Can You Cook a Cornish Hen in a Microwave? Samsung Says Yes.

Samsung wants its sleek countertop microwave to be known for more than making popcorn, as you can tell by the photo of a beautifully browned pie used to tout the machine's power-convection feature on the Samsung website. There are other indicators, too, aside from the $500 price tag. You'll notice that the door on this midsized microwave opens downward, like that of a real oven.

But is this a microwave for serious cooks? To find out, the pros at Consumer Reports decided to cook some Cornish hens in the Samsung MC12J8035CT. 

This Samsung is the most expensive midsized model in our microwave ratings: Most midsized countertop microwaves we test cost less than $200. That list of ratings includes the top-scoring $140 LG LCS1112ST. Beyond sharp styling, the Samsung has 45 preset cooking options—many more than usual—including ones for boneless chicken, salmon fillets, and brown rice. No more Hot Pockets for dinner.

A convection microwave is just that—a combination of a convection oven, which cooks with heating elements and a fan, and a microwave that cooks with radiation. The Samsung offers three levels of convection cooking. The first is standard convection. Combi-convection uses microwave energy with hot air for what Samsung promises is faster cooking and brown, crispy meats and casseroles. And then there's power convection, the fastest of all: The fan generates stronger air currents, ramping up the heat to the food.

Test Results

Using our normal battery of microwave cooking tests, the Samsung rated very good overall. It was excellent at defrosting a pound of frozen ground beef and was among the quietest of the midsized models. But it was merely good at evenly heating a dish of mashed potatoes, leaving some spots hotter than others, and it wasn’t so fast at heating water. 

The claimed capacity is 1.2 cubic feet, but we measured usable space at 0.8 cubic feet, similar to many other midsized microwaves. (We don't include the volume of the corners in microwaves with turntables.)

Bring on the Convection

We baked Cornish hens, about 2 pounds each, using the Samsung microwave’s convection and power convection modes on the default temperatures, and the manual's recommended combi-convection temperature setting. For comparison, we also baked a Cornish hen, following a recipe, in a gas range at 350° F. Cooking time was based on when the Cornish hen reached an internal temperature of 165° F. Here's what we found: 

• Gas range at 350° F: Took 75 minutes; the exterior was evenly browned, and the hen was very juicy inside.

• Microwave convection at 350° F: Took 60 minutes; the exterior was browned, and the inside was juicy.

• Microwave power convection at 400° F: Took 50 minutes, with results similar to those of regular convection.

• Microwave combi-convection setting at 400° F: Took 40 minutes; the exterior was browned, and the meat was somewhat juicy, but the legs were a bit dry. 

Bottom line. Only you can judge what your time is worth, but $500 is a lot of money to spend to save 15 to 35 minutes per bird. Convection isn't new to microwaves, and any advantage gained by the power convection and combi-convection is questionable because the poultry was cooked at 400° F rather than at 350° F. You'll see the combi-convection feature, also known as speed cook, on other models, including the $300 Samsung MC11H6033CT. But you might be trading taste for speed. 

Email your questions about microwaves to kjaneway@consumer.org.

More from Consumer Reports:
Top pick tires for 2016
Best used cars for $25,000 and less
7 best mattresses for couples

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S.