In a kitchen without a traditional oven, a basic microwave is enough if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food. A model with a grill adds browning, but not necessarily fan-assisted cooking. To combine these uses with some oven-style cooking in one appliance, look for a combination microwave with genuine fan-assisted cooking. If oven cooking is your priority and you have room for another appliance for reheating, a mini oven is also worth considering.
If you mainly use an appliance for reheating and defrosting, start by focusing on these functions. Then measure the space available on your worktop: the stated capacity in litres won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit with the required clearance.
If you also want to prepare grilled or hot-air-cooked dishes, distinguish between a grill and fan-assisted cooking. A combination model with both modes is worth considering. Then compare its dimensions, the dishes it can accommodate and test results for the exact model.
If you can fit two appliances, consider whether oven-style cooking matters more to you than having a single appliance. A mini oven can handle these recipes, while you’ll still need a separate microwave if you also want to reheat food using microwaves.
Start with the meals you prepare, then check that both the cooking modes and the available space suit your needs. The word “combination” alone doesn’t confirm that an appliance has fan-assisted cooking.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check for microwave and defrost settings, then consider the size of the containers you use. A basic model covers these needs without adding oven-style cooking functions. | I mainly reheat meals and defrost food; I don’t need to choose an appliance for its grill or fan-assisted cooking functions. |
| Browning and grilling | Look for a separate grill mode and instructions on suitable dishes and accessories. UFC-Que Choisir recommends distinguishing between a grill and fan-assisted cooking when choosing a microwave. | I’d like to brown some dishes while still being able to reheat and defrost food using the microwave. |
| Oven-style cooking | For a single appliance, confirm that it has fan-assisted cooking as well as microwave and grill functions. If oven-style cooking is your main priority, compare mini ovens too, bearing in mind that you’ll need another appliance for microwave use. | I make gratins, bakes or other recipes that need hot-air cooking; a grill alone won’t meet this need. |
| Available space | Compare the external dimensions, door clearance and the size of your dishes. Follow the ventilation clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model, rather than assuming the same distance applies to every appliance. | My worktop is small, so the appliance needs to fit with enough space around it and be easy to open. |
| Cooking results | Compare models on the functions you’ll use. UFC-Que Choisir describes tests carried out by independent laboratories; check comparable results for the specific models before drawing conclusions about their cooking performance. | If I’ll use this appliance for cooking regularly, I want to assess reheating, defrosting or grilling based on the meals I make, rather than judging performance from the list of programmes alone. |
| Installation and containers | Check the label and manual for the power supply, power consumption and installation instructions. Use suitable containers for each mode and follow their instructions for use. | I want to be able to install the appliance in the space I’ve chosen and use my containers in line with their instructions. |
A microwave with a grill can brown food without offering the convection cooking needed for some recipes usually made in an oven.
Check the product details and manual separately for microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking modes, as well as which combinations are allowed.
Two appliances with a similar capacity can take up different amounts of space. The door, your dishes and ventilation requirements all matter in a small kitchen.
Measure the space and your dishes, then check the external dimensions and clearances specified for the exact model.
The presence of a programme alone doesn’t tell you how evenly food will reheat, how well it will defrost or how evenly it will brown.
To compare specific models, look for independent tests that use the same method and cover the functions you need for your meals.
Anses warns that overheating food in a microwave can increase the risk of substances migrating from some types of packaging into food.
Use a container suitable for the intended purpose and follow the power, duration and usage instructions on the packaging.
These models illustrate different functions. Their specifications don’t provide a basis for ranking the brands or predicting cooking results.
The MC32J7035AS/EF is an example of a 32 L freestanding combination microwave with a grill and fan-assisted cooking.
The MWSC9133SB is a 33 L freestanding microwave whose product details include Crisp and steam functions.
The EMZ421MMK is an example of a freestanding microwave with microwave, grill and microwave-with-grill modes.
The Optimo 33 L CT is an example of a mini oven rather than a combination microwave.
These appliances let you compare a combination microwave, models listed with a grill and a model described as a solo microwave for a kitchen without an oven. If you’re prioritising cooking in a mini oven, compare that option separately.
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Worth considering if you want microwave, grill and convection cooking in one appliance. With a capacity of 42 L, check the available space, ventilation clearances and electrical specifications in the model’s manual.
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For reheating, defrosting and occasional browning, without assuming it has fan-assisted cooking. Check that the space allows for the specified 10 cm clearance at the sides and rear.
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Primarily worth considering for reheating and defrosting. If a grill matters to you, confirm that it’s included in the model’s manual. Also measure the space needed around the appliance before installation.
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For combining reheating, defrosting and grilling in a freestanding appliance. If you plan to cook with hot air, check the exact modes rather than assuming that microwave-with-grill means it has fan-assisted cooking. Also check the appliance’s dimensions and power supply requirements in the manual.
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Worth considering for reheating, defrosting and browning in a freestanding appliance. For recipes that need fan-assisted cooking, check the modes in the manual. Also check the specified clearances and electrical requirements for your installation.
It can handle some basic oven-style cooking if the model has a grill and fan-assisted cooking as well as microwave functions, as explained by UFC-Que Choisir. That doesn’t guarantee the same results for every recipe. Check the modes and the size of your dishes; to compare specific models, look at comparable cooking tests too.
No. A grill can brown or gratinate food, but having one doesn’t mean the appliance cooks using fan-assisted heat. For recipes that need hot-air cooking, look specifically for this mode or consider a mini oven.
Measure the space, the clearance needed to open the door and the size of your dishes, then compare them with the appliance’s dimensions. Check the manual for ventilation clearances and power supply requirements. A capacity in litres alone won’t confirm that the appliance can be installed in your chosen spot.
Use a container intended for this purpose and follow its instructions for use, in line with DGCCRF recommendations. For packaging intended for microwave use, also follow the stated power and heating time: Anses warns that overheating can increase the migration of substances from some types of packaging into food.