Anyone cooking in a small space
If you regularly cook or brown dishes, compare a convection mini oven with a combination microwave, taking your recipes and available space into account.
Who are these options for?
Households that mainly reheat meals
If you mostly defrost and reheat food, and already have another appliance for oven cooking, a solo microwave can handle those tasks without combining every function in one cavity.
Those with an existing fitted kitchen
If you want to keep your worktop clear, a built-in appliance is only an option if the existing housing matches the dimensions and installation instructions for the exact model.
What should you check first?
Start with the dishes you make most often, then check where the appliance can actually be installed.
| Priority | What to check | To suit my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking functions | Check which functions are actually included: microwave, defrost, grill and convection. A solo microwave cannot provide a fan oven’s circulating heat on its own. | I mainly reheat leftovers: a solo microwave could suit me if I already have a way to cook food in the oven. For gratins or small batches, I’ll look instead at a convection mini oven or a combination model with the functions I need. |
| Size | Compare the external width, depth and height with the space available, and check how the door opens. The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you the dimensions needed for installation. | My worktop is narrow: I need to be able to use the appliance and open its door without getting in the way of nearby equipment. |
| Installation type | For a freestanding appliance, check the clearances and ventilation openings specified in the manual. For a built-in model, check the housing dimensions and the model’s installation instructions. | I’d rather free up worktop space, but I’ll only choose a built-in model if it fits my existing housing. |
| Energy use | Compare tests that reflect the dishes and settings you’ll use. An ADEME–National Consumer Institute comparison of combination ovens and convection ovens found no general energy-saving advantage for combination models; results vary by dish, model and brand. | If I cook and reheat different dishes, I won’t assume the appliance is energy-efficient just because it’s called a “combination” model. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Assuming a combination model always uses less energy
An ADEME–National Consumer Institute comparison found no general energy-saving advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens. Results depend, among other things, on the dishes and models tested.
Choose functions that suit the recipes you usually make rather than assuming that versatility guarantees energy savings.
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Comparing capacity in litres alone
External depth affects whether an appliance will fit: Whirlpool lists 49,4 cm for its MCP349WH, while Panasonic lists 330 mm for its NN-E20JW. These dimensions relate to two different models, not to entire appliance categories.
Measure the space, check that the door can open and consult the clearance requirements in the manual for the model you choose.
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Blocking the ventilation on a freestanding appliance
Whirlpool warns that a microwave can overheat quickly if its ventilation openings are blocked.
Place it on a flat surface and keep its vents clear, following the instructions in the manual.
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Treating a built-in model like a freestanding appliance
A built-in model must fit the space provided and meet its installation requirements. Its external dimensions alone aren’t enough to confirm that it will fit the housing.
Before choosing one, check the housing dimensions, available power supply and the model’s manual.
A few brands to consider
Moulinex
The Optimo 19 L OX444810 is an example of a freestanding mini oven for small-scale cooking.
- Moulinex lists fan cooking, conventional cooking, a grill and a defrost function for the Optimo 19 L, with a thermostat reaching up to 240 °C.
- Check the external dimensions and installation clearances for this model before making space for it on your worktop.
Whirlpool
The MCP349WH is an example of a freestanding combination microwave, with several cooking modes in a 25 L cavity.
- Whirlpool lists a microwave function and a fan cooking mode for this model.
- Its stated external dimensions are 52 × 49,4 × 30,1 cm. Check the ventilation clearances specified in the manual too.
Panasonic
The NN-E20JW is a solo microwave to consider if reheating and defrosting are your main priorities.
- Panasonic lists a 20 L cavity, five power levels up to 800 W and external dimensions of 443 × 330 × 258 mm.
- For recipes that need oven cooking, you’ll need another cooking option.
Bosch
The CMG7241B1 is a compact built-in oven with a microwave function, worth considering for a kitchen that already has a suitable housing.
- Bosch lists a 45 L cavity and appliance dimensions of 455 × 594 × 548 mm.
- These measurements don’t replace the housing dimensions and installation instructions for the specific model.
Appliances available from Joybuy
These options are freestanding microwaves for reheating and defrosting, some of which also have a grill. If you want to cook in an oven regularly, check for a convection function or make sure you have another cooking option.
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Heinrich's 20 L, 700 W Solo Microwave
For reheating and defrosting with a freestanding appliance, if you have another way to cook food in the oven.
The product name lists six power levels and a 30 min timer. Check the ventilation clearances in the manual before choosing a spot for it.
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Whirlpool MWP 101 B 20 L, 700 W, with Grill
For reheating and defrosting, with a grill function in a freestanding appliance.
If you also want convection cooking, check explicitly that this function is included. Check the external dimensions and ventilation requirements before buying.
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COMFEE CMO‑MP012OC(WH) Inverter 19 L, 700 W
For reheating and defrosting, with another cooking option available when a recipe needs oven cooking.
The product name lists five power levels, a 30 min timer and a 245 mm turntable. Check the manual for installation requirements.
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COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK) 20 L, 700 W
For reheating and defrosting in a kitchen where oven cooking is taken care of separately.
The product name lists 11 power levels and six pre-set menus. Check that its dimensions and required clearances suit your worktop.
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LG MH6535GIS 25 L, 1000 W
For reheating and defrosting, with a grill option listed for this freestanding appliance.
If you need fan cooking, check that the model includes this setting: a grill alone doesn’t confirm that it does. Also compare its size and the clearances specified in the manual with the space available.
Frequently asked questions
Does a combination microwave always use less energy than a convection mini oven?
No. In its comparison of combination ovens and convection ovens, ADEME and the National Consumer Institute found no general energy-saving advantage for combination models. Results vary by dish, model and brand. Look at the types of cooking that match your usual meals rather than relying on the appliance name alone.
What should you measure before choosing a freestanding appliance?
Measure the available width, depth and height, then check that the door can open and that you can leave the clearances specified in the manual. Whirlpool specifically states that a freestanding microwave should be placed on a flat surface, with its ventilation openings unobstructed.
Can a compact built-in oven directly replace a freestanding appliance?
Not without checking the existing housing and the model’s installation instructions. Bosch classifies the Bosch CMG7241B1 as a built-in model and lists its dimensions as 455 × 594 × 548 mm, but these appliance dimensions alone don’t confirm that it will fit your kitchen unit.