People who often cook in a studio flat
If you have a hob but no built-in oven, you may want to cook oven dishes regularly. Check the cooking modes and the size of dishes the appliance can accommodate, then measure the space available around it.
Who are these appliances for?
Students with a small kitchen
If you need one appliance for reheating meals as well as occasional cooking, compare the functions it actually offers and remember to check how much worktop space it will take up.
People who mainly reheat meals
A microwave with a grill may suit you if you mainly reheat and defrost food, with the occasional bit of browning. If you also want to make cakes or quiches regularly, look for an appliance with an oven-style cooking mode.
What should you compare?
Countertop mini oven
Choose this if: you regularly cook dishes that need an oven-style cooking mode.
Bear in mind: it needs a dedicated spot and does not offer microwave reheating.
Combi microwave
Choose this if: you want one appliance for reheating, defrosting and occasional cooking, with an oven-style cooking mode.
Bear in mind: measure the whole appliance and allow the space it needs for ventilation. Its capacity in litres alone won’t tell you how much room it takes up.
Microwave with a grill
Choose this if: reheating matters more to you than oven cooking, but you’d like to brown food occasionally.
Limitation: a grill on its own does not guarantee the cooking modes you need for your usual oven recipes.
| What to compare | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking modes | Check separately for microwave, grill and conventional, fan-assisted or forced-air cooking. See which modes can be used on their own in the instruction manual. | I often make quiches or cakes: I need a mode suitable for these dishes, not just a grill. |
| Space and ventilation | Measure the external width, height and depth, as well as the door opening. Check the clearances specified for the model and keep its vents unobstructed. | My worktop is narrow: the appliance needs to fit without getting in the way of meal preparation or blocking the ventilation openings. |
| Suitable dishes | Compare the dimensions of your dishes with the cavity, any turntable and the door opening. Also check which containers are suitable for each mode you use. | I use a particular gratin dish: I want to know whether it will fit in the appliance and whether it’s suitable for the cooking mode I plan to use. |
| Care and repair | Check which parts can be removed, the cleaning instructions, the availability of spare parts and the repair options for the model you’re considering. | If I use the appliance almost every day, I want it to be easy to clean and to know what my options are if it breaks down. |
What should you watch out for?
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Going by capacity in litres alone
Capacity describes the cavity, not the amount of worktop space the appliance takes up. The Whirlpool MCP349WH has a capacity of 25 L, measures 52 × 30,1 × 49,4 cm and weighs 18,6 kg, according to Whirlpool France.
Before you buy, measure the final position, the door opening and the clearances specified in the model’s instruction manual.
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Confusing a grill with oven-style cooking
A grill is useful for browning food, but its presence alone doesn’t tell you whether the appliance has all the modes needed for regular oven cooking. Functions vary from one model to another.
For your usual pizzas, quiches or bakes, check the exact modes available on the mini oven or combi microwave you’re considering.
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Saving space by blocking the vents
Whirlpool France advises that the ventilation openings on its freestanding microwaves must not be blocked. The clearance required around the appliance depends on the relevant instruction manual.
Don’t put a freestanding model in an enclosed space unless you’ve confirmed that this installation complies with its instruction manual. Keep its air outlets clear.
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Assuming one rating tells you how easy it is to repair
The ADEME list of appliances covered by the repairability index does not include mini ovens or microwaves.
For the model you’re interested in, check the availability of spare parts and repair options rather than assuming it has a repairability rating.
A few models from leading brands
These models give you examples of features to compare for different uses; their specifications do not automatically apply to other appliances from the same brand.
Moulinex
The Moulinex mini ovens mentioned here offer different cooking modes depending on the model.
- According to Moulinex, the Principio OV125330 offers conventional heat and a grill, and can accommodate a 27 cm round dish.
- The Delicio 39 L OX283810 includes fan-assisted cooking and Turbo Grill, among other features, according to Moulinex.
- Check the cooking modes, the size of dishes it can accommodate and the installation instructions for the exact model: these specifications vary between models.
Whirlpool
The MCP349WH is an example of a freestanding combi microwave designed to offer several modes in a 25 L cavity, according to Whirlpool France.
- Whirlpool France states that its forced-air mode can operate without microwave energy.
- The MCP349WH measures 52 × 30,1 × 49,4 cm and weighs 18,6 kg, so check you have enough space before choosing this model.
- For a freestanding microwave, Whirlpool requires a flat surface and unobstructed ventilation openings.
Severin
Severin gives you the option of comparing a mini oven with a microwave that combines a grill and fan-assisted cooking, while keeping their different uses in mind.
- According to Severin, the TO 2067 mini oven has a capacity of around 20 L and measures 29,5 × 44,5 × 38,5 cm.
- The MW 7774 combines microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking in a 25 L cavity, according to Severin.
- Compare the modes on the model you choose: its capacity or compact size alone won’t tell you what it can do.
Microwaves with a grill available on Joybuy
These are freestanding microwaves with a grill to consider if you mainly reheat meals and would like to brown food occasionally. For regular oven-style cooking, check the exact modes on the appliance you’re considering and compare them with those of a mini oven or a combi microwave with an oven-style cooking mode.
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Electrolux EMZ725MMTI Inverter, microwave with grill, 25 L, 900 W, titanium
Worth considering if reheating and occasional browning are your priorities. If you also want to cook regularly as you would in an oven, check the available modes and ventilation clearances in the instruction manual.
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LG Electronics MH 6535 gih, microwave with grill, 25 L, 1000 W, white
If you mainly want to reheat food and brown it occasionally, check that its modes suit the dishes you make. Also consult the instruction manual to see how much space to leave around the appliance.
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Hkoenig VIO9, freestanding microwave, 25 L, 1000 W, stainless steel
If you want to reheat food and occasionally brown it, check the available functions before you buy. If the appliance needs to double as an oven, pay particular attention to its cooking modes and installation instructions.
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Beko MGC20100B1, microwave with grill, 20 L, 700 W, black
If you want to reheat and brown food from time to time, compare the size of your dishes with the cavity. Before setting aside a spot for it, check the instruction manual for the clearances needed around the model.
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Hkoenig VIO7, freestanding microwave, 23 L, 900 W, stainless steel
If reheating is your main use, check which modes are available for browning and your other recipes. Measure the space, allowing for the ventilation clearances specified in the instruction manual.
Frequently asked questions
Can a combi microwave replace a mini oven in a studio flat?
It can handle both reheating and oven-style cooking if the model has the right mode: Whirlpool France states that the MCP349WH can use forced-air cooking without microwave energy. However, check that it has the modes you need for your recipes, that your dishes will fit and that you have enough space to install it. A microwave with only a grill may not offer the same capabilities.
What should you check before installing a freestanding microwave?
Use a flat surface and keep the vents clear, as Whirlpool France recommends for its freestanding microwaves. Then measure the appliance and check its own instruction manual for the clearances required around it.
Can a combi microwave go in an enclosed space?
Only choose this position if the model’s instruction manual allows the proposed installation and you can meet all the specified clearances. An enclosed space that blocks the ventilation openings is unsuitable for appliances whose manufacturers require them to be kept clear.
How can you check whether a mini oven or microwave is repairable?
For the exact model, check the availability of spare parts, repair options and after-sales service. The ADEME list of categories covered by the repairability index does not include mini ovens or microwaves, so don’t assume the appliance will carry such a rating.