People who mainly reheat meals
If you prepare individual portions or reheat leftovers, defrosting is likely to matter more to you than browning or baking.
Who are these appliances for?
People who still want to cook oven-style meals
Without a conventional oven, you may still want to make gratins, quiches, pizzas or cakes in dishes designed to fit a smaller appliance.
People who cook one-pot meals
You prefer small portions cooked by steaming, slow cooking or pressure cooking to dishes spread out on an oven tray.
Which features should you prioritise?
Standard or grill microwave
Choose this if: you mainly reheat and defrost portions; a grill can add browning, depending on the model.
The trade-off: a grill alone does not provide the convection heat needed for some oven-style cooking.
Combination microwave
Choose this if: you want microwave and oven-style cooking in one appliance; UFC-Que Choisir describes combination models with a grill and convection heating.
The trade-off: features and the space available for dishes vary by model.
Countertop mini oven
Choose this if: you mainly need dry-heat cooking for dishes such as quiches, pastries or gratins.
The trade-off: features and the dish sizes it can accommodate depend on the model; it does not reheat using microwaves.
Compact multicooker
Choose this if: you mainly cook meals in a bowl, particularly by steaming, pressure cooking or slow cooking.
The trade-off: the bowl cannot replace an oven cavity for a pizza or pastries cooked on a tray.
| Your needs | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check that the appliance has the modes you need and that your containers will fit in the cavity. | If your meals are often already cooked or stored in portions, you want to reheat or defrost them without needing to cook them in an oven; around 36% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Cooking as you would in an oven | Check the cooking modes listed and the maximum dish size, rather than relying on the capacity in litres alone. | To keep making quiches, gratins or cakes, you need a suitable cooking mode and a cavity that will fit your dish; nearly 29% of consumers would prioritise this use. |
| Finding a place for the appliance | Measure the appliance and the space needed to open its door, and allow for the clearances specified in the manual. | When worktop space is very limited, you need an appliance that fits, with enough room for the door to open and the vents to remain clear; around 21% of consumers would make this their main concern. |
| Cooking one-pot meals | Compare the bowl capacity, the modes that suit your meals and the instructions for steam or pressure cooking. | If you mainly make small portions of steamed or slow-cooked food, a bowl is a better fit for your routine than an oven tray; around 14% of consumers would put this need first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Expecting a standard microwave to handle every type of cooking
Reheating and defrosting are not the same as baking pastries or cooking pizza with convection heat. Even with a grill, its features are not the same as those of every combination microwave or mini oven.
Think about the dishes you make most often, then check that the model you choose has the modes you need.
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Choosing based on capacity in litres alone
The stated capacity does not tell you whether your baking tin will fit in the cavity or whether the door can open where you plan to put the appliance.
Measure a dish you use regularly and compare it with the maximum dimensions the appliance can accommodate. Then check the appliance’s overall dimensions.
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Putting a freestanding appliance in a cramped space
An Electrolux manual states that insufficient ventilation can affect an appliance’s performance and lifespan. The required clearances depend on the model.
Check the manual for the model you’re considering before deciding where to place it, making sure the plug is accessible and the vents have enough space around them.
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Expecting a multicooker to cook like a mini oven
Steam, pressure and slow-cooking modes are designed for meals made in a bowl, not dishes spread out on a tray or cooked in an oven cavity.
If pizza, quiches or pastries are regular features on your menu, consider a mini oven or a combination microwave with the cooking mode you need.
Brands to consider, depending on the model
Electrolux
Freestanding microwaves, including grill models, to consider if reheating and defrosting are your priorities.
- According to Electrolux France, the EMZ421MMK combines microwave and grill functions; the published dimensions give you a starting point for checking whether it will fit.
- Don’t mistake this model for a combination microwave with convection heating, and check the manual for installation instructions.
Moulinex
Mini ovens for oven-style cooking and Cookeo multicookers for meals made in a bowl.
- According to Moulinex France, the Optimo 33 L offers convection and grill functions, while the Cookeo Mini has a 3 L bowl and modes including pressure and steam cooking.
- These appliances are designed for different types of cooking, so check the features and dish sizes supported by the model you’re considering.
Tefal
Freestanding mini ovens to consider when dry-heat cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating.
- According to Tefal France, the Optimo 19 L includes convection, conventional heat and grill modes.
- Check the dimensions of your tin or dish: a stated capacity does not guarantee that it will fit inside the cavity.
Panasonic
Combination microwaves to consider if you want several cooking modes in one appliance.
- Panasonic France lists the NN-C69K and NN-CD88 models as having convection and grill functions.
- Check the cooking modes, accessories, dimensions and ventilation instructions for the specific model you’re considering.
Whirlpool
Freestanding combination microwaves for people who want several functions without adding more appliances.
- Whirlpool France describes the MCP349WH as a 25 L model with microwave and grill functions.
- Check whether the specific model has convection heating: features vary across the range.
Appliances for different needs
These Joybuy appliances suit different ways of preparing meals without a conventional oven: combining cooking modes, reheating in a microwave, cooking in a bowl or using a mini oven. Start by choosing the use that matters most to you, then check the manual and make sure you have enough space for the model you pick.
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LG MJ3965ACS, 39 L combination microwave, black
Worth considering if you want microwave reheating and oven-style cooking in one combination appliance.
Stated capacity: 39 L. Check that your dishes fit inside the cavity and that the space you choose meets the dimensions and clearance requirements in the manual.
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Heinrich's, 20 L standard microwave, 700 W
Worth considering if you mainly want to reheat portions and defrost food, rather than cook oven-style meals.
The title lists six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a defrost function. Check that your containers will fit and follow the model’s installation instructions.
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Electrolux EMZ725MMTI Inverter, 25 L microwave with grill, Titanium
Worth considering if you want to add a grill to your microwave cooking, but don’t assume this replaces convection heating.
Stated microwave power: 900 W. Check that your dishes fit inside the cavity and read the installation instructions for this model.
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Instant Pot Classic Mini, 3.8 L multicooker, Sea Salt White
Worth considering if you mainly prepare meals in a bowl rather than on an oven tray.
The title describes a 7-in-1 pressure multicooker, suitable for up to four portions. Check that you have room for it on your worktop and follow the model’s instructions for steam and pressure cooking.
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Black+Decker BXOV4500E, 2,000 W mini oven
Worth considering if you prefer oven-style cooking to reheating with a microwave.
Check the size of the dishes it can accommodate, its overall dimensions and the installation instructions before making room for it on your worktop.
Frequently asked questions
Can a standard microwave replace a conventional oven?
Not for every type of cooking: a standard microwave is mainly for reheating and defrosting. If you regularly want to bake quiches or pastries, look for an appliance that explicitly lists oven-style cooking modes, then check the maximum dish size it can accommodate.
Is a combination microwave always suitable for a small kitchen?
No. Having several functions in one appliance doesn’t guarantee it will fit in the space you have. Measure the appliance, allow enough room to open the door and check the clearances specified in the model’s manual.
What can’t a compact multicooker do?
A multicooker designed for meals made in a bowl cannot directly replace an oven cavity for pizzas, quiches or pastries cooked on a tray. If you often make these dishes, check the cooking modes and the dish sizes accepted by a mini oven or combination microwave.
Can you use any container in a microwave?
No. Choose a container that is compatible with the mode you’re using and follow the appliance manual. For example, an Electrolux manual specifically says not to heat food or drinks in metal containers in the microwave, unless the instructions explicitly say otherwise for that particular container.