The Haier Convection Microwave Oven with Grill MWG10081TW is an affordable machine that gives you your money's worth and more. This compact countertop unit provides 1 cubic foot of cooking space and comes with an 12.3-inch glass turntable, a raised 9-inch-diameter wire cooking rack and a 12-inch-round metal baking pan. Despite its small size, this unit provides ample power and a multitude of cooking options.

In addition to the standard timed microwave function, there is a Grill setting (useful for cooking hamburgers, steaks, pork chops and other thin cuts of meat or poultry); a Roast setting, which utilizes both microwave and convection energy for faster, more efficient cooking of larger cuts of meat; a Convection setting, which acts very much like a regular oven with 10 different cooking temperatures ranging from 150 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit; and six Compu Cook preprogrammed settings to cook or defrost popular food items.

At first glance, the array of options seems a bit overwhelming especially if you are not familiar with convection microwaving. We liked the easy touchpad controls; however, the panel can seem intimidating if you don't know which buttons to press. You'll want to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the instructions before using this oven.

There isn't too much you can't do with this oven. The Convection setting transforms the unit into a standard oven, and although the results were not exactly the same as a larger oven, we were pleased with the cooking and browning capability. The Grill function mimics a toaster oven with a heating element below the unit's turntable and another one encased in the oven's ceiling. The convection fan also operates on this setting, which helps to distribute the heat throughout the oven chamber. The Grill function took a bit longer than expected but achieved good results. There are three grill settings -- to activate either the top or bottom elements or both. The rack comes in handy for top browning or melting cheese.

We especially liked the Roast function, which combines microwave and convection cooking for faster, more efficient results. The only trick is determining how long to cook foods using this setting, since the instructions provide limited guidance in this area. The first few times you use it, you will want to monitor cooking more closely to gauge the approximate length of time. The digital display screen provides some visual clues, telling you where to enter amount or pounds.

Where this unit really shines is in its Compu Cook settings, which simplify standard cooking and defrosting operations with six preset options: Pizza, Cook, Grill, Roast, Defrost and Bake. For these settings, all you have to do is select an option and enter either the weight or number of servings. Here once again, the controls are a bit cryptic, since you have to know the numeric code (1-5) for the desired food. Until you've used the functions repeatedly, you may want to keep the instruction booklet handy for reference. These settings are invaluable for preparing all sorts of foods, from grilling hamburgers or fish fillets (the unit determines the correct length of time, based on total weight) to roasting a whole chicken or turkey (up to 6 pounds), roast beef or pork loin. We found the baking options to be a bit limited (there is no "cookie" setting for instance), but all in all, the Compu Cook settings provide a welcome sampling of convenient choices. Once you get the hang of the working with codes, you'll be using these settings frequently.

Lastly, there are three one-touch buttons for three common functions: popcorn, reheating a plate of food or baking 1-4 servings of potatoes. Our only disappointment was the lack of a beverage option. Other features include a countdown clock/timer and child safety lock. All in all, the Haier Convection Microwave Oven with Grill MWG10081TW is quite a machine for the money. It will accomplish all your microwave tasks, and a whole lot more.


Pros: Six preprogrammed cooking/defrosting options, one-touch convenience buttons, settings for grill, convection, roast, and microwave
Cons: Complicated control panel, buttons are not intuitive, no beverage option

Warranty
1 year, parts and labor, 10 years, magnetron tube