Features

Internal capacity: 27 litres. No turntable. Usable height 190mm. Functions: Microwave cooking and defrosting, auto weight defrost (chaos defrost), delay/stand feature, memory, grilling, convection, two-level cooking, convection and grill, turbo bake, convection and microwave, grill and microwave, convection and grill or turbo bake and microwave, auto weight cook. 6 microwave power levels (100-1000w). Quartz grill. Features: Child lock, eco mode. Self-clean catalytic lining at back of oven. Accessories: Enamel shelf, glass dish, wire shelf, anti-spark ring. Touch and dial controls. Drop-down door. Heating category-E. External dimensions H328x W531x D534mm. Available in stainless steel or metallic silver.

Comments

Good points: Good results for reheating, defrosting, fan cooking, grilling and using the combination programmes. A whole chicken was roasted in only 45 minutes and jacket potatoes were cooked perfectly, with evenly browned crispy skin, using the combined convection and microwave option.

Removable wire shelves are useful so you can batch bake - two trays of 12 fairy cakes were successfully baked using the convention setting. Alternatively the shelves can be removed to fit larger casserole dishes. Quick grill and large grilling area. Useful selection of combination programmes. Easy to use. Retractable controls can be pushed flush with the fascia making it easy to clean. Clear and comprehensive instructions.

Drawbacks: Quite deep so you’ll need plenty of worktop space. Toast and chicken were not very evenly browned.

Stockist: 0844 844 3852 www.panasonic.co.uk

GHI Test Report - Jan 09

Features

377x487x515mm. Touch Control. Turntable diameter 360mm. Useable height 170mm. 7 power levels (90 - 1000W). Radiant grill. Combi Options: microwave and grill, microwave and convection oven. 8 x oven temps (50 - 225 ^oC) 5 x Auto weight defrost. 5 x auto weight forced air (convection). Jet start (quick start) Crisp (using crisp plate) 6^TH Sense Reheat, 6^th Sense Crisp, 6^th Sense Cook, Steam (using steamer accessory), Child lock. Independent kitchen timer. Quick heat (preheat for convection)1 fixed grill temp. Drop down door.

Comments

Good results on convection, grill and combi settings. Large shelf is handy for baking small cakes and it cooked a roast chicken in a time saving 45 minutes as well as having the highest score for combi cooking a cottage pie, grill performs well, despite only having just 1 fixed grill temp. It scored 45/ 60 for performance, comes with lots of accessories including a steamer and a crisp plate and the variety of functions make it a versatile all-rounder, power levels and temperatures can be set independently when combi cooking . Accessories are bulky to store and it is slightly taller and deeper than the average microwave. Good instructions and recipe book.

Stockist: 0870 600 8989 www.whirlpool.co.uk

GHI Test Report - Dec 07

Features

305x510x390. Touch Controls. Turntable Diameter 340mm. Useable height 170mm.  6 power levels (100 - 1000W). Quartz grill. Combi Options: microwave and grill, microwave and convection oven. 13 oven temps (100 - 220 ^oC) auto weight defrost, 6 x auto weight cook programmes, 4 x auto weight combination programmes. Delay/ stand feature. 3 grill settings. 2 or 3 stage microwave cooking. Left hinge door.

Comments

Good at reheating ready meals, defrosting and produced good fairy cakes and jacket potatoes, but results were not so good for roast chicken, it scored 42/ 60 for performance. Power levels and temperatures can be set independently when combi cooking. Comes with lots of useful cooking charts and recipes.

Stockist: 0844 844 3852 www.panasonic.co.uk

GHI Test Report - Dec 07

Features

Internal capacity: 32 litres. No turntable. Usable height 190mm. Functions: Convection preheat, convection cooking, grill combi, convection combi, auto cooking, defrost, EZ clean grill cooking, micro power cooking. 5 microwave power levels (90-700w). Radiant grill. Features: Child lock, EZ clean. Accessories: Grill pan and rack. Touch and dial controls. Drop-down door. Heating category-C. External dimensions H360x W530x D480mm. Available in stainless steel or black.

Comments

Good points: Good results for reheating chilled and frozen ready meals, defrosting and convection cooking. Fairy cakes were light and fluffy and evenly risen. Most of the combination programmes produced good results.  Large or unusual shaped dishes can be used because there isn’t a turntable. Programming is logical and straightforward.

Drawbacks: Large and bulky. Grilling is slow and browning very uneven. Awkward to see into the cavity to check progress of cooking. Poor results using the microwave and grill option– the lasagne didn’t get hot enough. Maximum weight for cooking a whole chicken using the auto programme only goes up to 1.5kg. Feels unstable when opening the door as the machine tilts forward.

Stockist: 0870 873 5454 www.lge.co.uk

GHI Test Report - Jan 09

Features

Internal capacity: 24 litres. Turntable diameter 260mm. Usable height 200mm. Functions: Microwave, grill, convection (with preheat), convection (traditional cooking), combination cooking (microwave and convection), weight defrost, time defrost, auto cook, speedy cook. 10 microwave power levels (0-900w). Quartz grill. Features: Child lock, power save mode.Accessories: Turntable and 1 wire rack. Touch and dial controls. Left-hinge door. Heating category-E. External dimensions H319x W501x D492mm. Available in stainless steel.

Comments

GH GOOD DEAL. Good points:  Good results for reheating, grilling, convection and combination cooking. The roast chicken was well cooked with a golden, evenly browned skin using the combined microwave and convection setting. Good grilling results - toast was crisp and evenly browned.   Simple to programme.

Drawbacks: Only one combination function. Poor results using weight defrost setting - chicken drumsticks began cooking in some areas. Slow at grilling sausages because the single wire rack isn’t high enough. Fairy cakes were unevenly risen. Difficult to see into cavity to check progress of cooking. Stainless steel fascia fingermarks badly.

Stockist: 0844 824 3000 www.asda.co.uk

GHI Test Report - Jan 09