A freestanding combi microwave is a good choice if you often reheat and defrost food, but also want to brown or occasionally cook dishes without adding more appliances. If oven cooking is central to your meals, compare the capacity and cooking results of a compact oven instead; a built-in combi oven only makes sense if it fits your housing unit. In every case, check the available space and the size of your dishes before focusing on the number of functions.
You often reheat or defrost food, but would also like to brown and cook certain dishes without having to install two appliances. As UFC-Que Choisir explains, a combi microwave can combine microwave, grill and fan oven functions. If you plan to use it regularly as an oven, check the cooking results of the model you’re considering.
Tarts, bakes and cakes feature regularly on your menu, but a full-size oven would take up too much space. Compare the size of your dishes with the internal capacity, then look for results for the cooking mode you’ll use. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing procedure, for example, assesses browning and evenness of cooking.
A built-in compact oven could be an option if your kitchen unit is designed for it. Boulanger lists combi ovens designed for specific 45 cm-high housings, for example. Also check the width, depth and installation requirements of the exact model.
Start with the meals you make most often. A combi microwave suits different needs from a compact oven used mainly for cooking, while another countertop appliance should be judged by the dishes it can actually prepare. Then check that the appliance and your dishes will fit in the available space.
| What matters | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Combining functions | Identify the modes you need for your meals: microwave, grill or fan oven. Check they’re suitable for the recipes you have in mind. | If I reheat and defrost food every day but only use the oven occasionally, I want to avoid buying a second appliance. Around 36% of consumers would put this versatility first. |
| Size and capacity | Measure the space, the required clearances and your usual dishes. For a built-in model, check the installation plan. | When every centimetre of worktop space matters, I need to be able to open the appliance and fit my usual dishes inside. Physical compatibility would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Oven cooking | Look for tests of the model that assess fan oven, grill and combination cooking separately, particularly for browning and evenness. | If I often make cakes or bakes, I first want to know how they’ll cook, even in a small cavity. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Energy use and support | Check the energy-use information that applies to the model, and find out who to contact if there’s a problem. | For an appliance I use every day, I want to understand its energy use and know who to turn to if it doesn’t match its description. Around 14% of consumers would put this need first. |
Having a grill or fan oven function doesn’t tell you how well a model browns a bake or cooks a cake. UFC-Que Choisir assesses several cooking results separately in its testing procedure.
Make a note of the dishes you cook most often, then look for results for those modes and the exact model you’re considering.
A shorter height doesn’t guarantee that the appliance will fit the depth of your kitchen unit or that its cavity will be large enough for your dishes. Built-in dimensions and appliance dimensions are not the same.
Measure the space and your dishes, then check the manufacturer’s installation diagram, including the required clearances.
A combi appliance can bring several modes together in one cavity, but capacity and cooking results matter if you often prepare large dishes or bake.
If oven cooking is central to your meals, also compare a compact oven, perhaps alongside a basic microwave.
In France, the DGCCRF points out that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to an individual. An additional commercial guarantee does not replace it.
Before agreeing to an extended guarantee, ask what extra cover it provides and keep a copy of the product description and your proof of purchase.
These brands offer examples of formats and ranges worth exploring, but this doesn’t imply that every model has the same functions or cooking results.
Whirlpool France offers freestanding and built-in combi microwaves, with functions that vary by model.
Bosch compact combi ovens with microwave functions are among the built-in models listed by Boulanger.
Smeg is among the brands of built-in compact combi microwave ovens sold in France.
Built-in Samsung combi microwaves are included in the range featured by Boulanger.
These models include two combi microwaves and two countertop ovens designed for other cooking needs. Compare them according to the functions you need and the space available. Don’t assume that a countertop oven will cover the same needs as a combi microwave.
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Worth considering if you want to combine microwave and cooking functions in one appliance. Its stated capacity is 42 L. Measure the space and check the results of the cooking modes that suit your recipes.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a combi microwave for everyday meals. Its stated capacity is 39 L. Check the size of your dishes, the space available and which functions are included in the version on offer.
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Consider this if oven cooking and air frying suit your meals better than the functions of a combi microwave. The product name states 1800 W and says it can fit a 13'' pizza. Check these details against the size of your dishes, and make sure it has the functions you need for reheating or defrosting.
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Worth exploring if you want to combine oven cooking, steaming, air frying and rotisserie cooking on your worktop. The product name states that it has a 304 stainless steel inner tank. Measure the space it needs and check separately whether it meets your reheating or defrosting needs.
Yes, for some meals and portion sizes, as long as its functions and cavity suit your recipes. UFC-Que Choisir assesses the grill and fan oven separately from the microwave functions. If you often cook in the oven, compare cooking results and the size of dishes that will fit, rather than assuming a combi microwave is equivalent to a full-size oven.
Measure the housing unit, available depth and your dishes, then compare these measurements with the model’s installation plan. The 45 cm built-in height listed for some compact formats at Boulanger isn’t enough to establish compatibility: the other dimensions and required clearances matter too.
Look for separate results for the modes you’ll use, rather than simply counting the programmes. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing procedure assesses factors including browning, evenness and cooking time for small cakes. Look for tests of the exact model and the uses that matter most to you.
If you bought the appliance from a professional seller in France, contact them under the statutory guarantee of conformity. The DGCCRF says this guarantee covers goods that don’t match their description, among other things. Keep a copy of the offer, your proof of purchase and your correspondence with the seller.