience of a toaster oven — and so much more.
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Microwave toaster oven combos (a.k.a. convection microwaves) offer a lot of cooking versatility in one space-saving appliance — whether you're crisping up last night's leftovers, baking a small batch of chocolate chip cookies or quickly popping up microwave popcorn. These appliances are ideal for small kitchens or those who appreciate multifunctionality since they can reheat, toast, bake and sometimes air fry. And while most models are countertop microwaves, there are many over-the-range and built-in options as well.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab we've evaluated and tested hundreds of the best microwaves and toaster ovens, including dozens of combo appliances. When we test the best microwave toaster oven combos we assess everything from ease of opening the door to popping popcorn, reheating a large casserole, toasting and melting cheese on bread, baking a cake and so much more.
Pros
- Superior testing results
- 20 different microwave presets
- Can be used on your countertop or installed as a built-in
Cons
- Multiple accessories require storing
This sleek microwave from Panasonic isn't just a microwave, it's also a broiler, convection oven and air fryer. This four-in-one appliance can perform simple tasks like popping a bag of popcorn or broiling a piece of toast as well as more complicated jobs like baking a cake in the convection oven or air frying chicken wings. We tried all and were especially impressed with how evenly the convection oven baked a 9-inch yellow cake and how crispy chicken wings were with the air fry function (as shown below).
This model features Panasonic inverter technology which uses a continuous stream of power to thoroughly heat foods. While this microwave offers 20 presets, we recommend reviewing the instruction manual before operating to understand how they all work and which included accessories should be used. If you're on the search for a built-in microwave toaster oven instead of a countertop model, this can also be installed as a built-in.
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Dimensions: 15 x 15.4 x 9 inches | Capacity: 1.2 cubic feet | Wattage: 1,000 watts
GE Countertop Convection Microwave Oven
Pros
- Excellent versatility for the price point
- Easy to align turntable
- All presets are listed on the front of the microwave
Cons
- Requires force to open the microwave
The GE Countertop Convection Microwave Oven costs less than other microwaves of similar performance and boasts superior ease of use, making it a great value for everything that it offers. While most microwaves require that you place the turntable in exact alignment on the rotating ring underneath or it won't spin, no matter how you place this turntable on the rotating ring, it will spin. And instead of searching for preset codes, all presets are listed on the front of the microwave and easy to navigate, meaning you're closer to cooking.
This model cooked up perfectly tender baked potatoes and excelled at heat distribution tests, melting cheese evenly (as you can see in the below image) and defrosting meat better than the majority of its competitors. Air fried chicken wings also came out very moist and juicy. We were also able to bake up a cake with the convection setting and the broil setting is perfect for toasting bread. Something to note is that you have to press hard to open up the microwave while pushing the large external button and the user manual is very brief.
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Dimensions: 16.6 x 20.6 x 11.8 inches | Capacity: 1.0 cubic feet | Wattage: 1,050 watts
Toshiba 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven
Pros
- Best heat distribution out of all microwaves tested
- Reheated a large casserole better than any other model tested
- Innovative "sensor cook" and "combi cook" presets
Cons
- Presets are listed inside microwave
Toshiba's 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven is our best overall countertop microwave, but that's not all, it offers seven different ways to cook — microwave, air fry, convection, broil, defrost, "sensor cook" and “combi cook" — making it a truly versatile combo appliance. If you use the "sensor cook" preset, it utilizes the microwave's built-in humidity sensor to adjust power and cooking time accordingly, while the "combi cook" combines microwave, convection and broil technology in one setting.
In our recent testing, this microwave had the most even heat distribution out of all microwaves tested. It completely and evenly melted cheese (as shown below), produced four perfectly cooked baked potatoes and reheated a large casserole of mac and cheese more evenly than 11 other models we tested. Take note that the microwave has presets like popcorn, but they are listed inside the microwave, instead of on the control panel for easy access.
