Grill Microwave vs. Convection Microwave: Which Fits Indian Cooking Styles Better?

Imagine you are craving a smoky paneer tikka on a Friday evening and do not feel like stepping out to buy one. It not only increases your sense of cravings but also causes irritation when you are not able to grab your favourite food. With the right microwave, you can grill the food with ultimate convenience without worrying about ordering from outside. Not only that, you can use minimal oil, unlike retail outlets that provide unhealthy and oily food. However, one of the dilemmas while purchasing a microwave revolves around the question of whether to opt for a grill microwave or a convection microwave. 

Both of these microwaves depend on the purpose we need them for. Indian cuisine includes multiple food items, and each food has its own recipe. We roast spicy kebabs, prepare tandoori rotis, and even simmer gravies on a gas stove. Therefore, if your purpose revolves around grilling the paneer or chicken for that barbecue flavour, a grill microwave oven could be chosen. Whereas, for baking and roasting, convection ovens are an ideal choice. Explore the article to find top choices of both types of microwave ovens to choose from. 

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Everyday Desi Cooking Compared: Roasting, Baking, and Crisping

When you are looking for an appliance for an Indian kitchen, we usually get confused between a grill microwave and a convection one. A grill microwave uses the heating coils to brown the surfaces, whereas a convection microwave uses the internal fan to circulate dry air to heat the food efficiently. 

If your goal is to focus on grilling paneer tikka, chicken seekh kebab and cheese toast, then a grill microwave oven is an ideal choice for you. It delivers the required brown roast coating and replicates that of an electric indoor grill. Not only that, it saves time and effort, and you no longer have to wait while the food is being prepared. 

However, if you want to bake cakes or fluffy naans, a convection microwave is an ideal choice. It uses a circulation fan that uniformly distributes the heat at the required temperatures and does not create a soggy effect afterwards. 

Panasonic 20 L Grill Microwave Oven 

Panasonic 20 L Grill Microwave Oven(NN-GT221WFDG)

₹ 7,990

₹ 9,590 (17% off)

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If you are craving quick paneer tikka or toasted sandwiches, this grill microwave oven is an ideal choice for your kitchen. The Panasonic 20 litres microwave oven is widely considered one of the best ovens for kitchen spaces. If your kitchen has limited space, you no longer have to stress about your oven fitting in and can seamlessly use it without worrying about spacing issues. This versatile microwave oven uses the upper grill heater to provide that brown effect and lets you enjoy delicious and crisp culinary dishes with ultimate ease. For small families and bachelors, it is an ideal choice to cook healthy meals while spending quality time. With a user-friendly touch membrane keypad, it lets you switch between the basic microwave and grill functions and ensures that the food is cooked as expected. 

Specifications:

• Colour: Epoxy Grey
• Type: Grill 
• Auto Cook Menu: 38
• Power Levels: 5 
• Capacity: 20 Litres 
• Weight: 12.72 Kilograms 
• Power Output: 1000W

Pros:

• Value for money. 
• High-quality build and performance. 
• Easy to install and use. 
• Comes in an elegant design. 

Cons:

• Cannot bake cakes, cookies or bread.

Panasonic 23 L Convection & Grill Microwave Oven

Panasonic 23 L Convection & Grill Microwave Oven(NN-CT35MBFDG, SILVER)

₹ 12,310

₹ 15,890 (23% off)

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If you want an overall immersive culinary experience, that is, grill and bake from the same microwave oven, this is an ideal choice for your kitchen. The Panasonic microwave oven comes with 23 litres of capacity and can use both features, that is, convection and grill. If you are craving a paneer tikka, you can seamlessly grill crispy brown paneer in minutes. Further, if you are craving a cake, you can prepare it as well without much effort. The microwave comes packed with auto-cook menus and saves your time and effort in preparing multiple cuisines with ultimate ease and without the requirement to keep a constant check on the timer. This convection microwave oven justifies its competitive oven price and can easily be considered one of the best choices for your home. 

Specifications:

• Colour: Black Mirror 
• Type: Convection & Grill 
• Capacity: 23 Litres 
• Weight: 12 Kilograms 
• Power Output: 750W
• Control: Touch Keypad 

Pros:

• Value for money with an elegant design. 
• Circulating fan delivers uniform heat distribution.
• Does not rust even when used for a long time. 
• Easy to install and use. 

