Types of Oven: Microwave, Convection, OTG and Gas Oven
Ask for an "oven" in Pakistan and you could get a microwave, an OTG, a gas oven under a cooking range or even a pizza oven. This guide explains every common type of oven in simple words, what each one cooks well, and which one makes sense for your kitchen in 2026.
Updated 11 November 2026
How many types of oven are there?
For home kitchens there are six main types:
- Microwave oven: heats food with microwaves. Comes as solo, grill or convection.
- Convection oven: any oven with a fan that moves hot air. It can be a convection microwave or a full-size electric oven.
- OTG (oven, toaster, grill): a small electric box with heating rods at the top and bottom.
- Gas oven: usually the lower part of a cooking range, heated by a gas flame.
- Built-in oven: fitted into kitchen cabinets. It can be a built-in microwave or a built-in baking oven.
- Air fryer oven: a small fan oven with a glass door, made mainly for crispy food with little oil.
Commercial types such as deck ovens, conveyor ovens and wood-fired pizza ovens are made for bakeries and restaurants, not homes.
Microwave oven: solo, grill and convection
A microwave oven uses a part called a magnetron to send microwaves into the food. The waves make the water inside the food heat up, so a plate of rice or a cup of milk is hot in one or two minutes.
- Solo microwave: only microwave heating. Best for reheating and defrosting. See Solo Microwave Oven Price in Pakistan.
- Grill microwave: adds a heater at the top, so it can brown tikka, kebabs and toast. See Grill Microwave Oven Price in Pakistan.
- Convection microwave: adds a heater and a fan, so it bakes cakes and pizza like a small oven. See Convection Microwave Oven Price in Pakistan.
The best-known example of a family grill model is the Dawlance DW-128 G 28 Litre Grill Microwave Oven, and a popular convection model is the Kenwood MWP29.000BK 30 Litre Convection Microwave Oven.
Conventional vs convection oven
A conventional oven heats with rods or a flame, and the air inside stays still. The top and bottom of a tray can cook at different speeds, so you may need to turn it.
A convection oven adds a fan. Moving hot air reaches every side of the food, so it browns more evenly and usually cooks a little faster, often at a slightly lower temperature. That is why most new ovens, and many microwaves, now include convection. An air fryer works on the same idea with a stronger fan in a smaller space.
OTG oven and electric baking oven
OTG stands for oven, toaster, grill. It is a metal box with heating rods, a thermostat knob and a timer. Many bakers at home like it for cakes, cookies and bread because the heat is dry and steady.
The downside is speed. An OTG needs about 10 minutes to preheat and cannot reheat a plate of food or warm milk quickly. Many families end up owning both an OTG and a microwave. A convection microwave such as the Haier HMW-30AF (AFR/AFS) 30 Litre Air Fryer Microwave Oven or PEL PMO-26 Kitchen Pro CAF 26 Litre Air Fryer Microwave Oven does both jobs in one box, which saves counter space. We do not sell separate OTG ovens; read the full microwave vs baking oven comparison.
Gas oven and stove oven (cooking range)
A gas oven sits under the burners of a cooking range, often called a stove oven. It is large, so it takes big trays, a whole leg of lamb or several pizzas. It also works during load-shedding if gas pressure is good.
In many cities, though, gas pressure drops in winter, and a gas oven can heat unevenly at the back and front. Most families use it only for occasional big baking and use a microwave for daily cooking. If you rarely bake in large batches, a countertop convection microwave is easier to live with.
Built-in oven and built-in microwave
Built-in appliances fit into a tall kitchen cabinet for a clean look. A built-in baking oven is a full-size wall oven. A built-in microwave is smaller and is often placed at eye level above it.
We list built-in microwaves such as the Haier HMN-25NG24H 25 Litre Built-in Microwave Oven and the Forno MAS-444 MBS 36 Litre Built-in Microwave Oven, which also has convection. Before buying, measure the cabinet and check ventilation using the installation guide, and compare all models on Built-in Microwave Oven Price in Pakistan.
Air fryer oven and air fryer microwave
An air fryer oven looks like a small oven with a glass door. It blows very hot air to make fries, wings and nuggets crisp with a spoon of oil, and many models also bake and roast.
An air fryer microwave is a microwave with an extra air fry mode, so one appliance can reheat, grill, bake and air fry. Examples are the Dawlance DW-525 AF 25 Litre Air Fryer Microwave Oven and the PEL PMO-30 Kitchen Pro ICAF 30 Litre Air Fryer Microwave Oven. See Air Fryer Microwave Oven Price in Pakistan, or read microwave vs air fryer if you are deciding between the two.
Oven size and wattage by type
Ovens are measured in litres of inside space and in watts of power. Rough ranges you will see in Pakistan:
- Solo microwave: 20 to 30 litres, about 700 W to 900 W of microwave power. The Dawlance DW-MD15 20 Litre Solo Microwave Oven is a typical 20 litre, 700 W model.
- Grill microwave: 20 to 45 litres, with a 1000 W to 1300 W grill on top of the microwave power.
- Convection microwave: usually 25 to 36 litres, because a cake tin and rack need height.
- OTG: often 20 to 60 litres and 1500 W or more, all from heating rods.
- Gas oven in a cooking range: the largest, but rated by gas use rather than watts.
A bigger oven is not always better. A 20 litre microwave heats one plate faster and uses less counter space, while a 28 to 30 litre model fits a family casserole. For more detail, see the microwave oven size guide and the electricity guide.
Which type of oven is best for a Pakistani home?
Match the oven to what you cook most:
- Mostly reheating and defrosting: a solo microwave, 20 to 23 litres.
- Reheating plus tikka, kebabs and toast: a grill microwave, 23 to 28 litres.
- Reheating plus cakes, pizza and roast chicken: a convection or air fryer microwave, 25 to 30 litres.
- Big batch baking for a large family: a gas oven or a large electric oven, with a microwave for daily use.
Prices for microwave ovens start from Rs 10,000. For help with size and brand, read the microwave oven buying guide.