Dimensions: 20.6 x 16.3 x 11.8 inches | Capacity: 1.0 cubic foot | Wattage: 1,000 watts
KitchenAid Over-the-Range Convection Microwave
Pros
- App is easy to use and navigate
- No microwave turntable to mess with
- The toast setting evenly toasts bread in various shades
Cons
- Professional installation is recommended
Short on counter space and already have an over-the-range microwave? This KitchenAid Over-the-Range Convection Microwave is a space-saving upgrade with numerous settings: microwave, toast, broil, roast, bake, air fry and more; it also has a built-in ventilation hood for your range. You can also connect it to the KitchenAid app. This model comes with an air fry basket, toasting pan and oven rack, but no turntable like with a traditional microwave. When microwaving an ingredient, you simply put it on the bottom of the microwave, but with other settings you have to select from the oven's different levels and accessories.
In our testing, we found the control panel and the app both easy to navigate and operate the microwave toaster oven combo. While the toast setting takes longer than most toasters (over seven minutes for dark toast), we found the light, medium and dark toast settings to yield evenly and accurately toasted slices of bread (as shown below). The air fry setting also yielded golden, crispy and very moist and juicy chicken wings. (Fair warning: it makes a mess, but the microwave is rather easy to clean after.) And we loved how charred the broil setting got shishito peppers. Do also keep in mind that this microwave is best installed by a professional.
Dimensions: 30 x 17.9 x 12.75 inches | Capacity: 1.1 cubic foot | Wattage: 1,800 watts
How we test microwave toaster oven combos
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab, our analysts have researched, evaluated and tested hundreds of small appliances in the last decade alone, testing over 30 microwaves and over 25 toaster ovens in that time. We've also tested dozens of combo appliances, including microwave toaster oven combos.
To test microwave toaster oven combos, we put them through all standardized microwave tests, but also evaluate them with air fryer and toaster oven tests when they apply to the specific appliance.
Like all microwaves we test, we evaluate how evenly they melt cheese and "bake" four potatoes, as well as reheat a large mac and cheese casserole and a dinner plate of meatloaf with sides.
We test presets like the popcorn setting to see how well each microwave pops a bag of popcorn. We weigh the unpopped kernels that remain and assess any burning that occurred.
We also test the defrost preset on microwaves by defrosting a pound of frozen ground beef (in two different shapes).
We put microwave toaster oven combos' additional settings to the test by toasting bread, baking a cake (shown here are multiple cakes baked in microwave toaster oven combos and toaster ovens) and air frying chicken wings.
We also consider ease of use when it comes to the control panel, positioning the turntable, opening and closing the door and cleaning the microwave.
What to look for when shopping for the best microwave toaster oven combos
✔️ Size: The internal size of a microwave toaster oven combo is measured in cubic feet and determines how big of a dish you can fit inside. Based on our testing, most microwaves are around 1.2 cubic feet, but microwaves can be anywhere from 0.8 cubic feet to 2.2 cubic feet on average. Microwave toaster oven combos tend to be a bit larger in dimensions and capacity compared to models with fewer settings.
✔️ Wattage: This tells you how powerful the microwave is. For more varied use, you’d want at least 1,000 watts of power. Most microwave toaster oven combos have a higher wattage than their traditional counterparts so that they can toast and sometimes air fry your food as well.
✔️ Settings: The majority of the microwave toaster oven combos we've tested don't just feature the ability to toast, but also include many other settings like convection bake, air fry or even grill. The additional settings on these appliances do require a bit more troubleshooting though.
Do microwave toaster oven combos exist?
If you Google microwave toaster oven combos, you won't see many brands marketing their microwave models as "microwave toaster oven combos," but there are many microwaves that also have toaster oven settings. For this story, we focused on microwave models that also have broil and convection settings like a toaster oven would. These versatile combo appliances had to perform well both as a microwave and a toaster oven to make this list.
Are microwave toaster oven combos worth it?
Microwave toaster oven combos are worth it if you're either trying to reduce the amount of appliances in your kitchen or are a multitasker who likes being able to cook something quickly with the microwave setting and then crisp it up with the broil or toast setting. While these models are usually more expensive than standard microwaves, if you use a microwave and toaster oven regularly, this could be a good purchase for your lifestyle and counter space.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Eva Bleyer has professionally tested all kinds of kitchen equipment, from oven ranges to juicers to kitchen scales to blenders. Eva has tested more than 15 microwave models (including some microwave toaster oven combos) and multiple toaster ovens as well in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab. Eva has a microwave toaster oven combo in her home kitchen and loves the sheer versatility; she can heat up leftovers with the microwave function or char shishito peppers with the broil function.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
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