Microwave Ovens Review
IFB 30SC4 30 L Convection Microwave Review
Our verdict
The IFB 30SC4 is a 30 L stainless steel convection microwave with 101 auto menus and steam clean, a solid pick for families who bake and grill regularly and want a long magnetron warranty.
Buy it if
- Families of four to six who want a spacious cavity at a fair price
- Cooks who like pre-programmed menus, yoghurt and fermentation modes
- Buyers who want 3 years of cover on the magnetron
Skip it if
- You want a ceramic enamel cavity that resists scratches
- You want a rotisserie or charcoal grill
- You prefer a touchscreen or app control
What we like
- 30 L stainless steel cavity with a 31.5 cm turntable
- 101 auto menus plus multi-stage cooking and speed defrost
- Steam clean, yoghurt and fermentation modes
- 3-year magnetron warranty on top of one year on the product
- Strong owner rating across thousands of reviews
What we don’t
- Stainless steel cavity shows grease marks and can scratch
- Membrane keypad feels basic
- No rotisserie on this variant
- Convection mode draws about 2.2 kW
Score breakdown
- Performance
- 7.9
- Build quality
- 7.8
- Ease of use
- 7.7
- Features
- 8.1
- Value for money
- 8.4
- Energy efficiency
- 7.3
- After-sales service
- 8.0
The IFB 30SC4 is for families that want a roomy 30 L oven with lots of preset menus and a long magnetron warranty without paying premium prices. The trade-off is a stainless steel cavity and a basic keypad, which are less pleasant to live with than ceramic and a jog dial.
Is 30 L the right size for a joint family?
For four to six people, yes. The 31.5 cm turntable took a full steel thali and a 24 cm baking tin, and a medium casserole fit with room to turn. A 20 L oven forces you to reheat in rounds, which gets tiresome at dinner time.
How well does it bake and grill?
Preheat to 180 C took about 7.5 minutes. A 20 cm sponge baked in about 33 minutes at 170 C with an even crumb, and a loaf of bread browned well with a quarter-turn halfway. Paneer tikka under the grill took roughly 20 minutes with one turn and gained good colour. The 110 to 200 C range tops out at 200 C, so very hot pizza bakes take a little longer than in a 230 C oven.
Are the 101 auto menus and yoghurt mode useful?
Mostly. Reheating, defrosting and basic Indian recipes worked on the first try, and the yoghurt mode set a litre of milk firmly overnight. Fermentation helped idli and dosa batter rise on a cool morning. Multi-stage cooking, such as defrost followed by cook, saved time on frozen vegetables.
Does it clean easily?
The steam clean cycle loosened tomato gravy splatter in about five minutes, though stubborn spots still needed a cloth. Stainless steel shows grease and can scratch if scrubbed with steel wool, so wipe with a soft sponge and keep covers on dishes.
Can it run on an inverter or handle voltage swings?
Convection mode draws about 2.2 kW, so it tripped our 3 kVA inverter’s overload warning once with the geyser running. Microwave mode ran without trouble. It carried on through short evening dips, and its overheat protection cut in correctly when we blocked the vents during a test.
How loud is it, and how is IFB service?
The convection fan measured about 55 dB at one metre, a little louder than the Samsung ovens we tried. IFB has a service presence in most metros and many district towns, and the three-year magnetron cover is longer than most in this group, though the Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG offers five years. Owner reviews run to thousands and are mostly positive, with complaints centred on keypad wear and scuffed cavity paint over time.
Test results
| Convection preheat to 180 °C How we test this : Convection preheat to 180 °C | 7.5 min |
|---|---|
| Sponge cake bake How we test this : Sponge cake bake | 33 min 20 cm tin at 170 °C; even crumb. |
| Paneer tikka on the grill How we test this : Paneer tikka on the grill | 20 min One turn; good colour. |
| Curd set in curd or yoghurt mode How we test this : Curd set in curd or yoghurt mode | Overnight 1 litre of milk set firmly in yoghurt mode. Fermentation mode also helped idli and dosa batter rise on a cool morning. |
| Noise in the loudest mode How we test this : Noise in the loudest mode | 55 dB Convection fan. |
| Runs on a home inverter How we test this : Runs on a home inverter | Microwave mode ran fine; convection tripped the overload warning once 3 kVA inverter, with the geyser also running when convection tripped it. |
Measured on the unit we tested.
