Reheating in a very small space
In a studio flat, kitchenette or holiday home, you mainly need to defrost and reheat food, without expecting the appliance to double as an oven.
Which option suits each need?
Browning small dishes
You want the everyday convenience of a microwave, with the option to brown a pizza, gratin or toast from time to time using a grill.
Cooking without a conventional oven
You plan to bake or roast regularly. Convection can meet this need, provided your worktop, ventilation and the oven cavity suit the dishes you use.
What sets the models apart?
According to UFC-Que Choisir’s buying guide, a combination microwave adds some of the basic functions of an oven to those of a microwave. If your kitchenette has no oven, first decide what kind of cooking you need, then check whether the appliance can be installed in the space available.
Solo microwave
Choose this if: reheating and defrosting make up most of your microwave use.
Limitation: it has neither a grill nor convection for browning or roasting.
Grill microwave
Choose this if: you mainly want to reheat food, with the option to brown or gratinate it occasionally.
Limitation: the grill cannot replace convection for dishes that need it.
Combination microwave with convection
Choose this if: you want the appliance to handle some of the cooking you would normally use an oven for.
Limitation: having several functions in one appliance doesn’t remove the need to check its size and the dimensions of the dishes it can accommodate.
| Criteria | What to check | What matters to consumers |
|---|---|---|
| Size and installation | Check the width, depth and height, door clearance and ventilation space against the area where you plan to install it. | On my worktop, the door needs to open without getting in the way of other kitchenette activities; around 42% of consumers would put fitting the appliance in the available space first. |
| Cooking without an oven | Check for convection, its temperature range and which accessories are suitable for your recipes. | Without a conventional oven, I want to be able to cook or roast dishes regularly; around 33% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Occasional browning | Check that it has a grill, the usable height of the cavity and which accessories are suitable for this mode. | I mainly reheat meals, but sometimes want to brown the top; around 25% of consumers would put this browning feature first. |
Which mistakes should you avoid?
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Relying on the litre capacity without measuring the appliance
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether the microwave will fit on your worktop, whether its door will open or whether your dishes will fit inside.
Measure the space and your dishes, then compare them with the appliance dimensions, door clearance and installation instructions for the exact model.
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Blocking the vents on a freestanding model
Whirlpool says that blocked ventilation openings can cause the appliance to overheat quickly.
Keep the vents clear and follow the installation clearances in the manual for the model you choose.
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Confusing a grill with convection
A grill browns food; on its own, it won’t handle dishes that rely on the convection function of a combination microwave.
Think about the dishes you’ll make most often and choose a cooking function suited to those regular needs.
Brands and ranges to know
Samsung
Samsung describes the MC28M6035CK/EF as a 28 L freestanding combination microwave with microwave and hot-air circulation functions.
- Samsung says that turning off the turntable can make it easier to use some square dishes.
- Still, check the dimensions of your dishes and the installation clearances in the manual for the variant being sold.
Panasonic
The NN-C69KSM and NN-CD58RS freestanding combination microwaves offer microwave, grill and convection functions.
- Panasonic lists a 30 L capacity and external dimensions of 520 × 520 × 327 mm for the NN-C69KSM.
- In particular, compare its depth with your worktop and check which accessories are suitable for the recipes you plan to make.
Whirlpool
The MWP3391SB is an example of Whirlpool’s freestanding combination microwaves with forced-air cooking.
- Whirlpool lists this model as 49 cm wide, 54 cm deep and 37.3 cm high.
- Measure the available depth and check the installation requirements for the exact model before considering it.
Joybuy products related to this topic
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Frequently asked questions
Can I install a combination microwave in an enclosed space?
Not without checking the installation type specified for that model. A freestanding appliance needs clear ventilation; for installation in a cabinet, choose a model explicitly designed for built-in use and follow its installation diagram.
Can a grill microwave replace a conventional oven?
A grill can brown or gratinate food, but it can’t replace convection for dishes that rely on it. If you regularly want to bake or roast without a conventional oven, look at the cooking modes offered by a combination microwave and the space it needs.
How can I tell whether my dishes will fit in the microwave?
Compare your dishes with the usable width and height of the cavity, the shape of the turntable and the door opening. The capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether a rectangular dish will fit or whether the appliance will fit on your worktop.