Far cheaper than the usual convection-microwave oven, Sharp's R-820 just doesn't meet up to our expectations.

When we think convection-microwave oven, we think faster baking and roasting thanks to the wonders of combination cooking. Unfortunately Sharp's R-820 doesn't offer the ability to use microwave energy and heat together. Billed as a convection-microwave oven, this moniker set us up for a big disappointment. Maybe if Sharp had given this product a new name, such as dual oven, we wouldn't have felt so cheated.

The R-820 doesn't offer combination cooking, but that's not to say that it's not useable or even convenient. In fact, if you've never had any combination cooking experience, you may not even realize there's a better option out there. With the R-820 you can microwave all your favorites, and when in heat mode you can bake most anything you might usually prepare in a toaster oven. Small portions of foods such as biscuits, muffins, pizza and chicken breast are good examples of what to prepare with this oven.

What you have in the R-820 is a microwave oven and a small heat-producing oven together in one appliance. Seven simple programs are included for commonly prepared foods. A wide range of temperature settings give you all you might need for warming and baking.

Equipped with Sharp's signature turntable, the 900 watts of microwave energy is distributed fairly well. Two 1500-watt heating elements are located at the top and bottom and encourage even heating for baked goods and other foods.

Certainly not a bad product, the R-820 falls short of what we've come to expect of a convection-microwave oven. Useful and inexpensive, this product has a place in a small kitchen where the ability to microwave and bake in the same space would be helpful. It's just that passing Sharp's R-820 off as a convection-microwave oven is a bit of a stretch.


Pros: One oven that microwaves and bakes in the same cavity, low in price
Cons: Lacks the best feature we've come to expect of a convection-microwave -- combination cooking

Warranty
1 year