In a small kitchen without an oven, a combination microwave is a good choice if you want to reheat and defrost food as well as cook using convection, provided its settings and dimensions suit the dishes you use. A microwave with a grill is better suited to reheating and browning food, while a basic model will do if you don’t expect oven-style cooking. If oven cooking is your priority and you can manage without microwave functions, it’s worth comparing mini ovens instead.
If you often reheat and defrost food, but occasionally make a gratin or a small oven-baked dish, check whether convection is worth the space a combination microwave takes up. UFC-Que Choisir lists student accommodation as one of the settings where a microwave can be useful.
Measure the space available and the dishes you usually use. Capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether a rectangular dish will fit inside, or whether you can leave the required clearance around the appliance.
For gratins, baking or dishes that need a set temperature, distinguish between a grill, which browns the surface, and convection. Your need for microwave reheating will then help you choose between a combination microwave and a mini oven.
Start with the meals you actually prepare, then check the cooking modes and available space before comparing models.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday use | Look for the microwave and defrost functions you need. Check separately for a grill and convection: having one doesn’t mean the appliance has the other. | I mainly reheat meals and defrost food: a standard microwave could suit these needs. If I also want to brown food from time to time, I’ll look at models with a grill. |
| Oven cooking | For a combination microwave, check the temperature range, cooking modes and accessories for the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir assesses factors such as browning, evenness and cooking time in convection mode. | My recipes need oven-style cooking: I’ll compare a convection combination microwave with a mini oven, rather than assume that a ‘grill’ setting alone will do the job. |
| Space and dishes | Compare the appliance’s external width, depth and height with the clearances specified in the manual. Check the dimensions of the cavity, turntable and dishes you use. | In my small kitchen, the appliance needs to fit without making my usual plates or dishes unusable. |
| Long-term use | Check the care instructions and repair options. To compare energy consumption, use measurements taken with comparable appliances and cooking tasks. | If I use the appliance often, I want to be able to clean the cavity and know what to do if it breaks down. I won’t infer its energy use from a test of a different type of oven. |
A grill can brown the surface of a dish without providing the convection mode needed for some oven-style recipes. For example, Whirlpool describes its MWF259SG as a ‘microwave + grill’ appliance.
If you plan to bake or cook recipes that need a set temperature, look specifically for a convection mode and check the model’s manual.
Appliances with different capacities can also have very different depths, turntables and cavities. The litre capacity doesn’t guarantee that a particular dish will fit.
Measure your dishes and the space available, then compare the external dimensions, cavity size and clearances required by the manufacturer.
The energy-efficiency test published by the National Consumer Institute covers built-in ovens. Its results don’t directly describe the energy consumption of a freestanding combination microwave or mini oven.
To compare two freestanding appliances on this basis, look for measurements based on comparable uses and methods.
Care requirements depend on the model’s instructions. If your model is subject to a recall, continuing to use it without checking the guidance could put you at risk.
Keep a note of the exact model reference, follow the manual’s care instructions and, if a recall is announced, check the official guidance for that recall.
The range includes basic freestanding microwaves as well as models with several cooking modes.
Features vary by model, so it’s important to distinguish an appliance with a grill from one with convection.
The NN-CD87KS is worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding combination microwave with fan-assisted convection.
The Optimo 19 L mini oven is an example to consider when oven-style cooking is your priority.
These models mainly cover reheating, with or without a grill, as well as a combination microwave to consider if you also want to cook using convection. Compare their features with the recipes you make before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat food and brown it from time to time. The model name indicates 700 W. Check the size of your dishes, the installation clearances and whether it has convection if you plan to use it for oven-style cooking.
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An option for reheating and browning food; its product name indicates 900 W. Before choosing it for a small kitchen, compare the space it takes up and the size of your dishes with the model’s dimensions, then check that it has the modes your recipes need.
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If you want both reheating and browning, check which modes this model offers. The word ‘combination’ in its name doesn’t confirm that it has convection, so check the product details or manual if your recipes need it.
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Worth considering if you want microwave, grill and convection functions in one appliance. Its 42 L capacity makes it particularly important to check the available space, suitable dishes and required clearances. Check the defrost function, too, if you need it.
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Worth considering if you mainly use a microwave for reheating and defrosting. Its product name lists 700 W, 6 preset menus and 11 power levels. Check the turntable size and look for grill or convection modes if you expect it to do more than microwave cooking.
It can handle some oven-style cooking if it has a genuine convection mode, but don’t assume every recipe will turn out the same. UFC-Que Choisir assesses factors such as browning, evenness and cooking time. Compare the results for the model you’re considering with the dishes you usually make.
A grill is mainly used to brown or gratinate the surface of food; convection is an oven-style cooking mode. Don’t assume that an appliance described as ‘microwave + grill’, such as the Whirlpool MWF259SG on the manufacturer’s website, also has convection.
Measure the space available and the dishes you usually use. Then compare the external dimensions, cavity, any turntable and the clearances specified in the manual. Capacity in litres alone can’t confirm that a dish will fit.
If it breaks down, check the manual and repair options before considering a replacement. ADEME also outlines options for donating and recycling small electrical appliances. If your model is recalled, follow the official guidance for that specific recall rather than continuing to use it.