OTG vs Convection Microwave for Baking: Cakes, Cookies and Bread
An OTG bakes hotter and bigger for less money; a convection microwave also reheats. Temperatures, wattage, sizes and 2026 prices, decoded for Christmas baking.
Photo: Morphy Richards
Basgo saysBake a lot? Get an OTG. One box? Convection.
Christmas baking season is weeks away: plum cakes, cookies, a first loaf of bread. If you’re buying an oven for it, the choice in India usually comes down to an OTG or a convection microwave. Here’s how they differ, and which suits the way you’ll bake.
How each one heats
- OTG (oven, toaster, griller): heating rods above and below the food, like a small conventional oven. Bigger models add a convection fan for more even heat and a motorised rotisserie for grilling a whole chicken.
- Convection microwave: a microwave with a heater and a fan added. In convection mode it bakes like an oven; in microwave mode it reheats; in combination mode it does both at once to cook faster.
Side by side
| OTG | Convection microwave | |
|---|---|---|
| Top temperature | about 230–250°C | about 200°C (Samsung, IFB) |
| Power | 800–2,000 W | 1,950–2,200 W on convection |
| Price, 25–30 litres | about ₹5,000–8,000 | about ₹12,000–15,000 |
| Reheats leftovers fast | No | Yes |
| Bakes, grills, toasts | Yes | Yes |
The temperature gap matters for bread and pizza, which like 220°C and above. For cakes and cookies, 180–200°C is plenty, and both will do.
What it costs
OTGs (late-October 2026 listings on Amazon India):
| Size | Price | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 9–10 litres | about ₹2,100–3,300 | Agaro Marvel 9 L, Prestige POTG 9 PC |
| 16–20 litres | about ₹4,400–5,300 | Bajaj 2000TM (₹4,449), Morphy Richards 20R (₹4,949) |
| 25–30 litres | about ₹5,000–8,000 | Agaro Marvel 25 L (₹4,995), Morphy Richards 30RC (₹7,999) |
| 48–60 litres | about ₹8,000–14,500 | Agaro Marvel 48 L (₹7,999), Morphy Richards 60RCSS (₹14,499) |
Convection microwaves start at about ₹12,000 for a 28 litre Samsung or LG; see the best convection microwaves under ₹15,000.
Who should buy which
Get an OTG if:
- You’ll bake often, or want bread and pizza at high heat.
- You want bigger trays for less money.
- You already have a solo microwave for reheating. Together they can cost about the same as one convection microwave, and you can bake and reheat at the same time.
Get a convection microwave if:
- You want one box on the counter that reheats, grills and bakes.
- You’ll bake occasionally, mostly cakes and cookies.
- You like presets: many models have curd, dough-proofing and Indian auto-cook menus.
Tins and trays
In an OTG, any oven-safe metal or glass tin works. In a convection microwave, metal is fine in convection and grill modes but never in microwave mode, and makers disagree about combination mode. Our microwave-safe containers guide has the full rules.
Honest verdict
If baking is the main reason you’re buying, get an OTG: it bakes hotter, holds more and costs less. If you want one appliance for everything, a convection microwave bakes cakes and cookies well and reheats too. A solo microwave plus a 25–30 litre OTG gives you the best of both, often for not much more than one convection model.
Questions people ask
Is an OTG or a convection microwave better for baking?
For regular baking, an OTG: it reaches 230–250°C, where the convection microwaves we checked stop at 200°C, it takes bigger trays, and it costs less, about ₹4,400–8,000 for 16–30 litres. A convection microwave makes sense if you want one box that also reheats and cooks quickly.
Can you bake a cake in a convection microwave?
Yes, in convection mode. Samsung's 28 litre MC28A5013AK, for example, runs convection from 40 to 200°C, enough for cakes and cookies. Preheat it as the manual says, and use a metal or glass tin in convection mode only.
What size OTG should I buy?
Small 9–10 litre OTGs (about ₹2,100–3,300) suit toast and small snacks. For cakes and trays of cookies, most home bakers choose 25 litres or more, which in late October cost about ₹5,000–8,000. Bigger 48–60 litre models with a rotisserie cost ₹8,000–14,500.
How much electricity does an OTG use?
From about 800 W for a 9 litre model to 2,000 W for a 35–40 litre one. A convection microwave draws a similar 1,950–2,200 W in convection mode. At ₹8 a unit, an hour's baking at 1,500 W costs at most ₹12, and less in practice, because the heater switches on and off to hold the temperature.
Can I use metal tins in a convection microwave?
In convection and grill modes, yes: LG India and IFB both say metal, aluminium and steel are fine there. Never in microwave mode. In combination mode, makers differ (IFB says no metal; Samsung says its own racks are fine), so check your manual.