Egypt 
UAE 
USA How to Choose a Microwave in Saudi Arabia (2026)
Decide whether you need a microwave, compare solo, grill and convection modes, and measure dish and kitchen fit before checking Saudi prices.
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Check price on Amazon.sa See all picksVerdict: Confirm that a microwave solves a recurring task in your kitchen, choose between solo, grill and documented convection, and measure your largest dish and space before comparing controls and dated prices. Toshiba MW3-AG20PE offers grill and combined operation; it is not a convection model.
Our picks
Toshiba MW3-AG20PE 20L Microwave with Grill
Toshiba
Last price we verified: 720 SAR (as of August 2026) · check the current price (opens in a new tab)
Advantages
- Microwave, grill and combined operating modes
- Listed 20L capacity
Before you buy
- Higher dated price than the solo options in the shortlist
- Combined mode is not convection
Price checked: 10 August 2026
Start by confirming whether a microwave solves a recurring weekly task in your kitchen, then separate solo, grill and documented convection functions before comparing sizes or prices. Once you know the function you need, measure your largest dish and your counter location alongside the manual’s ventilation gaps so you do not pay for capacity or modes you will not use.
Do you need a microwave at all?
A microwave earns its counter space when it handles a recurring weekly job such as reheating plated meals or defrosting frozen portions, not simply because most kitchens have one. Look at a normal week in your kitchen: if your stove and oven already cover your cooking and warming tasks without practical inconvenience, buying another appliance is unnecessary.
Do not shop around a promised number of minutes saved each day. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension’s microwave safety guide notes that cooking times vary because microwave ovens vary in power and efficiency, and the food quantity, starting temperature and container shape also affect timing. A one-touch preset button does not guarantee a dish is heated through without checking.
| Your kitchen routine | Decision direction |
|---|---|
| Frequent meal reheating and thawing frozen portions | Compare solo models and power-level controls |
| Current stove and oven equipment covers your routine | No additional appliance is needed |
| Surface browning is also needed alongside reheating | Compare grill models as a separate function |
| Tight counter or shelf opening | Check exterior dimensions, manual ventilation gaps and door swing before capacity |
Separate solo, grill and documented convection
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that microwaves cause water molecules in food to vibrate to produce heat, which is how a solo microwave reheats, defrosts and cooks. A grill microwave adds a heating element for surface browning, while LG UAE’s microwave buying guide explains that a convection microwave adds fan-driven circulating hot air and notes that grill models can brown food but do not replace oven baking.
| Type | Core function | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Solo microwave | Reheating, defrosting and cooking with microwave energy only | A browning element or convection baking mode |
| Microwave with grill | Adds a heating element for surface browning alongside microwave heating | That it bakes evenly like a convection oven |
| Microwave with documented convection | Uses fan-circulated hot air for convection baking and roasting | That every 3-in-1 retail headline describes this category |
The Saudi offer for the Toshiba MW3-AG20PE (dated price ≈ 720 when checked on 10 August 2026) lists Microwave, Grill and Combined modes. Toshiba’s Italian model page classifies the unit as a microwave with grill, and Toshiba’s French product page uses a 3-in-1 title for the 20L grill model without listing a convection fan. Combined mode pairs microwave energy with the grill element rather than circulating hot air, so we do not recommend it as a baking oven replacement for cakes or pastry, and the LG MH6535GDS Smart Inverter and grill description does not establish convection either.
What is the difference between solo and grill, and when to pay extra?
The practical difference is the top browning element and the cookware rules that go with each mode. Before paying extra for a grill, think of two meals you would regularly use the grill for and check the manual’s permitted cookware for grill and combined modes; if you cannot identify a regular use, a solo model handles reheating and defrosting for less.
What size you need: measure dish, turntable, cavity and location
As a manufacturer starting point, LG UK’s microwave size and buying guide describes models up to 20L as suited to singles or compact kitchens and treats 25L and up as family-size capacity. Use those bands only as an initial filter, not a guarantee: a 20L label cannot guarantee a couple’s dinner plate fits, and 25L does not guarantee a family meal heats in a single batch, because two models with the same nominal liters can have different turntable diameters and cavity shapes, and regional pages for the same model code can list different exterior depths.
