A combination microwave and convection oven is worth considering if you often reheat or defrost food and want to combine these tasks with cooking in a single cavity. It won’t guarantee better oven-cooking results: according to a study by ADEME and the National Institute of Consumer Affairs, performance varies depending on the dishes, models and brands. If you need to reheat one item while another is cooking in the oven, two separate appliances let you do both at once, provided you have enough space.
If you regularly prepare portions or frozen food, a combination oven could be a good fit, bringing these tasks together with some types of cooking. Check that the model’s programmes and capacity suit the dishes you make.
If you mainly cook roasts, gratins or bakes and already have a way to reheat food, start by judging the oven against the dishes you usually make. Tests by ADEME and the National Institute of Consumer Affairs found no overall advantage for combination ovens over the fan ovens tested.
Space may decide whether you choose a compact built-in combination oven or two separate appliances. Measure the housing unit and check the model’s manual: dimensions, ventilation and electrical requirements vary from one model to another.
Worth considering: if you often reheat or defrost food and also want to cook in the same appliance.
Limitation: a single cavity can’t handle two separate dishes at the same time. Cooking results also depend on the dish and the model.
Worth considering: if oven cooking is your priority and you’d rarely use a built-in microwave.
Limitation: you’ll need another appliance to reheat or defrost food in a microwave.
Worth considering: if you regularly need to reheat or defrost food while a dish is cooking in the oven.
Limitation: you’ll need to make suitable space for both appliances.
Once you’ve decided how you’d like to use your appliances, compare the options with the dishes you make most often and the actual space in your kitchen.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check which programmes are actually available and whether you’ll need any accessories for the dishes you make regularly. | If you often handle frozen food and portions that need reheating, combining these tasks with cooking becomes the priority; around 27% of consumers would put this convenience first. |
| Everyday cooking | Compare the cooking modes, usable capacity and space available for your dishes. According to ADEME and the National Institute of Consumer Affairs, results vary depending on the dish and model. | For frequent roasts, gratins or bakes, I mainly want an oven suited to the dishes I make, even if I sometimes reheat food; this would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Space and installation | Compare the housing unit’s height, width and depth with the model’s manual, taking clearances and electrical requirements into account. | In a fitted kitchen, finding an appliance setup that fits the available space comes before other features; around 20% of consumers would make space the main consideration. |
| Using appliances at the same time | Decide whether you need to use the oven and microwave at the same time, then check where each appliance could be installed. | If one dish is cooking while I defrost the next, I’d rather have two separate cavities I can use independently; this would be the main requirement for around 20% of consumers. |
In tests comparing four combination ovens with ten fan ovens, ADEME and the National Institute of Consumer Affairs found no overall advantage for combination models. Results depend in part on the dishes and the specific models tested.
Start with the dishes you usually make and look at the modes available on the exact model, rather than relying on the number of functions alone.
Two similar-sized appliances may need different housing units. The external dimensions don’t replace the built-in dimensions or ventilation requirements.
Before ordering, compare the installation instructions with the available height, width and depth, then check electrical compatibility if needed.
Features such as steam cooking or dedicated programmes are listed for specific models. Their presence doesn’t guarantee the same results for every recipe; ADEME and the National Institute of Consumer Affairs highlight the variation in cooking results across the models tested.
Check the manual for the programme’s operating conditions and any accessories you’ll need for your dishes.
The range includes compact built-in combination microwave ovens, worth considering if you’re planning a kitchen housing unit.
The range includes built-in and freestanding combination microwaves, with features that vary by model.
The compact built-in CombiQuick range lets you explore combining fan cooking and microwave cooking in a suitably sized housing unit.
These two models illustrate two different options: consider a combination microwave if you want to bring several uses together, or choose a fan oven if you have a separate appliance for microwave reheating. Check the exact features and installation requirements before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to combine several uses in one appliance and its stated capacity of 39 L suits the dishes you make.
Check the manual for the cooking and defrosting modes you need, the installation type, required clearances and total electrical power.
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Worth considering if oven cooking is your priority and you have a separate appliance for microwave reheating.
The title lists a capacity of 71 L. Before buying, check the number of compartments, built-in dimensions and ventilation requirements.
Compare the dimensions of your housing unit and the available clearances with the installation instructions for the model you’ve chosen. Measurements aren’t interchangeable: Electrolux lists housing dimensions of 450 × 560 × 550 mm for the EVL9E2XT, while Bosch’s stated measurements of 455 × 594 × 548 mm for the CMG7761B1 are the appliance dimensions.
No. Also check the available modes, capacity, required accessories and how well it suits the dishes you usually make. According to ADEME and the National Institute of Consumer Affairs, combination oven performance varies depending on the dishes, models and brands; the stated power alone can’t predict cooking results.
No. An optional commercial warranty is in addition to statutory guarantees, not a replacement for them. For the statutory guarantee of conformity that applies to purchases from a professional seller in France, the DGCCRF states that the claim must be brought within two years of the goods being delivered. Check separately what any extended warranty covers.
Take it to an appropriate collection point for waste electrical and electronic equipment, or arrange for it to be reused if it’s still in good condition. Check whether the seller offers a take-back service or find out where your nearest collection points are.