Cons:

• Stainless steel interior makes it tough to clean burnt marks sometimes. 

Samsung 23 L Ceramic Grill Microwave Oven

SAMSUNG 23 L Grill Microwave Oven(MG23A3515AK, BLACK)

₹ 8,590

₹ 11,990 (28% off)

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Do you hate scrubbing sticky turmeric stains and hardened gravy marks from your microwave walls? With the Samsung Ceramic Grill Microwave Oven, you can save yourself from all such hassle and prepare healthy meals for your family. With 23 litres of capacity, it is one of the best ovens for your kitchen and keeps hygiene in check. It is scratch-resistant due to its ceramic interior and non-stick in nature. You can avoid all that cleaning hassle and can just wipe the stains in seconds. Equipped with a powerful top grill element, this microwave lets you prepare cheese toasts and crispy samosas in a flash. The built-in Eco Mode reduces power consumption and cuts down on your electricity bills. Overall, it is an ideal choice for your home. 

Specifications:

• Colour: Black 
• Type: Grill 
• Capacity: 23 Litres 
• Weight: 13 Kilograms 
• Power Output: 800W
• Control: Buttons 

Pros:

• Value for money. 
• Scratch-resistant and easy to remove stains. 
• Comes with a premium exterior design. 
• Easy to install and use. 

Cons:

• It does not have a convection blower. 

IFB 20 L Grill Microwave Oven 

IFB 20 L Grill Microwave Oven(20PG4S, Metallic Silver)

₹ 8,990

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Looking for a uniform grill microwave oven that focuses on the grill feature? IFB grill microwave oven stands out as one of the best choices for your kitchen counters and does not require much effort when cooking your desired meals. It provides heavy-duty performance and is an ideal choice for small or medium families. Driven by a dual-quartz grill heating system, this microwave oven heats up your food at a much faster pace and provides you with crispy and healthy snacks in minutes. With 5 adjustable power levels, you can seamlessly choose the temperature to cook at and ensure that the food doesn't get burnt. This oven has a high-quality build and is highly reliable for long-term use in your kitchen. 

Specifications:

• Colour: Metallic Silver 
• Type: Grill 
• Auto Cook Menu: 61
• Power Levels: 5 
• Capacity: 20 Litres 
• Weight: 12.5 Kilograms 
• Power Output: 800W

Pros:

• Eliminates food smell and germs. 
• Heats at a faster pace. 
• Easy to install and use. 
• Provides high-quality performance and build. 

Cons:

• Might not be ideal for large servings. 

IFB 23 L Air Fry Convection Microwave Oven 

IFB 23 L Convection Microwave Oven(23SC3, Silver)

₹ 11,690

₹ 16,790 (30% off)

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If you want to experience guilt-free pakoras or crunchy French fries without making much effort or worrying about getting burnt when frying, the IFB 23 litres microwave oven is one of the best choices to choose from. You no longer have to eat oily food and experience crispy experience with the built-in air fryer of this microwave oven. It uses a multi-stage cooking program that lets you microwave or bake effortlessly with the required crispy effect. While this oven is priced slightly higher due to its premium features, it offers unbeatable preset menu options to cook the snack or meal of your choice. It is one of the best choices for your home, and you can make this your next purchase without any second thoughts. 

Specifications:

• Colour: Silver
• Auto Cook Menu: 71
• Power Levels: 10
• Capacity: 23 Litres 
• Weight: 14.9 Kilograms 
• Power Output: 900W

Pros:

• Value for money and high-quality build. 
• Can cook with minimal oil. 
• Easy to install and use. 
• Consists of 71 pre-programmed cooking menu. 

Cons:

• Might cost more compared to the entry-level variants. 

Read More: Best Solo Microwave Ovens in India 

Conclusion:

Choosing between a grill and a convection microwave oven usually depends on the cooking habits of the family. If your household requires a microwave to reheat the leftovers or prepare cheese sandwiches, then a grill microwave oven is an ideal choice for you. However, if you want an all-in-one culinary microwave that can bake, tandoor, air fry, and even reheat, then a convection microwave oven is an ideal choice to go for. It uses hot air circulation that delivers crispy textures and golden crusts right at home. However, before making the final purchase, ensure that your choice of microwave oven includes all the required specifications and is of adequate capacity.