It's too expensive to use as JUST a microwave (even though it works well as a microwave). If you're rarely using it as an oven, get a microwave and stick a countertop convection oven in the basement for when you need the extra ovenage. It's like free money! :P

I guess if people are used to it being a microwave and you use it as an oven, bad things could happen. But probably only once!

Can these things be primary used as a microwave? Yes

I would want to use it 95% as a microwave. Ours is used mainly as a microwave (largely because DH doesn't like to hassle putting the oven rack in and pulling out the microwave platter when using the unit as a small oven). I use it as our smaller, second oven if I'm roasting garlic or bell peppers; or during Thanksgiving prep for sides.

Is the microwave function just as good as a standalone or is it a compromise? just as good

Are there any safety concerns for when it's used as a oven and gets hot? Not to be unhelpful, but a kitchen and cooking are filled with safety concerns. If you see a cast iron skillet on the cooktop, for example, wouldn't you check to be sure it's not hot before grabbing that handle? :) To answer your question, though: yes, if someone reaches into the oven when it's just been used as an oven, it'll be hot. (I've done it, in the early days of owning our unit. As Fori mentioned, only once!)

Many speed ovens make great microwaves, as they don't have a rotating plate. This means, you can use the space more efficiently. The downside is that some models do a bad job at this, and they don't heat evenly. So, make sure to read the reviews.

Also, some models require you to use a different oven rack depending on whether you want to use the oven (metal rack) or the microwave (glass rack). Other models don't have this restriction and can use metal racks in both modes. The trick is that they don't have any sharp pointy metal pieces and they don't allow the rack to make an electric connection with the sides of the oven. So, again, check the reviews if this is important to you.

OTOH, if you literally don't expect to use any of the advanced features and just want a microwave 95% of the time, then I think you answered your own question. A speed oven is an awesome appliance, if and only if it fits your usage profile.

M: I've got a semi-OT question for you, since you mentioned why the metal racks (that come with some speed ovens) can be used in microwave mode (i.e., because the racks have no sharp, pointy parts). I presume this has to do with arcing. I tried running this question past several Bosch CSRs by phone (and one even tossed it up to their senior engineer): they still haven't logically answered my (and several other GWers in past years) question.

Bosch's speed modes cook by combining microwave and regular oven (toggling back and forth between the two) in order to cook any given dish, and it's okay/recommended to use the metal oven rack during these speed modes. Then, why the necessity to remove the metal rack at all when using only the microwave? Any thoughts on this? It would be much easier simply leaving the metal rack in place.

It's just $250 more for a speed oven over a microwave drawer (bosch). So for that I get a bigger microwave, that can be cleaned easier, plus an oven. Seems like a good deal to me if the microwave is just as good. I think the Bosch does have a rotating plate, though I prefer not to have it.

I think I've searched every MW option by now. MW with trim kits looks okay but bad ergonomics and also not such a good deal when you factor in the trim kit. MW shelf is cost effective but bad ergonomics, and maybe you can argue a compromise on aesthetics. MW drawers are expensive, small, and hard to clean (so people say). So I think I've landed on a speed oven. Also it doesn't really make sense to pinch pennies when it's just tiny fraction of the remodel cost.

If I were you, and I am because I had a speed oven and never used it, I'd get the microwave drawer. I love mine.

However I wouldn't waste your money on the Bosch drawer for 2 reasons. One all microwave drawers are basically Sharp microwave ovens and if you're buying a Bosch or any name other than Sharp, you're paying an upcharge name branding. Meaning the difference for the Sharp versus a speed oven is more like $400-$500.

Two, the Sharp microwave drawer has a tilt out tray making it easier to see the buttons when you use the drawer.

All microwave drawers are also 24" wide. 30" drawers are 24" with a trim plate.

MW drawers are expensive, small, and hard to clean (so people say).

Not at all.

I have absolutely no insight into why Bosch tells you that you need to remove the metal rack, if you use only the microwave.

From a physics point of view, the strength of the electric field increases whenever there are narrow parts (e.g. thin sheet metal, foil or small welds), sharp points (e.g. parts that have tight bends or edges that aren't rounded over), or places were two piece of metal just barely touch. If the field strength gets too high, you'll see arcing and that can cause damage to the microwave oven. As long as the rack is built from rounded pieces of metal, has solid welds, and there are spacers that prevent contact with the side walls, you should be fine.

