Panasonic NN-CD58
PANASONIC
Kitchen counters are precious real estate, and the idea of swapping three separate appliances — a microwave, a grill, and an oven — for one 27-litre stainless steel box is genuinely tempting. The Panasonic NN-CD58 Combination Microwave Oven has been quietly earning a reputation as one of the most dependable all-in-one cookers on the UK market, and after digging into how it performs across daily reheating, weeknight grilling, and full roasting duty, it's clear why so many owners treat it as a long-term kitchen fixture rather than a short-lived gadget. This review breaks down exactly what you get, where it shines, and where it asks you to compromise.
Design, Build Quality, and Physical Footprint
Panasonic has clearly put thought into making this combination oven feel less like a bulky microwave and more like a piece of considered kitchen equipment. The stainless steel exterior gives it a look that sits comfortably next to modern appliances rather than the cream or black plastic finish typical of budget microwaves, and it wipes down easily, which matters given how much splatter a grill and convection oven can generate compared with microwave-only cooking.
What's more impressive is the internal engineering. Despite housing three separate heating systems — a microwave emitter, a quartz grill element, and a convection fan-oven assembly — Panasonic has kept the external footprint notably compact for what it can do, using a slimline cavity design that keeps the unit narrower than most combination ovens with comparable interior capacity. In practical terms, that means you get a 27-litre cooking cavity, generous enough for a family roasting joint or a full-size dinner plate, without needing to sacrifice as much worktop space as older combination microwaves typically demanded.
That said, this is not a lightweight appliance. At just over 13 kilograms, it's noticeably heavier than a standard solo microwave, a direct consequence of packing in a grill element, a convection fan motor, and the reinforced cavity needed to handle oven-level heat. Before buying, it's worth checking that your worktop or shelf can comfortably support that weight, and that you have adequate clearance around the vents — combination ovens generate real heat during grill and convection cycles, unlike simple microwaves.
The 1-metre power cable is on the shorter side, so plan your socket position accordingly, especially if you're placing the unit away from the wall for ventilation.
Core Performance: How the Three Cooking Modes Actually Work
This is where the NN-CD58 earns its "combination" name, and it's worth understanding what each mode brings to the table rather than treating them as a simple features checklist.
Microwave Mode and Inverter Technology
The microwave function is rated at 1000 watts, which is comfortably in the powerful tier for domestic use — strong enough to heat a full dinner plate or a large mug of liquid quickly rather than leaving cold spots. What really sets it apart from cheaper microwaves, though, is the inverter technology driving that power. Traditional budget microwaves cycle their magnetron on and off at full power to simulate lower settings, which is why food heated on "30% power" in a basic microwave often still ends up with overcooked edges and a cold centre. Inverter technology instead delivers a genuinely continuous, reduced stream of power, so simmering sauces, gently reheating rice, or defrosting delicate foods happens far more evenly. For anyone who's been frustrated by rubbery reheated fish or scrambled eggs in an old microwave, this is a meaningful upgrade, not just marketing language.
Grill Mode
The 1300-watt quartz grill outperforms the microwave in raw wattage, and quartz elements are prized for heating up almost instantly rather than needing a slow warm-up like older coil grills. This makes it genuinely useful for the jobs a microwave alone can never do: crisping bacon, browning cheese on toast, or finishing off a gratin with a golden top.
Convection Oven Mode
The 1000-watt convection function reaching up to 220°C effectively gives you a second oven — one that doesn't require heating up your main kitchen oven for a single tray of food. That temperature ceiling covers the vast majority of home baking and roasting needs, from batch-baking cookies to roasting a chicken, and the fan-assisted circulation helps achieve more even browning than a static oven would.
Combination Cooking
The genuinely clever part is that these three heat sources can work together rather than only individually. Running microwave energy alongside convection heat, for instance, cooks food from the inside and outside simultaneously, which is why combination ovens can complete roasts and casseroles significantly faster than a conventional oven working alone, while grill-plus-microwave combinations deliver crisp, browned finishes without the long cook times a grill alone would need.
Key Features and What They Actually Mean for You
Panasonic hasn't just bolted three appliances together — it's added a layer of automation designed to make the versatility usable rather than overwhelming.
- 29 automatic programmes
- Rather than guessing power levels and timings yourself, you select a dish type and weight, and the oven calculates the rest. This is the difference between a combination oven that intimidates first-time users and one that gets used daily.
