A combination microwave can handle some oven cooking if its settings and capacity suit your dishes. It brings several functions together in one appliance, but won’t necessarily deliver the same results as a traditional oven. If you often cook large dishes or need to heat one meal while another is cooking, a separate oven and microwave are better suited to the job, provided you have the space. A mini oven alongside a microwave is another option if both appliances fit and can be used on your worktop.
If you have limited worktop space for appliances, a combination microwave is worth considering. It can reheat food as well as grill or cook certain dishes. Check that the model you choose has the settings you need.
How often you cook in the oven, the size of your dishes and whether you need to use the oven and microwave at the same time will determine whether one appliance or two separate ones is the better choice.
If you don’t have a space for a built-in oven, compare the room taken up by a combination microwave with that needed for two freestanding appliances. Also allow for the doors to open and the clearance specified in the instructions.
Consider it if: you need one space for both reheating and some oven cooking.
Bear in mind: the available settings and results vary by model. Depth and clearance around the appliance matter just as much as the number of functions.
Consider it if: you already have a space for an oven, or need to cook and reheat at the same time.
Bear in mind: this option needs two spaces, but means you don’t have to fit every function into a single cavity.
Consider it if: you want to keep oven cooking and reheating separate but don’t have a built-in oven space.
Bear in mind: both freestanding appliances need to be accessible, with the clearance specified in their instructions.
| Criteria | What to check | What matters to me |
|---|---|---|
| Functions in one appliance | Check the exact model for a grill and fan-assisted cooking, as well as microwave functionality. A grill-only setting won’t suit the same recipes as a fan-assisted cooking mode. | I want to reheat and defrost, but also brown dishes or cook some meals in the oven without always needing another appliance. |
| Space and dishes | Compare the appliance’s external width, height and depth with the space available, then check the door opening and clearance specified in the instructions. Also compare the size of your largest dish with the turntable or cavity. | An appliance might fit on my worktop but leave too little room to open the door or fit the dishes I usually use. |
| Cooking results | For the recipes you plan to make, look for tests of the exact model that cover cooking, preheating and temperature accuracy. The presence of a setting alone doesn’t tell you how well it performs. | If I often bake cakes, cook pizzas or make gratins, I need to be able to judge the cooking results, not just read a list of functions. |
| Containers | When using the microwave setting, follow the packaging instructions on compatibility, power and cooking time. UFC-Que Choisir notes that metal containers and utensils are not suitable for this mode. | I sometimes reheat food in its ready-meal tray, so I need to check that it’s suitable for this before putting it in the appliance. |
According to ADEME, a combination oven can be versatile without always delivering the same results as a traditional oven. Having several settings doesn’t necessarily tell you how it will handle a particular recipe.
For the dishes you make regularly, check the settings, temperatures and accessories listed in the instructions. If available, look for tests of the exact model too.
Depth can make all the difference: Boulanger lists the Samsung MC28H5015AK/EF as 47.4 cm deep. You’ll also need enough room to open the door and place dishes inside.
Measure the width, height and depth of the space, check the clearance in the instructions and compare the turntable or cavity with the dishes you usually use.
Anses says that reheating at too high a power setting can increase the risk of substances from certain types of packaging migrating into food.
When using the microwave setting, choose a container that’s suitable for this purpose and follow the power and cooking time instructions on the packaging.
A mini oven and a microwave need two spaces. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that the exterior surfaces of cooking appliances can reach high temperatures while in use.
Make sure both appliances are accessible with the clearance specified in their instructions, especially if children might come near the worktop.
For planning a small kitchen, the dimensions of a specific model are more useful than a general conclusion about its brand.
Boulanger lists the brand among its combination microwaves, with models that have different turntable diameters.
This combination microwave is one option if you’re looking for a single appliance for a small kitchen. Before choosing, check its capacity against the dishes you use and make sure you have enough room on your worktop.
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This 42 L combination microwave brings several functions together in one appliance. Before choosing it for a small kitchen, check the instructions for the settings your recipes need, installation clearances and the usable cavity dimensions in relation to your dishes. Its stated capacity alone won’t answer these questions.
It can handle some types of cooking if the model has the settings you need and your dishes fit inside, but it won’t automatically replace an oven. ADEME points out that a combination oven doesn’t always deliver the same results as a traditional oven, so consider the recipes you make most often.
Use containers marked as microwave-safe, rather than metal utensils, as UFC-Que Choisir advises. If you’re using a ready-meal tray, also follow the power and cooking time instructions. Anses warns that using too high a power setting can increase the migration of substances from the packaging.
The stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether your dish will fit inside. Check the turntable diameter or the usable cavity dimensions, then measure the space the appliance takes up and allow room to open its door.
An old microwave or electric oven is covered by the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) scheme described by the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition in May 2026. Ask your retailer or a collection point about suitable take-back options for the appliance.