If you mainly reheat and defrost food, choose a basic microwave; a model with a grill also lets you brown dishes. If you also want to cook quiches, cakes or roast dishes, compare a combination microwave with convection cooking and a mini oven. A combination microwave still offers microwave reheating, while a mini oven is a good choice when oven-style cooking matters more than this. In a small kitchen, check how much room the appliance needs, as well as whether your dishes will fit.
If you don't have a conventional oven, the right appliance depends first and foremost on the meals you make, not just the size of your kitchen.
If you mainly prepare leftovers, soups and individual portions, then finish some dishes in a frying pan or saucepan, a basic microwave will do the job without adding cooking modes you won't use. UFC-Que Choisir's buying guide distinguishes these appliances from models with a grill and combination microwaves.
If pizzas, quiches, cakes or roast dishes are regulars on your menu, look for an oven-style cooking function that suits these dishes. With a combination microwave, check for convection cooking, the available temperatures, the accessories and the usable space inside the cavity.
If you mainly want to brown individual portions or crisp up the top, compare a microwave with a grill against appliances that also offer oven-style cooking. A grill meets the first need, but having one doesn't mean the model also has convection cooking.
Start with your main need: reheating, browning or cooking like you would in an oven. Then check that the relevant features, your dishes and the space you have in mind are all compatible with the model you're considering.
| Need | What to check | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Defrost settings; cavity and turntable dimensions compared with your containers. | I mainly reheat portions and defrost food before cooking it another way; around 31% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Occasional browning | Whether it has a grill; which accessories and containers are suitable for this mode. | I want to brown the top of gratins or toast without baking in the appliance; this is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Combining microwave and oven-style cooking | Whether it has convection cooking, the available temperatures and the usable dimensions for your dishes. | Without an oven in my kitchen, I also want to regularly cook quiches or cakes in the same appliance I use to reheat meals; around 31% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Mainly cooking like you would in an oven | The mini oven's cooking modes and thermostat; room for your baking tins and dishes. | I mainly make roast dishes or bakes, and microwave reheating is less important to me; around 15% of consumers have this priority. |
The rated power alone doesn't tell you how well an appliance reheats or defrosts food, or how well its grill performs. UFC-Que Choisir's testing protocol assesses several of these uses separately, as well as ease of use.
Decide which meals you'll make most often, then compare the modes, usable dimensions and controls of the specific model.
A grill and convection cooking are most useful if your meals actually call for browning or oven-style cooking. If you only need to reheat and defrost, a basic microwave may be enough.
Think about the dishes you usually make: if quiches, pizzas or bakes are regulars, compare combination microwaves and mini ovens based on how well they suit these dishes.
A capacity in litres won't tell you whether your plate or tin will fit or, if there's a turntable, whether it can rotate freely.
Measure your largest containers and compare them with the cavity dimensions, turntable, door opening and accessories for the model.
Anses says that overheating food can increase the migration of substances from certain food packaging. ADEME advises against reheating food in plastic containers.
If food is sold in packaging intended for microwave use, follow the instructions for time and power. For your usual containers, opt for glass and follow the appliance manual for each cooking mode.
These models illustrate different features. Always compare the exact model with your recipes, containers and available kitchen space.
Worth considering if you want a countertop appliance that combines microwave, grill and convection cooking.
Worth comparing if you want to reheat food in a microwave and also have a feature for achieving a golden finish.
Worth considering if you're looking for one appliance that combines a microwave, grill and oven, provided you have enough room for it.
Worth comparing among mini ovens if your meals mainly need oven-style cooking rather than microwave reheating.
These Joybuy models cover reheating with basic microwaves, browning with microwaves that have a grill, and a range of cooking needs with a combination microwave. Choose based on the features you'll use, and measure the space available before ordering.
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Worth considering if your main needs are reheating and defrosting, with no oven-style cooking function.
The product listing states that it has a 20 L capacity, 700 W, six preset menus and 11 power levels. Check your dishes against the turntable size and allow the clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth comparing for reheating and defrosting if you don't need a grill.
The product listing states that it has a 23 L capacity and a quick defrost function. Check that your dishes fit inside the cavity and that the ventilation clearance specified in the manual is possible in your chosen location.
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Worth considering if you want to add occasional browning to microwave reheating.
The product listing states that it has a 20 L capacity, 700 W and a grill. A grill doesn't guarantee convection cooking: check the manual to see which containers are suitable for each mode and what clearance is required when positioning the appliance.
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Worth comparing if you want to reheat food and also have oven-style cooking modes in the same appliance.
LG France describes the MJ3965ACS as a 39 L model with microwave, grill and oven functions. Measure the space carefully and check the accessories for this product reference: those supplied with other MJ3965 models may differ.
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Worth comparing if you use a microwave to reheat food but also want the option to brown certain dishes.
The product listing states that it has a grill, a 25 L capacity and 900 W. Check the manual for utensils suitable for use with the grill, the usable cavity size and the clearance required for installation.
Yes, if you mainly reheat and defrost food, and cook everything else another way. If you regularly want to brown food or make dishes that need oven-style cooking, compare a model with a grill or an appliance with an oven function, respectively.
It can handle some oven tasks if the model has the cooking modes, temperatures, accessories and internal space your recipes need. The word ‘combination’ alone isn't enough to judge how well it cooks every dish; UFC-Que Choisir assesses these modes separately in its testing protocol.
No: don't assume a plastic container is suitable for microwave use. If food is sold in packaging intended for this purpose, follow the instructions for time and power. Anses warns that overheating food can increase the migration of substances from certain packaging. ADEME advises against reheating food in plastic containers.
Not necessarily: check the appliance manual to see which containers are suitable for each mode. UFC-Que Choisir advises against using metal containers in microwave mode; don't assume that the rules for this mode also apply to the grill or convection cooking.