- Junior Menu options
- A dedicated set of pre-programmed settings aimed at preparing food for babies and young children, including options for pureed vegetables, pureed fruit, and porridge. For parents doing regular batch cooking for little ones, this removes a lot of the guesswork around safe, even heating.
- Cyclic and randomised defrost modes
- Standard defrost cycles power on and off in fixed bursts. This oven also offers a second, food-specific defrost pattern that varies the microwave bursts based on the type and weight of food — particularly useful for bread and meat, which defrost unevenly under a simple fixed cycle.
- A dedicated quick-power button
- A one-touch option instantly applies a short burst of full power, ideal for topping up a lukewarm drink or finishing off a dish for a few extra seconds without scrolling through menus.
- Multiple manual power and grill levels
- Beyond the automatic programmes, six microwave power levels and three grill intensity settings are available for anyone who prefers to cook manually rather than rely on presets.
- Child safety lock
- Disables the control panel to prevent accidental operation — a genuinely important feature in any kitchen with young children, and one that doubles as a way to lock in settings if you want to prevent the panel being knocked mid-cook.
- 34cm rotating turntable
- Large enough to accommodate a full dinner plate or a mid-sized casserole dish, and it's the mechanism that ensures microwave energy reaches food evenly rather than leaving hot and cold zones.
One practical note worth flagging: the turntable's rotation only matters in microwave mode. If you're using a rectangular roasting tin in oven or grill mode, you don't need to worry about it interfering — but it does mean very large square or rectangular dishes may not fit comfortably when the rotating plate is in place for microwave use.
Energy Use and Running Efficiency
There's no separate "battery life" consideration here, since this is a mains appliance, but energy efficiency is very much relevant to anyone weighing this against using their main oven. Because the cavity is smaller than a conventional built-in oven, it requires less energy and less time to reach cooking temperature, and running the microwave, grill, and convection functions together — rather than relying on convection heat alone — cuts down on the total cooking time needed. For a single dish, a side portion, or a meal for two, that translates to a genuinely lower energy cost than firing up a full-size oven and waiting for it to preheat. For very large batch cooking, a full-size oven's greater capacity will still often be the more efficient choice.
Who This Oven Is Actually For
This oven makes sense for:
- Small-to-medium households and families who want a genuine substitute for a second oven, not just a microwave with extra buttons
- Parents who prepare purees, mashes, and soft foods for babies and toddlers regularly
- Anyone in a flat, annexe, or kitchen with a single oven who needs a way to bake, grill, or roast without monopolising the main oven
- Households replacing an older combination microwave, where the inverter technology will feel like a noticeable step up in even cooking
- Buyers who value a stainless steel, easy-to-wipe finish over a plastic-fronted microwave
This oven is not the right fit for:
- Anyone who only wants basic reheating and defrosting — a simple solo microwave will do that job at a fraction of the price and the counter space
- Large households doing significant daily batch cooking, where a full-size double oven's capacity will be more practical
- Buyers who specifically want built-in installation — this is a freestanding unit only and isn't designed for cabinetry integration
- Anyone wanting an integrated air-fry function out of the box — this model's crisping duties are handled by the grill and convection combination rather than a dedicated air-fry setting
How It Stacks Up Against the Alternatives
| Option | Best for | Trade-off vs. this Panasonic |
|---|---|---|
| Basic solo microwave | Reheating, simple defrosting, tight budgets | No grilling, no baking/roasting capability, less even power delivery without inverter tech |
| Full-size built-in double oven | Large households, heavy batch cooking, built-in kitchens | Far higher energy use for small meals, no microwave speed, permanent installation |
| Budget combination microwave (non-inverter) | Occasional grilling/baking on a lower budget | Power cycles on/off rather than delivering a steady stream, so reheating and defrosting are less even |
| Newer Panasonic combination microwaves with air-fry | Buyers who specifically want crisping without oil | Typically a step up in price for the added air-fry mode; this model's grill still handles most crisping tasks |
Within its own category — inverter-driven, three-function combination microwaves — this Panasonic sits confidently at the upper end. The main functional gap compared with Panasonic's newer combination microwave range is the absence of a dedicated air-fry setting; if that specific feature matters to you, it's worth comparing directly against Panasonic's more recent models that add it. But for the core trio of microwaving, grilling, and convection roasting, this oven doesn't feel like it's missing anything essential.
