Combination (combi): microwave with grill or hot air
Microwaves and a grill or a fan heater run at the same time, so food cooks through quickly and browns or crisps on the outside.
What it is for
Gratins, jacket potatoes, roast chicken and lasagne: Panasonic says most foods cook in as little as half the conventional cooking time. Set the grill or oven temperature and a microwave power; use only the dishes and metal the manual allows.
Makes differ, check your microwave’s manual: the same drawing can start a different programme on another brand, and only your model’s manual gives its exact watts, weights and times.
- What it looks like
- Wavy lines together with a zigzag (grill) or a fan (hot air), or a key labelled COMBI, often with 1 and 2 for the two kinds.
- Names makers use
- Combination: Grill and Microwave, Convection and Microwave (Panasonic); Combi Grill + Microwave, Combi Forced Air + Microwave (Whirlpool); Microwave and Grill Combined (Teka)
Where makes differ
There are two kinds behind one word: microwave with grill and microwave with hot air (convection or forced air). Panasonic allows preheating only for the convection kind and asks for at least 200 g of food; Whirlpool picks Combi 1 or 2 on the same key. Metal tins may be allowed on combination on the tray but cause sparks on the wire rack — only your manual says which.
What it does not mean
It is not the grill alone and not microwave alone, and it is not safe for containers that are only “microwave safe”: the grill or heater makes them as hot as an oven would.
Related
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No published standard we could check defines microwave control icons, so this meaning is taken from 3 makers’ own manuals and support pages, each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Panasonic: Panasonic — Operating instructions and cookbook, convection/grill/microwave oven NN-CD58JS — “Your oven has two methods of cooking by Combination. 1. Convection and Microwave… 2. Grill and Microwave… The microwave power cooks them quickly, whilst the convection or grill gives the traditional browning and crispness”; “always use a minimum of 200 g.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- Whirlpool: Whirlpool — JT469 control panel quick guide (GB) — “Combined functions: 1. Combi Grill + Microwave, 2. Combi Forced Air + Microwave”; “This function combines Microwave and Grill heating, allowing you to cook au gratin in less time.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- Teka: Teka — Microwave symbols and functions explained — “Microwave and Grill Combined: This symbol indicates that both functions are running simultaneously, allowing you to cook and brown or gratinate at the same time.” Checked 2026-09-28.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.