If you mainly reheat and defrost food, a standard microwave may be all you need. Choose a grill model to brown food from time to time, or a combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking if you also want to prepare some oven-style dishes. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide distinguishes between these functions, but a combination model may not offer everything a separate oven can do. Check the model’s cooking modes, the dimensions of your dishes and the space available for installation.
In a studio flat or second home, you mainly reheat portions and defrost food. Extra cooking functions are only useful if your meals call for them. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide also describes a microwave as a solution for these basic tasks.
You’d also like to cook gratins, pizzas or cakes. Check the difference between a grill and fan-assisted cooking, then compare the available modes and usable dimensions with the dishes you prepare. UFC-Que Choisir lists grill and fan-assisted cooking among the basic functions of a combination microwave.
You reheat food regularly, but mainly want to brown a few dishes rather than have all the functions of an oven. The French product information for the Candy CMG20SMW, for example, lists a grill and a 255 mm turntable.
Start with the types of cooking you actually want to do. Then check that the modes, dimensions and installation requirements suit your dishes and your home.
Choose this if : you mainly reheat portions or defrost food.
Keep in mind : it won’t meet your needs if you want a grill or fan-assisted cooking. The product information for the Whirlpool MWP 251 W lists microwave mode only.
Choose this if : you want to brown food occasionally, as well as reheat and defrost.
Keep in mind : having a grill doesn’t mean the microwave also has fan-assisted cooking. The French product information for the Candy CMG20SMW lists a 20 L capacity and a 255 mm turntable.
Choose this if : you want to reheat food and prepare some oven-style dishes with one appliance, and your dishes will fit inside.
Keep in mind : a combination microwave may not offer all the features or capacity of a separate oven. UFC-Que Choisir describes basic functions, not an equivalent for every use.
Choose this if : oven cooking is your priority and you have enough space.
Keep in mind : Moulinex describes the Optimo 19 L as an oven with fan-assisted cooking and a grill, but no microwave function.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check that the modes suit the portions and foods you want to heat, and that the turntable is wide enough for your plates. | In a studio flat, I want to reheat and defrost food without paying for functions I won’t use. Around 33 % of consumers are thought to prioritise these uses. |
| Oven-style cooking | Look for fan-assisted cooking to be listed explicitly, then check the temperatures, programmes and space available for your dishes. | If I don’t have a conventional oven, I want to know whether the available modes will work for my gratins, pizzas or cakes. Around 33 % of consumers are thought to prioritise oven-style cooking. |
| Occasional browning | Check for a grill and make sure the turntable or accessories are large enough for the dish you want to brown. | For the occasional gratin, I want to brown food without choosing an appliance with functions I don’t need. Around 17 % of consumers are thought to prioritise occasional browning. |
| Space and installation | Compare the external dimensions, turntable, cavity and door opening, and check the model’s installation instructions. | In a small kitchenette, I need to be able to fit the appliance in and use my usual containers. Around 17 % of consumers are thought to prioritise space and installation. |
A grill doesn’t guarantee that the appliance has a fan-assisted cooking mode, which some recipes require.
Check the modes listed for the exact model before choosing a grill or combination microwave.
The stated capacity won’t tell you whether your dish will fit, rotate or leave enough room on your worktop.
Measure your dish and the available space, check the door opening, then read the installation instructions.
A combination microwave’s modes, dimensions and programmes may not suit every dish you would cook in a separate oven.
Make a list of the recipes you prepare and compare them with the modes, temperatures, accessories and dimensions of the model you’re considering.
These examples highlight some differences between appliances. They don’t mean that every model is right for every use.
Panasonic France describes the NN-CD87K as a combination microwave with a stated 34 L capacity and a 36 cm turntable.
Whirlpool France describes the MCP 349 WH as a 25 L combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking. The MWP 251 W is listed as a microwave-only model.
The CMG20SMW is an example of a freestanding microwave with a grill and a stated capacity of 20 L.
The Optimo 19 L OX444810 is a compact oven with fan-assisted cooking and a grill.
The French product information for the MC28H5015AW/EF describes a combination microwave with microwave, grill and convection functions.
This selection includes standard microwaves for reheating and defrosting, as well as models with a grill for added browning.
Image unavailable
For reheating and defrosting in a smaller home, with no additional cooking function listed.
Capacity : 20 L. Power : 700 W. Six power levels, a 30 min timer and a defrost function. 9,6-inch turntable.
Image unavailable
For reheating and defrosting, with a grill for occasional browning.
Capacity : 25 L. Stated power : 900 W. Freestanding model in a titanium finish, with a quartz grill, multi-stage cooking and a 28,8 cm turntable.
Image unavailable
For reheating and defrosting, with a grill for occasional browning.
Stated capacity : 25 l. Stated power : 1000 W. The product information lists automatic programmes with weight control and an EasyClean interior coating.
Image unavailable
For reheating and defrosting, with a grill for browning dishes from time to time.
Stated capacity : 20 L. Stated power : 700 W. The product information specifies an 800 W grill, nine power levels and a 245 mm turntable.
Image unavailable
For reheating and defrosting, with no grill function listed.
Stated capacity : 23 L. Stated power : 1150 W. The product information lists six power levels, automatic programmes and a 28,8 cm turntable.
Measure your dish and compare it with the turntable and cavity of the exact model, allowing for the door opening. Check the external dimensions and installation instructions separately. The stated capacity in litres isn’t enough to confirm that the dish will fit in the appliance or in the space available.
No. Check the instructions for the container and prepared dish for the mode you’re using. The DGCCRF recommends following the instructions for materials that come into contact with food. For microwaveable foods, Anses recommends following the power settings and cooking times given on the packaging.
Check the model’s instructions to see which accessories are approved and how to clean the appliance. Handle hot dishes carefully after using the grill or fan-assisted cooking. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests assess thermal safety, among other things; the presence of a cooking mode alone doesn’t tell you how a specific model performs in this respect.
The legal guarantee of conformity applies, among other cases, to a new product sold by a business to an individual. The French Ministry of the Economy says that it covers the product for two years and that, for a new product, the consumer doesn’t have to prove the fault existed on the date of sale. This is separate from an optional commercial extended warranty.
No. The DGCCRF explains that the CE marking represents the manufacturer’s commitment to comply with the applicable European requirements; it is not a certification mark. It doesn’t let you compare the reheating or cooking performance of different models.