Honest Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
The strongest argument for this oven is genuine daily usefulness rather than novelty. Owners who've upgraded from older, non-inverter combination microwaves consistently describe more even results — food that used to come out with overcooked edges or a still-cold centre now heats and cooks uniformly, which is exactly what inverter technology is meant to deliver. The breadth of automatic programmes means you don't need to become an expert in manual power settings to get consistent results, and the Junior Menu options are a thoughtful addition for anyone regularly cooking for young children rather than a gimmick tacked on for the spec sheet.
Longevity also appears to be a real strength. It's common to see owners mention replacing a previous Panasonic combination microwave that lasted well over a decade, and buying this model specifically because of that track record — a strong signal for a category of appliance that takes daily heat-cycling abuse.
Weaknesses
On the other side of the ledger, the sheer number of functions does come with a learning curve. The control panel handles a lot, and getting comfortable with which programme to use for which dish takes longer than picking up a basic microwave — expect to spend real time with the instruction manual in the first few weeks rather than picking it up instantly. The included drip tray, useful for catching grease during grilling and roasting, is also more fiddly to clean than the smooth interior of a microwave-only appliance, simply because grilling and roasting inherently produce more residue than microwaving alone. And while the one-year manufacturer's guarantee is standard for the category, it's not a standout compared with the multi-year guarantees some competing brands now offer, even though real-world owner longevity reports suggest the oven itself is built to outlast that written warranty by a wide margin.
Final Verdict
For anyone genuinely tired of choosing between a fast but limited microwave and a slow but versatile oven, this Panasonic combination microwave earns its place. The inverter-driven microwave mode alone solves one of the most common frustrations with cheaper microwaves — uneven reheating — and layering a proper 1300W quartz grill and a 220°C convection oven on top turns it into a legitimate secondary cooking appliance rather than a novelty add-on. Families who need to reheat, defrost, grill, and roast on a daily basis, particularly in a kitchen where a second full oven isn't practical, will get genuine, repeated value from the versatility on offer here.
Where it makes less sense is at either extreme: if all you need is basic reheating, you're paying for functionality you'll never use, and if you're cooking in serious volume for a large household every day, a full-size double oven will still out-capacity it. But sitting in the middle — small-to-medium households wanting real cooking flexibility from one countertop appliance — this is a confident, well-rounded recommendation, particularly for anyone who's already had a good experience with a previous Panasonic combination microwave and is looking for a worthy, more efficient successor.
What People Say
158 commentsIt’s the Rolls Royce of microwave!
We bought this Panasonic 3 in 1 microwave to replace a similar Panasonic we have used for 13 years. The previous model has been used constantly used and has never missed a beat! It’s still going strong but my wife decided to purchase a smaller mode and there was only one manufacturer to choose from, Panasonic! This new model has all the features of the older model but in a smaller size case which gives you more work surface. The microwave is really easy to use and has clear instructions in the manual and online. This microwave can be used as an oven, grill or microwave or a combination of these modes! Inverter technology for even microwaving; 27 L capacity and a 34cm glass turntable. The case and inside are stainless steel so it is easy to keep clean. A great addition to our kitchen. If you’re thinking about a microwave that does a lot more than just microwaves then this Panasonic is for you; it’s not cheap but it’s quality and will give you years of great use. Is this model better than our old Panasonic; time will tell but so far so good!
Excellent build and easy clean
I’ve seen a few of these about on my travels as a Professional Oven cleaner, and after my old basic microwave stopped working, I decided to get a Panosonic combination microwave, with stainless steel interior for easy cleaning and it won’t rust or peel, so should last a long time.
Excellent build quality
A bit more complicated than my old micro so needed to follow the manual to get the best out of it.
So far we have roasted 2 chickens (individually) on the auto cook mode , basically once you have selected auto cook, enter weight of chicken, press start, 40 mins later a perfectly cooked crispy chicken.
Also 4 jacket potatoes on auto cook 18mins, nicely cooked and crispy skins.
Very pleased with the results
Great features
I really like the fact that I can use this microwave oven for multiple features. Saves me from having to turn on a whole oven if I just want to grill or roast a couple of food items. I also like how it also guides you on what to do on the display on the microwave based on what you are doing, it also looks really good in the kitchen. Haven't used all features but have so far tried the microwave, grill and convection, all works well. However, takes a while to get a hang of how to use everything, I am usually having to refer to the instructions in the manual as there are different options based on what you are heating/cooking. So if you want something more simple this will take some getting used to.
