People who reheat meals every day
If you regularly reheat portions and defrost food, but don’t often cook in an oven, a solo microwave could suit your everyday needs. A grill is only worth considering if you also plan to use it to brown your dishes.
Who are these appliances for?
Small kitchens without a conventional oven
If you also need your appliance to cook or brown dishes, look closely at the actual functions offered by a combination model or mini oven. The size of your dishes, the space available and the ventilation instructions can help you choose between two appliances with similar uses.
People short on worktop space
Measure the space available and the dishes you usually use. Width, depth, internal dimensions and turntable diameter are more useful for checking whether they’ll fit than the capacity in litres alone.
How do the options compare?
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between a microwave with a grill, which is designed in part for browning dishes, and a combination model, which can also offer fan-assisted cooking. If oven-style cooking matters more to you than reheating and defrosting, consider a mini oven or air fryer too, depending on the dishes you prepare.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check for a defrost setting and make sure there’s enough room for your dishes. | If I mainly reheat portions and defrost food, I’ll prioritise these tasks over cooking modes I’d rarely use. Around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Cooking without an oven | Look for fan-assisted cooking if your dishes need it, then check the settings and internal dimensions. | Without a conventional oven, I want to be able to cook the dishes I usually make, not just reheat them. Around 29% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Browning and grilling | Make sure it has a grill; don’t confuse this function with fan-assisted cooking. | To finish a gratin or brown the top of a dish, I’m looking for a grill function that a solo microwave doesn’t offer. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this result. |
| Size and installation | Measure the width and depth, then check the manual for the required ventilation clearances. | With limited worktop space, I need to be able to position the appliance without blocking its vents or making it difficult to use. Around 14% of consumers would put this constraint first. |
Mistakes to avoid before buying
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Choosing based on capacity in litres alone
Capacity alone won’t tell you whether your dish will fit inside the cavity or turn on the turntable. The appliance’s external depth could also mean it won’t fit in the space you have in mind.
Measure the dishes you use most and compare them with the internal dimensions, turntable and overall size of the exact model you’re considering.
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Confusing a grill with fan-assisted cooking
A grill lets you brown the top of a dish, but having one doesn’t mean the appliance can cook like an oven.
If you’re planning to make cakes, pizzas or other dishes that need this type of cooking, look specifically for fan-assisted cooking and check that the cavity is large enough for your dishes.
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Blocking the vents when installing a microwave
Whirlpool France warns that blocked ventilation openings can cause the appliance to overheat.
Before buying, check where the vents are and what clearances the manual for your chosen model requires. Don’t assume they’ll be the same as those for another appliance.
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Taking energy-saving claims at face value
A result achieved by a manufacturer with one food and under specific test conditions won’t necessarily apply to everything you cook.
Read the conditions behind the claim, then choose based on how you’ll use the appliance: reheating, defrosting, cooking style and the quantity you need to prepare.
Brands to consider for different needs
Whirlpool
Freestanding models to consider if you’re comparing microwaves with grill and fan-assisted cooking functions.
- For the MWSC833W, Whirlpool France lists a 33 L capacity, a 36 cm turntable and microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking functions.
- According to Whirlpool France, this model measures 49 × 37,3 × 54 cm (width, height and depth). Check how much space you’ll need before choosing it for its features.
Electrolux
A brand to consider when comparing the footprint of a microwave with a grill against the space your dishes actually need.
- For the EMZ421MMK, Electrolux France gives a turntable diameter of 27 cm and external dimensions of 262 × 442 × 345 mm (height, width and depth).
- The cavity of this same model measures 218 × 303 × 316 mm, so check the size of your dishes too. These measurements don’t apply to other models from the brand.
Moulinex
An option for anyone who’d rather have a mini oven with cooking modes than a microwave for reheating.
- Moulinex describes the Optimo 19 L as a mini oven with fan-assisted cooking, six settings and a thermostat that goes up to 240 °C.
- Moulinex recommends considering models under 33 L for one person, a couple or a student. You’ll still need to check this against the size of your dishes and the space available.
Tefal
A brand to consider if an air fryer is better suited to the way you plan to cook than a microwave.
- Tefal lists the Easy Fry Mega as having a 7,5 L capacity, a temperature range of 80 to 200 °C and a timer of up to 60 minutes.
- Check that the basket is the right size for your portions. Tefal’s speed and energy-use claims are based on tests with frozen chips and don’t cover every type of food.
Solo microwaves and grill models on Joybuy
These models are suited to reheating and defrosting, and some also have a grill function. If you’re also looking for fan-assisted cooking, or would prefer a mini oven or air fryer, check these functions separately and make sure your dishes will fit.
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Whirlpool MWP 101 W, 20 L microwave
Worth considering if you mainly reheat and defrost meals and don’t need a grill. The product title lists a 20 L capacity and 700 W power. Before choosing a spot for it, check the dimensions and ventilation instructions in the manual.
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Beko MGC20100B1, black 20 L microwave with grill
Worth considering if you’d like to brown food occasionally as well as reheat and defrost. The title lists a 20 L capacity and 700 W power; a grill doesn’t mean the appliance has fan-assisted cooking. Check that your dishes will fit in the cavity and read the manual for installation instructions.
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Electrolux EMZ725MMTI Inverter, 25 L microwave with grill, titanium
Worth considering for reheating, defrosting and browning if a grill function suits the dishes you make. The title lists a 25 L capacity and 900 W power, but no fan-assisted cooking. Compare your dishes with the cavity dimensions and check the model’s connection and installation requirements.
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LG MH6535GIS, black 25 L microwave with grill
Worth considering if you want to reheat and defrost food, with the option to brown some dishes too. The title lists a 25 L capacity; the word ‘combo’ in its name doesn’t on its own confirm that it has a fan-assisted cooking mode. Check the internal dimensions and ventilation clearances in the model’s documentation.
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Cecotec Ready2Clean, black 20 L countertop microwave
Worth considering if you mainly need an appliance for reheating and defrosting. The title lists 700 W power and six power levels. Before buying, check the external dimensions, the space available for your dishes and the ventilation instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Can a combination microwave replace a conventional oven?
It can handle some oven-style cooking if it has the necessary settings, particularly fan-assisted cooking, but it won’t necessarily suit every dish you make. Check the model’s functions, adjustable temperature and cavity space for your usual tins and dishes.
Why shouldn’t I choose a microwave based only on its capacity in litres?
Because the advertised capacity doesn’t tell you whether your dish will fit in the cavity and turn inside it. Measure your dishes, then check the internal dimensions and turntable diameter, as well as the appliance’s external size.
How much space should I allow for a freestanding microwave?
Choose a spot where you can follow the model’s installation instructions and keep its vents clear. Whirlpool France advises against blocking the ventilation openings; check your appliance’s manual for the clearances you need to leave.
Can you put any container in a microwave?
No. Choose a container that’s suitable for microwave use and check its labelling as well as the appliance manual. Don’t use a metal container unless the manufacturer’s instructions explicitly allow it under the specified conditions.