I have a few hypotheses why Bosch recommends using the glass tray for all-microwave operation.

• maybe, the metal rack shields part of the dish. In combination mode, this is less of a problem. The conventional heating element makes sure that the food will get warm. In all-microwave mode, you could end up with food that is cold in some spots. In other words, according to this theory, it'd harmless to use the metal rack, but you might not like the results quite as much, and Bosch doesn't want to look bad.
• maybe, the electronics aren't rated for continuous operation when using the metal rack. In combination mode, there is sufficient time for the electronics to cool down in between cycles. But in all-microwave mode, this cool down period doesn't happen. If that's the reason, then you should be fine for shorter heating times, but not for long ones.
• maybe, Bosch thinks that a glass tray cleans up easier than a metal rack. So, they want to encourage the use of the superior glass rack, whenever possible. But they don't feel it is save to use with the conventional heating element that could cause it to shatter. If so, then you could ignore them with impunity.
• maybe, all of this is completely arbitrary and nobody remembers any more, why this particular design choice was made probably some 30 years ago. And nobody has bothered updating the user manuals, instead the tech writers all copy previous year's edition.

Well, M, your 4th bullet may very well be true. To date, though, bullets 1-3 are the most logical explanations I've heard thus far. Thanks so much. I did want to clarify that in microwave mode, Bosch recommends using the round ceramic (?) platter and not a glass rack. But, same difference.

The sharp drawer is $1200 on amazon (SMD2470AS) and slightly higher at my local appliance shop. But, I get a discount with Bosch for buying 3 or more items (12%), so it's just about a wash. If you can find me one for 400-500 less, I'm all ears. And, who knows I may end up using a speedoven a lot.

@javiwa, is the round ceramic platter the thing that spins the food? I am not familiar with the Bosch model, and I don't know if that's what they do. If so, then you have your answer, I think. The only reason that a microwave spins food is that it is really really difficult to evenly distribute energy inside of the microwave cavity. You almost always end up with some type of standing wave. And that gives you spots that are really hot and spots that always stay cool.

Moving the food is a simple and cheap work-around for this problem, and that's why almost all cheap microwave ovens do that. If you move the food enough, then in the end, all parts of the dish have traveled through roughly the same number of hot and cold spots and everything evens out.

Alternatively, you can go to a lot of trouble designing a more complicated microwave radiator and moving this antenna (as opposed to moving the food). If you did a half-assed job, then that adds a lot of complexity and still doesn't solve the underlying problem. But if you did the math correctly, then you neatly solve all problems and you can heat foot, even if it lies on a rack. My parents have a 30+ year old Speedoven that had solved this problem back then. So, it's not rocket science; but it does take engineering effort.

From what you said, I wonder if Bosch thinks they couldn't reliably solve the problem of a rotating antenna. That sounds like a variation of my point #1. It would mean that it is harmless to leave the metal rack inside. But your food won't heat evenly.

M: I borrowed a pic off the internet -- labels mine.

(Hope it enlarges ok.)

From the bottom up: heating element covered by a coated, metal turntable, on which the ceramic platter (for microwaving) sits. Something else I don't quite understand is the requirement that food be placed onto the ceramic platter instead of onto the black plate (which also doubles as a pizza pan: just place a frozen pizza right on top, Bosch says. Go ahead and slice the pizza right on the turntable, Bosch says. No way in heck that happens in this household: I don't trust the integrity of their paint job to be hacking away at it!).

Even very inexpensive microwaves these days rotate the food on some sort of turntable. Wasn't it Sharp who got the whole 'carousel' wave going?

...designing a more complicated microwave radiator and moving this antenna -- shhh! Don't give manufacturers any more ideas about fiddling with something as simple as a microwave, then charging us an arm and a leg for the latest and the greatest. :)

andrewrxxx: did you wind up getting the speedoven? What do you think of it?

We are in the same situation...250 price difference between SO (speed oven) and DM (drawer microwave). Dont need a *speed* oven, dont need an *extra* oven, but would like to have a SO to use in times when I would normally use our toaster oven (thus allowing me to get that off the counter).

@robertgoulet I got a MW drawer because most of the MW models are the same cutout and I was concerned about designing a cabinet for a specific appliance. The ergonomics seem better on the MW over a pull down door.. I like it a lot so far. I can't count more than once or twice in the past XX years I've needed an extra oven so for me it just didn't make sense.