If you have just one built-in space, first choose an oven that fits the housing and is spacious enough for the dishes you usually cook. A standard-sized fan oven is better suited to larger meals, while a combi oven is worth considering if you also use that space for reheating and defrosting. Tests by the National Consumer Institute and ADEME do not show a general energy-efficiency advantage for combi ovens. So weigh up the extra functions in light of your recipes, the space available and the modes the oven actually offers.
If you often cook roasts, gratins, bakes or several dishes at once, start by checking the usable capacity and shelf positions. A standard-sized fan oven could be a good fit if it suits your housing and you do not need built-in microwave functions.
If you regularly use a microwave to reheat or defrost food, a combi oven can bring these functions together in the only space available. Check the size of your dishes, though: a compact model will not necessarily offer the same capacity as a standard oven. The energy-efficiency results in the National Consumer Institute and ADEME study also vary according to the food and model.
If particular recipes have you looking for steam or combination programmes, check the modes available on the model you are considering, its capacity and any accessories you will need. These functions alone are no substitute for thinking about the dishes you usually cook.
If your kitchen has just one built-in space, measure the housing and work out what you need the oven to accommodate before comparing its functions and energy use.
| Priority | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and the dishes you usually cook | Compare the usable capacity, space for your dishes and shelf positions for the exact model. | For my larger dishes and batches of baking, I want to make sure there is enough room in the oven. This would be the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check which microwave and combination modes are available, then make sure the capacity suits your dishes. | If I often reheat or defrost food, bringing these functions together with cooking in one space matters more to me; around 30% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Specialist cooking modes | Look for programmes suited to your recipes and check which accessories are needed or included. | If I plan to use steam or dedicated programmes, I want to know which dishes they will actually be useful for. Around 20% of consumers would put these functions first. |
| Energy use and cleaning | For ovens with an energy label, compare the kWh per cycle for the same mode; also check the cleaning instructions. | Before deciding, I want to be able to compare the cooking modes and find out what maintenance is required. This would be the main concern for around 10% of consumers. |
A compact oven’s capacity may limit the dishes you can fit inside. In tests by the National Consumer Institute and ADEME, the efficiency of combi ovens varied according to the food and model, with no general advantage established.
Make a list of the dishes and tins you usually use, then compare them with the capacity and cooking modes of each model.
Electrolux product information specifies a housing size of 590 × 560 × 550 mm for the EOF3C40TH oven and 450 × 560 × 550 mm for the EVM6E46X compact model. These sizes are not automatically interchangeable.
Measure the housing’s height, width and depth, then follow the installation diagram and instructions for the exact model. If you are unsure, ask a qualified professional to check the connection or ventilation requirements.
If the housing is not compatible, the cabinetry may need adapting before installation.
Energy use per cycle does not, on its own, tell you how an oven will perform for every recipe. The European Commission also distinguishes between ovens covered by its energy labelling and appliances with a microwave heating function, which fall outside the scope set out for those ovens.
For labelled appliances, compare the kWh per cycle for the same mode and take capacity into account. Do not assume that a microwave combi oven carries the same energy label.
Two Electrolux models let you compare a standard fan oven with a compact microwave/grill appliance.
Bosch offers built-in ovens as well as a range of built-in microwave combi ovens for kitchens where space is limited.
Siemens offers 60 × 60 cm built-in ovens and 60 × 45 cm compact models with a microwave function.
Whirlpool’s compact WCT9A9PHTSBF model combines microwave, fan cooking and steam functions, among others, for those planning to use these modes.
No, you cannot assume that as a general rule. In their study of four combi ovens and ten built-in fan ovens, the National Consumer Institute and ADEME found that efficiency varied according to the food, model and brand, with no clear, generalisable advantage for combi ovens.
Measure the height, width and depth of the housing, then compare them with the installation diagram for the exact model. For example, Electrolux product information gives housing dimensions of 590 × 560 × 550 mm for the EOF3C40TH oven and 450 × 560 × 550 mm for the EVM6E46X compact model. These dimensions are not universal.
No, the same rules do not apply uniformly to these appliances. The European Commission states that appliances with a microwave heating function fall outside the scope of the energy labelling it presents for domestic ovens. For labelled ovens, compare energy use per cycle for the same mode and take capacity into account.
If a professional sells an oven to an individual in France, the legal guarantee of conformity is mandatory, as the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control points out. Tell the seller how the oven differs from its description. Any commercial guarantee is separate from this legal protection.