Five things to know before you buy

1. Buy a combi rather than a standard model. It may be a bit more expensive, but you'll get a whole lot more for your money - a microwave, oven and grill in one.

2. Combined power means faster cooking. A high-wattage microwave combined with a grill or oven cooks up to two thirds faster than anything else.

3.The more power settings it has, the more versatile it will be. Some models have up to 11 settings, though five is plenty for most basic tasks.

4. A wide range of oven temperatures is most useful. Low temperatures of, say, 40℃ can be useful for warming plates and oven-drying foods like tomatoes or peppers.

5. You'll need a capacity of at least 25ltr if you have a family. The biggest mircrowaves are about 32ltr.