Choose a 60 cm fan oven if you regularly cook large dishes or several items at once and your unit is compatible. A microwave-convection combination oven can bring reheating, defrosting and cooking together in a more compact space. However, the ADEME-INC study of 4 combination ovens and 10 convection ovens found no clear advantage for every dish or in terms of energy consumption.
If you regularly prepare gratins, roasts, cakes or several dishes at once, a large cavity may be more suitable than an appliance focused on reheating. UFC-Que Choisir recommends choosing the capacity to suit your household and checking the housing unit; the Electrolux EOF4P46BK, for example, offers 65 L and requires a 590 × 560 × 550 mm housing unit.
A combination oven is a good choice if you frequently reheat and defrost food but still need to grill or cook. According to UFC-Que Choisir, this type of all-in-one appliance can free up space. However, make sure the cavity and your usual cookware are compatible with the model you choose.
A compact hot-air appliance can complement your kitchen for small batches, provided its capacity is genuinely sufficient. In UFC-Que Choisir’s tests, air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven for a small quiche of the same quantity, although this result does not apply to every dish.
Consider this if: large dishes, baking or cooking several items at once are central to your meals and a compatible housing unit is available.
Keep in mind: this format does not combine the reheating and defrosting functions of a microwave.
Consider this if: you want to combine microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking in a low-height housing unit.
Keep in mind: the ADEME-INC study indicates that results and energy consumption vary depending on the dishes and models, while combination ovens are generally more expensive.
Consider this if: you mainly prepare small portions, reheat leftovers or cook recipes that do not take up much space.
Keep in mind: a small cavity does not automatically replace an oven for family-sized dishes or large trays.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Combine several functions | Confirm that microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking modes are included. Also compare the installation dimensions and usable capacity with your housing unit and usual cookware. | I want to reheat, defrost, grill and cook without keeping two separate appliances. |
| Keep a useful capacity | Compare the volume, internal dimensions, accessories and options for cooking on several levels. Housing-unit dimensions vary from one model to another. | My baking tins, rectangular dishes and meals for several people must fit without difficulty. |
| Compare recipes, not promises | Assess cooking, defrosting, reheating and energy consumption using comparable recipes and quantities. The ADEME-INC study compares these uses across 4 combination ovens and 10 convection ovens. | I would rather pay for the functions I will actually use than assume that a combination appliance is suitable for all my recipes. |
| Match the appliance to small batches | Check the maximum basket or cavity size and compare energy consumption per recipe, rather than looking only at the stated power. | For a small quiche of the same quantity, UFC-Que Choisir’s tests recorded an average of 36% less electricity with air fryers than with a mini oven; this does not apply to every recipe. |
A shorter appliance may free up height in your unit without offering the same capacity. The Electrolux examples mentioned offer 43 L for a compact combination oven and 65 L for a 60 cm oven, which can affect the size of dishes you can use and the number of preparations you can cook.
Measure your most frequently used tins, trays and dishes, then compare them with the model’s volume, internal dimensions and accessories. Also check the housing unit’s height, width and depth before ordering.
According to the ADEME-INC study, combination oven results vary by dish, model and brand, with no clear overall advantage over convection ovens. Combination ovens were also generally more expensive in this comparison.
List your most frequent uses — oven cooking, reheating and defrosting — then compare appliances for those specific needs.
UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show that energy consumption varies depending on the recipes and models. A small cavity also limits the size of portions and dishes you can prepare.
Keep this option for small batches after checking the usable capacity, its position on the worktop and storage requirements. Keep another solution for large dishes you prepare regularly.
Housing-unit dimensions, the electrical supply and ventilation requirements depend on the model and the unit. Manufacturers refer you to their instructions and installation diagrams; a Joybuy listing for a pyrolytic oven also highlights the importance of adequate ventilation during pyrolysis.
Before buying, read the exact model’s instructions and check the housing unit, power supply, required clearances and unit compatibility. Do not apply the requirements of another appliance, even if it is from the same brand.
Examples of a 60 cm built-in oven and a compact 45 cm combination microwave make it possible to compare a large cavity with a lower all-in-one solution.
The built-in combination range illustrates appliances that bring together reheating, defrosting, grilling and, depending on the model, fan-assisted or steam cooking.
An example of a 60 cm built-in fan oven for kitchens where cooking on several levels matters more than combining microwave and oven functions.
These Joybuy options include a microwave-convection combination oven, a built-in hot-air oven and compact appliances for small portions.
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For combining cooking, reheating, defrosting and grilling without keeping two separate appliances.
42 L, microwave, grill and convection modes, a range of 140 to 230 °C and 30 listed programmes.
Freestanding appliance measuring 553 × 326 × 505 mm: allow for a suitable surface and consult the manual for ventilation, socket and positioning requirements. Also check the dimensions of your largest dishes.
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For one or two people who want to cook small portions or reheat food without installing a built-in oven.
4.7 L basket, Air Fry, Reheat and Dehydrate functions, temperature range of 30 to 210 °C and non-stick basket, as listed.
It may not replace an oven for gratins, large tins or cooking several dishes at once. No dedicated defrost function is listed.
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For regularly cooking large dishes in a kitchen with a compatible built-in housing unit.
71 L capacity, five shelf positions, seven modes, hot-air cooking and rapid preheating, as listed.
The required housing unit is 58.5 to 59.5 × 56 to 56.8 × 55 cm; check the installation diagram, clearances, unit and 220–240 V power supply with the stated 16 A protection.
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For very small portions in a kitchen where every centimetre of worktop space matters.
2 L basket, 1150 W power, 60-minute timer, non-stick basket and dishwasher-safe parts, as listed.
This capacity is not suitable for family-sized dishes, large tins or gratins. Compare the dimensions and required clearances with the intended position before use.
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For choosing the right container for a small portion or reheating leftovers on the worktop.
Two containers of 1.4 L and 3.8 L, Air Fry, Roast, Keep Warm and Recrisp functions, with listed dimensions of approximately 30 × 34.5 × 34 cm.
The containers limit the size of dishes you can prepare and may not replace a family-sized oven. Allow for a stable surface and sufficient ventilation.
Yes, in some households, provided the model includes microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking functions and your dishes fit inside the cavity. It is particularly suitable when reheating and defrosting are frequent. However, the ADEME-INC study found no clear performance or energy advantage over a convection oven for every dish.
No. A 45 cm housing unit can accommodate a compact combination oven, but the Electrolux example mentioned offers 43 L, compared with 65 L for its 60 cm oven example. Compare the housing unit’s height, width and depth with the diagram for the exact model, as well as with the dishes you use most often.
It may use less energy for a small batch: in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests, air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven for a small quiche of the same quantity. This result does not apply to every model or every dish, and the capacity may be too limited for family meals.
No. According to the list published by the French Ministry for Ecological Transition on 8 January 2026, ovens and microwaves were not among the categories covered by the repairability index at that time. To compare your options, ask instead about parts availability, indicative prices and the manufacturer’s or seller’s service terms.