For mainly reheating in a studio flat
If you mostly need to reheat and defrost meals, a basic microwave is the first option to consider. Remember to measure the space it will actually take up on your worktop.
Which option is right for you?
For a holiday home with limited equipment
A combination microwave could save you from installing a separate oven if you also plan to cook using convection. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the benefits of all-in-one appliances; just check that the dishes you have in mind will fit in your chosen model.
For browning food or occasional oven-style cooking
A microwave with a grill is a good choice if you’d like to brown or gratinate dishes. If your recipes need more oven-style cooking, compare a combination microwave with convection and a mini oven. Bear in mind that a mini oven doesn’t offer microwave functions.
What sets these appliances apart?
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between a grill, which is used in particular for browning and gratinating, and a combination microwave, which also adds convection cooking. Start with the dishes you plan to make, then check the available space and installation requirements.
Basic microwave
Worth considering: for reheating and defrosting, if you don’t plan to make gratins or cook using an oven.
Drawback: this type of microwave has neither a grill nor convection cooking.
Microwave with grill
Worth considering: if you’d like to brown a dish from time to time as well as reheat food.
Drawback: a grill on its own isn’t a substitute for convection cooking.
Combination microwave
Worth considering: when you want one appliance to handle some oven-style cooking too.
Drawback: check the size and the convection cooking results for the specific model. The fact that it has this setting isn’t enough to judge how well it performs.
Traditional mini oven
Worth considering: if oven cooking is more important to you than microwave functions.
Drawback: it can’t reheat or defrost food using microwaves.
| Priority | What to check | Questions to ask yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking functions | Decide whether reheating and defrosting will be enough, whether you’d also like a grill, or whether your dishes need convection cooking. A grill alone doesn’t mean the appliance has this setting. | Will I mainly reheat portions, or do I also want to brown food and cook dishes in the oven? |
| Size | Compare the appliance’s external width, depth and height with the space available. Check the internal capacity separately, and make sure it will fit the dishes you plan to use. | In my small kitchen, the appliance needs to leave enough worktop space while still fitting my usual dishes. |
| Installation | Check the manual for the required clearances, ventilation and electrical requirements. In its installation advice, Whirlpool recommends placing the appliance on a flat surface and keeping its vents clear. | I want to make sure the space I’ve chosen meets the manual’s requirements, especially if the appliance will sit under a shelf or near other cabinets. |
| Cooking performance | If a particular setting matters to you, look for comparable tests that assess that setting specifically. UFC-Que Choisir evaluates defrosting, grilling and convection cooking separately, among other things. | If I’m relying on the combination microwave as an oven during my stays, the words “convection cooking” alone aren’t enough to tell me how well it performs. |
What should you watch out for before buying?
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Choosing a combination microwave when you only need to reheat food
Grilling and convection cooking serve different needs from simply reheating food. If you don’t plan to cook using an oven, these functions may go unused.
Make a note of what you’ll actually cook: reheating and defrosting, browning, or oven cooking. Then choose the functions to match.
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Comparing only the internal capacity in litres
The internal capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up. For example, manufacturer specifications show that the Panasonic NN-E20JW measures 443 × 330 × 258 mm, while the Whirlpool MCP349WH measures 52 × 49,4 × 30,1 cm.
Measure your worktop in all three dimensions, check the clearances specified in the manual and compare the cavity size with your dishes.
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Choosing a spot that blocks the vents
Whirlpool says that blocked ventilation openings can cause the appliance to overheat. The required clearances vary by model.
Check the manual before placing the appliance under a shelf or in a space surrounded by cabinets.
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Assuming a cooking setting guarantees good results
A combination microwave may have both grill and convection settings, but their presence alone doesn’t tell you how evenly or quickly it will cook. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these results separately in its tests.
If you’re relying on the appliance as an oven, compare tests of the convection setting on the models you’re considering.
A few models from well-known brands
These models illustrate the differences between appliance types. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean they’re available on Joybuy.
Panasonic
Panasonic France’s product information lets you compare a solo model, a grill model and a combination microwave.
- The NN-E20JW is a 20 L solo model; the NN-GD34 combines microwave and grill functions.
- According to Panasonic France, the NN-CT56RB combines microwave, grill and convection functions.
- Check the exact model reference and version offered by the seller before comparing dimensions and functions.
Whirlpool
The MCP349WH is an example from Whirlpool France’s range of a freestanding microwave with a forced-air cooking setting.
- Its specifications list an external depth of 49,4 cm, which is worth checking against the depth of your worktop.
- Whirlpool’s general ventilation advice doesn’t replace the clearance requirements in the manual for the model you buy.
Samsung
The MG23K3515AK is an example of a microwave with a grill, featured in Samsung France’s product information.
- Samsung lists a 23 L cavity, automatic defrosting and external dimensions of 489 × 275 × 392 mm.
- These specifications alone don’t tell you how its grill or reheating performance compares with other models.
Moulinex
The Optimo 19 L is a freestanding mini oven to consider when oven-style cooking is a priority.
- Moulinex lists convection and grill settings, as well as a thermostat that goes up to 240 °C.
- This mini oven doesn’t have microwave functions.
Microwaves to explore on Joybuy
This selection includes basic microwaves for reheating and defrosting, a model with a grill for browning food, and a combination microwave to consider if you also plan to cook oven-style dishes. Before choosing, compare their dimensions and manuals with the space you have available.
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COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK), black 20 L microwave
Worth considering if you mainly need to reheat and defrost food. The product title lists 700 W, 11 power levels and six pre-set programmes. Check the manual for the clearances required in your chosen spot.
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Heinrich's, 20 L solo microwave
For reheating and defrosting without the need for oven-style cooking. The product title lists 700 W, six power levels, a defrost function and a 30-minute timer. Check the model’s installation requirements before deciding where to put it.
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Beko MGC20100B1, 20 L microwave with grill
Worth considering if you’d like to brown a dish from time to time as well as reheat food. The product title lists 700 W; don’t confuse the grill with a convection setting. Check the manual to see how much space you’ll need around the appliance.
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Samsung MS23K3513, 23 L solo microwave
This solo model is designed for microwave cooking. Its product title mentions quick defrost and an LED display. If you want to brown food or cook using convection, compare models that explicitly offer these functions instead. Check its installation requirements too.
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SHARP YC-MC422AE-SB, 42 L combination microwave
Worth considering if you’re looking for a combination appliance for a kitchen with limited equipment. Its stated 42 L capacity makes it especially important to measure the space available. Before deciding, check the manual for the settings you need, the required clearances and the electrical requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Can a combination microwave replace an oven in a holiday home?
It can handle some oven-style cooking if the model has a convection or forced-air setting suited to your recipes. However, UFC-Que Choisir assesses the results of this setting separately in its tests. Don’t assume a combination microwave will perform like a traditional oven for every recipe.
Is a microwave with a grill enough for oven-style cooking?
No. A grill is mainly used for browning or gratinating, but it doesn’t mean the appliance can cook using convection. For dishes that need this cooking method, check that a combination microwave explicitly offers it, or consider a mini oven.
Can you put a freestanding microwave under a shelf?
Only if the installation follows the model’s instructions and leaves the vents clear. Whirlpool recommends placing the appliance on a flat surface and keeping the ventilation openings unobstructed. Check the clearances and electrical requirements for your specific model before choosing this spot.
What statutory guarantee applies to a microwave bought in France?
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies, among other things, to a new microwave sold by a trader to a consumer in France. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that the seller must supply goods that conform to the contract. Keep your proof of purchase and the model reference in case you need to report a lack of conformity.