For a small kitchen, choose a solo microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost portions; a grill is handy when you occasionally want to brown or crisp food. If you plan to cook regularly without a separate oven, compare a combi microwave with fan cooking against a mini oven, taking into account how much space each needs. Whichever you choose, measure the appliance, the dishes you’ll use and the clearances specified in its manual.
In a kitchenette or shared house, reheating and defrosting may matter more than oven cooking. First, check how much space you have and the size of your plates. According to the French Ministry of Higher Education, two thirds of students lived away from home in 2023. This figure describes their living arrangements, not their appliance preferences.
If you only stay there occasionally, start by thinking about the meals you’ll prepare: reheating only, browning food or traditional oven cooking. According to provisional data, France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) estimated that there were 3.753 million second homes and occasional-use dwellings in France, excluding Mayotte, on 1 January 2025. This total does not indicate what appliances they have.
If worktop space is limited, compare the space taken up by a combi microwave with that of the appliances it would genuinely replace. A grill for occasional browning and fan cooking for regular oven use meet different needs.
First decide whether your meals call for a microwave, occasional browning or oven-style cooking. Then check that the appliance and your dishes will fit in the available space.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking type | A solo microwave is suitable for reheating and defrosting. According to UFC-Que Choisir, the grill function lets you brown or crisp food, while a combi adds conventional oven functions. If you regularly cook in the traditional way, compare mini ovens too. | Will I mainly reheat portions, or do I need to brown food and regularly cook gratins, tarts or other oven dishes? |
| Space and ventilation | Measure the appliance’s external width, height and depth, check the door opening and allow for the clearances stated in the manual. Ventilation requirements vary by model. | Does my worktop have enough room to position and open the appliance without getting in the way of nearby cupboards? |
| Dishes and portions | Compare the capacity in litres with the turntable diameter or cavity dimensions. Check the size of the plates and dishes you plan to use. | I want to use my usual crockery, rather than choosing based on the stated capacity alone. |
| Power ratings | Distinguish between microwave output power, grill power and electrical input power. Only compare two figures if they refer to the same measurement. | If power matters to my choice, I want to understand which function each figure refers to. |
| Buying information | Check who the seller is and keep the product description and instructions. In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual. | I want to be able to refer back to the advertised features and installation instructions for the appliance I buy. |
The cavity volume won’t tell you whether your large plate will fit on the turntable, or whether the appliance will fit on your worktop with the necessary ventilation space.
Measure the space available, then check the appliance dimensions, the turntable or cavity size, and the installation instructions in the manual.
A grill is useful for browning food; it doesn’t offer the same cooking functions as an appliance with fan cooking. This distinction matters if you don’t have another oven.
Make a list of the dishes you prepare often. If you regularly cook oven meals, compare the specific functions of a combi microwave and a mini oven rather than relying on their names alone.
Any space saved depends on which appliance the combi would replace. For example, Panasonic gives the dimensions of its NN-C69KS combi as 520 × 327 × 520 mm. Check its depth against the worktop space available.
Compare the external dimensions and installation clearances for each option before deciding whether a single appliance will genuinely make your setup simpler.
Input power and microwave output power measure different things, and the grill may have its own power rating too.
Check the label and unit for each figure in the product specifications, then compare the same features across appliances.
Samsung’s solo and grill microwave ranges offer useful comparisons if you mainly want to reheat food or would also like to brown it.
The NN-C69KS is an example of a combi microwave for kitchens without a separate oven. Panasonic France lists microwave, grill and fan cooking functions.
The Optimo mini ovens are another option if traditional oven cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating.
These models are for reheating, with or without a grill — two options for a small kitchen. If you’re looking for an appliance to replace an oven, check separately that it has the cooking functions you need.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat portions and occasionally brown a dish. The model name indicates a capacity of 20 L and a grill function. Check the size of your dishes, ventilation clearances and cooking modes before relying on it as your only oven.
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Worth a look for a kitchen where reheating matters more than browning. Its stated capacity is 20 L. Check the turntable size and appliance dimensions against your crockery and available space, then consult the manual for ventilation requirements.
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Worth considering if reheating and defrosting matter more to you than browning food. The name indicates a capacity of 23 L and a Quick Defrost function. Check the turntable size, door opening and clearance requirements for this specific model.
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Worth comparing if you want to reheat food and use a grill occasionally. The name indicates a capacity of 25 L; its stated depth is 43.6 cm. Measure your worktop and check the clearances in the manual before considering it for a kitchenette.
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When choosing a microwave that will fit in your kitchen, first compare its cavity with the dishes you usually use. The name indicates a capacity of 25 L. Check the manual for its cooking modes, microwave output power and clearance requirements before making it your only appliance.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the model you choose. In its installation advice, Samsung France recommends at least 10 cm at the back and sides and 20 cm above, while noting that requirements can vary by model. You’ll also need enough space to open the door.
Capacity in litres describes volume, not the turntable diameter or the shape of the cavity. Compare the internal dimensions with your crockery, then check the external size and ventilation requirements separately.
A combi microwave with fan cooking can handle some oven-style tasks, provided its cavity suits your dishes and you’ll actually use those functions. UFC-Que Choisir notes that it can be used as a substitute, but you should still compare your usual recipes, the capacity and the space required with those of a mini oven.
Choose a grill function if you mainly reheat meals and would sometimes like to brown or crisp food. If you plan to cook regularly as you would in an oven, look for fan cooking in a combi microwave and compare it with a mini oven.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies in France to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual. Check who the seller is and keep your proof of purchase, the product description and its instructions in case you need to report a lack of conformity.