If you need a grill microwave with a reasonably large capacity, we recommend the Kenwood K30GSS13. With its large 30 litre capacity, powerful cooking output and nine automatic programmes, this is a top quality appliance that’s worth every penny.
As the name suggests, grill microwaves can perform the same functions as a solo model with the addition of grilling. This allows you to brown and crisp foods without using your regular oven, leading to foods with a crunchier exterior – something solo microwaves are notoriously bad at providing. If you’re fed up of eating soft foods, a grill model could be an option to consider.
Grill microwave ovens are often slightly more expensive than solo models. There are some great deals to be had though, and you can find models for well under £100. It’s important to focus on quality as well as price though – and keep in mind that the best grill microwave depends on your requirements as much as the model’s performance.
Aside from your budget, it’s also vital to consider the size, power and features of a model before you buy. While these considerations are the same as any model (see our guide here), remember that the grill has a separate power rating to the microwave itself. To make choosing easier, we write grill microwave reviews, including feature break-downs and overviews of buyer feedback (see below).
Note: This section of the site is about microwave ovens with a grill function – not combination models (which also include a convection oven). For combination microwaves, see our page about buying a microwave with oven and grill.
Below is a table of our top picks. You’ll notice that most of these are 20 litre models, as this is by far the most common size of a grill appliance. While 20 litres is fine for standard dinner plates, it’s too small for large dishes or bigger plates, so keep in mind your personal requirements when buying.
| Image | Microwave | Colour | Capacity | Power | View Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Kenwood K30GSS13 | Stainless Steel | 30 litres | 900W | View Price |
 | Sharp R662WM | White | 20 litres | 800W | View Price |
 | Delonghi E98CWW | Silver | 20 litres | 800W | View Price |
 | Russell Hobbs RHM2031 | Stainless Steel | 20 litres | 800W | View Price |
 | Panasonic NN-K181MMBPQ | Silver | 20 litres | 800W | View Price |
 | Morphy Richards D80D | Black | 20 litres | 800W | View Price |
 | LOGIK L20GS14 | Silver | 20 litres | 800W | View Price |
Our #1 choice for a microwave with grill is the excellent Kenwood K30GSS13. This is the largest model on this list, so it’s better suited to families or cooking large amounts of food. It also has a range of handy options to make cooking faster and easier.
The K30GSS13 is a 30 litre microwave, so it’s suitable for large dinner plates and big meals. At 900W, it’s also more powerful than many other freestanding grill models. Other features include a 1000W grill, 11 power levels and a defrost mode. The appliance also comes with nine automatic cook programs.
There are a few small drawbacks though. The screen can be difficult to read in bright sunlight and the door can be quite stiff. This means the microwave sometimes moves unless you hold it in place. Even with these minor problems, the large capacity, fast cooking and range of options make it one of the best microwave ovens with a grill.
If you’re looking for a small microwave with grill, the Sharp R662WM is one of our favourite options. With external dimensions of 30.6 x 25.7 x 30.6cm (WxHxD), it’s one of the smallest we’ve seen, yet still manages a 20 litre interior capacity. This makes it a great choice for apartments or even caravans.
The R662WM has a stylish slimline design, along with a 25.5cm turntable and 800W output. The quartz grill has an output of 1000W, which is enough for crisping and browning foods. It also comes with automatic defrost, six auto-cook menus and 11 power levels.
One of the drawbacks is the control panel isn’t the most intuitive we’ve seen. It’s not difficult to use, but you’ll probably want to keep the manual to hand the first few times. The small size also means it can’t hold large dinner plates.
The Sharp R662WM is a great choice if you want a white microwave with grill that doesn’t take up too much space on your kitchen counter. It’s probably too small for large families, but if you’re looking for a compact grill microwave it’s one of the best options.
Another excellent option is the Delonghi E98CWW. With an RRP of just £75, this is a very reasonably priced model that’s great for small households.
It’s a stylish silver model with touch buttons, several useful features and a relatively low price. The power output is 800W, so it can cook food reasonably quickly (although it’s not the fastest). The 1000W grill is also great for browning food. While it provides great value for money, like many grill microwaves the 20 litre capacity means it’s probably not suitable for large families.
If you’re looking for a silver grill microwave that’s easy to use, does a great job of browning and grilling and doesn’t cost too much, the Delonghi E98CWW is an option to consider. It’s not big enough for large dinner plates, but for basic cooking it provides excellent value for money.
If you’re looking for a stainless steel grill microwave, one of our top picks is the RHM2031. The steel exterior provides a classy appearance that’s often lost when manufacturers use non-metallic materials, and it also comes with a number of useful features.
With a 20 litre capacity, this is another appliance that’s designed for small dinner plates. It doesn’t have the turntable size or capacity for large plates or big meals, but it makes up for this with fast cooking and a stylish design. It has 800W microwave output and 1000W grill, so it can cook food relatively quickly. The model also comes with automatic cook menus (including for popcorn, fish and pizza), auto-defrost and five power levels.
Like all microwaves, there are a few drawbacks. The first is that this is quite a noisy microwave, which may be an issue if you use it a lot. It’s also not the easiest appliance to learn how to use and the small capacity can be restrictive.
