These three appliances get confused constantly because shops sell them side by side. But they do different jobs. In two minutes you'll know exactly which one belongs on your counter.
What each one actually is
A microwave heats food by vibrating water molecules — it's the reheating and defrosting champion, but it cannot brown or bake. An OTG (oven-toaster-grill) uses heating elements like a traditional oven — it browns, grills, and bakes with real dry heat. A convection microwave is a microwave with an added heating element and fan — it does both jobs, less perfectly than either specialist.
The baking question decides it
Cakes, bread, cookies, pizza: you need real oven heat — OTG or convection microwave. A solo microwave will give you a rubber puck. If baking is a 'maybe someday', the convection microwave covers it without a second appliance.
Speed vs quality
Microwave: 2 minutes to reheat dal. OTG: 10 minutes to preheat, then perfect bakes. Convection: compromise on both — faster than OTG for small bakes, better browning than solo.
| Job | Solo Microwave | Convection Microwave | OTG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reheating & defrosting | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★ |
| Baking cakes/bread | ✗ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Grilling kebabs | ★ (grill variant) | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Tandoori-style roast | ✗ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Energy per bake | — | Medium | Medium |
| Typical price | ₹4-7K | ₹10-18K | ₹4-15K |
The verdict
Reheating is your main use: buy a solo or grill microwave (₹5-8K). You bake sometimes and reheat a lot: convection microwave (28L, ₹12-15K). You're serious about baking or tandoori-style roasting: an OTG — and honestly, many Indian kitchens end up with both a microwave and an OTG because the jobs genuinely differ.
Our picks
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FAQs
Can I bake a cake in a solo microwave?
Not properly — solo microwaves have no heating element or temperature control. Cakes come out dense and pale. You need convection mode or an OTG.
Is OTG same as oven?
An OTG is a real oven (heating elements, thermostat). 'Oven' marketing on microwaves refers to convection variants — check for a temperature dial/setting to know which you're buying.