Your Small Kitchen May Not Need a Separate Oven: This Microwave Can Do Both Jobs

A microwave can take up valuable counter space in a small kitchen, leaving little room for a toaster oven or air fryer. But some microwaves can handle more than reheating leftovers and defrosting meat. Combination models include heating systems that allow food to bake, roast, and brown inside the same appliance.

Unlike a standard microwave, which uses electromagnetic waves to heat food, a convection microwave also circulates hot air around the cooking chamber. That gives it some of the functions of a conventional oven without requiring another appliance on the counter.

The U.S. Department of Energy identifies convection microwaves as models that combine microwave heating with other cooking methods. Some also include grilling or air-frying functions, although the available settings depend on the model.

A convection microwave can bake and brown food

Standard microwaves work well for reheating meals, defrosting frozen ingredients, and heating liquids, but they don’t produce the same browned surfaces as an oven.

Convection microwaves add a heating element and fan that circulate hot air around food.

This allows them to bake certain dishes, roast vegetables, and brown surfaces that would remain soft in a standard microwave.

Some combination appliances also include a grill setting for browning the tops of dishes or an air-frying mode designed to circulate hot air around food.

The cooking modes serve different purposes. Microwave heating can warm food fast, while convection cooking uses hot air to develop color and texture.

Not every model can perform all these tasks, so the listed cooking functions matter more than the combination-microwave label alone.

Some combination models cost around $220

Combination microwaves come in different sizes, capacities, and configurations, with prices varying according to their cooking functions.

An October 2026 comparison by El Cronista listed three countertop examples:

• BLACK+DECKER 5-in-1: Around $162.99, combining microwave heating with additional hot-air cooking functions.
• Toshiba 8-in-1: Around $223.99, with microwave, air-frying, and other cooking modes.
• Toshiba 4-in-1: Around $271.99, combining microwave and convection functions with additional settings.

The three reported prices average about $220, although retailer prices and availability can change.

For small kitchens, replacing separate countertop appliances with one combination unit can free up space. The trade-off is cooking capacity, since a microwave’s interior may be too small for large baking trays, roasting pans, or family-sized meals.

Check the external dimensions, interior capacity, ventilation requirements, and supported cooking modes before choosing a model.

A combination microwave won’t replace every function of a full-size oven, but it can handle several cooking tasks that once required separate appliances.