Last Tuesday morning, while the autumn rain drummed against our kitchen window, my wife Sarah dropped what I now call “the microwave bomb.” Our old Kenmore finally gave up the ghost—right in the middle of reheating yesterday’s lasagna, no less. As I stood there, coffee mug in hand, watching smoke curl from what used to be our trusty kitchen companion, I knew we were in for one of those “discussions.”
“We need a GE profile microwave convection oven,” Sarah announced, scrolling through her phone with that determined look I’ve learned to respect over fifteen years of marriage. “But which one?” she added, showing me two options that looked nearly identical to my untrained eye.
What followed was three weeks of the most intensive appliance research I’ve ever conducted—and yes, I actually bought both models to test them properly. Call it excessive, but when you’re spending this much on a kitchen appliance, you want to get it right. My teenage daughter Emma rolled her eyes at my methodical approach, but my father-in-law, a retired engineer, approved wholeheartedly.
The Contenders: A Tale of Two Ovens
The first model I brought home was the compact 1 cubic foot stainless steel beauty—what I started calling “The Minimalist.” The second, arriving three days later, was its bigger sibling: the 1.6 cubic foot black stainless model I dubbed “The Workhorse.”
| Feature | GE 1 Cu Ft (Stainless) | GE 1.6 Cu Ft (Black Stainless) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 16.6″D x 20.6″W x 11.88″H | 17.75″D x 21.75″W x 12.87″H |
| Capacity | 1 Cubic Feet | 1.6 Cubic Feet |
| Power | 1050 watts | 1150 watts |
| Special Features | Convection, Air Fry, Crisper Pan | Express Cook, Shortcut Keys, Timer |
| Material | Stainless Steel, Glass | Glass |
| Included Accessories | Crisper Pan, 2 Wire Racks, Turntable | Turntable Tray, Roller Ring |
| Customer Rating | 4.2/5 (4,901 reviews) | 4.2/5 (204 reviews) |
The Real-World Test: Living with Both
The smaller GE profile microwave convection oven immediately impressed me with its convection capabilities. That first weekend, I threw a frozen pizza into “The Minimalist” using its air fry function. Emma watched skeptically as I set the timer, muttering something about “Dad’s kitchen experiments.” Twenty minutes later, she was asking for seconds.
“Okay, that’s actually pretty good,” she admitted, though she’d never give me the satisfaction of admitting I was right about something kitchen-related.
But here’s where things got interesting. When my brother-in-law’s family visited for Sunday dinner—all six of them—I realized the 1 cubic foot capacity had limitations. Trying to reheat multiple containers of leftovers became a juggling act that had me longing for more space.
Enter “The Workhorse.” The 1.6 cubic foot model solved my space problem immediately. Sarah could fit her large casserole dish without the Tetris-like maneuvering the smaller model required. The 1150 watts versus 1050 watts difference might seem minimal on paper, but in practice, that extra power meant faster, more even heating.
The Unexpected Revelation
Three weeks into my dual-microwave experiment, I made a discovery that changed everything. While the larger model excelled at basic microwave functions, I found myself constantly reaching for the smaller convection model when I wanted to actually cook something impressive.
The air fry feature on the 1 cubic foot model transformed our weekly meal prep. Those wire racks and crisper pan weren’t just marketing gimmicks—they actually worked. I could crisp up leftover fried chicken, roast vegetables, and even bake small batches of cookies that tasted like they came from a real oven.
“Which one are we keeping?” Sarah asked one evening, as I stood contemplating both units humming quietly on our counter.
That’s when it hit me: they weren’t really competing products. They were designed for different kitchen philosophies.
The Verdict: It’s Not About Better, It’s About Fit
If you’re like my neighbor Tom—a bachelor who primarily reheats takeout and makes the occasional bag of popcorn—the larger 1.6 cubic foot model makes perfect sense. It’s straightforward, spacious, and handles basic microwave tasks with aplomb. The express cook feature means he can heat his coffee without fumbling through menus, and the extra space accommodates his tendency to order enough Chinese food for three people.
But if you’re more like us—a family that actually cooks and sees the microwave as a supplementary cooking tool rather than just a reheating device—the 1 cubic foot convection model is transformative. Yes, you sacrifice some interior space, but you gain genuine cooking versatility that can replace several other appliances.
The morning I finally made my decision, Sarah found me making breakfast in the smaller unit—perfectly crispy bacon and golden hash browns, all done in twelve minutes without heating up the kitchen.
“That settles it,” she said, pouring herself coffee. “We’re keeping the one that makes you smile like that when you cook.”
And that’s the thing about choosing between these two GE profile microwave convection ovens—it’s not about specifications or reviews or even price. It’s about understanding how you actually live in your kitchen. Do you need a reliable workhorse for basic tasks, or are you looking for a compact culinary partner that opens up new possibilities?
For us, the choice was clear. The smaller model earned its permanent spot on our counter, while the larger one found a new home with Tom next door—a trade that left everyone satisfied.
Sometimes the best kitchen advice comes not from reviews or star ratings, but from honestly assessing what you need versus what you think you want. In this case, less really was more—at least for our family.
