Choose a combi microwave with convection if you need one appliance to reheat, defrost, brown and handle some oven-style cooking. If you mainly reheat meals, a standard microwave will do the job; consider a grill model for browning, or a mini oven or air fryer if dry-heat cooking is your priority. These won’t replace microwave functions. In every case, check the appliance’s actual dimensions and ventilation requirements.
You regularly reheat and defrost food, but would also like to make a gratin, pizza or small oven-baked dish from time to time. A combi model is worth comparing with other options, as long as it fits on your worktop with the required clearances.
If you mainly use your appliance to reheat and defrost food, a standard microwave is a more straightforward choice. A grill function is useful if you’d also like to brown dishes occasionally.
If small-scale cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating, compare combi microwaves, mini ovens and air fryers based on the modes you’ll use. These appliances don’t necessarily offer the same functions.
In a small kitchen, start with the functions you need most: reheating and defrosting, browning, or convection cooking. Then measure the space available, allowing for the door to open and the clearances specified in the manual.
| Your need | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Compare the defrost functions, usable cavity size and external dimensions. | If I mainly prepare ready-cooked meals, I want an appliance that suits reheating without taking up more space than necessary. Around 36% of consumers prioritise reheating and defrosting. |
| Partly replacing an oven | Check for convection, its temperature range and the clearance needed around the appliance. | If I also want to cook some oven dishes without installing two appliances, I need to retain the microwave functions. Around 27% of consumers prioritise oven cooking in a single appliance. |
| Browning and making gratins | Check for a grill and which accessories are approved for the mode you’ve selected. | If I mainly want to brown my dishes, a grill matters more to me than convection. Around 19% of consumers put browning at the top of their list. |
| Prioritising dry-heat cooking | Compare the cooking modes, usable capacity and space taken up; make sure you have another option if microwave reheating is still essential. | If I want to roast small portions or get a crispy finish, I can opt for a mini oven or air fryer if my microwave needs are already covered. This type of cooking comes first for around 18% of consumers. |
The internal capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up. LG France lists the dimensions of its 39 L MJ3965ACW combi microwave as 54,4 × 32,7 × 52,5 cm.
Measure the width, height and depth, then check the manual for the space needed for the door and ventilation of the model you’re considering.
Convection doesn’t guarantee the same results for every dish. In a test of the LG MJ3965BPS, UFC-Que Choisir noted that small cakes didn’t rise well; this finding applies to that specific model.
If baking or roasting is a key reason for your purchase, compare the temperature settings and accessories of the exact model, as well as any tests carried out on it.
Blocked ventilation openings can cause overheating, as Whirlpool France points out in its installation advice.
Don’t install a freestanding appliance in a recess that isn’t designed for it, and follow the clearances specified in its manual.
A rack designed for a microwave and a particular mode doesn’t mean other metal objects are safe to use. Samsung France distinguishes between its supplied rack and other metal objects.
Check the manual to see which accessories are approved for your model and the cooking mode you’ve selected.
The freestanding microwave range includes grill models and combi models. Check the modes available on each specific model.
Some multifunction models combine microwave, grill and convection functions for kitchens where you need several cooking modes.
The NeoChef range includes large-capacity combi models, so make sure they’ll fit in your kitchenette.
These models illustrate three options for a small kitchen: a standard microwave for reheating and defrosting, microwaves with a grill for extra browning, and a mini oven when oven cooking is the priority. If you need both convection and microwave functions in one appliance, check that it offers both modes before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat and defrost food, with the option to brown dishes occasionally. Check the modes if you also need convection.
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If you want one appliance for reheating, defrosting and occasional browning, check the model’s modes before relying on it for convection cooking.
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Worth comparing if you need both reheating and browning. Check the exact functions if you want to use it as a partial replacement for an oven.
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An option to consider if you mainly reheat and defrost food, without needing this appliance to brown or cook dishes like an oven.
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Worth considering if oven cooking is your priority and you have another option for when microwave reheating or defrosting is essential.
Make sure you have a flat surface and allow for the ventilation clearances specified in the model’s manual. Whirlpool France advises against blocking the vents and gives an ambient temperature range of 5 to 35 °C for appliances covered by its guide. Check the requirements for the model you choose.
No. Choose an installation that’s suitable for the type of appliance and follow its manual. A built-in model requires a niche with the specified dimensions, for example: Electrolux France gives 380 × 560 × 550 mm for the KMSD253TB. These measurements don’t apply to other models.
Only use one if the manual for your model allows it for the selected mode. Samsung France explains that its supplied rack has specific characteristics and advises against using other metal objects in the microwave.
Depending on its condition, you could have it repaired, donate it or sell it. If you need to dispose of it, ADEME lists options for collecting electrical equipment, including returning it to a shop or taking it to a recycling centre. Check which options are available near you.