If you mainly want to reheat and defrost food, start with a solo microwave. Choose a model with a grill if you’d also like to brown or crisp food. If you want oven-style cooking without adding another appliance, check that a combination microwave has a convection function. If oven cooking is your priority, compare mini ovens instead, bearing in mind that a model without a microwave function won’t meet the same reheating needs. In a small kitchen, measure the space and check the manual for ventilation and connection requirements.
If you mainly need to reheat and defrost food, think about whether you genuinely need oven-style cooking before giving up space for a more versatile appliance. UFC-Que Choisir lists student accommodation as one of the settings in which a microwave can be useful.
If you use your kitchen only occasionally, choose features to suit the meals you’ll make there: reheating doesn’t call for the same equipment as browning food or cooking it in the oven. UFC-Que Choisir also lists second homes as a setting in which a microwave can be useful.
If you want to cook or brown food without a built-in oven, compare a combination microwave with a convection function against a mini oven. The key question is whether you also need microwave functions for reheating and defrosting.
Start with the cooking you do most often, then check that the advertised features and appliance dimensions suit your kitchen.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check for a microwave function, and make sure the capacity and dimensions suit the dishes you use. Whirlpool describes the solo MWP201SB as offering microwave cooking only. | I mainly reheat meals and defrost food; I have another appliance for oven cooking. |
| Browning or crisping | Check that the exact model has a grill function. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes microwaves with a grill from combination models that can also cook using convection: a grill alone doesn’t confirm that the latter function is available. | I’d like to brown the top of a dish now and then, but don’t plan to bake or roast regularly. |
| Oven-style cooking | For a combination microwave, look for ‘convection’ or ‘fan-assisted’ cooking and check the temperature range. For a mini oven, check the cooking modes. The Moulinex Optimo 19 L OX444810 product details list convection cooking but don’t mention a microwave function. | I’d like to cook in an oven without adding a second appliance, or oven cooking is my priority and I can use a separate appliance for microwave cooking. |
| Space and installation | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with the space available. Check the manual for ventilation clearances and connection requirements, then make sure there’s a suitable socket in your home. | My kitchenette needs to accommodate the appliance in its intended position, with enough room to use it safely. |
A grill browns or crisps food; it doesn’t mean a microwave can bake or roast using convection. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between microwaves with a grill and combination models with this function.
Check the exact model’s product details separately for ‘grill’ and ‘convection’ or ‘fan-assisted’ cooking.
A mini oven may offer several oven-cooking modes, but the Moulinex Optimo 19 L OX444810 product details don’t mention a microwave function. On its own, this model won’t meet your needs for microwave defrosting and reheating.
Think about how you use your appliances over a typical week. Start with a microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost food; look at mini ovens if oven cooking is your priority.
The capacity in litres won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop with enough clearance for ventilation. In a kitchenette, the external dimensions and the available surface matter too.
Measure the space, check the ventilation guidance in the manual and make sure you have access to a suitable socket before ordering.
For cling film and bags, the French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control advises that if there’s no explicit indication that they’re suitable for microwave use, you shouldn’t use them in the appliance.
Check the container’s labelling before reheating food in the microwave.
Its freestanding microwave range makes it easy to compare solo models with those that have a grill.
The NN-C69KSM is an example of a combination model whose product details explicitly list convection cooking.
The Optimo 19 L OX444810 is an example of a mini oven for when oven cooking is your priority.
These models cover solo microwaves, grill models and combination microwaves for a small kitchen. Start by choosing the features that suit your meals, then check the space available and the installation instructions for your chosen model.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat meals and brown food now and then. The product title lists a 20 L capacity and 700 W microwave power. For oven-style cooking, check separately for a convection function. Consult the manual for ventilation clearances.
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This solo model suits everyday reheating and defrosting. Its product title lists six power levels and a 30-minute timer. Don’t expect a grill or convection function unless these features are explicitly listed. Check the manual for the clearance needed around the appliance and the connection requirements.
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The defrost function listed in the title is useful for preparing meals from frozen food. It has a stated capacity of 23 L. If you also want to brown or oven-cook food, look for those features in another type of appliance. Measure the space and check the ventilation clearances in the manual.
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This combination model is worth considering if you want one appliance for both reheating and oven-style cooking. Its stated capacity of 39 L makes it particularly important to check the space available. Check the cooking modes, clearances and connection requirements in the product details and manual for the exact model.
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This microwave with grill may suit a kitchen where you often reheat food and sometimes want to brown it. The product title lists a capacity of 25 L. If the grill’s power matters to you, check it in the product details for the exact model. A grill alone doesn’t confirm that it has a convection function; check the manual for installation guidance too.
It can combine microwave functions with oven-style cooking if its product details explicitly list convection or fan-assisted cooking. For example, Panasonic says the NN-C69KSM has fan-assisted convection cooking from 100 to 220 °C. Still, compare the capacity and the types of food you want to cook. By contrast, the product details for the Moulinex Optimo 19 L OX444810 mini oven don’t mention a microwave function.
No. The mention of a grill alone doesn’t confirm that the appliance has a convection function. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between microwaves with a grill and combination models that also offer this feature. If you want to cook dishes that need oven-style cooking, check for it in the product details for the exact model.
Read the labelling and look for an explicit indication that it’s safe to use in a microwave. For cling film and bags, the French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control advises against using them in the appliance if no such indication is provided.
Measure the available surface and check the socket, as well as the clearances and connection instructions in the manual for your chosen model. Promotelec’s kitchen design guidelines can’t confirm the condition of an existing installation. If you’re unsure about the installation in your home, ask your landlord or a qualified professional for advice.