Easier to use than I thought.
My old microwave failed after five years.
I tried to learn from that failure by buying a more expensive flat bed type, rated easier to keep clean, but that arrived damaged and the replacement failed after a few weeks and another from a different supplier failed as well.
This was my next purchase. The manual showed it easier to use than a flatbed, but not having clear buttons marked as baked potato and pizza as my first microwave had.
Turns out that press Auto Roast once sets it off to cook baked potato or chips via the enamel tray set on the turntable. Real easy. Press Auto Roast twice sets the pizza cycle going. Both cook these better than my first microwave.
Good design and great functions
Bought this Panasonic combination oven to replace a John Lewis model that stopped working - and I'm surprised to admit, this model is better! The extensive instruction booklet is a bit daunting, but the oven is actually very easy to operate and simple to maintain. One feature I really like is that you can extend the cooking time by seconds, minutes or [depending on cooking mode] hours by just turning the dial during cooking! No longer do I have to wait for the timer to reach zero. It's also not too noisy which is a blessing in a small kitchen environment. The only feature not tried yet is combining microwave and oven hence I've only given this four stars under Performance.
Microwave with loads of features
I bought this over a week ago and so my review is limited to what I’ve used. I’ve not used the oven or grill yet but as a microwave it’s really good in that the interior is large so had the capacity for bigger dishes.
Why only four stars? On the negative it slides on the work top. This wouldn’t be a problem but it has to be 10cm away from the wall and 4cm from a fridge! Pressing the button to open the door makes it slide backwards. The other thing is that the fan continues once the door is open which I’ve never come across before but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.
It’s expensive but I’m sure it will come into its own over the festive season as an extra oven.
Easy to Use and effective
I bought this as a back up to my wood fired range so it gets used a lot! I chose it on the basis of reviews and a feeling that it had an intuitive interface. It does. Select what sort of heat and how much with either the microwave, grill or oven buttons, then select the time. Both time and heat setting can be updated while cooking. I haven't ventured into the more advanced features but they are there for a rainy day.
Two very minor gripes; the order of the microwave functions is high, defrost, medium etc which is not descending order of power, presumably in order of likely usage; the stainless finish shows marks on the start button but it does look smart!
So far so good.
Having replaced a very basic cheap microwave with this all singing all dancing technological automatic chef, it is taking some time (and brain power) to master the culinary art. But, from what we've cooked so far it is well worth stretching the old grey cells. It will take some time to fathom out all of the different cooking combinations and features, but I'm sure we'll get there.
My only observation is that, as this is a relatively heavy machine, it would be great if Panasonic could provide an easier way of removing it from its box. Warning you that you may damage yourself in doing so is really not good enough. (One scratched digit)!
Panasonic 1000W Combination Microwave Oven
This was purchased to replace an older model of the same which lasted for nearly 20 years - hopefully this will last as long. This is more than a microwave as it is possible to grill and oven cook also. As yet to use the grill and oven but assuming it's a better version of our last one it is feasible to cook Sunday Roasts and even a Christmas dinner in them. Large cooking area, microwaves nicely but I think it is down on power by 200 watts. Not a problem though and look forward to many years of use. We bought the stainless steel version and it looks great in the kitchen. Lastly the footprint is slightly smaller which is a bonus.
Noisy
I bought this to replace a Panasonic that was over 15 years old. So thought another Panasonic would be it’s equal. The first thing that strikes you is how noisy it is. The larger glass turntable serves no purpose at all and the metal tray that sits on the legs is difficult to site inside the microwave and has touched the door already. Bearing in mind that if you need to turn food the tray is very hot and replacing it centrally is all but impossible. It is higher rated at 1000 but doesn’t heat at the heat of the 800 that it
replaced. I wish I’d have tried a repair on the old one.
Flexible microwave and convection oven
I have previously purchased about 4 of these microwave/ovens. This one is a back up for when my current one gives up and dies. The main drawback with this product is that without any warning will refuse to work. This happens between 3 and 4 years of regular use. The other problem is that after about 18 months the interior bulb will blow. While the product is still useable it is an annoyance. How is it that on a conventional oven or fridge it is a 5 minute job to replace a blown bulb. In all a good product but as with most domestic appliances they come with in-built obsolescence.
