If you need one appliance to reheat and defrost food, as well as cook oven-style dishes, choose a combination microwave with fan-assisted or convection cooking. A model with a grill is better suited to reheating and the occasional browning; if you mainly cook oven dishes, consider a mini oven, bearing in mind that it won’t offer microwave functions. In either case, measure the available space and check the clearance requirements in the instructions for your chosen model.
If one appliance needs to handle browning and oven-style cooking too, distinguish between a fan-assisted combination model and a basic model with a grill. UFC-Que Choisir makes this distinction in its microwave buying guide.
In a kitchenette, the internal capacity alone won’t tell you whether an appliance will fit. Compare its external dimensions, door clearance and the space required around it, as specified in the instructions.
If you reheat and defrost food every day but only want to brown dishes occasionally, a microwave with a grill may suit your needs without making fan-assisted cooking a deciding factor.
First decide whether you’ll regularly cook oven-style dishes, then compare the space required and the reheating functions you want to keep. Each percentage below relates to a need that consumers might prioritise in a small kitchen without a traditional oven.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Oven-style cooking | Whether it has fan-assisted or convection cooking, its temperature range and whether your dishes will fit. | If I plan to make quiches or bake regularly without a built-in oven, I want fan-assisted cooking in the same appliance as my microwave. This would be a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Size and ventilation | External dimensions, door clearance and the clearances specified in the model’s instructions. | In my small kitchen, an appliance that just about fits isn’t enough if its door or ventilation is a problem. Around 23% of consumers would put this installation constraint first. |
| Reheating and browning | Defrost and grill functions, and whether fan-assisted cooking would be useful for your meals. | I mainly reheat meals and want to brown a dish now and then, but don’t plan to cook oven dishes regularly. For around 31% of consumers, this is the main need. |
| Frequent oven cooking | The size of your dishes, the cooking modes and whether you have space for a separate microwave. | If I mainly cook oven dishes, I’d rather consider a mini oven, even if that means keeping another appliance for reheating and defrosting. This would be a priority for around 15% of consumers. |
A grill can brown or crisp food, but having one doesn’t mean the appliance offers the fan-assisted cooking you need for oven-style dishes.
If this type of cooking matters to you, look specifically for “fan-assisted” or “convection” in the model’s specifications, then check the cooking modes and accessories listed in its instructions.
Two appliances with cavities that suit your needs may take up different amounts of worktop space. Door clearance and ventilation gaps also matter in a small kitchen.
Measure your worktop and the space around the appliance, then compare these measurements with the dimensions and installation instructions for the exact model.
A mini oven is designed for oven cooking, but it doesn’t offer microwave reheating or defrosting.
Before choosing one, decide whether you can manage without these functions or whether you’ll also keep a microwave.
Keeping two appliances means finding space for both.
Whirlpool’s freestanding combination microwave range includes models with a grill, convection cooking and other cooking modes.
The range includes multi-function microwaves that combine microwave, grill and fan-assisted convection cooking.
The FEL023MS2 is an example of a freestanding microwave with a grill, designed mainly for reheating and browning.
The Optimo 39 L is a freestanding electric mini oven for people who prioritise oven cooking.
These models cover two needs: combination microwaves to consider if you also want to cook without a built-in oven, and models with a grill if reheating remains your priority. Check the cooking modes and installation requirements for the model you’re interested in.
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Worth considering if you want one appliance for reheating and oven-style cooking. It has an advertised capacity of 42 L; check that it fits your kitchen and that the electrical specifications and clearances in the instructions are suitable.
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Consider this if you’re looking for an appliance that combines microwave functions with additional cooking modes. It has an advertised capacity of 39 L; compare its dimensions and ventilation clearances, as specified in the instructions, with the space available.
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Worth considering if you mainly reheat and defrost food, with the occasional need for a grill. Its title specifies 21 L and 800 W; if you plan to cook oven-style dishes, check separately whether the exact model has fan-assisted cooking.
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Consider this for everyday reheating and the occasional browning. Its title specifies 25 L and 900 W; check for fan-assisted cooking if you expect to cook oven-style dishes, and check the installation clearances in the instructions.
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Worth considering if reheating is your priority and you’d like to brown food occasionally. It has an advertised capacity of 25 L; check the cooking modes, the power of the exact model and the installation clearances before choosing.
Not if you regularly need fan-assisted cooking for oven-style dishes. A grill is used to brown or crisp food; UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes this function from the fan-assisted cooking found in combination models.
No. Follow the installation instructions for the exact model. Before buying, compare the clearances specified in its instructions with your worktop, nearby cupboards and the space needed to open the door.
Choose dishes and accessories to suit the mode you’re using, as set out in the model’s instructions. In microwave mode, avoid metal utensils and check that plastic containers are suitable; don’t assume that a dish suitable for the grill is also safe to use in microwave mode.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual in France. It covers, among other things, an appliance that doesn’t match its description. Keep the product information and proof of purchase in case you need to report a lack of conformity.
In France, retailers must offer free “one-for-one” take-back when you buy an equivalent new appliance, according to ecosystem. Check the arrangements offered for your order, particularly if the appliance is being delivered to your home.