If you don’t have a practical oven in your kitchen, choose a basic microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost meals, a model with a grill if you’d also like to brown the tops of dishes, or a combination microwave with fan oven if you plan to cook in it occasionally, much as you would in an oven. The latter can take on some of the jobs of a traditional oven, provided your dishes fit inside and you leave the ventilation clearances specified in the manual.
When space is limited, one appliance can handle everyday reheating and, depending on its features, some cooking too. UFC-Que Choisir lists student accommodation among the settings where microwaves are used.
If you’d like to bake, roast or brown dishes from time to time without having to install several appliances, consider combination models with a fan oven. Their suitability also depends on the space available, the dishes you want to use and the ventilation requirements in the manual.
If you mostly reheat and defrost food, a basic microwave may be all you need. A model with a grill gives you the extra option of browning the top of a dish, without needing to choose an oven function.
If you have a small kitchen without a practical oven, start by thinking about what you really want to cook. Then measure the available space and the dishes the appliance needs to fit.
Choose this if: reheating and defrosting make up most of what you need it for.
Limitations: without a grill or fan oven, it won’t meet your needs if you want to brown dishes or cook as you would in an oven.
Choose this if: you mainly reheat meals but would sometimes like to brown the top.
Limitations: having a grill doesn’t mean the appliance has a fan oven.
Choose this if: you also need to bake or roast occasionally in a kitchen without an oven.
Limitations: the cavity and your dishes may restrict what you can cook, particularly if you’re using larger items.
| Factor | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Oven-style cooking | Check that fan or convection cooking and its temperature range are listed, along with compatible accessories. | If I sometimes want to make a gratin, roast or cake without another oven, cooking beyond microwave mode alone becomes my main priority. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this option. |
| Space and ventilation | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with the space available, allowing for the clearances specified in the manual. | In a kitchenette, I need to be able to install the appliance without blocking its air vents. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Reheating and browning | Check for a grill if you’d like to brown the top of a reheated dish from time to time. | I mostly use my microwave to heat meals, but would sometimes like to brown the top without trying to cook as I would in an oven. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this use. |
| Room for your dishes | Compare your dishes with the cavity and turntable dimensions; don’t rely on the capacity in litres alone. | I want to keep using my usual dishes, including wide or rectangular ones. Usable space is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Features vary by model: Whirlpool describes the MWF259SG as a “microwave + grill”, while the MCP349WH also lists convection cooking.
If you want to cook as you would in an oven, look for a convection or fan oven function and a temperature range in the specifications for the model you’re considering.
Depth, height and the clearances needed for ventilation matter too. An appliance may fit in the available space but still be installed incorrectly if its vents are blocked.
Measure the space in all three dimensions and follow the clearances in the manual for that model, rather than using measurements taken for another appliance.
The turntable diameter and shape of the cavity also determine which dishes will fit. Some models let you stop the turntable, while others don’t have one.
Measure your widest dish and compare it with the interior space, turntable and compatible accessories.
Accessories designed for the grill or convection mode may not be suitable for microwave mode. What you can use depends on the mode and the appliance manual.
Check the table of cookware approved for each mode; don’t use a metal container in microwave-only mode if the manual says not to.
The range includes freestanding models with a grill and combination models with convection cooking, depending on the model.
Panasonic France lists combination models that bring together microwave, grill and fan oven functions on selected models.
The range includes combination microwaves with convection, with additional features varying by model.
These models offer a choice between reheating with occasional browning and cooking more like you would in an oven. Compare their features with the way you plan to use them, then check how much space you’ll need to install one.
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For everyday reheating and defrosting, with a grill for occasional browning.
The model name indicates a 25 L capacity and 1 000 W power. If you’d also like to cook as you would in an oven, check whether it has a fan oven function. Consult the manual for ventilation clearances.
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For meals that are mainly reheated or defrosted, with only occasional browning.
The model name indicates a capacity of 20 L and 700 W power. If oven-style cooking matters to you, check separately whether it has a fan oven function and what installation clearances the manual specifies.
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For reheating and defrosting, with the option to brown dishes from time to time.
The model name indicates a capacity of 25 L and 1 000 W power. Check that your dishes fit on the turntable before buying, and consult the manual for ventilation clearances and the cooking modes you’re looking for.
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For reheating and occasional browning in one freestanding appliance.
The model name indicates a capacity of 25 L and 900 W power. Before setting aside space for it on your worktop, check its dimensions and the required clearances. If you’re looking for oven-style cooking, confirm that it has a fan oven function.
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Worth considering if you’d also like to cook more like you would in an oven, beyond reheating and browning.
The model name indicates a capacity of 42 L. Compare the appliance and cavity dimensions with your available space and dishes, then check the manual for the cooking modes and ventilation clearances.
Not necessarily. A model with a fan oven can handle some types of cooking, but its capacity and the dishes it can accommodate need to suit your needs. Panasonic France, for example, lists a 34 L cavity for the NN-CD87. Compare this with the size of the dishes you plan to cook, especially larger ones.
Only do so if the manual for that model says it’s suitable. A Bosch manual states that the freestanding models covered by it aren’t designed to be installed in a built-in cupboard. Check the intended installation type before choosing a space for it.
Follow the clearances in the model’s manual and keep its vents unobstructed. Whirlpool France reminds users not to block these vents. A Proline manual specifies 30 cm above the model it covers, but that clearance doesn’t automatically apply to other appliances.
This may be part of the manufacturer’s intended operation. Whirlpool France says that, on the appliances concerned, the fan may continue running for 1 to 5 minutes after the appliance has stopped. If you’re concerned about how your model is behaving, check its manual.
Take it to a suitable collection or take-back scheme for electrical equipment. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition says that France has a collection and recycling scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment.