If you often reheat and defrost food, but also want to cook with a single appliance from time to time, choose a combination microwave with modes that suit the dishes you make. If you mainly bake tarts, make gratins or cook small batches, a mini oven is better suited to those needs, but it won’t replace a microwave for reheating. In either case, check the external dimensions, door clearance and the space required around the appliance in the manual before deciding where to put it.
A combination microwave can bring together reheating, defrosting and some oven-style cooking. It’s a practical choice for a studio flat only if you’ll genuinely use the model’s features and can install it in line with the instructions.
For quiches, roasted vegetables, gratins or small batches, start by looking at the cooking modes, thermostat and space available for your dishes. A mini oven suits this priority if you’re happy to reheat food without a microwave.
Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the door clearance, before comparing capacities in litres. Ventilation matters too: a freestanding appliance shouldn’t be installed in an alcove just because it fits.
If your studio flat has neither an oven nor a microwave, start with the meals you cook most often. Then rule out any appliances that can’t be installed in accordance with their instructions.
Worth considering if: you regularly reheat and defrost food, but would also like to grill or cook some dishes in an oven-style mode using a single appliance.
Bear in mind: having several functions doesn’t guarantee a compact appliance or the same results as a mini oven for every dish. The ADEME and INC study on combination and convection ovens found that results vary depending on the dish, model and brand.
Worth considering if: you mainly cook using an oven and want to choose the right temperature and mode for smaller batches.
Bear in mind: it doesn’t offer microwave reheating, and the cavity size and compatible dishes need to suit the meals you make.
Worth considering if: reheating and defrosting are your main priorities, and you have another suitable way to cook the dishes you usually make.
Bear in mind: this additional appliance needs its own space and must be compatible with your installation and cookware. A standard microwave can’t replace an oven on its own.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | External dimensions, door clearance and the required clearances for the exact model. | In a studio flat where every centimetre counts, I need enough room to position the appliance, open the door and allow for ventilation. Around 36% of consumers would put this constraint first. |
| Combined functions | Whether it has the microwave, grill and convection modes you need for your meals; turntable size and accessories. | If I only have room for one appliance, I want to reheat food every day without giving up some oven-style cooking. This versatility would be the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Oven cooking | Heating modes, temperature range and internal dimensions to suit your dishes. | When I often make tarts or gratins, oven cooking matters more than quick reheating. It would guide the choice of around 21% of consumers. |
| Separate cooking appliance | Whether the other appliance suits your recipes, available space and electrical installation. | If another appliance can handle the cooking I do most, I can use the microwave for reheating and defrosting. Around 7% of consumers would choose this setup first. |
Internal capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop depth you’ll need or how much room the door needs to open. For example, Whirlpool France lists a depth of 54 cm for its 33 L MWSC833W combination microwave; this measurement doesn’t apply to other models.
Check the external dimensions of the exact model you’re considering against your available space, then check its ventilation requirements.
Grill and convection functions don’t give every combination microwave the same capabilities for every dish. The ADEME and INC study highlights that results vary depending on the food, model and brand.
For the recipes you make regularly, compare the modes actually available, the adjustable temperature and the size of dishes that will fit, rather than relying on the word ‘combination’ alone.
An appliance that fits on your worktop isn’t necessarily installed as its manufacturer intended. The SEB manual consulted for a mini oven specifies, among other things, a stable surface, a fully unwound power cord and an earthed socket.
Before installation, check the available socket, the electrical specifications of the appliance you’ve chosen and its own manual. Don’t apply instructions from another model.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between a commercial guarantee offered by a retailer or manufacturer and the legal guarantee of conformity that applies when you buy from a professional seller. The former doesn’t replace the latter.
Keep your proof of purchase and check what a commercial guarantee actually adds. If the product doesn’t conform to the contract, contact the professional seller.
Its range of freestanding microwaves includes combination models worth considering if you want reheating alongside grilling and oven-style cooking.
Its freestanding mini ovens are worth considering when oven cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating.
Its compact mini ovens are worth comparing if space is particularly limited and oven cooking is still your priority.
These appliances illustrate a few options for a studio flat: a combination microwave if you want several functions in one, a mini oven if oven cooking comes first, and microwaves to consider if reheating is your priority. Check the modes available on your chosen model: a grill alone doesn’t confirm that it has convection cooking.
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Worth considering if you want to combine reheating and oven-style cooking in a single appliance. Measure your available space and check the clearances and electrical requirements in the manual before installing it in a studio flat.
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Worth comparing if oven cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating. Check that your dishes will fit in the cavity and that the manual allows the appliance to be installed in your chosen spot.
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Worth considering if reheating is still your priority and you’d find a grill useful. The power listed in the name is 700 W; check the available modes before planning recipes that need convection oven cooking.
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Worth considering for reheating with the added benefit of a grill, without assuming that it replaces convection cooking. The power listed in the name is 900 W; also check the depth available and the required clearances.
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Worth considering if reheating and defrosting are your priorities. The power listed in the name is 900 W. As this is described as a ‘Solo’ model, check the modes in the manual before relying on it to grill or cook like an oven.
Don’t assume that a freestanding appliance is suitable for a closed alcove. Check the installation instructions for the exact model to confirm its ventilation, clearance and support requirements. Whirlpool France, for example, provides manuals for individual models.
Measure the available width, height and depth, as well as the space needed to open the door. Compare these measurements with the external dimensions and required clearances in the manual, not just the internal capacity in litres. Also check that your dishes will fit inside the appliance.
No. The connection must comply with the model’s instructions and the specifications of your home’s electrical installation. For the mini oven covered by its manual, SEB specifies, among other things, an earthed socket, a fully unwound power cord and a stable surface. Check the requirements for your own appliance.
No. The functions and results depend on the model and the dish you’re making. The ADEME and INC study on combination and convection ovens found that results vary depending on the dish, model and brand. Compare your usual recipes with each appliance’s modes, temperatures and usable dimensions.
No. According to the Ministry of the Economy, any commercial guarantee is in addition to the legal guarantee of conformity; it doesn’t replace it. When buying from a professional seller, distinguish between the services offered under this voluntary guarantee and your rights if the product doesn’t conform to the contract.