Even so, if you’re looking for a stainless steel freestanding microwave with a grill, the Russell Hobbs RHM2031 is one of the best options. It’s also relatively inexpensive.
Panasonic are one of the most popular manufacturers of microwaves in the UK, so we had to include one of their models on this list. The NN-K181MMBPQ microwave with grill is a silver model with the classic Panasonic design, generous number of settings and a digital display. It’s also available for a reasonably low price considering the quality of the machine.
The NN-K181MMBPQ is a 20 litre microwave, so if you regularly cook for a large family you may want to look elsewhere. For regular dinner plates, however, the 800W microwave output and 1000W grill can cook quickly. It also comes with nine automatic-cook programs, five power levels and three grill power levels. Unlike some other models, you can use both the microwave and grill simultaneously.
While the NN-K181MMBPQ doesn’t have any outstanding features, it’s a solid and functional model that provides great value. The biggest downside is the size, especially if you want to use it for taller items such as baby sterilisers. Overall, it’s a great option if you want a relatively cheap microwave with grill that’s also reliable and fast.
Another highly rated black microwave oven with grill is the Morphy Richards D80D. It’s similar in design to many of the other models on this list, but provides great performance and a sleek design.
The D80D is a 20 litre microwave that comes with a 1000W grill. The turntable diameter is 24.5cm, so it’s not big enough for the largest dinner plates, but it can still hold a reasonable amount of food. The appliance also comes with six auto-cook programmes, a defrost mode and a child lock.
Like most microwaves with a grill, the D80D has an 800W power output. This means it can cook relatively quickly, but if you’re used to a 900W model you’ll need to increase cooking times.
The Morphy Richards D80D is a great option if you’re looking for a cheap microwave with grill. With its low RRP, reasonably fast cooking times and stylish black design, it’s not surprising that this is a best seller.
The Logik L20GS14 is another microwave with quartz grill that’s designed for small families or couples. It’s a relatively slim model (although not as compact as the Sharp microwave on this list), yet can cook food quickly and has a 25.5cm turntable.
In terms of performance, the L20GS14 has an 800W microwave and a 1000W quartz grill. It comes with six automatic programs, a grill rack, support for the turntable and an LED display. You can also choose between 11 power levels depending on your cooking requirements.
There are a few minor drawbacks. The top gets very hot when in use and some reviewers report an initial smell that takes time to disappear. The grill also isn’t the fastest, although it does a decent job once warmed up. There also seems to be an issue with condensation building up in the L20GS14, especially if you use it for extended periods.
In summary, the Logik L20GS14 is an excellent microwave for basic cooking tasks, including grilling. It’s not the fastest and it’s too small for big families, but still provides good value for money.
The main advantage is that grilling provides greater variety without sacrificing speed. Whether you want grilled cheese or baked potato with a crispier skin, a microwave oven grill can provide it quickly and with the minimum of fuss. Here are a few other pros and cons.
These models can perform all the basic tasks of a regular model, such as defrosting chicken, reheating soups or cooking a ready meal. The difference is in the heating element, which enables you to brown or crisp food in the same way that an oven would.
Before buying, you should consider whether you really need the browning and crisping functions. For simple reheating or cooking basic meals, a solo model is all you need. If you want to use your microwave for convection cooking, you’ll need to buy a combi microwave.
A microwave with a grill is not the same as a combi microwave. A convection oven, which is required for a combi model, uses the same cooking technique as a regular oven. A grill microwave, on the other hand, adds a heating element but not a convection oven.
If a model just has a grill, it is able to brown and crisp foods but can’t roast or bake. As you might expect, they are cheaper, but also less versatile when it comes to cooking.
Most of the major manufacturers produce grill models, although they are less common than solo microwaves. Some of the most popular include Russell Hobbs, Panasonic and Kenwood.
We put this advice on most of our pages, but it’s worth repeating: never buy a model just because it’s produced by a popular manufacturer. Always consider your personal requirements, then look for highly rated models that provide everything you need. You’ll be much more likely to buy a high-quality model using this process.
Listed below are a range of grill microwave reviews, complete with price info, specifications and in-depth analysis.
The Panasonic NN-GD371SBPQ 23L compact microwave with grill is a powerful, 950W model with a stainless steel design. While it’s not the most attractive microwave on the market – it appears quite blocky and dated – there’s no denying its power and interesting features such as “Chaos Defrost.” Keep reading our Panasonic NN-GD371SBPQ review for … Read more
The Whirlpool Max 38 Crisp microwave is the bigger brother of the excellent Whirlpool 35. It features a similar design, and includes a range of unique features. The stand out element of the Max 38 is its unique crisp system, which browns crisps without needing oil or fat. Keep reading our Whirlpool Max 38 review … Read more
The Russell Hobbs Digital Microwave with grill is a mid-range model that is definitely an option to consider if you need a durable, versatile microwave for less than £100. While it doesn’t have the features to match some of the more advanced microwaves on the market (INSERT LINK HERE), it’s more than a match for many models in this price bracket.