How we tested
This was a brand loaner used for about five weeks. We baked sponge cakes, cookies and bread, grilled paneer tikka, reheated thalis, set yoghurt and ran the steam clean cycle after tomato gravy splatter. We timed preheat to 180 C, measured noise at one metre and ran it from a 3 kVA inverter to check the draw.
The brand lent us this unit. They did not see or approve this review. IFB lent us this unit for the test period and had no say in the score or text. The unit was returned afterwards.
How does the IFB 30SC4 30 L Convection Microwave Oven compare?
-
IFB 30L Convection Microwave Oven 30BRC2 B− 7.4
The IFB 30SC4 has no rotisserie. For one, look at IFB's 30BRC2, which pairs a motorised rotisserie with a 30 L cavity, 101 auto-cook menus and Steam Clean.
-
Samsung MC32A7035CT 32 L SlimFry Convection Microwave Oven B+ 8.3
The IFB 30SC4's convection fan measured about 55 dB at 1 metre, a little louder than the Samsung MC32A7035CT at about 53 dB.
Full comparison : IFB 30SC4 30 L Convection Microwave Oven vs Samsung MC32A7035CT 32 L SlimFry Convection Microwave Oven -
Samsung MC28A6036QK 28 L Convection Microwave Oven with SlimFry B− 7.4
The IFB 30SC4's convection fan measured about 55 dB at 1 metre, a little louder than the Samsung MC28A6036QK at about 54 dB with its convection fan running.
-
Panasonic 23L Convection Microwave Oven NN-CT353BFDG B+ 8.2
The IFB 30SC4 carries three years on the magnetron, longer than most ovens we reviewed, but the Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG offers five years, the longest in this group.
Key specs
| Capacity | 30 L |
|---|---|
| Type | Convection with grill |
| Power | 900 W output; 1400 W microwave, 1250 W grill, 2200 W convection input |
| Auto cook menus | 101 |
| Cavity | Stainless steel |
| Temperature range | 110-200 C in 10 steps |
| Turntable | 31.5 cm |
| Controls | Membrane keypad with LED display |
| Features | Steam clean, yoghurt, fermentation, child lock, keep warm, multi-stage cooking |
| Warranty | 1 year product, 3 years magnetron |
Questions buyers ask
How many auto cook menus does the IFB 30SC4 have?
The IFB 30SC4 has 101 standard auto cook menus, along with multi-stage cooking, speed defrost, yoghurt and fermentation modes.
What warranty does the IFB 30SC4 carry?
IFB lists one year on the product and three years on the magnetron, covering parts and labour against manufacturing defects. Check the warranty card for your unit.
Does the IFB 30SC4 have a rotisserie?
No. The IFB 30SC4 has a grill and convection mode but no rotisserie, which is found on IFB's 30BRC2 and similar models.
Can the IFB 30SC4 run on an inverter?
In microwave mode, yes. The convection mode of the IFB 30SC4 draws about 2.2 kW, so it needs an inverter of 3 kVA or more and is best kept for mains power.
Also consider
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The Samsung MC32A7035CT is a 32 L SlimFry convection microwave with a ceramic cavity and curd mode, and it is the best-value large oven for families of four to six who bake and reheat daily.
Best Value -
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Samsung MC28A6036QK 28 L SlimFry Convection Review
The Samsung MC28A6036QK is a 28 L SlimFry convection microwave with an easy-clean ceramic cavity that suits families who bake and crisp snacks, but it costs more than similar 30 L rivals.
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