The Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ is, for us, the best all-rounder of the microwaves we tested: genuine inverter power for even reheating, a grill and a convection oven in one body, and a price justified by what it actually does. Here is what it does well, and where its limits lie.
Panasonic has been making microwaves longer than almost anyone, and its inverter technology is the feature that separates the good from the ordinary. The NN-DF386 takes that and wraps it in a 3-in-1 body that also grills and bakes, so it is less a microwave with extras and more a compact cooking station. That combination of even reheating and real versatility is exactly what makes it our best overall pick.
| Model | Price | Type | Capacity | Microwave power | Rating | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ★ Top pick Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ 3-in-1 Combination Microwave | £189.99 | 3-in-1: microwave, grill, convection oven | 23 litres | 1,000 W | ★ 4.5 | View → |
£189.99
3-in-1: microwave, grill, convection oven · 23 litres · 1,000 W
The verdict from Naomi Clarke, kitchen appliance tester
Our best overall pick. Panasonic's inverter technology is the real difference here: instead of pulsing on and off, it delivers steady, gentler power, so leftovers reheat evenly and chocolate or butter soften without scorching. The DF386 is also a grill and a convection oven, so it can brown, crisp and bake in a small kitchen without a separate oven. You pay more than for a basic solo, but you get a far more capable machine.
Reheats a plate of leftovers evenly rather than hot at the edges and cold in the middle.
The DF386 is the right machine if you want one appliance that reheats beautifully and can also brown, crisp and bake. It suits the cook who is tired of microwave dinners that come out hot at the edges and cold in the middle, and anyone in a flat, an annexe or a smaller kitchen who could use a second oven without the space or cost of a full one. With its 23-litre cavity it handles everyday plates and dishes comfortably, and the inverter makes it as good at gentle jobs as it is at fast ones.
It is less suited to someone who only ever reheats and defrosts. If that is you, you would be paying for a grill and a convection oven you will rarely switch on, and a plain solo such as the Samsung MS23K3513 will do everything you need for far less. The DF386 also takes up more worktop than a basic solo, so check the space before you commit. For a buyer who genuinely wants the versatility, though, nothing else here matches it.
This is the heart of the machine. A conventional microwave drops to a lower power setting by pulsing full power on and off, which is why basic models heat unevenly. The DF386's inverter delivers steady, genuinely lower power instead. In practice a plate of leftovers reheats through evenly rather than scorching at the rim while staying cold in the centre, and delicate jobs like softening butter, melting chocolate or warming a sauce are noticeably gentler. It is the single biggest reason this microwave reheats better than anything cheaper on our list.
As a 3-in-1 the DF386 adds a grill element and a convection oven. The grill browns and crisps in a way no solo can, and the convection function lets you bake and roast smaller dishes properly, with real heat rather than microwaves. Combination modes blend the two so food cooks through and goes golden faster. It will not match a full-size oven for a large roast or a batch of baking, but for everyday baking and crisping it is genuinely capable, which is what makes it a credible small-oven substitute.
The 23-litre cavity is the comfortable everyday size, with room for a dinner plate, a large bowl or a small baking dish. A steam tray is included for fish and vegetables, which is a thoughtful touch. The controls take a little more learning than a plain solo, simply because there is more to do, but once you know your way around the modes it is straightforward, and the auto programmes take the guesswork out of common foods.
This is where the brand premium shows. The casing feels solid, the door closes with a precise weight and the display is clear. Panasonic microwaves have a long-standing reputation for lasting, and nothing here suggests the DF386 is an exception. It is built to be the kitchen workhorse you keep for years rather than the cheap one you replace.
The DF386's only real drawbacks are that it costs more than a basic solo and that it takes up more worktop, because there is simply more machine here. Neither is a flaw; you are paying for the inverter, the grill and the convection oven, and the extra footprint comes with that capability. If you only need to reheat and defrost, the money is better spent on a good solo such as the Russell Hobbs RHM2076. If you want a single machine that reheats evenly and also crisps and bakes, the premium is money well spent.
Instead of dropping to a lower power setting by pulsing full power on and off, the inverter supplies steady, genuinely lower power. In practice that means leftovers reheat evenly rather than hot at the edges and cold in the middle, and delicate jobs like softening butter or melting chocolate are far gentler. It is the main reason the DF386 reheats better than a basic solo.
For many jobs, yes. As a 3-in-1 it has a convection oven and a grill alongside the microwave, so it can bake, roast and brown. It will not match a full-size oven for large roasts, but for a flat, an annexe or a second cooking spot it can genuinely stand in for one, baking smaller dishes and crisping food a solo never could.
If you want even reheating plus grilling and baking in one machine, yes. You are paying for the inverter and the convection and grill functions, which a sub-£100 solo simply does not have. If you only ever reheat and defrost, that money is better spent on a good solo like the Samsung MS23K3513.
The DF386 is our best overall pick because it strikes the best balance of even reheating, versatility and build. The inverter solves the one thing every basic microwave gets wrong, and the grill and convection oven turn it into a genuinely capable small cooking station. For a buyer who wants one machine to do it all, it is the soundest choice here. If you only reheat and defrost, look instead at the Samsung MS23K3513 for value or the Russell Hobbs on a budget. Before you decide, it is worth reading our solo versus combination guide and our buying guide to be sure the extra functions suit how you cook.