Choose a built-in combi oven if you want microwave and convection cooking in a single compatible housing unit, after checking that its cavity is suitable for your dishes. Keep a separate oven and microwave if you often need to cook and reheat at the same time, or want to retain a large cooking capacity. In a test by the National Consumer Institute and ADEME covering four combi ovens and ten built-in convection ovens, no significant overall energy advantage was established for either group.
You want to reheat food in the microwave and cook using convection in the same built-in appliance. Start by checking the housing unit and the size of your dishes. The compact Bosch, Electrolux and Siemens combi ovens mentioned here have stated cavity capacities of 44 to 45 L, but their installation dimensions vary by model.
If you want to keep something cooking in the oven while another appliance reheats or defrosts food, a separate oven and microwave are well suited to the job. You’ll need two suitable spaces for them.
You want to look at energy use for the way you cook, as well as the parts, manuals and after-sales support available for the model you’re considering. The National Consumer Institute and ADEME test found no significant overall energy difference between the two groups of built-in ovens tested.
Your choice depends first on the space available and whether you need to use two appliances at the same time. A standalone built-in oven doesn’t meet your microwave needs unless you have a microwave available elsewhere.
Consider this if: you need one housing unit for both microwave and convection functions.
Bear in mind: you can’t use the oven and microwave functions in two separate cavities at the same time.
Consider this if: you have space for two appliances and want to use them independently.
Bear in mind: each appliance has its own installation, maintenance and servicing requirements.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Functions in one housing unit | Check the microwave, convection and combination modes available on the model, then confirm its built-in dimensions. | When there’s only room for one housing unit, I want an appliance that can handle both reheating and oven cooking; around 33% of consumers make this their top priority. |
| Capacity and simultaneous use | Compare the cavity with the dishes you usually cook and decide whether you’ll sometimes need to cook and reheat at the same time. | For large dishes or reheating while something is cooking, I prioritise capacity and two independent functions; this is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| After-sales support | Check the manuals, parts information and service terms for the model you choose. | If several functions depend on a single oven, I want to know how it can be maintained if something goes wrong; reliable service is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Energy use | Compare data for the model and cooking mode, using similar dishes and loads. | I don’t want to assume how much energy I’ll use based solely on the presence of a microwave mode; around 20% of consumers prioritise an energy comparison suited to the way they cook. |
Two compact appliances may require different built-in dimensions. The stated height alone isn’t enough to confirm whether an appliance will fit an existing housing unit.
Measure the housing unit, then check the model’s installation diagram for dimensions and ventilation requirements.
The compact Bosch CMG7241B1, Electrolux KVLAE2XH and Siemens CM585AMS0 combi ovens have stated capacities of 44 to 45 L, while the 60 × 60 cm Siemens HN978GQM1 has a stated capacity of 67 L. These figures apply to these specific models.
Check your dishes, trays and tins against the oven’s usable dimensions and accessories, not just its exterior.
The National Consumer Institute and ADEME test found no significant overall energy difference between the four combi ovens and ten built-in convection ovens included in the test.
To compare specific models, look for measurements based on similar recipes, loads and cooking modes.
In France, goods sold by a trader to a consumer are covered by a mandatory statutory guarantee of conformity. A commercial warranty is a separate commitment with its own terms, as the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control explains.
Before taking out an extended warranty, compare its cover, exclusions and claims process with the statutory protection you already have.
These examples can help you compare the formats and features of specific models. They don’t necessarily reflect other models from each brand.
The CMG7241B1 is an example of a compact built-in oven with a microwave function.
The KVLAE2XH is a compact combi oven to consider, with microwave, fan cooking and combination modes among its features.
The CM585AMS0 and HN978GQM1 are two microwave combi oven formats to consider, depending on the space available.
Two Sauter models appear in separate categories in the National Consumer Institute and ADEME study.
The NQ5B6753CAK was among the built-in combi ovens assessed by the National Consumer Institute and ADEME.
These built-in ovens suit the option of keeping oven cooking in a dedicated appliance. If you also want to reheat food in a microwave, allow space for a separate appliance and check the functions and built-in dimensions of each model.
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Consider this if you’re looking for a built-in oven dedicated to cooking and have a separate microwave.
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Consider this if you want a dedicated oven cavity for cooking, with a separate microwave for reheating.
No. Check all three built-in dimensions and the model’s installation diagram, including its ventilation requirements. For example, Electrolux specifies a 450 × 560 × 550 mm housing unit for the KVLAE2XH; this doesn’t apply to other models.
No. You can’t assume one type of appliance will always save energy. The National Consumer Institute and ADEME test, which covered four combi ovens and ten built-in convection ovens, found no significant overall energy difference between the groups tested. Compare model data based on the way you cook.
No. A faster cooking function doesn’t, on its own, tell you how much energy is used. To compare two modes, look at data for a similar dish, load and cooking result.
If a consumer buys an oven from a professional seller in France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods, according to the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. A commercial warranty is separate from the statutory guarantee and doesn’t replace it.