The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Microwave Bread Baking

CountryBoy's picture
CountryBoy

Microwave Bread Baking

I bake bread regularly in the oven but my wife is thinking of getting one that is convection:

GE CEB1590SSSS Cafe 1.5 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave

Does anyone have experience with microwave bread baking?

Thanks.

doughooker's picture
doughooker

The description mentions convection cooking. Maybe it has conventional heating elements in it?

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

that steam bakes and has convection.  In Korea, I used the one without the microwave but it had no bottoms elements, I got heat directed toward the bottom of the loaf by placing a dark baking sheet upside down on the bottom of the oven, then a trivet, then the loaf in a form.  

Watch for that lower element.  Often due to the microwave it is non-existent.  There is a thread here and some links...  in the thread on movies, an animation link with directions.  Also a British bakes episode with speed proofing using the microwave.  Most find baking with MW bland, but if that's what you're after it does work.  

drogon's picture
drogon

We have one. It's a conventional microwave, but also has a halogen heater thing in one top quadrant and a fan that blows air over it to make it more like a conventional fan oven, or with the fan off, like a grill (US: broiler) However to use the grill feature, you really need the stuff on an elevated platform (that was provided) that turns as it's quite a small heat window.

I did cook bread in it once though - ran it for 20 minutes at full heat (no microwave) to warm it up, slapped the dough directly on the glass turntable (mistake as it stuck, use parchment!) and baked it on full power for 30 minutes.

While it was satisfactory it was no-where near as good as a proper oven, but at a push it would work OK.

-Gordon

CountryBoy's picture
CountryBoy

Many thanks.

BobBoule's picture
BobBoule

and I have baked cupcakes in it, but I don't think that mine will hold the temperature very well (after being preheated) when I open the door to load the bread. I thought about doing it if I could find a round oven stone that would fit inside the turntable (mine can only be used with the turntable in place) but I have never found a stone of the correct size (if I do find one I might buy two of them and stack them up to double the turmoil mass and hopefully have a better recovery when the door is opened and closed). Good luck.