Panasonic convection mircowave
Panasonic’s new convection microwave.

Panasonic has today announced its latest two-level baking, grilling, roasting and toasting convection microwave.

The versatile cooking options empower health-conscious, time-poor consumers to cook quick, easy and healthy meals, a desire identified by Panasonic’s product marketing manager of microwaves Nicolas Cauzac.

“The new microwave allows you to choose from a variety of modes, so you can create a range of meals from grilling fish to baking your favourite lamb roast or lasagne,” Cauzac said.

“Increasingly, health-conscious consumers are seeking more ways to make quick, easy and most importantly, nutritious meals for their families. Panasonic is proud to offer a diverse range of microwaves featuring smart technologies to give health-conscious, time-poor consumers the ultimate choice for preparing quick, easy and nutritious meals,” he said.

The new model includes inverter microwave technology, a popular feature which ensures food is always evenly cooked, and the intelligent ‘genius’ sensor with 11 programs for cooking and reheating cycles.

It has a 32-litre cavity with a flatbed surface, which creates a 45 per cent larger cooking area than the traditional turntable interiors and accommodates bigger rectangle dishes. There is no turntable that needs to be removed to be cleaned and the interior has a self-cleaning catalytic top and back plate.

With a black and stainless steel design, a pull-down smoked glass door and touch LCD panel, the microwave is available with an optional stainless steel trim kit, which allows it to be built-in.

It comes with enamel, glass and wire oven trays and is available now from leading consumer electronics retailers priced at RRP $989.

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One of the microwaves Panasonic’s will be competing with is the cheaper Samsung 32-litre convection microwave (MC32F6C6TCT, RRP$699): a microwave, grill and convection oven all in one, with a built in fermentation function to create home-made yoghurt and raise dough.

Samsung’s head of home appliances Mike Lilly said the combination microwave is a popular choice for buyers.

“There are many different microwaves available on the market, even just in the Samsung range with different capacities; often consumers aren’t sure what they are looking for and what will work for them. It is important for retailers to try to understand the consumers’ needs and what features are important for them in a microwave and provide an easily navigable display and a valid recommendation for a model that suits their lifestyle,” he said.

Samsung convection microwave
Samsung’s 32-litre convection microwave.