A combination microwave and convection oven lets you cook, reheat and defrost in a single cavity, provided its capacity and installation requirements suit your kitchen. If you often cook large dishes or need to reheat food while something else is cooking, a convection oven with a separate microwave is better suited to those needs. A convection oven on its own is enough if you rarely use microwave functions or already have them covered. The French ADEME study does not establish a general energy-efficiency advantage for combination ovens.
If you want to cook, reheat and defrost with a single built-in appliance, compare the available housing space with the usable capacity. Bosch, Electrolux and Whirlpool specifications include compact combination ovens ranging from 44 to 52 L. Measure your dishes before choosing, too.
A large-capacity convection oven may be a better fit if space for your dishes matters more than combining functions. Electrolux’s EOF8P08X and Whirlpool’s WOI68PT1SBAF built-in models have stated capacities of 72 and 73 L respectively. Keep a separate microwave if you use one regularly.
A combination oven brings these functions together with oven cooking. If you need to reheat food while something else is cooking, two separate appliances let you do both at once, provided you have space for them.
Consider it if: having oven cooking and microwave functions in one cavity matters more to you than doing two tasks at once.
Limitation: a single cavity cannot cook one dish while reheating another at the same time.
Consider it if: oven cooking is your priority and you only occasionally use a microwave to reheat food, or already have one.
Limitation: check how often you need to defrost and reheat food before deciding you can do without a microwave.
Consider it if: you need to cook something in the oven while reheating or defrosting something else.
Consideration: make sure you have two suitable spaces, particularly if you’re keeping an existing microwave.
| Criterion | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Functions | Check the microwave, defrost and oven cooking modes available on the model you’re considering, along with the combinations of modes permitted in its manual. | I often reheat or defrost food and want to know whether one cavity can handle these tasks. |
| Capacity | Compare usable capacity, cavity dimensions and cooking levels. Documented built-in examples range from 44 to 52 L for compact combination ovens, compared with 72 to 73 L for the convection ovens listed by Electrolux and Whirlpool. These capacities are not universal. | My large dishes and multi-level cooking need to fit in the oven. |
| Energy | Compare the specifications of the models and how you plan to use them. According to ADEME, the efficiency of combination ovens varies with the dishes, models and brands, with no clear overall advantage over convection ovens. | I don’t want to choose a combination oven assuming it will always use less energy. |
| Installation | Compare the housing dimensions, electrical connection and ventilation clearances with the installation diagram for the exact model. For example, Electrolux’s KVLBE08X specifications state a housing size of 450 × 560 × 550 mm. | My cabinetry and electrical installation need to be suitable for the appliance I choose. |
The compact combination ovens listed by Bosch, Electrolux and Whirlpool offer 44 to 52 L, while the EOF8P08X and WOI68PT1SBAF convection ovens have stated capacities of 72 and 73 L. This difference can matter when cooking a large dish or using multiple levels.
Measure your dishes and compare the usable capacity, cavity and accessories of the model you’re considering.
The French ADEME study does not show a clear overall energy-efficiency advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens. Results vary depending on the dishes and appliances.
Check the energy information for the models you’re interested in, taking into account the functions you’ll actually use.
Housing requirements, electrical connections and air clearances vary by model. Electrolux also notes that, depending on the model, a cooling fan may continue to run after using a microwave appliance.
Check the exact installation manual and have the electrical connection inspected if the wiring is old or has been altered.
Bosch offers compact built-in combination ovens and built-in convection ovens in France.
The French range includes built-in combination ovens and large-capacity convection ovens.
Electrolux offers compact combination ovens and built-in convection ovens in France.
Siemens offers combination ovens with microwave functions in compact and larger sizes in France.
This selection includes combination microwaves that bring several functions together in one appliance, as well as built-in ovens for prioritising oven cooking, with a separate microwave if needed.
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Worth considering if you want to combine several cooking and reheating functions in a freestanding appliance. Its stated capacity is 42 L. Check which modes are available, how much space is needed around the appliance and the ventilation guidance in the manual.
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This 39 L freestanding model is for those who want to combine microwave functions with other cooking modes. Check the manual to find out which modes can be used together and what clearances are required.
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Its stated capacity of 72 L is worth comparing with the dimensions of your larger dishes. If you often reheat or defrost food in a microwave, you’ll need a separate appliance. Also check the oven’s housing dimensions in the manual.
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This 71 L oven is worth considering if cooking large dishes matters more to you than combining functions. You’ll still need a separate microwave for tasks that require one. Check the housing dimensions and the precautions for the pyrolytic cleaning cycle in the manual.
No. The French ADEME study says that the efficiency of combination ovens varies depending on the dishes, models and brands, with no clear overall advantage over convection ovens. Compare the specifications of the models you’re considering and the modes you’ll use.
Measure the housing space and compare it with the installation diagram for the exact model, not just the appliance’s external dimensions. For example, Electrolux states a housing size of 450 × 560 × 550 mm for the KVLBE08X combination oven, compared with 590 × 560 × 550 mm for its EOF8P08X convection oven.
According to Electrolux, a microwave appliance’s cooling fan may continue to run after use, depending on the model. Check the manual to find out what to expect from your model.
Yes. Check the connection requirements and total power in the manual for the model you’ve chosen, then ask a professional to inspect the installation if it’s old or has been altered. An appliance’s specifications alone don’t determine the installation requirements for another model.
The French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that the time limit for claiming under the legal guarantee of conformity is two years for a new product in France. Before taking out a commercial warranty, compare what it adds to this legal protection and the terms of its cover.