Choose a combination microwave and convection oven if quick reheating and defrosting are part of your routine, and a compact cavity is suitable for the dishes you cook. A 60 cm convection oven is better suited to large dishes and multi-level cooking, while a separate microwave offers greater flexibility if you want to keep two distinct cavities. The Institut national de la consommation and ADEME highlight that results depend on the dishes and models tested, so a combination oven is not a universal replacement for a convection oven.
If you also cook using an oven but reheating and defrosting are part of your routine, a combination oven may suit you when its compact cavity and housing can genuinely accommodate your dishes. Bosch and Electrolux examples show that formats and capacities vary between models.
If you regularly use several trays or large dishes, prioritise capacity, the 60 cm format and multi-level cooking options before adding a microwave function. Bosch, for example, states that its HBA4340B3 offers hot-air cooking on three levels.
If space is limited but proper oven capacity remains important, compare a convection oven and a separate microwave with a combination model. Consider the potential space required for both appliances, their dimensions and how often you actually reheat food.
Start by listing the tasks you regularly carry out in your kitchen, then check the size of your dishes and the installation requirements for the exact model.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday uses | Check the modes actually offered: microwave, fan cooking, reheating, defrosting and combination modes. A convection-only oven does not automatically offer microwave reheating or defrosting. | I want to avoid buying an appliance that looks versatile on paper but is poorly suited to the tasks I repeat every week. |
| Capacity and dishes | Compare the cavity capacity, appliance format, internal dimensions where provided and included accessories. Also check compatibility with the dishes and trays you normally use. | My family-sized dishes, baking tins or several preparations need to fit without changing the way I organise my cooking. |
| Housing and power supply | Note the housing dimensions, available depth, total power, ventilation and connection requirements in the manual. These details vary between models. | My cabinet and installation must be suitable for the chosen model before I place an order. |
| Like-for-like comparison | Compare appliances with similar formats, capacities and functions. Consult the label and product information for the exact model where applicable, without inferring consumption from a single criterion. | I want to choose based on real-life use rather than assume that one technology is always more economical than another. |
A compact combination oven may have a 43 L cavity and require a 45 cm housing, whereas a 60 cm oven is considerably taller. Your dishes, trays or cooking habits may no longer be suitable.
Measure the dishes you use most often and compare the capacity, internal dimensions where provided, housing height and accessories before replacing an existing oven.
The Institut national de la consommation and ADEME compared four combination ovens and ten convection ovens in defined tests. These results cannot be applied to every brand, programme or meal.
Consult the label and product information for the exact model where available, then choose the type of appliance based first on how you use it: cooking large quantities, reheating, defrosting or using two cavities at the same time.
Dimensions and power ratings are not the same from one appliance to another. Electrolux, for example, specifies a 450 × 560 × 550 mm housing and a total power rating of 3 000 W for its KVLBE08X combination oven, compared with a 380 × 560 × 550 mm housing and 1 450 W for its Y4SM25TBK built-in microwave.
Use the installation diagram and manual for the exact model. Have the electrical installation and ventilation checked by a suitably qualified professional where necessary.
In France, Bosch offers 60 × 60 cm built-in convection ovens alongside compact combination microwave ovens designed for 45 cm housings.
The French range includes compact microwave and convection combination ovens as well as dedicated built-in microwaves, making it easier to compare a single cavity with two separate appliances.
Whirlpool offers built-in combination ovens ranging from combination microwaves to compact appliances that bring together fan-assisted cooking, microwave cooking and additional functions.
Joybuy option for everyday convection cooking, particularly suitable if oven capacity and large dishes matter more to you than rapid microwave reheating.
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This option is designed for everyday cooking of large dishes and family meals in a dedicated oven cavity.
The product title states a capacity of 71 L and 3D hot air. Microwave reheating or defrosting functions are not advertised for this model.
Check the 58.5 to 59.5 × 56 to 56.8 × 55 cm housing, power supply, required ventilation and the appliance’s exact configuration before installation.
No. It can combine microwave and convection cooking in a single cavity, but capacity, housing format and cooking modes vary by model. The Institut national de la consommation and ADEME compared four combination ovens with ten built-in convection ovens. This study helps explain the trade-offs, but does not establish that a combination oven universally replaces a 60 cm oven.
At a minimum, check the housing dimensions, the appliance’s overall dimensions, available depth, required clearances and ventilation specified in the exact model’s manual. Electrolux, for example, specifies a 450 × 560 × 550 mm housing for the KVLBE08X, while the Bosch HBA4340B3 is 595 mm high.
No. The total power rating or microwave power helps you check installation requirements and advertised functions, but it is not enough to predict the energy used for a meal. Compare the product information, programme used, cavity size and, for applicable ovens, the exact model’s energy label.
It applies to domestic electric and gas ovens covered by the European regulation on energy labelling for domestic ovens. Consult the label and product information for the exact model, without automatically inferring the performance of microwave or reheating functions from the oven’s class alone.
This solution is suitable if you want an appliance dedicated to reheating and defrosting while keeping a 60 cm oven for larger dishes or multi-level cooking. In return, it requires two spaces or housings, and you will need to check the installation requirements for each appliance.