Follow three measurement steps in order before choosing:
- Measure the length, width and height of your largest dish or casserole, including handles and any permitted cover.
- Compare the dish against the listed turntable diameter, interior cavity dimensions and rotation clearance so handles do not hit the walls.
- Measure the kitchen space and open-door swing, then add the ventilation clearances specified in the exact model manual.
Record your dish, cavity and counter sizes before buying, and compare each step with the manual.
| Your regular use | What to confirm before buying |
|---|---|
| Reheating an individual plate | Your everyday plate sits flat on the turntable and rotates freely |
| Heating several portions for a household | Shared container dimensions, or whether you prefer heating separate plates in batches |
| Dish with projecting handles | Full handle-to-handle width and room to insert and remove the dish safely |
| Grill or combined mode cooking | Cavity height and safe clearance below the top grill element per the manual |
When do you need 25L or more, and does a grill or small apartment set the size?
Step up to 25L or more when your measured cookware or preferred batch container requires a wider turntable and cavity, rather than relying on household size alone. Likewise, a grill function does not require a minimum liter rating; check the interior clearance and permitted rack or dish height in the manual instead.
In a small apartment, remember that liters measure interior capacity, not the space the appliance takes on your counter. Required ventilation clearances vary by manufacturer: LG Gulf Support specifies at least 20 cm above and 10 cm on the left, right and back for its countertop microwaves and states not to install them in an enclosed cabinet, whereas Panasonic North America suggests 6 to 12 inches above and notes that blocked vents can lead to overheating and reduced efficiency. Never place a countertop model inside a tight cabinet niche just because the box fits; read our guide to a built-in microwave for a kitchen cabinet for cabinet installation rules.
Before ordering, match the appliance’s rated voltage and plug to your kitchen wall outlet in line with SASO’s plugs and sockets guidance, which notes that 127V supply remains in parts of Saudi Arabia alongside 220V and BS 1363 three-pin outlets under Saudi standard 2203.
Power and controls: what to check
Buyers often treat a higher wattage figure as proof of better cooking, but listed watts do not establish even heating. Clemson Cooperative Extension’s microwave food-safety factsheet explains that uneven heating can leave cold spots where bacteria survive and recommends stirring or rotating food midway through heating to reduce cold spots.
Instead of treating wattage or general buyer review volume as a performance test, check the exact model’s power settings, whether you prefer mechanical dials, auto-menu buttons or a digital touch panel, and whether the price difference buys controls you will actually use.
Safe cookware and food-heating rules after purchase
The US FDA advises using cookware specially manufactured for microwave use and never operating an oven with a damaged door, hinge or seal, while University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension notes that glass, ceramic and plastic containers should be labeled microwave-safe. Clemson Cooperative Extension warns against reusing cold-storage containers such as yogurt or margarine tubs and advises cooking meat and poultry immediately after microwave thawing, while Nebraska Extension recommends allowing at least 3 minutes of standing time after cooking and checking internal temperature with a food thermometer. For everyday kitchen care and use, see our guides on how to reheat rice in the microwave without drying it out and how to clean a microwave safely.
Choose by function and move to the shortlist
| Need | Starting point on our shortlist |
|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting without grill | Nikai 20L Solo, Nikai Digital Touch or Clikon Digital Solo, after measuring dishes |
| Grill and combined microwave/grill | Toshiba MW3-AG20PE (≈ 720 checked 10 August 2026) |
| Listed 25L cavity and Smart Inverter with grill | LG MH6535GDS, after checking dimensions |
| Convection baking | An explicitly documented convection model; do not infer it for the two above |
The Hisense 29L had no offer to buy at our 25 September 2026 check, and the Impex 30L had no main offer at our 23 August 2026 check, so we do not present them as available alternatives. Compare the full cards and dated prices in our Saudi microwave shortlist and microwave prices guide within the microwaves category hub.
