If you mainly reheat and defrost food, a standard microwave will cover your main needs. Choose one with a grill if you regularly want to brown dishes, or a combi model if you also plan to cook using convection. A compact oven is better suited to baking, but it won’t automatically replace a microwave for reheating. Compare the exact cooking modes, dimensions and space needed for installation, as recommended by UFC-Que Choisir’s buying advice and manufacturers’ product information.
Whether you live in a studio flat, student accommodation or a holiday home, your main needs are reheating and defrosting, without paying for cooking modes you’re unlikely to use. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes these uses from grilling and convection cooking.
You’d also like to brown dishes or cook meals as you would in an oven, and you’re wondering whether one appliance can do it all. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes grilling from oven-style cooking functions.
Before choosing a model, check its external dimensions, the space available and the size of the dishes you use. Manufacturers’ product information gives you measurements to compare with your kitchen setup.
When choosing an appliance for a small kitchen, start with what you actually cook: reheating alone, browning dishes or oven cooking. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between these uses. The percentages below show the priorities associated with each scenario, not market shares.
| What you need | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check that these functions are listed for the exact model, and compare its dimensions with the space available for your plates. | If I mainly reheat and defrost meals, I’d rather avoid modes I’m unlikely to use. Around 36% of consumers with these needs prioritise reheating and defrosting. |
| Cooking without a separate oven | Check that the exact model has convection; a grill alone doesn’t confirm this. Also check the installation requirements and dimensions. | If I want to cook in the oven while keeping the microwave function, I check the modes before relying on a single appliance. This is a priority for around 29% of consumers with these needs. |
| Regularly browning dishes | Check that the model has a grill, and distinguish it from convection in the product information. | If I mainly want to brown dishes and don’t need all the functions of an oven, a grill may be just what I need. Nearly 21% of consumers with these needs prioritise browning. |
| Oven cooking, with reheating already covered | Check the compact oven’s modes and dimensions, as well as how you’ll reheat and defrost food. | If oven cooking is my priority and I already have a way to reheat food, I can consider a separate compact appliance. This is a priority for around 14% of consumers with these needs. |
A combi model can add oven-style cooking functions, but UFC-Que Choisir notes that these models cost more. If you mainly reheat meals, these extra modes may not meet a regular need.
Start with the meals you usually prepare. Choose a combi model if its modes suit dishes you genuinely plan to cook.
A grill is for browning dishes. Its presence doesn’t prove that the appliance also has convection, which is needed for other types of oven cooking.
Check the list of modes for the exact model and make sure they’re suitable for the recipes you have in mind.
The stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit in your kitchen or whether your usual dishes will fit inside it.
Measure the available space and your dishes, then compare them with the model’s external dimensions and installation instructions. This will help you avoid having to give up your chosen spot or some of the meals you usually make.
Moulinex describes the Optimo 19 L OX444810 as a compact oven with several cooking modes; the product information cited doesn’t list a microwave function.
Before choosing a mini oven, decide how you’ll reheat and defrost meals day to day. You may also need to keep a separate appliance for these tasks.
The French MS23K3513AK/EF model is a 23 L solo microwave, with a defrost function listed by Samsung France.
The French MWP 253 B and MWF 259 SG models are examples of two distinct appliance types, according to Whirlpool France’s product information.
LG describes its combi microwave range as bringing together microwave, grill and convection functions.
The Moulinex Optimo 19 L OX444810 compact oven is a separate option from a microwave for oven cooking.
This selection includes solo microwaves, models with a grill and combi appliances, so you can compare reheating with additional cooking functions. Check the modes listed and the dimensions of each model before choosing.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a standard microwave for a small kitchen.
Capacity: 20 L; power: 700 W; a defrost function is listed in the product name.
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Consider this if you want to keep the convenience of microwave reheating and add a grill. Check whether it has the other modes your recipes require.
The product name lists 1,000 W power, a 25 L capacity and a white finish.
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This model may suit you if you want to reheat food in a microwave and have a grill for browning dishes too.
Capacity: 20 L; microwave power: 700 W; grill: 800 W; black finish, according to the product name.
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Worth considering if you want a microwave with extra cooking functions. Check that the exact modes suit the way you plan to use it.
Capacity: 29 L; grill: 1,000 W; stainless-steel finish, according to the product name.
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A straightforward model to consider if reheating and defrosting matter more to you than extra cooking modes.
Capacity: 23 L; the product name lists a quick-defrost function.
Not necessarily. For furnished rentals covered by French Decree No. 2015-981, which has been in force since 1 September 2015, the minimum list includes a hob and an “oven or microwave”. An oven can therefore meet this requirement; check the inventory and the appliance actually provided. This rule is set out in Article 2 of the decree published on Légifrance.
No. A grill alone doesn’t mean the model has convection. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between a grill, which is used to brown dishes, and the oven-style cooking functions available on some combi models. Check the modes listed for the exact model to make sure they suit your recipes.
Compare the model’s external dimensions with the space available, then check its instructions for installation requirements. Capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether the appliance and your dishes will fit.
No. Follow the instructions for the specific container and food. The DGCCRF recommends checking the microwave-use instructions on products or their packaging; Anses recommends following the preparation instructions for food intended for microwave use. Don’t assume that a microwave-safe container is also suitable for use under a grill.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity allows you to seek a remedy from the professional seller under the applicable conditions, for two years from the date the goods are delivered, whether they’re new or second-hand. The DGCCRF distinguishes this legal guarantee from an optional commercial guarantee.