In a small kitchen without an oven, choose a solo microwave if you mainly want to reheat and defrost, or a grill model if you’d also like to brown dishes. If you plan to cook oven-style recipes from time to time, check that the combi microwave you’re considering has a convection function: a grill alone won’t do the job. Before you decide, check the dimensions, door clearance and ventilation requirements in the manual against the space you have available.
In a studio flat or holiday home, if you mainly need these two functions, a solo microwave should do the job. Still, check that it fits in your chosen spot with the door open and the clearances required by the manual.
If you already have a hob but would like to brown a dish or toast bread, a grill gives you that option. The UFC-Que Choisir guide warns that this function shouldn’t be confused with a fan oven’s convection function.
If you’re planning to make pizzas, cakes or roasts, look for a model that explicitly lists a fan oven or convection function. Check its dimensions and bear in mind that results may vary depending on the recipe and programme.
In a small kitchen without an oven, start with the main job you want your microwave to do. Then check that the appliance and its installation requirements suit the space you have available.
Worth considering: if you mainly want to reheat and defrost.
Limitation: it doesn’t offer grill browning or fan-assisted cooking.
Worth considering: if you’d also like to brown or grill dishes from time to time.
Limitation: a grill alone can’t replace a fan oven function.
Worth considering: if you plan to cook oven-style recipes occasionally and have enough space.
Limitation: results vary between recipes and programmes.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Measure the external dimensions and the space needed to open the door; check the manual for ventilation clearances. | In a studio flat, I mainly want to reheat leftovers and defrost food without cluttering the worktop; around 42% of consumers prioritise these uses. |
| Occasional browning | Check that it has a grill mode and whether the appliance is freestanding or built in. | I want a grill for finishing a casserole or browning toast, but I don’t expect this appliance to be my main oven; around 25% of consumers prioritise browning. |
| Oven-style cooking | Check that a fan oven or convection function is listed, then compare the maximum dish size and the appliance’s dimensions. | Without a conventional oven, I want to cook pizzas, cakes or roasts from time to time; around 33% of consumers put this option first. |
The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you whether the microwave will fit on your worktop. External dimensions, door clearance and ventilation clearances each answer a different question. The measurements for a built-in model won’t apply to a freestanding appliance.
Measure the space, then compare it with the dimensions and installation instructions for the exact model.
A grill is for browning. If you want to cook recipes that need oven-style heat, the presence of a grill doesn’t mean the appliance also has a convection function.
If you’re planning to make pizzas, cakes or roasts, look specifically for a convection or fan oven function in the model’s specifications.
UFC-Que Choisir assesses cooking functions separately in its testing. When it tested the LG MJ3965BPS, small cakes struggled to rise using the convection function. So, a function being listed doesn’t guarantee consistent results with every dish.
Think about the recipes you’ll make most often and check the functions and test results relevant to each one.
A test can help you compare features even if the model is no longer on sale. For example, Samsung France says the MC35J8085LT is no longer available to buy.
Check the full model number, dimensions and manual for the product you’re actually planning to buy.
The MWF255B is a useful example of what to check in a freestanding microwave with a grill and a flatbed cavity.
The MJ3965ACR is worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding combination microwave with convection and have a suitable worktop.
The MC35J8085LT can be a useful reference when considering the space a combination microwave takes up, but Samsung France says it’s no longer available to buy.
These models are suited to uses focused on reheating and, where a grill is listed, occasional browning. If your priority is oven-style cooking, check separately that the model you choose explicitly has a fan oven function.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat meals and occasionally brown a dish using the same appliance. The title lists a grill, a capacity of 20 L and a power rating of 700 W. Check the cooking functions and installation instructions if you expect it to do more than brown food.
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Worth considering if reheating is your main use and you’re looking for a 25 L capacity. The title lists 900 W and describes this as a solo microwave. If browning is important to you, check its exact functions before ordering.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a 25 L microwave for a small kitchen. The title lists 1000 W. Check the cooking modes for this model before relying on it to have a grill or fan oven function, and make sure you have enough space for installation.
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Worth considering if you’d like to add occasional browning to your reheating options. The title specifies a freestanding model with a grill, 25 L capacity and 900 W power. Measure your worktop and check the manual for door clearance and ventilation requirements.
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Worth considering if you prioritise reheating and defrosting over browning. The title lists 20 L, 700 W, six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a defrost function. Check the required clearances before choosing a spot for it.
It can cover some oven-style cooking needs if the model has the functions you require, including a grill and a fan oven function for recipes that need one. It won’t automatically perform just like a conventional oven: UFC-Que Choisir assesses these modes separately and found that small cakes struggled to rise using the convection function on the LG MJ3965BPS.
Measure the width, height and depth, as well as the space needed to open the door. Then check the manual for the exact model to find its ventilation requirements. To compare two different models, Whirlpool France lists dimensions of 49 × 32,5 × 46,8 cm for the MWF255B, while LG France lists 54,0 × 32,5 × 52,3 cm for the MJ3965ACR. These external dimensions alone don’t include the installation clearances required.
Choose containers specifically marked as microwave-safe and follow the appliance manual. Check the guidance before using a plastic container, in particular. Don’t put a metal tin in the microwave, as the UFC-Que Choisir guide reminds users.
Yes. In France, it also applies to second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual, according to the Ministry of the Economy. You claim under it from the business seller, and it’s separate from any commercial warranty.