Here we go again!
This is my third purchase of this style of Panasonic microwave. My second oven did sterling service, but when it (literally!) exploded one evening after 16 years I knew it was time to purchase a new one. OK, the new one undoubtedly has some technical advances, but I'll probably continue to use it the way I know how, as a microwave oven , but also as an economical replacement for a conventional large oven. My only gripe is that the lead is too short meaning I can't put it where the old one went. Ordered on Saturday evening, ready to be collected at opening time on Monday morning.
ONE HAPPY CHAPPY
My old microwave (must have been about 13 years old) and eventually the bulb went inside of it but it still worked as it always had so I continued to use it, no reason not to. Unfortunately one morning it was being used and I could smell smoke, ran into the kitchen and my poor microwave seemed to give up the ghost. Switched it off straightaway and knew I needed a new one. Looked at many online and eventually made my mind up to the one I have now and updated and new version of my old Panasonic one. One happy chappy with hope it gives me a good few years like my old Panasonic.
A Must Buy!
I bought this in November to replace an earlier model, which I had for over nine years and was very pleased with. The older model was very good but the latest one is superb. It is much more user friendly with the new, streamlined controls and clear top surface; now vented from the sides and back. The dial to advance the time is much better than the previous push button and the larger digital display is clear and obvious. The versatility of the various heating options is particularly useful and gradually superseding our conventional, stand-alone, gas oven.
Panasonic combination microwave
Have had this for approximately 3 months. I had to replace an inbuilt combination microwave. This is quite large (not as big as some) so takes up quite a lot of space on the counter. It is very powerful, I have to check food part way through cooking as I’ve had few too well done meals. I haven’t used any of the pre-set functions yet but it is easy enough to use the oven and microwave functions; I haven’t tried the grill function so can’t comment on that. It is more than adequate but when it’s time to re-do the kitchen, it’s back to built-in for me.
Good quality Panasonic combi microwave oven
Although the Panasonic microwave ovens can be slightly more expensive the build quality appears to justify the slight premium. This is stainless steel throughout, not silver sprayed metal. It has a good range of functions - convection oven, grill and microwave and comes with the necessary accessories - enamel cooking tray and grill rack. The controls are intuitive and there aren't too many of them. It won't fully replace a conventional oven but it is ideal for cooking smaller items - and will do frozen fish and chips for 2 people. Highly recommended.
Wonderful addition - Combination microwave
We decided to buy a combination microwave next and we are delighted with our purchase. Bought it as an addition for Christmas and haven't been disappointed. Keeping it straightforward at the moment ie roasted a chicken in a bag and it came out beautifully moist . Hoping to do the Turkey crown. The microwave has high medium and low and defrost facilities. You can add time without opening the door . I've kept the instruction feature on as it prompts before and after cooking. You can microwave and use the oven together .Would
recommend.
My new Panasonic combination microwave oven
Bought this microwave to replace a previous one. I chose this modal (the stainless steel 27L compact modal) because I like the stainless finish rather than the black or white. It neatly fits into the corner and works very efficiently. It just needed me to adjust to a knob rather than buttons to do the timer and weight function, but I've got that sorted now. Despite being called a compact modal there is still plenty of room for full size dinner plates and casserole dishes. It wipes down easily after use. Very pleased with this make and modal.
Great features,
My previous Microwave was a Panasonic, and it was very reliable, it was still working after years of service, I wanted to upgrade, I wanted one that gave convection/grill as well as good microwave, this does all this, in rising cost of electricity it's brilliant that I can use a smaller oven that would not use as much power than my normal oven,and the controls are even easier and intuitive. The finish is certainly eye catching. So far it has been a joy to use, and hope that it will be as reliable as my previous Microwave from them
Rock
Bought to replace another almost identical Panasonic microwave unit from the 1980s that I thought was broken, but has now recovered, It really is worth paying the extra to get a quality item rather than something engineered to be disposable.
I like the ywist dial to set the time. It is easier to use than buttons.
This unit lacks the 'Genius' features that weigh food and detect steam bursts, but I never used them on my old unit anyway.
It has a bigger wattage rating than my old unit, but doesn't seem to cook any faster.
