If you mainly reheat and defrost food, a solo microwave will cover the essentials; choose a model with a grill if you’d also like to brown dishes occasionally. For small oven-style recipes while keeping microwave functions, look at combination microwaves with convection. If you cook this way regularly or need to prepare several dishes, compare a mini oven instead, making sure you have space for it and checking its installation instructions.
In a studio flat, kitchenette or holiday home, you’ll mainly use the appliance for leftovers and defrosting. A solo microwave may be enough if you don’t need browning or oven-style cooking, as set out in UFC-Que Choisir’s buying guide.
Without a conventional oven, you’d also like to make small pizzas, gratins or cakes. Look for a combination model with a convection setting, then check that your dishes and the accessories you need will fit the cavity and are suitable for each mode.
You regularly make quiches, pastries or several dishes at once. A mini oven is worth comparing with a combination model, provided you have a suitable surface to put it on and are happy to do without microwave reheating.
Start with the meals you make most often, then match the cooking mode you need to the size of your dishes and the space available. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between solo, grill and combination microwaves according to their functions; a mini oven serves a different priority: oven-style cooking.
Consider it: if most of your use is reheating and defrosting.
Bear in mind: it doesn’t have a grill for browning or convection for oven-style recipes.
Consider it: if you want microwave functions and the option to brown or crisp food from time to time.
Bear in mind: a grill alone doesn’t replace a convection cooking mode.
Consider it: if you want one appliance that can also cook small oven-style recipes.
Bear in mind: usable capacity and cooking results vary by model; the word ‘combination’ alone doesn’t tell you what to expect.
Consider it: if you cook using an oven often or need to prepare several dishes.
Bear in mind: it needs a dedicated spot and doesn’t offer microwave reheating.
| Need | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Compare the turntable diameter with your plates and check the defrost controls. | For leftovers or ready meals, I mainly want an appliance that’s easy to use, without planning to cook dishes that need browning. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Occasional browning | Check that it has a grill mode and find out which accessories are suitable for use with it. | If I sometimes make a croque monsieur or a shallow gratin, I want to brown the top without buying an appliance dedicated to oven cooking. Around 20% of consumers put this need first. |
| Cooking with one appliance | Look for a convection mode and compare its temperature range and usable capacity with the recipes you make. | Without a conventional oven, I want to make small pizzas or pastries while still being able to reheat food in the microwave. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Preparing several portions | Measure your dishes and check the internal dimensions, cooking levels and required ventilation space. | When I often cook quiches or several dishes, space for cooking matters more than microwave functions. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this cooking capacity. |
The word ‘combination’ doesn’t tell you what size dishes will fit or how each cooking mode performs. UFC-Que Choisir assesses the grill, pizza, convection and temperature control separately, among other things.
Make a note of the recipes you cook most often, then check that the dishes, temperatures and accessories they require match the specifications of the model you’re considering.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your tin will fit on the turntable or under the heating element. An appliance that fits a plate may not suit your gratin dish.
Measure your cookware, then compare its dimensions with those of the cavity, turntable or supplied racks.
Blocked vents can cause overheating. Clearance and electrical requirements vary by appliance; Whirlpool’s installation advice, for example, says not to block the vents on a freestanding microwave.
Choose a spot before you buy and follow the clearance and connection instructions in the manual for the exact model.
Anses says that excessive reheating power or time can increase the migration of substances from some food packaging.
Follow the instructions on the dish and its packaging. If you’re unsure about the container, transfer the food to one that’s suitable for the mode you’re using.
These product range examples can help you compare features; they don’t guarantee that a model is available or suitable for your space.
Freestanding grill and combination microwaves to consider if you’re choosing between occasional browning and convection cooking.
A brand to look at when comparing the features available on combination microwaves.
Freestanding, grill and combination microwaves to compare based on the modes you need and the installation requirements.
Mini ovens to consider if oven-style cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating.
These Joybuy models cover reheating with solo microwaves, browning with grill models, and oven-style cooking with a combination microwave worth considering. Start by choosing the functions you need, then check the dimensions and manual for the model you select.
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For reheating and defrosting, with the option to brown a dish occasionally. The model name indicates a 20 L capacity and 700 W microwave power.
If your recipes need convection, check that another appliance has this mode. Also check the manual for the clearances required in your chosen spot.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat, defrost and brown food occasionally. The model name indicates a 21 L capacity and 800 W microwave power.
For recipes that need convection, check the model’s modes rather than relying on its grill function. Also compare its dimensions and manual with your available space.
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For consumers who prioritise reheating and defrosting over browning. The model name mentions Quick Defrost and a 23 L capacity.
If you plan to brown or cook food as you would in an oven, look for those specific modes on another model. Check the installation clearances in the manual.
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For reheating and defrosting, with pre-set controls. The model name indicates 700 W, six pre-set menus and eleven power levels.
For dishes that need browning or convection cooking, choose a model based on those modes rather than its menus alone. Check the manual for installation instructions.
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Worth considering if you want to make oven-style recipes in an appliance that also offers microwave functions. The model name indicates a 42 L 3-in-1 combination microwave.
Check the manual for the modes and accessories you can use with your recipes, as well as the defrost function if that matters to you. Measure the space and check the installation instructions before buying.
It can handle some oven-style cooking if the specific model has a proper convection function and your dishes fit inside the cavity. If you cook this way often or prepare several dishes at once, compare the usable dimensions and modes of the combination microwave with those of a mini oven; UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between these functions in its buying guide.
No. Follow the compatibility, power and timing instructions on the tray or dish. Anses says that heating food too intensely can increase the migration of substances from some packaging into food; if in doubt, use a suitable container.
Not necessarily: suitable containers can vary depending on whether you’re using the microwave, grill or convection mode. UFC-Que Choisir specifically advises against using metal utensils in microwave mode; follow your model’s manual for grill accessories.
Measure the appliance and the available space, then check the manual for ventilation clearances and connection requirements. For a freestanding microwave, Whirlpool recommends a flat surface with unobstructed vents; the required clearances vary by model.