What is a convection microwave?

How does a convection microwave work?

In a convection microwave oven, an extra heating element and fan circulate hot air around the cavity, letting you bake and roast food with home-cooked results. You can expect faster cook times on certain items as the convection element and microwave cook simultaneously. Convection microwaves often include racks, allowing you to heat multiple dishes at the same time.

While standard microwaves are great for reheating leftovers, melting butter or cooking frozen meals, a convection microwave helps take things further—making it possible to roast, bake, cook and crisp with ease.

What can you cook in a convection microwave?

Convection microwave cooking means you can use select microwaves to:

• Roast an entire chicken, then bake angel food cake for dessert

• Cook green bean casserole while you roast a turkey in your main oven

• Bake cookies on metal cookware (when using convection-only cycles)

• Roast marshmallows for indoors s’mores

• Crisp and brown pizza on a rack 

• Use like an oven in small spaces like apartments and RVs

• Preheat and start convection from your smartphone or tablet on some models

Convection microwaves vs. microwaves: What’s the difference?

Conventional microwaves use microwave technology to quickly heat up the water molecules in food. Convection microwaves do this as well, but also have another function that lets you use your microwave like you might use a small oven.

Compare ways to use each microwave type:

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Whirlpool^® Microwaves with Air Fry Mode let you air fry chicken nuggets, wings, fries and more of your favorite foods to get crispy results at home.

How to use a convection microwave

Knowing how to use a convection microwave can help make mealtime easy as you bake or roast in your microwave. You can make everything from muffins and pies to casseroles and roasts, but the process of convection microwave baking looks a little different than simply reheating. Check your user manual for specific instructions for your model. The following directions are a general guide.

1. Place the convection rack in the microwave

Convection microwaves typically come with a convection rack to place dishes on that allows air to circulate for even baking across racks.

2. Select a convection setting

Once the rack is on the turntable, select the convection option on your microwave to begin the process of preheating the microwave.

3. Place your food in the microwave

Then, just like with an oven, you can carefully place your food in the preheated microwave and set a timer for your bake or roast.

4. Monitor food as it’s cooking

Like in a traditional oven, it’s important to keep an eye on your food as it cooks to help prevent overcooking. Convection microwaves often cook food faster than a convection oven, due to their smaller size and the fact that they usually combine the cooking power of both a microwave and a convection oven.

Can you put metal in a convection microwave oven?

Most convection microwaves can handle metals like aluminum foil and baking sheets, but only when the microwave is in convection mode.

Select Convection microwaves, like this model from Whirlpool brand, come with a convection cooking rack and baking tray so you can get the most out of microwave baking or roasting. The rack allows air to circulate around foods for an even bake while the baking tray fits in the microwave when you’re cooking items like biscuits or cookies.

Shop Whirlpool^® Convection Microwaves

True Convection Cooking, available on select Whirlpool^® Microwaves, lets you conveniently cook foods with the same home-cooked results, right in the microwave. Learn more about Whirlpool^® Microwaves to help make your decision. Plus, compare microwaves vs. ovens to help find the right appliance for your family’s needs.