If you mainly want to reheat and defrost food, choose a solo microwave; if you’d also like to brown or crisp dishes, consider a grill model. Without a conventional oven, a combination microwave may be worth considering if you’ll genuinely use cooking modes such as convection. In a small home, measure the space and check the door clearance and the specified ventilation gaps for the exact model before you choose.
If you sometimes make gratins, pizzas or other dishes that need oven-style cooking, compare the cooking modes on combination microwaves. First, measure the available space: having several functions in one appliance doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll fit on your worktop.
If you mainly need to reheat portions and defrost food, a solo model may cover your main needs. Check that your containers fit inside the cavity and that you’re happy with the defrost settings.
A grill model is a good fit if you’d like to brown or crisp some dishes as well as use the microwave for everyday tasks. If you also expect to cook using convection, check for that function separately: the word “grill” alone doesn’t mean it’s included.
Choose this if: reheating and defrosting make up most of your meals.
Bear in mind: this option doesn’t include a grill or convection.
Choose this if: you’d also like to brown or crisp food from time to time.
Bear in mind: the grill function alone doesn’t replace the other cooking modes of a conventional oven.
Choose this if: you want the appliance to handle some dishes you’d otherwise cook in an oven.
Bear in mind: according to UFC-Que Choisir, combination models cost more; their size also varies from model to model.
When choosing a freestanding appliance for a home without an oven, start with the dishes you want to make. Then check that the model and its installation will suit the space available.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking instead of using an oven | Check which cooking modes are actually available, including convection if your dishes need it, then check the external dimensions. | I don’t have an oven and want to make dishes that need more than reheating. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this kind of cooking. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the defrost settings and make sure there’s enough room inside for the containers you usually use. | I mainly eat ready meals that need reheating, and sometimes defrost ingredients; around 45% of consumers would put these uses first. |
| Browning or crisping food occasionally | Check that the microwave has a grill and see which accessories are included; look for a combined microwave-and-grill mode. | I’d like to brown some dishes without making oven-style cooking my main use. Around 22% of consumers would prioritise this. |
The internal capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space you’ll need. For example, Whirlpool lists its MCP349WH combination microwave at 52 × 30,1 × 49,4 cm, compared with 49 × 32,5 × 46,8 cm for the MWF259SG.
Measure the width, height and depth of the space. For the model you’re considering, also check the manual for ventilation requirements and allow enough room to open the door.
A grill is useful for browning or crisping food. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes combination microwaves by their ability to offer the basic functions of a conventional oven, including convection; a grill model won’t necessarily have this mode.
Make a note of the dishes you plan to cook regularly, then check each mode on the exact model’s product page rather than relying on the category name alone.
Whirlpool’s French freestanding range includes grill and combination microwaves, making it easy to compare different types of cooking without choosing a built-in appliance.
Samsung’s French buying guide separates microwaves into solo, grill and combination models.
The NN-DS59N combination microwave is an example of an appliance that brings several cooking modes together.
These freestanding models are suited to reheating and defrosting, with or without a grill depending on the model. If you need convection, check the functions of a combination microwave separately to make sure it suits the dishes you want to cook.
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Worth considering if you prioritise reheating and defrosting over browning or crisping food.
Advertised with 700 W of power, six power levels and a 30-minute timer.
Before installing, check that you have a suitable socket, allow for the required ventilation gaps and make sure there’s room to open the door.
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Consider this model if you’d like to brown or crisp some dishes while still enjoying the usual microwave functions.
Advertised microwave power of 700 W. For oven-style cooking, check which other modes are available rather than assuming they’re included because the model has a grill.
Also measure the required clearance above the appliance and in front of the door.
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Worth comparing if you want to reheat and defrost food using digital controls.
Advertised with 700 W of power, 11 power levels and six pre-set menus.
Check that the installation allows for the specified ventilation gaps and that the power supply is suitable for your home.
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Worth considering for reheating and browning food; check that it has the modes you need for your other dishes.
Advertised microwave power of 800 W. A grill doesn’t, by itself, confirm that convection is available.
Allow room to open the drop-down door and check the installation requirements for this model.
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Consider this model if reheating and defrosting are your main needs and its size suits your kitchen.
This is described as a solo microwave with quick defrost; don’t choose it if you need a grill or convection.
Check the ventilation clearances and door-opening space before installing it.
Yes, if you mainly need to reheat and defrost food, with the occasional simple dish to cook. If you regularly make dishes that need browning or oven-style cooking, compare grill and combination models respectively. UFC-Que Choisir notes that combination models can include both a grill and convection.
Measure the space in terms of width, height and depth, then check the manual for the clearance needed for ventilation and opening the door. Capacity in litres isn’t a substitute for these measurements: Whirlpool lists different external dimensions for its MCP349WH and MWF259SG combination models.
A grill lets you brown or crisp food, but its presence doesn’t guarantee the other cooking modes you’d expect from an oven. If you plan to cook dishes using convection, check that this mode is explicitly listed for the model you’re considering; UFC-Que Choisir includes it among the possible functions of combination microwaves.
Old microwaves are covered by the waste electrical and electronic equipment scheme described by the ministry responsible for ecological transition. When buying a similar appliance, ask the retailer about its “one-for-one” take-back service; don’t put it in your ordinary household rubbish.