See the Toshiba MW3-AG20PE price on Amazon.sa ↗
Before you buy: common mistakes checklist
| Common buying mistake | What to check instead before paying |
|---|---|
| Confusing listed liters with dish fit | Measure your largest dish including handles against the turntable and cavity |
| Inferring convection from a 3-in-1 label | Require explicit convection fan documentation in the model manual |
| Treating watts or review counts as a performance test | Check power settings, warranty terms and stirring and standing instructions |
| Putting a countertop microwave in an enclosed niche | Follow the manual’s ventilation gaps and built-in installation approval |
| Paying extra for modes or touch panels you will not use | Identify the function or control layout you will actually use before stepping above solo |
| Overlooking kitchen socket voltage and plug match | Match the model’s rated voltage and BS 1363 three-pin plug to your outlet |
This guide is based on manufacturer specifications, food-safety extension guidance and dated retail offers without firsthand testing; read how we choose for our research method and limits.
About this guide
- Editing
- Mizaan Home editorial team
- Text revised
Research based on published specifications, without hands-on testing. How we choose
Prices are checked per product; the oldest check on this page:
This analysis is based on published information from Amazon.sa, US FDA: Microwave Ovens, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Microwave Safety, Clemson Cooperative Extension: Microwave Food Safety, LG UAE: Which Microwave Oven Is Best for Cooking, LG UK: Microwave Size and Buying Guide, Toshiba Italy: MW3-AG20PE-BK, Toshiba France: Four à micro-ondes 3 en 1 20 L avec Gril, LG Gulf Support: Countertop Microwave Clearance, Panasonic North America: How to Place Properly a Microwave Oven on a Counter, SASO: Plugs and Sockets Awareness Campaign, as of 21 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is a microwave worth buying?
It depends on how often you reheat meals or defrost frozen food and the counter space available. If your stove and oven already handle your weekly routine without inconvenience, another appliance is optional.
Will it save a fixed amount of time each day?
No fixed number of minutes applies; University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension notes that cooking times vary because microwave ovens differ in power and efficiency, and food quantity, starting temperature and container shape also change the time.
What is the difference between solo and grill?
Solo uses microwave energy for reheating, defrosting and basic cooking. A grill adds a heating element for surface browning; that is a separate function, not proof of faster reheating.
Does 3-in-1 mean convection?
Not necessarily. For the Toshiba MW3-AG20PE, the Saudi offer lists microwave, grill and combined microwave/grill operation, and Toshiba's regional model pages describe a grill microwave with no convection fan.
When should I pay extra for a grill?
When you want surface browning and can think of at least two meals you would regularly use the grill for. If you only reheat leftovers and thaw frozen food, compare solo models first.
Is 20L enough for one or two people?
LG UK's buying guide describes models up to 20L as suited to singles or compact kitchens, but treat that only as a starting point; measure your largest dish including handles and compare the turntable and cavity.
When do I need 25L or more?
When your measured dishes or single-batch containers require a wider turntable or taller cavity. Household headcount alone does not decide capacity.
Does a grill always need more capacity?
Do not infer a minimum liter figure from the grill function. Compare cavity dimensions, rack clearance and permitted cookware in each model manual.
Is 20L suitable for a small apartment?
Internal capacity in liters does not establish external footprint. Compare exterior width, depth and height, the manual's ventilation clearances and door-opening space with your counter location, and measure your dishes too.
What is the biggest microwave buying mistake?
Choosing capacity from the liter label or price alone without measuring your largest dish with handles and checking the location and manual ventilation gaps.
Does higher wattage mean better performance?
Not by itself. Listed power does not guarantee even heating; cold spots are managed by stirring or rotating food midway and allowing standing time, not by relying on wattage alone.
When should I pay more for LG?
When its listed 25L cavity dimensions or control layout on the MH6535GDS fit your dishes and kitchen routine after checking the exact measurements.