If you mainly reheat and defrost food, a solo microwave should do the job. Choose a model with a grill if you also want to brown dishes from time to time. If you don’t have a conventional oven, a combination model with a fan oven mode is a better choice if you plan to cook regularly in the same appliance. Before buying, make sure you have enough space and ventilation, and check the power supply requirements.
If you need one appliance to reheat and defrost food, as well as handle some of the cooking you’d usually do in an oven, look for a genuine fan oven mode. A grill is better suited to browning food, as UFC-Que Choisir explains.
If you mainly need to reheat leftovers or defrost food in a home with limited equipment, a solo microwave may be enough. If you’d also like to brown food from time to time, compare grill models before choosing a combination microwave.
If worktop space or the available alcove is limited, check how much room you’ll need before comparing programmes. The external dimensions of a freestanding appliance are not the same as the required niche dimensions for a built-in model.
If you don’t have a conventional oven, start by thinking about what you actually want to cook: reheating, browning or using a fan oven. Then check that the appliance you choose can be installed in the space available.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Oven-style cooking | Check that it has a fan oven mode, then look at the temperature range and the usable space for your dishes. | If I make gratins, pizzas or simple bakes without another oven, I want to do more than just reheat or brown the surface; around 33% of consumers would prioritise this type of cooking. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the settings and defrost function; the stated power rating alone doesn’t tell you how evenly food will be heated. | If I mainly reheat meals and defrost food, I prioritise these everyday tasks over extra cooking modes; around 27% of consumers would have the same priority. |
| Browning and grilling | Know the difference between a grill, microwave-and-grill mode and fan oven mode; check which accessories are needed for the model you choose. | If I mainly want to brown the top of an occasional dish, a grill meets my needs without oven-style cooking being a priority; around 20% of consumers would prioritise grilling. |
| Space and installation | For a freestanding model, check its dimensions and the clearances specified in the manual. For a built-in model, also check the niche and power supply. | In a kitchenette where space is limited, I need to make sure the appliance can be installed and ventilated before choosing its features; around 20% of consumers would put installation first. |
A grill browns the surface of food; on its own, it can’t do the job of a convection oven for the dishes you’d expect to cook in a conventional oven.
For the occasional gratin, consider a grill model. If you also want to cook oven-style dishes regularly, look for a clearly stated oven or fan oven mode and check its temperature range.
Two appliances with the same internal capacity won’t necessarily take up the same amount of space or offer the same room for your dishes. An incompatible niche or blocked air vents can also prevent the appliance from being installed properly.
Measure the available width, height and depth. For a built-in model, check the niche dimensions and installation instructions. For a freestanding appliance, keep the vents clear as directed in the manual.
A stated power rating isn’t enough to determine how evenly food will reheat, how well it will defrost or how it will brown. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these uses and fan oven performance separately in its testing protocol.
If you plan to cook often, compare test results for the modes you’re interested in, for the exact model you’re considering.
In France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies when a professional sells goods to a consumer, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. An additional commercial warranty does not replace it.
Before taking out an extended warranty, read its duration and exclusions, and check exactly what it adds to your statutory rights.
Freestanding combination models worth considering if you want several cooking modes in one appliance.
Compare its freestanding models depending on whether you’re looking for a grill, fan-assisted cooking or a cavity without a turntable.
A convection combination model to consider if dish size and defrosting are important to you.
An option for a kitchen with a compatible niche, if you mainly need a microwave and grill.
These models meet three different needs in a home without a conventional oven: cooking with a convection combination model, adding a grill to your reheating, or sticking to reheating and defrosting. First, choose the features you’ll use, then check the installation requirements for the model you have in mind.
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Combines reheating, grilling and convection cooking in one appliance, for when you also want to prepare oven-style dishes.
Stated capacity: 42 L. Before installation, compare the stated external dimensions of 553 × 326 × 505 mm with the space available, and check the manual for ventilation clearances. These modes don’t guarantee the same results as a conventional oven.
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For reheating, defrosting and occasional browning, without expecting the grill to cook as evenly as an oven.
Microwave power stated in the product name: 700 W. The product details require at least 10 cm of clearance at the sides and rear; make sure your chosen spot allows for this.
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Combines reheating, defrosting and browning in a freestanding appliance, rather than offering fan oven cooking.
Microwave power stated in the product name: 900 W. Before buying, check the space required and the clearances specified in the manual.
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For reheating, defrosting and browning dishes, without making a convection oven mode a deciding factor.
The product name states 1000 W and a digital display. Before setting aside space on your worktop, check the manual for ventilation clearances and electrical requirements.
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For prioritising reheating and defrosting in a small home, without paying for grill or oven functions.
The product name states six power levels and a 30-minute timer. Check its dimensions and the ventilation clearances needed in your chosen location.
A combination model with a genuine fan oven mode can handle some of the cooking you’d expect from an oven, but the results depend on the model and the recipe. If this is important to you, compare test results for the exact model: UFC-Que Choisir assesses browning, evenness and fan oven cooking separately.
Don’t treat a freestanding model like a built-in appliance: its air vents must remain clear. Whirlpool France advises against blocking the ventilation openings; check the manual for your model to see whether your chosen location and clearances are suitable.
Measure the niche and compare it with the model’s required installation dimensions, rather than relying on its front dimensions alone. For example, Electrolux France gives a niche size of 380 × 560 × 550 mm for the CMS4253EMX. Also check the installation instructions and power supply requirements for the model you choose.
No. For goods sold by a professional to a consumer in France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity is compulsory, including for new, second-hand or refurbished goods, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Read the terms of any extended warranty to see what it adds to this protection.
Check the durability and repairability information available for the model you’re considering, as well as its manuals and after-sales service arrangements. ADEME recommends looking for information that helps identify appliances designed to last and that are easier to repair.