Choose a solo microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost food day to day, which Que Choisir identifies as common uses. A grill model is suitable for occasional browning, while a combination microwave with a fan oven is worth considering if you want to cook and brown dishes – provided its capacity, size, ventilation requirements and power supply suit the space available.
You mainly need to reheat, defrost and prepare a few dishes in a very restricted kitchen. The right choice depends on how often you genuinely cook in an oven and how much space is available around the appliance.
You want a versatile appliance for occasional stays without filling the property with equipment. A combination model makes sense if you also need to cook and brown food, rather than simply reheat it.
Check the fan oven, grill, cavity size, accessories and the appliance’s actual footprint before treating a combination model as a partial replacement for an oven.
Start by separating your reheating needs from your cooking requirements, then measure the available space carefully before comparing features.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Microwave function, power levels, defrost programme and easy-to-read controls. Que Choisir specifically assesses reheating speed and evenness, as well as defrosting performance. | I want to reheat leftovers, soups or ready meals without switching on an oven, and defrost food as part of my regular routine. |
| Cooking and browning | Check whether the model has a grill or a genuine fan oven. The grill is for browning; convection is the function to look for when you want oven-style cooking. | A grill may be enough for occasional browning. If I regularly prepare pizzas, cakes or dishes that need cooking, I’m looking for a fan oven function. |
| Size and ventilation | Compare the width, depth and height with your worktop, the door-opening area and the clearances specified in the manual. Installation requirements vary by model. | My appliance must fit into a small kitchen without restricting airflow. I also need to check that the surface can support its weight. |
| Safety and everyday use | Check the ventilation instructions and the condition of the door, seal, cable and plug. Use containers that are suitable for the selected mode. | I want controls that are easy to understand and need to be able to use the appliance with suitable containers without obstructing ventilation. |
A combination model adds a grill and fan oven, but these functions may not be useful if your needs focus on reheating and defrosting.
List how you use an appliance over one week: if dishes that need cooking or browning are rare, compare a solo model or grill microwave first.
A suitable cavity size can still come with an appliance that is too deep or heavy for your worktop. Ventilation must remain unobstructed.
Before buying, measure the width, depth, height, door-opening area and the clearances required in the model’s manual.
A grill helps to brown food, while a fan oven provides the oven-style cooking mode used for dishes such as cakes and pizzas.
A grill may be suitable for occasional gratins. For regular baking, pizzas or roast dishes, look specifically for a convection or fan oven function.
Metal utensils and some plastics are not suitable for microwave use. If the door, seal, cable or plug is damaged, do not use the appliance.
Use containers that are compatible with the selected mode and check the condition of the door, seal, plug and cable before use.
The French range includes compact solo models and freestanding combination microwaves with convection, grill and microwave functions.
The brand offers freestanding, grill and combination appliances, as well as built-in models on the French market.
The French range includes medium- and large-capacity combination microwaves combining microwave, fan oven and grill functions.
Joybuy options featuring grill microwaves and combination models with fan ovens, suitable for a small kitchen without a traditional oven.
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For cooking, browning and reheating in one appliance when your worktop can accommodate a larger format.
Microwave, grill, convection, steam and hot-air modes listed; 39 L cavity. Dimensions: 54.4 × 52.5 × 32.7 cm; weight: 16.5 kg. Check the ventilation clearances in the manual.
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An option to consider for cooking and browning larger dishes without a traditional oven.
Microwave, grill and convection modes listed; 42 L cavity and convection temperature from 140 to 230 °C. Dimensions: 55.3 × 50.5 × 32.6 cm; weight: 20 kg. Consult the manual for installation details.
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Suitable for reheating, defrosting and occasional browning in a compact kitchen.
Microwave, quick defrost, keep-warm and quartz grill functions listed. 25 L cavity; dimensions: 47.6 × 38.8 × 27.2 cm. No fan oven function is listed.
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For reheating, defrosting and occasional browning on a limited worktop.
20 L cavity, defrost function, nine power levels and 800 W grill listed. Dimensions: 45.2 × 35.3 × 26.2 cm; weight: 11.2 kg. The description specifies 10 cm of clearance at the sides and rear.
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Worth considering for reheating, defrosting and browning larger portions without aiming for regular oven-style cooking.
Quartz grill, weight- or time-based defrosting and multi-stage cooking listed. 25 L cavity; 28.8 cm turntable; dimensions: 53.6 × 43.6 × 33 cm. Compare the depth with your worktop.
It can replace some of an oven’s functions when it combines a fan oven, grill and microwave. Que Choisir states that combination models provide the basic functions of a conventional oven. However, check the capacity, accessories, dimensions and expected results for the dishes you usually prepare, as a combination microwave is not automatically equivalent to a large dedicated oven.
Follow the instructions for the exact model. For example, the Whirlpool MCP349 manual requires at least 30 cm of clearance above the appliance, along with open space around it for air circulation; it also states that the appliance must not be installed in a cupboard. These instructions do not automatically apply to every appliance.
Check that the voltage shown on the rating plate matches your household supply, and do not use the appliance if the power cord or plug is damaged. For a built-in model, follow its installation instructions exclusively.
No. Que Choisir states that metal utensils are not suitable for microwave use and that not all plastics are suitable either. Use containers specifically designed for this purpose and follow any restrictions that apply to grill or fan oven modes.
A microwave falls within the waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling scheme. The ministry responsible for the ecological transition states that « 1 for 1 » take-back is available without a minimum threshold when buying an appliance of the same type; « 1 for 0 » take-back applies to retail shops with at least 400 m² of sales space dedicated to this category.