microwave/convection

A word of caution:
I have replaced two microwaves with convection types, one in my last motor home and one in my present unit.
Unless the one you get is designed for a built in installation and exhausts out of the front, or your current installation has a way of exhausting through the wall I would highly recommend getting the "build-in kit" for whatever brand microwave/convection you get.

In convection mode, convection micros get much hotter than the standard ones. When it was first installed, the temp behind mine got up to 200 degrees F after 45 minutes in convection mode.
I did not get the build-in kit for my first installation and went through a lot of hassle getting the temp behind the unit down to a reasonable level. I ended up adding a grill above the microwave and an exhaust fan blowing air through the side of the motor home. This involved a lot of work and cutting through the side of the motor home.

The second time I got the kit and the job was much easier. There was additional sheet metal in the kit that formed ducts to move air in from the front and back out the front. It also came with decorative grills that make the installation look like it came from the factory with the unit already in place.

Note that there are some minimum clearances in back and on the sides that must be met. You should make sure the convection micro you buy is small enough to allow for the proper clearances.

Bill.Satellite wrote:
You can fit a whole turkey in there! I did it this Thanksgiving. You just have to find a small 9-10# bird. Yum, it was delicious!

Although everyone in the world except me knew about this, I found out this year they make electric turkey roasters.

The one we bought will do up to a 22 pound turkey. Tried it out on a 14 pounder and it worked great.
No more using my saber saw to cut the turkey in half length ways so it will fit in our oven.

Our Montana came with the Apollo Half Time oven. The "Half Time" feature is great, as long as it works as it should. You can, for instance, cook a pot pie in 25 minutes, or so.

The down side to this brand is limited, to non-existent customer service. I actually replaced a broken one from, WalMart online, the only place I could, at the time, find one. The cooling fan that Montana added to remove the excess heat had to be remounted to the replacement unit. So far, this one has held up pretty well for he last three years.

As I said, functionally. this unit is hard to beat but serviceability may be questionable. So far so good for this second unit.

You can fit a whole turkey in there! I did it this Thanksgiving. You just have to find a small 9-10# bird. Yum, it was delicious!

We don't even have a "regular" oven in our stick house! Even after a couple of kitchen renos! (we'll probably add a wall oven during the next one!) We have used Micro/convection ovens only, since the early 80s! The only drawback is, it won't fit a whole turkey!

Combination cooking, using both microwave and convection, is the very best way to cook roasts, chicken etc.

The Panasonic Inverter microwave is unique (I believe) in that at reduced microwave power (ie 50%, 80% etc) it reduces the power drawn, not just turning full power on and off for various periods of time. This is invaluable when boondocking and running the microwave from the batteries using an inverter.

We only have a MW/convection and like Matt mentioned you have to, for the most part, only use it on shore power and on generator. You could use it on inverter and battery but you'd need a sizeable battery bank and a good 2000W inverter. Mine drew peak of 1658W (VA was the same) and settled to 1580W.

We do not have an lp oven and had never used a convection oven prior to purchasing our motorhome and I love it. If you do put one in, there are micro/convection ovens that vent out the top/front so you wouldn't have to worry about cabinets getting hot. Not sure that one that does that would be properly installed. I have read that some of them do require outside venting. I would not purchase that type. Ours is a Sharp Carousel Smart and Easy Microwave Convection. I'd rather use the oven space for pot and pan storage (like I have) or a drawer dishwasher.

We have both lp oven and microwave/convection oven. And use both. Would not want to give up either one. On occasion have used both at the same time.

We have both and rarely use the convection in the microwave. You either have to be on shore power or ready to run the APU for all the time it is in use. As we are travelers and not camp ground campers we are seldom on shore power. But even when we are, using the microwave's convection unit makes the case very hot. Much more so than the microwave.

If you are seriously considering it, read the owners manual for the required clearance as it may be difficult to install in you galley. If ours should die and replacement is required, we will not spring for the convection again. It wasn't that much more as I recall, but it still just has not been worth it.

Matt