If you mainly reheat and defrost portions, a solo microwave should do the job. Choose a grill model for occasional browning, or a combination microwave with convection if you also want to cook dishes such as quiches and pastries. However, a combination microwave can only replace an oven for recipes and dish sizes that suit the model you choose. Before buying, compare its external dimensions and the clearances specified in the manual with the space you actually have available.
If you sometimes want to bake or brown a dish, rather than just reheat a plate of food, look specifically for a grill and convection. A combination microwave brings these functions together, provided its size and the clearances specified in the manual suit your kitchen.
If you mainly need to reheat and defrost meals, a solo microwave can save you paying for functions you’re unlikely to use. UFC-Que Choisir lists these homes among the situations where a microwave can come in handy.
The capacity in litres won’t tell you whether the appliance, its ventilation and your dishes will all fit in the space available. Check the width, height and depth separately, along with the cavity dimensions and the clearances specified in the manual.
In a small kitchen without a practical oven, start with the use that matters most to you: reheating, browning, cooking with convection or saving space. If oven-style cooking is your priority, compare the combination microwave you’re considering with a compact conventional oven, model by model.
| What matters | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the defrost functions and, if an independent test is available for the model, how evenly it reheats food, rather than looking at the stated power alone. | If I mainly reheat or defrost meals, I’d rather have simple controls than extra cooking modes; around 25% of consumers put this need first. |
| Browning and grilling | Look for a clearly stated grill function. A grill doesn’t mean the appliance has convection. | If I want to brown a dish from time to time, that matters more to me than baking pastries; around 19% of consumers put this need first. |
| Cooking like you would in a small oven | Check that it has convection, its temperature range and whether it comes with accessories suitable for the dishes you plan to cook. Look for test results for each cooking mode, where available. | If I want to make quiches, pizzas or pastries without a practical oven, I look for oven-style cooking in the same appliance; around 31% of consumers make this their priority. |
| Fitting the appliance and your dishes | Compare the external width, height and depth with the space you have, then check the dish sizes it can accommodate and the ventilation clearances in the manual. | When my worktop space is limited, the appliance needs to fit in its spot and still accommodate my dishes; this is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A grill is for browning or grilling food. Its presence doesn’t mean the microwave offers the convection you need to bake certain cakes or roast meat as you would in an oven.
If these cooking methods are the reason you’re buying, check for the words ‘convection’ or ‘fan-assisted’, the temperature range and the available modes. Don’t rely on the name of a browning function alone.
The cavity volume won’t tell you the appliance’s external depth, the size of dishes it can accommodate or how much space to leave around a freestanding model.
Measure the space in all three dimensions and compare it with the product specifications and manual for the exact model. The vents on a freestanding appliance need to remain unobstructed, as Whirlpool France points out.
Two appliances with the same categories of functions won’t necessarily deliver the same results in every mode. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol looks separately at defrosting, evenness of reheating, grilling and convection, among other things.
For the recipes that matter to you, check test results for the specific model, where available, and make sure you have the accessories needed for its different modes.
In France, an old microwave must be taken to a waste electrical and electronic equipment collection point, rather than put out with ordinary household rubbish.
When buying a similar appliance, ask the retailer about taking your old one back, or choose a suitable collection point. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition explains the conditions for the ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme.
These models illustrate features worth comparing. A brand’s inclusion here doesn’t guarantee that its models are available or that they’ll fit your space.
Panasonic offers combination microwaves with convection, including the NN-C69KSM and NN-CS88LB models.
The Samsung range includes solo microwaves, grill models and combination microwaves with convection.
The MWF427BL is an example of Whirlpool’s grill microwave range without a turntable.
These appliances suit two of the uses discussed here: combining microwave, grill and convection functions, or adding a grill to everyday reheating. Compare their features and dimensions with your kitchen; to check installation clearances, always refer to the manual rather than relying on the product information alone.
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Worth considering if you want microwave, grill and convection functions in one appliance. It has a stated capacity of 42 L. Check that its size, the clearances in the manual and the dishes you plan to use are all suitable for your kitchen.
If you need a rotisserie for your recipes, confirm what’s included in the box before ordering.
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This model combines microwave and grill functions, making it suitable for reheating or defrosting, with the option to brown food occasionally. It has a stated capacity of 25 L, and the product name gives its power as 900 W. Don’t assume it has convection just because it has a grill.
Check the ventilation clearances in the manual before deciding where to put it.
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Worth comparing if you mainly reheat and defrost, but occasionally want to brown or grill food. The product name gives its capacity as 20 L and its power as 700 W. A grill alone won’t meet the need for convection cooking.
Compare the space available with the full clearance requirements in the manual before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting, with a grill function for occasional browning. The product name gives its capacity as 21 L and its power as 800 W. If you want to bake pastries, look for a model that clearly states it has convection.
Before installation, check the manual for all the required clearances.
It can handle some oven-style cooking if the model genuinely has convection and can accommodate the dishes you plan to use. Check its modes and accessories, and look for any test results available for the recipes you make. The word ‘combination’ doesn’t guarantee the same results as a conventional oven.
Only if the space meets the installation instructions for the exact model, including its ventilation clearances. Whirlpool France points out that the vents on a freestanding appliance must not be blocked, so measure the space available and check the manual before buying.
Not automatically: the container must be suitable for the selected cooking mode. Metal cookware isn’t suitable for microwave mode, so check the manual to see which dishes and accessories are allowed for grill, convection and combination modes.
Take it to a collection point for electrical and electronic equipment. According to the French Ministry for Ecological Transition, you can ask for it to be taken back under the ‘one-for-one’ scheme when buying a similar appliance, or take it to a suitable collection point.