I really enjoy cooking and just want to understand this oven better.

Did you get a manual with your convection-microwave?

One thing to remember is that this is a convection oven. That means that you will need to use a temperature about 25 degrees lower than specified in the recipe. Also, it sounds to me like you had it set to broil instead of bake. With convection, the blower in the back of the oven glows but the top coil does not. From the manual:

5. Convection Cooking

The convection cooking can let you cook the food as a traditional oven. Microwave is not used. It is recommended that you should preheat the oven to the appropriate temperature before placing the food in the oven.

There are ten temperatures of convection:  100F, 150F, 250F, 275F, 300F, 325F, 350F, 375F, 400F, 425F.

A. With preheating convection

1) Press the "CONVEC." once, the oven will display "100", "F" and "Conv." indicator will light. (Press the convection temperature key to select the temperature yu need.)

2) Press "Start/+30SEC." button to start preheating.

the temperature figre will flashwhen the oven reaches the temperature set, and buzzer will ring twice to remind you to put food into the oven, then close the door.

3. Press the number keys to set cooking time.

Once the temperature arrives, door must be opened and then closed to imput the cooking time.

4. Press the "Start/+30SEC." button to start cooking.

     "Conv." indicator will flash, ":" will light, and cooking time will count down.

Note: a. Cooking time cannot be input until the preheating temperature arrives.

         b. If the time is not input in 5 minutes, the oven will stop preheating. The buzzer sounds five times and turns back to waiting status.

B. Convection Cooking (Without preheating function)

1) Press the "Convec" once, the oven will display "100", "F" and "Conv." indicator will light. (Press the convection temperature key to select the temperature you need.)

2) Press the "Convec" button to confirm the temperature.

3) Press the number keys to set cooking time.

4) Press the "Start/+30SEC." button to start cooking.

    "Conv." indicator will flash, ":" will light, and cooking time will count down.

The above is on page 11 of the manual. If you did these steps and the tops burned, then I would say it might be a  problem with the convection/microwave.

Stephen

Okay. I did not realize you had a Sunbeam instead of a High Pointe convection microwave. I don't have the manual for that. What is the model number for the oven? Do you have the manual? If not, have you searched online for it?

I was editing before I saw the update about you having the manual.

Are you using the baking plate (item #6 in the parts listing)? Does yours come with a rack to elevate your baking pan so air can circulate under it? The HighPointe ovens have a rack, but I don't see one listed for the Sunbeam.