Solo vs. Grill vs. Convection: Comprehensive Indian Microwave Buying Guide

With the increasing popularity of modern kitchens in Indian households, the importance of appliances like microwaves has increased. But the needs of people still differ. Not every microwave offers the best value for your cooking habits. Three well-known options include solo, grill and convection, all designed to cater to different cooking needs. For someone who has quick reheating and defrosting needs, solo model is the right choice whereas people with a love of crispy food cravings and basic needs of reheating should go for grill.

The convection microwave is more like a traditional oven that offers you multiple features, allowing users to do baking, roasting, grilling, and reheating. Still, choosing the right model not only depends on the functions but also on pricing, performance, energy efficiency, benefits, and more. In this guide, we do a detailed comparison, breaking down all of these things to help you find the best microwave for your kitchen that can offer you convenience and satisfy your culinary needs.

Explore more deals on Flipkart.

Solo Microwave Features and Recommendations

Features:

• Designed to be the most basic model, a solo microwave uses electromagnetic waves that are for heating the food.
• This appliance can help with basic cooking tasks including reheating, defrosting, and preparing quick meals like soup.
• It is compact, commonly coming in 17 to 30 litres capacity, which makes it an ideal choice for bachelors, small families and students.

Pros:

• One of the most budget-friendly options for people with basic cooking needs.
• With no additional heating elements, a solo microwave consumes less energy.
• A good solution for fast and immediate heating, saving time and effort.

Cons:

• Not suitable for baking and grilling.
• At times, it causes uneven heating and requires human intervention.
• Limited capacity and not suitable for reheating large portions at once.

LG 30 L Solo Microwave Oven

LG 30 L Auto Cook Menu, Child Lock, Energy Saving, Anti bacterial cavity, Steam Clean, Solo Microwave Oven (MS3032BK, Black)

₹ 9,990

₹ 12,499 (20% off)

Buy on

Featuring a 30 litre capacity, this LG solo microwave oven is suitable for homes with 4 to 6 members. It efficiently caters to basic cooking needs, including reheating, defrosting and quick meals. For added convenience for users, this appliance offers several other features, including 44 auto cook menus, an antibacterial cavity, light disinfection, steam clean and more. Further, it also comes with an easy-to-control touch and dial panel. 

Samsung 23 Litre Solo Microwave Oven 

Samsung 23 L Auto Cook Programs, Child Safety Lock, Memory Feature, Deodorization Solo Microwave Oven(MS23A3513AK, BLACK)

₹ 8,250

₹ 10,800 (24% off)

Buy on

This Samsung microwave offers you the perfect balance of versatility and convenience. From multiple auto cook menus, ceramic cavity and deodorisation to eco mode, it offers users many features. For convenience, the microwave is easy to clean and comes with an LED display. Another standout feature of the appliance is the local taste function that allows you to make regional dishes with pre-programmed recipe options.

Grill Microwave Features and Recommendations

Features:

• A grill microwave comes with an additional heating element to brown and crisp food. It also comes with the standard electromagnetic heating, so you can use it for defrosting and reheating, but it is still not the ideal choice for these functions in comparison to a solo model.
• This appliance is an ideal choice for people with frequent cravings for crisp food. You can make tandoori snacks and grill meats, fish and vegetables.
• Grill microwaves come in a range of capacities, including even some 32-plus-litre models that are suitable for families with 4 to 6 members.

Pros:

• It is a good option for people who do not do baking but love to make quick snacks. 
• It consumes less electricity while delivering faster heating performance than conventional models. 
• Offers more functions than a solo microwave and is comparatively a budget-friendly option compared to other models.

Cons:

• Due to the grilling function, cleaning becomes difficult.
• May lead to texture and moisture issues when using combined modes.

Read More: Top Microwave Ovens for Baking and Heating Under ₹8,000

Panasonic 20 L Grill Microwave 

Panasonic 20 L Grill Microwave Oven(NN-GT221WFDG)

₹ 7,990

₹ 9,590 (17% off)

Buy on

If you are looking for the best microwave oven in India, this 20-litre Panasonic grill microwave is a recommended choice. It is a versatile model that allows you to grill vegetables, meat and more while also offering toasting capabilities. Equipped with Magic Grill technology,  it ensures that the food you make comes with crisp exteriors and juicy interiors. Some of the other noticeable features include 38 auto-cook menus, child lock features for safety, combination mode for tastier meals and a 360-degree even heating mode.

LG 20 L Grill Microwave Oven 

LG 20 L i-Wave Technology, Indian Cuisine, Auto Cook Menu, Steam Clean, Anti-Bacterial Cavity & Health plus Menu Grill Microwave Oven(MH2044DB, Black)

₹ 8,190

₹ 10,599 (23% off)

Buy on

This Microwave oven from LG comes with a 20-litre capacity that is suitable for catering to the grilling and toasting needs of a small family. For user convenience, it offers 52 auto cook menus that also include Indian Rasoi recipe modes. The i-wave technology facilitates faster and healthier cooking, while the antibacterial cavity reduces bacterial growth. Further, it is energy-efficient and comes with a child lock feature for safer use.

Convection Microwave Features and Recommendations

Features:

• A convection microwave combines the functions of solo and grill models along with baking features, offering multiple features in one unit.
• It offers consumers several uses, including reheating, grilling, baking and roasting. 
• Thanks to the multi-functional design, this microwave can be used for preparing full meals and complex recipes efficiently.

Pros:

• It is a good choice for people with a baking passion.
• Thanks to the efficient capacity, it is suitable for medium- to large-sized families.
• It delivers even and consistent cooking results.

Cons:

• A bit expensive in comparison to other models.
• Some models do not come with bottom heating coils, so crispiness is out of the question.

Haier 23 L Convection Microwave 

Haier 23 L with 205 Auto cook menus, Paneer/Ghee/Curd making, Bread basket zone, Combination Cooking, Multi stage cooking, Fermentation, Grilling, Reheating & Defrost , Deodorizer/ Lemon clean, Child Lock, Convection Microwave Oven(HIL2302CRSH:IN/MWO/DL, Black)

₹ 11,447

₹ 17,990 (36% off)

Buy on

For people seeking the best convection microwave, this model from Haier might be a good choice. Offering multiple modes, it allows users to make crispy and golden-finished food, even baking, faster cooking and more. The ghee, curd and paneer making modes make this microwave an ideal choice for an Indian home. For further convenience, this appliance offers a display panel, 205 auto-cook menus, 5 multi-power levels, and more.

IFB 23 Litre Convection Microwave 

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

₹ 11,690

₹ 16,790 (30% off)

Buy on

Another recommended option is this IFB microwave featuring a 23-litre capacity that makes it suitable for medium-sized families. The 5-in-1 design of this model allows users to bake, grill, air fry, roast and reheat in one unit while ensuring faster cooking results. The microwave features 20 power levels, ensuring that users can customise according to their requirements. It also comes with an auto defrost mode and Keep Warm feature for added convenience.