Microwave Ovens Review
LG MJ2886BFUM 28 L Charcoal Convection Review
Our verdict
The LG MJ2886BFUM is a 28 L charcoal convection microwave with a motorised rotisserie and 175 Indian auto menus, the best fit here for tandoori-style cooking but pricey for everyday reheating.
Buy it if
- Families who want tandoori-style tikka and rotisserie chicken at home
- Cooks who like a large library of Indian auto-cook menus
- Buyers who value LG's service reach
Skip it if
- You mostly reheat and rarely grill or bake
- Your inverter is under 2 kVA, since grill and convection draw heavily
What we like
- Charcoal lighting heater gives tandoori-like char on tikka and paneer
- 360 degree motorised rotisserie works for whole chicken
- 271 auto cook menus, 175 of them Indian
- Stainless steel cavity with steam clean and child lock
- Charcoal heater has a 10-year parts warranty
What we don’t
- Highest price in this group
- Heavy power draw in grill and combination modes
- Stainless steel cavity shows splatter marks more than ceramic
- Product warranty is only one year
Score breakdown
- Performance
- 8.0
- Build quality
- 7.7
- Ease of use
- 7.6
- Features
- 8.4
- Value for money
- 6.9
- Energy efficiency
- 7.0
- After-sales service
- 8.2
The LG MJ2886BFUM is built for people who want tandoori-style grilling and a rotisserie from a countertop oven, and who will use the Indian auto menus often. The trade-off is cost and power draw: it is the most expensive oven in this group, and its grill modes are demanding on an inverter.
Can it make tandoori-style tikka and rotisserie chicken?
The charcoal lighting heater is what sets this oven apart. Paneer tikka on the high rack browned in about 18 minutes with real char marks at the edges, and chicken tikka needed 24 minutes and one turn. A 1 kg chicken on the rotisserie took roughly 55 minutes in combination mode and came out evenly browned with a moist breast. The flavour is grilled rather than smoky, but it is closer to a tandoor than any plain grill.
How useful are the 175 Indian auto menus?
More useful than expected for reheating and basic dishes. Rice and curry reheating worked well on the first try, and the Diet Fry setting crisped potato wedges with very little oil. Some of the long recipe menus assume a specific container size, so treat them as starting points and check the food early.
Does it bake cakes and cookies evenly?
Preheat to 180 C took about 8 minutes. A 20 cm sponge baked in around 33 minutes with a slightly darker top, which a lower rack and foil cover fixed. Cookies browned evenly across one tray. For regular baking, any decent convection oven would do the job; you are paying for the grill.
Will it run on a home inverter?
Microwave mode ran fine on a 3 kVA inverter. Grill and combination modes pull close to 2 kW, which tripped our inverter’s overload alarm once when the geyser was also on. If you cook mostly during power cuts, check the inverter’s capacity before buying. It handled the usual evening voltage dips without resetting.
Is it easy to clean?
The stainless steel cavity shows splatter marks after tikka and gravy reheating, but a damp cloth and a three-minute steam clean cycle removed most of it. Grease collects around the rotisserie fitting, so wipe it after every use.
How loud is it, and what about service?
The convection fan registered about 53 dB at one metre, similar to its rivals. LG has a wide service network across metros and most district towns, and technician visits are covered during the one-year product warranty. The ten-year charcoal heater cover is parts only, so labour may still be chargeable.
Test results
| Convection preheat to 180 °C How we test this : Convection preheat to 180 °C | 8 min |
|---|---|
| Sponge cake bake How we test this : Sponge cake bake | 33 min 20 cm tin; slightly darker top, fixed with a lower rack and a foil cover. |
| Paneer tikka on the grill How we test this : Paneer tikka on the grill | 18 min Charcoal lighting heater, high rack; real char marks at the edges. |
| Whole chicken on the rotisserie How we test this : Whole chicken on the rotisserie | 55 min 1 kg chicken, combination mode; evenly browned with a moist breast. |
| Noise in the loudest mode How we test this : Noise in the loudest mode | 53 dB Convection fan. |
| Runs on a home inverter How we test this : Runs on a home inverter | Microwave mode ran fine; grill tripped the overload alarm once 3 kVA inverter. Grill and combination modes pull close to 2 kW; the trip came with the geyser also on. |
Measured on the unit we tested.
How we tested
This was a manufacturer loaner used for about 4 weeks. We cooked paneer tikka, chicken tikka and a whole rotisserie chicken, baked cakes and cookies, reheated cooked rice and curries, and logged preheat time to 180 C, browning evenness and fan noise at one metre. We also ran it from a 3 kVA inverter to see what the grill draws.
The brand lent us this unit. They did not see or approve this review. LG lent us this unit for the test period and had no input on the score or text. The unit was returned afterwards.
Key specs
| Capacity | 28 L |
|---|---|
| Type | Convection with charcoal lighting heater |
| Power | 900 W microwave, 1200 W grill, 1950 W convection |
| Auto cook menus | 271 (175 Indian) |
| Cavity | Stainless steel |
| Controls | Tact buttons and jog dial |
| Features | Rotisserie, Intellowave, Diet Fry, steam clean, child lock |
| Warranty | 1 year product, 10 years charcoal heater (parts only) |
Questions buyers ask
Can the LG MJ2886BFUM make tandoori-style tikka?
Largely yes. The LG MJ2886BFUM charcoal lighting heater browned paneer and chicken tikka on the rack in about 18 minutes with visible char, though the smoky flavour of a real tandoor is not replicated.
Does the LG MJ2886BFUM have a rotisserie?
Yes. The LG MJ2886BFUM has a 360 degree motorised rotisserie, which we used for a 1 kg whole chicken.
How many Indian auto cook menus does the LG MJ2886BFUM have?
LG lists 271 auto cook menus on the LG MJ2886BFUM, of which 175 are Indian dishes.
What is the warranty on the LG MJ2886BFUM?
Retail listings show one year on the product and ten years on the charcoal heater, parts only. Check LG's warranty card for current terms.
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