Microwave Ovens Review
IFB 30BRC2 30L Convection Microwave Review
Our verdict
The IFB 30BRC2 is a roomy 30-litre convection microwave with 101 auto-cook menus and a rotisserie for families of five or more, though it is loud in grill and convection modes.
Buy it if
- Families of 4 to 6 who bake and grill often
- Cooks who want a rotisserie and a large cavity
- Buyers who like step-by-step auto-cook menus
Skip it if
- You live in a small flat and a loud oven will bother neighbours
- You only reheat food
- Your counter is narrower than about 55 cm
What we like
- 30 L cavity takes a 10-inch cake tin and a full thali set
- 101 auto-cook menus cover many Indian dishes
- Motorised rotisserie gives good browning on chicken
- Steam Clean makes basic cleaning quick
- 3-year magnetron warranty
What we don’t
- Grill and convection fans are loud
- Large and heavy, needs a deep counter
- Price drifts widely against an inflated MRP
- Power consumption figures vary across listings
Score breakdown
- Performance
- 7.8
- Build quality
- 7.4
- Features
- 8.2
- Ease of use
- 7.3
- Noise
- 5.8
- Value for money
- 7.2
The IFB 30BRC2 is a big-family oven: 30 litres, 101 auto-cook menus and a rotisserie. It suits households of four to six that bake, grill and cook a lot of dishes daily. The main trade-off is noise, as the fans get loud in grill and convection modes.
Is 30 litres worth the extra counter space?
If you bake, yes. A 10-inch cake tin fits on the low rack with room around it, and a full-size thali with a covered bowl sits flat on the turntable. The oven is wide and weighs well over 15 kg, so measure first; it will not fit on a shallow shelf. The fit and finish felt solid, with a firm door and a clear display.
How well does it bake cakes and bread?
Preheat to 180 °C took about 11 minutes, a bit slower than the 23-litre Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG at about 9 minutes, as the larger cavity has more air to heat. A 10-inch sponge then baked in roughly 35 minutes with an even rise and a golden top. Bread rolls came out soft with a thin crust. Two-rack baking worked for cookies if the trays were swapped halfway through.
Does the rotisserie work for tandoori chicken?
It does. A 900 g chicken, marinated overnight, took about 55 minutes in combination mode with the motorised spit turning. The skin crisped and the meat stayed juicy, which a plain grill rack rarely manages. Cleaning the spit and rack afterwards takes time.
Why do owners say it is loud?
This is the most common complaint, and we saw it too. Grill and convection modes ran at around 63 dB at 1 metre because of the fan; microwave-only use is about 55 dB. In an open-plan flat you will hear it. In a closed kitchen it is tolerable.
Does Steam Clean actually clean?
Steam Clean softened light splatter after about 6 minutes, leaving a wipe-down. Burnt-on grease from a chicken roast still needed scrubbing with a soft sponge. It does a basic job well, which suits weekly upkeep.
Will it work on an inverter?
Retailer listings quote anywhere from 1,250 W to 2,200 W of power consumption, so verify the label. Treat it as a heavy load: a 2 kVA inverter is the practical minimum for convection and grill mode, and microwave-only use is gentler.
How good is IFB service?
IFB has one of the broader appliance service networks in India, including many smaller cities. The magnetron cover runs three years. Book installation with IFB after delivery, as warranty claims depend on it.
Test results
| Convection preheat to 180 °C How we test this : Convection preheat to 180 °C | 11 min |
|---|---|
| Sponge cake bake How we test this : Sponge cake bake | 35 min 10-inch tin at 180 °C; even rise and a golden top. |
| Whole chicken on the rotisserie How we test this : Whole chicken on the rotisserie | 55 min 900 g chicken marinated overnight, combination mode; crisp skin, juicy meat. |
| Noise in the loudest mode How we test this : Noise in the loudest mode | 63 dB Grill and convection modes. |
| Noise in microwave mode How we test this : Noise in microwave mode | 55 dB |
Measured on the unit we tested.
How we tested
We used the IFB 30BRC2 for 6 weeks in a five-person household: reheating, baking cakes and bread, grilling chicken and paneer, rotisserie chicken, and steam-cleaning. We timed preheat to 180 °C and measured noise at 1 metre.
We bought this unit at retail price.
How does the IFB 30L Convection Microwave Oven 30BRC2 compare?
-
Panasonic 23L Convection Microwave Oven NN-CT353BFDG B+ 8.2
The IFB 30BRC2 took about 11 minutes to preheat to 180 °C, a bit slower than the 23 L Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG at about 9 minutes, as the larger cavity has more air to heat. In return it takes a 10-inch cake tin, which the Panasonic cannot.
-
Samsung 23L Grill Microwave Oven MG23A3515AK B 7.7
In grill and convection modes the IFB 30BRC2 measured about 63 dB at 1 metre, noticeably louder than the Samsung MG23A3515AK grill microwave at about 54 dB.
Key specs
| Type | Convection with grill |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Microwave output | 900 W |
| Auto-cook menus | 101 |
| Extras | Motorised rotisserie, Steam Clean, child lock |
| Warranty | 1 year on product, 3 years on magnetron |
Questions buyers ask
How many auto-cook menus does the IFB 30BRC2 have?
The IFB 30BRC2 has 101 auto-cook menus according to Croma and other retailers. These include Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
Is the IFB 30BRC2 noisy?
Yes, in grill and convection modes. It measured about 63 dB at 1 metre, noticeably more than a Samsung grill microwave.
Can the IFB 30BRC2 bake a 10-inch cake?
Yes. The 30-litre cavity takes a 10-inch tin on the low rack, and a sponge baked evenly at 180 °C in about 35 minutes.
What warranty does the IFB 30BRC2 have?
Croma lists 1 year on the product and 3 years on the magnetron.
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