Here’s a detailed look at the Breville BMO870BST Combi Wave 3-in-1 Microwave (also known simply as Combi Wave 3-in-1) — its features, strengths, limitations, and whether it might be a good fit depending on your needs.
What It Is
The Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 is a countertop kitchen appliance that combines three cooking modes in one unit:
- Microwave
- Convection oven
- Air fryer / crisping / grilling
This means you can reheat, bake/roast, and also crisp food (e.g. fries, crispy snacks) with one appliance. Breville positions it as a versatile alternative to having a separate oven + microwave + air fryer.
Key Features & Specs
Here are the main technical details and special features:
| Spec / Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | ~ 1.1 cubic feet interior. |
| Dimensions | Approximately 20.5″ (W) × 20.1″ (D) × 12.6″ (H). |
| Power & Wattage | Varies by mode: microwave, convection, grill etc. E.g. microwave rating ~ 1400 W; grill ~ 1100 W in some sources. |
| Exterior & Build | Brushed stainless steel finish; solid design. |
| Turntable | Has a turntable (~12.4-inch diameter) for microwave / reheat functions. |
| Special Modes | • Fast Combi & Cook from Frozen presets – to cook from frozen and speed up cooking by combining modes. • Smart Cook, Smart Reheat, Smart Defrost presets. • Element iQ® system to steer power intelligently for better heating & cooking. • Power Smoothing Inverter to avoid “on/off” cycling, giving smoother heating especially in microwave/defrost. |
| Crisp Pan / Grill | Includes a crisp pan and trivet / rack. Crisp pan used for air frying / crisping. |
| Quieter & User Comfort | Soft-close door; quieter operation (designed to reduce noise), sound mute or adjustable alerts. Child lock etc. |
Strengths / What People Like
- Versatility: You really get multiple appliances in one. Instead of needing separate air fryer, convection oven, microwave, this unit covers all three. That saves counter space.
- Good build & design: Solid exterior; thoughtful design touches (soft-close door, mute, good accessories).
- Convenient presets & modes: Presets like Cook from Frozen, Fast Combi, Smart Reheat etc. help simplify cooking decisions.
- Even heating: Features like Element iQ and Power Smoothing seem to give more even heat distribution, especially (users report) in microwave and convection baking.
Limitations / Things to Be Aware Of
- Air-fry / crisp performance is good, but not perfect: Some users report that while the crisping is decent, it may not match a dedicated air fryer in crisp-texture, speed, or browning. It may require higher temperatures / more time for certain foods.
- Size & space: It’s a large countertop unit. Needs adequate space around for safe ventilation. Also weight and depth mean you must plan placement well.
- Cleaning & maintenance: With multiple modes and accessory parts (crisp pan, racks), cleaning can be more involved. Grease may build up in certain parts.
- Power / Voltage compatibility: Depending on where you are, the appliance’s voltage rating and plug type can matter. It’s designed for markets like the U.S./Australia etc.; if used in a country with 220-240 V (and different plug), you may need an appropriate unit or transformer. (This is a general consideration; I didn’t find a specific variant for Bangladesh in the official specs I saw.)
- Price: Given its features, it sits in a higher price bracket. You pay for versatility and tech. If you only need basic microwave or only basic oven, a simpler appliance may give better value.
Practical Use & Who It’s Good For
This appliance is well suited if you:
- Want to declutter your kitchen: instead of owning multiple devices, this handles several roles.
- Cook a variety of food types: from reheating, baking, roasting, crisping snacks, or cooking from frozen.
- Value presets & convenience: the more you can make use of “cook from frozen” or “fast combi,” the more benefit you get.
- Have enough space and budget: it’s more premium, and its size and wattage means you’ll need a proper power setup and ventilation.
It might be less useful if:
- You only use microwave reheat occasionally and don’t need air frying or conventional oven functions.
- You have a very small kitchen / no counter-space to spare.
- You want maximum crisp/air fry performance — for very intense air-frying or deep crisping, a stand-alone air fryer might still outperform this in some respects.
