Choose a solo microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost food; a grill model is suitable if you also want to brown dishes occasionally. A combination microwave with fan-assisted heat makes sense when you genuinely need to cook or roast without a separate oven, provided you check its footprint, the ventilation clearances specified in the instructions and the space available for your dishes.
You often reheat and defrost food, have limited worktop space and are not certain you need to cook in an oven every day. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a solo or grill microwave may be sufficient; a combination model is mainly worthwhile if you also need to cook or roast without a separate oven.
You are looking for a versatile back-up appliance for reheating, defrosting and occasional cooking, without filling the space with several appliances. Your choice will mainly depend on how often you actually prepare gratins and oven-style dishes, as well as the installation space available.
You need to cook, roast or bake in a compact space. A combination model with fan-assisted heat can meet these needs if you are happy with a larger appliance and check the dimensions, usable capacity and ventilation requirements for the model you choose.
Choose this if: your everyday needs are mainly reheating and defrosting.
Limitation: it cannot brown dishes or handle oven-style cooking.
Choose this if: you want to brown a pizza, quiche or gratin without adding a second appliance.
Limitation: the grill does not replace fan-assisted heat for cooking or roasting as you would in an oven.
Choose this if: you need to cook regularly without a traditional oven in a compact kitchen.
Limitation: its dimensions and ventilation clearances require more careful installation.
| Priority | What to check | Need |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check that the microwave and defrost functions match your regular needs. Also compare how easy the controls are to use and the usable capacity for your portions. | I want to bring a dish up to temperature quickly and defrost food without taking up worktop space with modes I would rarely use. |
| Browning | Look for an integrated grill if browning is important. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests distinguish grill performance and evenness from reheating performance. | I want to finish a pizza, quiche or gratin with a golden top while retaining microwave functions. |
| Oven-style cooking | For cooking, roasting or baking, check for fan-assisted heat and the programmes specified by the manufacturer. Check the cavity, turntable or usable space with your own dishes. | Without a conventional oven, I want an appliance that can handle certain cooking tasks without filling the kitchen with several appliances. |
| Installation | Measure the width, height, depth, door opening and socket location. Follow the ventilation clearances specified in the instructions for the exact model. | My appliance must fit in a narrow kitchen while leaving enough room for correct installation. |
Capacity tells you neither the external dimensions nor the free space required around the appliance. Whirlpool’s MWF255B measures 49 × 32,5 × 46,8 cm, while the required clearances vary by model.
Measure the width, depth, height, door opening and available socket, then add the clearances specified in the instructions before ordering.
An appliance that cannot be installed with the required ventilation will need to be moved or replaced.
A combination model adds a grill and fan-assisted heat, but this versatility is mainly useful if you genuinely cook without a separate oven. UFC-Que Choisir clearly distinguishes between the roles of solo, grill and combination models.
List your weekly uses: reheating and defrosting for a solo model, occasional gratins for a grill model, and cooking and roasting without an oven for a combination model with fan-assisted heat.
Defrosting, reheating, grilling, combination cooking and fan-assisted heat deliver different results. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses them separately, particularly for evenness, browning and temperature accuracy.
Compare the functions you need on the exact model and, where available, consult independent tests that explain their methodology rather than inferring performance from a power rating or programme name.
In France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity is compulsory for new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a professional to a consumer, according to economie.gouv.fr.
Ask in writing what the commercial warranty adds: duration, exclusions, repair conditions and any call-out charges.
Compare the cost of an extension with the rights already covered by the statutory legal guarantee of conformity.
A brand worth considering if you are looking for a freestanding combination model designed to maximise usable cavity space, particularly without a turntable.
A brand to compare if you want a combination model that brings together microwave, grill and fan-assisted heat, with oven temperatures specified by the manufacturer.
An option worth comparing if you are looking for 32 L combination models offering several modes, including fan-assisted heat, grill and Air Fry, depending on the models in the French range.
These Joybuy options include microwaves with a grill and a combination model with convection, for reheating, defrosting, browning or cooking without a separate oven, depending on your needs.
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For cooking, roasting and browning without a separate oven, with microwave, grill and convection modes specified.
Stated capacity: 42 L.
Its stated depth of 50,5 cm and 42 L format may not suit a very narrow kitchenette; check the instructions for the ventilation clearances.
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For reheating, defrosting and occasional browning in a freestanding appliance.
Stated capacity: 20 L; stated microwave power: 700 W.
Fan-assisted heat is not specified: choose a convection model if you need to cook or roast as you would in an oven. The instructions require 10 cm of clearance at the sides and rear; also measure the space above.
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For reheating, defrosting and browning a dish in a compact kitchen.
Stated capacity: 25 L; stated power: 1 000 W; digital display.
Fan-assisted heat is not specified; do not choose it as an oven substitute based solely on roasting programmes. Also check the ventilation and door opening requirements in the instructions.
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For reheating, defrosting and browning food without adding a separate appliance.
Stated capacity: 25 L; stated power: 1 000 W.
Fan-assisted heat is not specified: choose a combination model with convection for baking, roasts or oven-style cooking. Check the ventilation clearances before deciding where to place it.
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For reheating, defrosting and browning dishes with an integrated grill.
Stated capacity: 25 L; stated microwave power: 900 W.
Fan-assisted heat is not specified for oven-style cooking. Allow at least 10 cm on each side and 20 cm above for ventilation, in addition to the stated footprint.
Yes, partly, if the model has fan-assisted heat and your dishes, accessories and cooking temperatures are suitable for its cavity. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a solo microwave is mainly for reheating and defrosting, the grill adds browning, while a combination model adds oven-style cooking functions.
Follow the instructions for the exact model. Whirlpool says not to obstruct the ventilation openings; for the Samsung MC32DG7646CK, the reproduced manual specifies 20 cm above, 10 cm at the rear and 10 cm at the sides, on a flat surface approximately 85 cm above the floor. These measurements do not automatically apply to other appliances.
No. Also check the turntable diameter or the space that is genuinely usable inside the cavity, along with the external dimensions and ventilation requirements. Panasonic specifies a 31,5 cm turntable for its NN-C69K, while Whirlpool presents the MWF255B as a model without a turntable, with a 25 L cavity stated to be equivalent to 30 L of usable space.
The statutory legal guarantee of conformity is compulsory for new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a professional to a consumer, according to economie.gouv.fr. It may apply, in particular, when a product does not match its description or when there is a problem linked to inadequate installation instructions, provided the installation was carried out as specified.
A microwave is one of the electrical appliances covered by take-back requirements. According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the “one-for-one” take-back scheme applies when buying an appliance of the same type.