If your kitchen doesn’t have a traditional oven, a combination microwave with a fan oven is worth considering if you want to reheat and defrost food, as well as brown and cook certain oven-style dishes. If reheating is your main priority, a standard or grill microwave may be enough; if oven cooking comes first, a mini oven can do the job, but won’t offer microwave reheating. Either way, check how much room you’ll need for installation and how much space your dishes will have inside.
If you also need to brown food and prepare dishes that require a fan oven, consider a combination microwave. However, check that its cavity can accommodate your dishes: having several functions in one appliance doesn’t mean it can handle everything a full-sized oven can.
Whether you’re in student accommodation or a holiday home, measure the space before choosing a capacity. The external dimensions, door clearance, ventilation and usable cavity size matter just as much as the stated capacity.
A standard microwave is a good choice if you mainly need to reheat and defrost food. Choose a grill model if you’d also like to brown food from time to time, but don’t expect it to cook like a fan oven.
If your home doesn’t have a traditional oven, start with the dishes you want to prepare, then compare the functions you need with the space available and how you’ll use the appliance day to day. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between grill microwaves and combination models with a fan oven.
Choose this if: reheating and defrosting cover most of your needs.
Bear in mind: it doesn’t have a grill or fan oven for dishes that need those cooking modes.
Choose this if: you’d like to brown food occasionally as well as reheat it every day.
Bear in mind: a grill can’t replace a fan oven for oven-style cooking.
Choose this if: you need one appliance to combine microwave, grill and fan oven functions in a home without an oven.
Bear in mind: its external dimensions and cavity need to suit both your available space and the dishes you plan to cook.
Choose this if: oven cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating.
Bear in mind: it doesn’t have a microwave function, so you’ll need another solution for that.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Oven-style cooking | Whether the appliance has both a grill and a fan oven; whether the cavity has room for your dishes. | Without a traditional oven, I want to cook certain dishes, not just reheat them or brown the top. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this cooking need. |
| Size | External width, height and depth; door clearance and the spaces specified in the instruction manual. | In a kitchenette, I need to leave enough worktop space while still being able to use my plates and dishes. Space would be the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Test results for how evenly the model reheats and defrosts food; how easy its controls are to use. | I mainly need to reheat meals evenly, without complicated steps or areas that become too hot. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise this everyday use. |
| Occasional browning | Whether it has a grill, which accessories are included and the model’s browning test results. | I’d like to brown or gratinate food from time to time, but full oven cooking isn’t my main priority. Occasional browning would come first for around 14% of consumers. |
UFC-Que Choisir assesses factors including even reheating, grilling, combination cooking and fan oven performance. So simply having a particular mode listed in an appliance’s specifications isn’t enough to tell you how well it cooks.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop or whether the cavity will accommodate the dishes you use regularly.
Measure the space and your dishes, then compare the external dimensions, cavity size and, if there is one, the turntable diameter.
A recess or cabinet could block the ventilation the appliance needs.
Check the instructions for the model you’ve chosen and keep its ventilation openings clear. Whirlpool France also advises against blocking a microwave’s vents.
A grill helps brown or gratinate food, but on its own it won’t cook oven-style dishes evenly.
Make a list of the dishes you plan to prepare without a traditional oven. If they need a fan oven, check that this function is specifically listed among the model’s cooking modes.
It’s important to check whether the packaging is suitable for microwave use and follow its reheating instructions. Anses warns that using too high a power setting or heating for too long can increase the transfer of substances from some types of packaging.
Use a container labelled as microwave-safe and follow the power and heating time specified for the packaging in question.
LG France offers grill microwaves and combination models, with capacities including 23 L, 32 L and 39 L, depending on the model.
Panasonic France offers the NN-CD565B, a multifunction microwave with a stated capacity of 27 L.
Sharp’s French-language documentation describes the 40 L R-93ST-A combination microwave, with microwave, grill and fan oven functions.
Moulinex France offers the Optimo 33 L CT mini oven, which, according to the brand, includes modes such as fan oven and grill.
These appliances reflect two of the options covered above: a combination microwave to consider if you want several cooking modes in one appliance, and microwaves to look at if reheating or occasional browning is your main priority. Before deciding, check the functions, dimensions and instructions for the specific model you’re interested in.
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Worth considering if you want one appliance for reheating, grilling and oven-style cooking. The product name describes it as a 42 L 3-in-1 model: check its exact cooking modes, whether it will fit in your kitchen and the installation instructions. Also confirm the manufacturer and model number before buying.
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Worth considering if you mainly reheat meals and would like to brown them occasionally. This grill model is listed as 20 L and 700 W. If you’re planning to cook using a fan oven, check the available modes rather than relying on the grill.
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Worth comparing if you want to reheat food and brown it occasionally. The product name indicates a capacity of 25 L and a power rating of 900 W. Measure the space available and check for the functions you need if you also plan to cook oven-style dishes.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat food and brown it occasionally, rather than prioritising oven cooking. Check the functions available on this model and the power rating for each one: the 1000 W figure in its name doesn’t tell you which function it applies to.
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Worth considering if reheating is still your main priority. The product name indicates a capacity of 21 L and a power rating of 800 W. Before relying on this appliance to brown food, check the functions and accessories included with the exact model.
Use containers labelled as suitable for microwave use and follow the appliance instructions. For ready-meal trays, also follow the manufacturer’s guidance on power settings and heating times: Anses warns that excessive reheating can increase the transfer of substances from some types of packaging.
Only if the instructions for that particular model permit it and you can meet its ventilation requirements. Don’t assume that a freestanding model can be built in; Whirlpool France advises keeping the ventilation grilles clear.
No. Compare the shape and dimensions of the cavity, as well as any turntable, with your dishes and tins. Also measure the external dimensions, as the stated capacity alone won’t tell you how much space you’ll need in a small kitchen.
Ask about having your old appliance taken away when you buy a similar type of equipment. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition describes this ‘one-for-one’ take-back service for electrical and electronic equipment. Ask the retailer about the arrangements that apply to your purchase.