For anyone who mainly reheats meals
You already have another way to cook and mainly need to reheat leftovers or defrost food in a small home. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes this use from grill and combination cooking functions.
Which option is right for you?
For anyone who wants to brown food without adding an oven
You mainly reheat meals, but would sometimes like to brown a gratin or pizza. A grill function meets this need, but does not necessarily mean the appliance has convection.
For anyone without a working oven
You plan to cook dishes regularly in your studio flat or holiday home. Convection then becomes an important factor, along with the space available and the size of dishes the appliance can accommodate.
What sets the different appliances apart?
Solo microwave
Choose this if: you already have cooking equipment and mainly use your microwave to reheat and defrost food.
Limitation: this option will not meet your needs if you want to brown food or cook with convection.
Grill microwave
Choose this if: you also want to brown or gratinate certain dishes.
Limitation: a grill alone does not provide convection oven cooking.
Combination microwave
Choose this if: you do not have a working oven and will genuinely use convection to cook.
Limitation: its external dimensions and installation requirements can make it difficult to fit in a small kitchen.
| Priority | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the defrost setting and the model’s external dimensions. | If I already cook with another appliance, I mainly want to reheat my meals without taking up more worktop space. Around 44% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Occasional browning | Check for a grill function; don’t confuse it with convection. | To brown a gratin or pizza from time to time, I want an extra function without planning to cook regularly in an oven. This would be the priority for around 22% of consumers. |
| Cooking without an oven | Look for convection and compare the dimensions, the dishes it can accommodate and the clearances specified in the instruction manual. | Without a working oven, I need to cook dishes rather than simply reheat or brown them. Around 34% of consumers would make this their main consideration. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a grill is the same as a compact oven
A grill is used to brown or gratinate food; it does not mean the appliance can cook using convection.
If you want to cook without an oven, look specifically for a convection or fan-assisted cooking mode, then check the temperatures and accessories available with that model.
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Choosing based only on capacity in litres
The internal capacity does not tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop or whether your dishes will fit inside it.
Compare the external width, depth and height, then allow for the clearances specified in the instruction manual.
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Confusing an extended commercial warranty with your statutory rights
In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to a consumer. A commercial warranty extension is separate from this right.
Before taking out an extended warranty, check what it covers, how long it lasts, what is excluded and how to make a claim.
Brands to know when choosing
Whirlpool
The freestanding range includes grill and combination models. The MCP349WH is an example of a 25 L combination microwave.
- Whirlpool says the MCP349WH combines microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking functions.
- Its stated depth of 49.4 cm needs to be checked against the space available and the installation instructions.
Panasonic
The brand offers combination microwaves with several cooking modes in one appliance.
- A Panasonic product listing describes a combination model with microwave, grill and convection functions.
- If you want a compact oven, check the exact dimensions, available temperatures and space needed to install the model you are considering.
Samsung
The MC28H5015CK is an example of the brand’s countertop combination microwaves.
- Samsung lists a 28 L cavity and microwave, grill and convection modes for this model.
- The list of modes alone does not tell you how evenly it cooks; compare tests for the uses that matter to you.
Solo and grill microwaves on Joybuy
These appliances are mainly suited to reheating and defrosting in a small kitchen; several also have a grill for browning food. If you plan to cook without an oven, check separately for a convection function.
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Hisense H25MOBS7H Solo, 25 L, 900 W, black
For reheating and defrosting, with defrost settings by weight or time listed for this model.
Stated external dimensions: 485 × 293 × 410 mm. The product name says ‘Solo’, while the description mentions a grill: check the exact modes before relying on it to brown food.
Also allow for the installation clearances specified for your chosen location.
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Heinrich's solo microwave, 20 L, 700 W
For a kitchen where reheating and defrosting matter more than browning or oven cooking.
A defrost function, six power levels and a 30-minute timer are listed. Dimensions: 44.6 × 36.3 × 24.3 cm.
Check the installation clearances and plug type before buying.
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Hkoenig VIO7, 23 L, 900 W, stainless steel
For reheating and defrosting, with a grill listed for occasional browning.
A 27 cm turntable and combined microwave/grill cooking are listed. However, a grill does not confirm the presence of convection.
Check the clearance needed around the appliance and the plug type suited to your home.
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Beko MGC20100B1 with grill, 20 L, 700 W, black
For reheating and defrosting in a small kitchen, with a grill function for browning food.
Stated dimensions: 45.2 × 35.3 × 26.2 cm; 245 mm turntable. The grill mode should not be confused with convection.
Allow for the specified clearances around the appliance and check the plug type.
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Electrolux EMZ725MMTI Inverter with grill, 25 L, 900 W, titanium
For reheating and defrosting by weight or time, with a grill for occasional browning.
A quartz grill and multi-stage microwave/grill cooking are listed. If you want to replace an oven, check separately for a convection function.
Check the plug type, electrical compatibility with your home and the specified installation clearances.
Frequently asked questions
Can a combination microwave replace an oven in a studio flat?
It can cover some compact oven tasks if the model has convection and can accommodate the dishes you want to prepare. Also check its temperature settings, dimensions and installation requirements. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests of convection mode assess browning, evenness and cooking time, among other things.
Is a grill microwave enough to cook like an oven?
A grill can brown and gratinate food, but having a grill alone does not guarantee an oven cooking mode. For this use, look specifically for a convection or fan-assisted cooking function on the model you are considering.
What should you measure before installing a microwave in a small kitchen?
Measure the space you have in mind and compare it with the appliance’s external width, depth and height. Then check the instruction manual for the required clearances, and make sure the cavity and accessories are suitable for your dishes.
What are your rights in France if the microwave does not match its description?
For goods sold by a business to a consumer in France, the statutory guarantee of conformity may apply if a product does not match its description. The Ministry of the Economy explains that this mandatory guarantee covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods; it is separate from an optional commercial warranty extension.