If you mainly reheat and defrost food, start by comparing standard microwaves. If you’d also like to cook the occasional oven dish in the same appliance, consider combination models. For regular quiches, gratins or baking, look instead at worktop ovens, then check the space each model needs, the dishes it can accommodate and its installation instructions. Research by ADEME and the French National Consumer Institute distinguishes between cooking, reheating and defrosting: results depend on the food and the appliance.
If you don’t cook many oven recipes, start by comparing standard and combination microwaves. The interior needs to fit your containers, while the appliance’s external dimensions and manual determine where you can put it.
For gratins, quiches, roasted vegetables or baking, look at the cooking modes offered by a worktop oven or combination model. Also check that the rack or tray is large enough for the dishes you usually use.
Measure the space before choosing a freestanding appliance. Ventilation clearances vary by model, so an appliance that fits on the worktop won’t necessarily be suitable for placing under a cupboard.
If your kitchenette doesn’t have a built-in oven, start with the dishes that matter most to you, then check how much space the appliance needs when in use. A grill, convection mode and microwave cooking aren’t suited to the same recipes, so check the modes available on the model you’re considering.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who this suits |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Functions listed in the manual; container capacity and dimensions. | If I mainly need to reheat meals and defrost food, I want those two tasks to guide my choice. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Oven cooking | Cooking modes suited to your recipes; rack or tray dimensions. | If I often make quiches or gratins, oven-cooking options matter more than a reheating function alone. Around 29% of consumers share this priority. |
| Size and installation | Overall dimensions and the ventilation clearances specified for the model. | With a narrow worktop, I need to be able to position and use the appliance without encroaching on the space needed around it. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
| Dish size | Usable interior dimensions and accessory sizes, not just capacity in litres. | When I cook larger portions, I want my dishes to fit inside the appliance without choosing a size that’s disproportionate for my kitchenette. For around 14% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
Examples from Severin and Moulinex range from a 9 L mini oven to a 60 L worktop oven. But capacity won’t tell you whether your dish will fit on the rack or how much space the door takes up when open.
Measure your worktop and the largest dish you usually use. Then compare those measurements with the appliance and accessory dimensions, as well as the clearances specified in the manual.
Instructions vary by model. For example, the manual for the Whirlpool MWSC9133SX requires at least 30 cm of clearance above the appliance and says it must not be installed in a cupboard. These instructions don’t apply to every model.
Check the manual for the model you’re considering before setting aside space for it under a cupboard or in a recess.
ADEME and the French National Consumer Institute compare cooking, defrosting and reheating separately on combination and convection ovens. The right choice therefore depends on the dishes you make and the way you use the appliance, not just the name of the technology.
Make a note of the dishes you cook most often, then check that each model offers the relevant modes. Don’t assume that a microwave with a grill also has a convection function.
The freestanding microwave range includes standard and combination models to consider if you want to reheat, defrost and cook in a single appliance.
The freestanding electric ovens in the Optimo range may suit people who mainly cook oven recipes.
The mini oven range includes some very compact models to consider when space is a key factor.
These appliances show three ways to kit out a kitchenette: a combination microwave, microwaves suited mainly to reheating and a worktop oven. Compare their features with the recipes you make before measuring the space and checking the installation instructions for your chosen model.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat food and cook oven dishes in the same combination appliance.
Stated capacity: 39 L. Measure the available space and check the manual for the required clearances before choosing this size.
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Consider this if reheating is your priority and you’d also like a grill.
Stated microwave power: 700 W. A grill alone doesn’t mean this model has a convection mode, so check the available functions and installation instructions if your recipes require it.
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Worth comparing if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food in a worktop microwave.
The model name indicates 700 W, five power levels, a 30 min timer and a 245 mm turntable. Check the manual for installation clearances. If you cook with an oven, check separately that the model has the modes you need.
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Worth considering if cooking oven dishes is more important to you than reheating food in a microwave.
Stated capacity: 23 L. Check dish dimensions, cooking modes and installation clearances. Don’t assume this oven has microwave or dedicated defrost functions.
A combination microwave may suit you if you often reheat and defrost food but only cook in the oven occasionally. Check its modes and the size of dishes it can accommodate. Research by ADEME and the French National Consumer Institute looks at cooking, defrosting and reheating separately, and doesn’t show that every dish and model will produce the same results.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the model you choose. As an example specific to that model, the Whirlpool MWSC9133SX manual requires at least 30 cm of clearance above the appliance, prohibits installation in a cupboard and specifies a worktop height of at least 850 mm.
Compare the dimensions of your largest dish with those of the rack or tray, then check the usable interior space and how far the door opens. Stated capacity alone isn’t enough: Severin lists the TO 2052 at 9 L, while Moulinex describes a 60 L Optimo model as large enough to hold two dishes.
No. If you buy an appliance from a professional seller in France, an optional commercial warranty comes in addition to the statutory guarantee of conformity; it doesn’t replace it. Before taking out an extended warranty, compare its duration, exclusions and claims process.