Smeg Built-In 60cm SpeedwaveXL Galileo Oven SO6102M2B3 Review: A Comprehensive Look

The Smeg Built-In 60cm SpeedwaveXL Galileo Oven SO6102M2B3 is a combination microwave oven that promises to offer the best of both worlds — a full-sized oven with the added convenience of a microwave. This innovative appliance is designed to save space while providing flexible cooking options, making it ideal for both small kitchens and larger households. But does it live up to the hype? Let's dive into the pros, cons, features, and performance of this oven to help you decide if it's the right fit for your kitchen.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Full-size microwave: One of the standout features is its ability to function as a full-sized microwave, which is rare in combination ovens.
• Excellent cooking results: Whether you're baking, grilling, or microwaving, the cooking results are consistently good.
• Varied cooking options: Offers a wide range of cooking modes, from defrosting to combination cooking, making it versatile for different types of meals.

Cons:

• Confusing interface: The user interface is not intuitive and can be tricky to navigate, especially for first-time users.
• Poorly translated manual: The manual lacks clarity and has some translation issues, making it difficult to understand certain features and settings.

Key Features

Type:

This is a full-size integrated oven that also functions as a large flat-bed microwave, offering a unique combination of features in a single appliance.

Capacity:

With a 68-litre capacity, it’s slightly smaller than some of the largest ovens on the market, but still spacious enough to cook a large roast or several dishes at once.

Design and Features

The Smeg Built-In 60cm SpeedwaveXL Galileo Oven SO6102M2B3 is designed to fit into a standard 60cm oven slot, whether under a hob or built into a wall cabinet. Its sleek, modern design, complete with Smeg’s signature stripes across the front, makes it a stylish addition to any kitchen.

What’s in the Box?

• A single wire shelf
• A deep baking tray
• A microwaveable glass tray
• A grill stand that fits into the glass tray
• A telescopic shelf attachment

While these accessories are useful, the inclusion of only one wire shelf feels a bit stingy, especially for an oven in this price range.

User Interface and Manual

One of the biggest drawbacks of this oven is its user interface. The touch buttons and LCD display aren’t the easiest to understand, and the icons can be confusing. For example, the snowflake icon is for defrosting, but other symbols like ‘669’ (for the optional BBQ griddle) and ‘St0n’ (for the optional pizza stone) are less intuitive.

The manual doesn’t help matters either. It’s poorly translated and lacks detailed explanations, which can make setting up and using the oven a challenge. Fortunately, Smeg has promised to address these translation issues in future manuals.

Cooking Modes

The oven offers a variety of cooking modes, including:
– Microwave
– Combination (microwave and oven or grill)
– Top and bottom heat (with or without fan)
– Fan oven
– Grill
– Bottom heat only

You can also adjust the microwave power levels, ranging from 100W to 900W, depending on your cooking needs.

Performance

Despite its confusing interface, the Smeg Built-In 60cm SpeedwaveXL Galileo Oven SO6102M2B3 excels in performance.

Microwave Functionality

The microwave function works exceptionally well. Whether defrosting bread or reheating leftovers, the results are even and consistent. For example, defrosting slices of bread resulted in cold but evenly thawed pieces, perfect for sandwiches.

Combination Cooking

The combination cooking mode is where this oven truly shines. I cooked a baked potato using the convection oven and 300W microwave in just 20 minutes. The result was a soft, fluffy interior with a crispy skin — something that would take much longer in a traditional oven.

Grilling and Baking

The grill function works well, with even heat distribution across the oven shelf. I tested this by grilling six slices of bread, and each slice was evenly toasted from edge to edge.

For baking, I conducted a test using ceramic baking beads to measure heat distribution. The oven performed admirably, with only slight variations in temperature between the front and back of the trays.

Energy Efficiency

The oven is also energy-efficient. In my tests, it consumed only 0.4kWh of power, which is excellent compared to typical ovens that use 0.5kWh or more.

Final Thoughts

The Smeg Built-In 60cm SpeedwaveXL Galileo Oven SO6102M2B3 is a fantastic appliance for those looking to combine a full-sized oven and microwave into one unit. It offers excellent cooking results, whether you're using it as a microwave, a traditional oven, or a combination of both. However, the confusing interface and poorly translated manual hold it back from being perfect.

If you’re willing to put up with a bit of a learning curve, this oven can be a great addition to your kitchen. However, if ease of use is a priority, you might want to consider other options like the Neff N90 B69VY7MY0, which offers a more intuitive interface.

Buy Now

If you’re interested in purchasing the Smeg Built-In 60cm SpeedwaveXL Galileo Oven SO6102M2B3, you can find it on Amazon.

FAQs

Are there any accessories for the Smeg Built-In 60cm SpeedwaveXL Galileo Oven SO6102M2B3?

Yes, there are optional accessories like a pizza stone and a BBQ plate, which can enhance your cooking experience.

Is the Smeg Built-In 60cm SpeedwaveXL Galileo Oven SO6102M2B3 a standard microwave?

Yes, it functions as a standard microwave with cooking, reheating, and defrost options.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a versatile appliance that can handle both large meals and quick microwave tasks, the Smeg Built-In 60cm SpeedwaveXL Galileo Oven SO6102M2B3 is worth considering, despite its drawbacks.