If you have a suitable housing space and regularly cook oven dishes, consider a compact combination oven. If reheating and defrosting are your main priorities, a combi microwave may offer grilling or fan-assisted cooking, depending on the model. If built-in installation isn’t an option, a countertop appliance can handle certain types of cooking and smaller portions, but it will take up worktop space and may not replace your microwave or oven. Check the dishes you use, the dimensions and the installation instructions before choosing.
If you also make gratins, roasts or bakes, a compact combination oven brings several cooking modes together in one unit. However, Whirlpool, Electrolux and Bosch product specifications show that dimensions and installation requirements need to be checked for each model.
If these tasks matter more to you than cooking large batches, look at combi microwaves with a grill and, depending on the model, fan-assisted cooking. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes these features from those of a standard microwave; check that the cavity can fit the dishes you usually use.
A worktop appliance can be a good choice for roasting, grilling or cooking smaller portions without altering your kitchen units. The ranges from Moulinex and Tefal include different sizes. Remember to measure the space needed to open the appliance and follow its instructions.
Start with the cooking methods you rely on every day, then check that your chosen size fits the space you actually have, including room for opening and ventilation.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Bringing cooking functions together in one built-in space | Compare your available space with the model’s installation diagram and check that it offers the cooking modes you need. | When oven-cooked dishes are a regular part of my meals, I want to avoid leaving several appliances on the worktop. Around 33% of consumers would put built-in, all-in-one cooking at the top of their list. |
| Reheating and cooking quickly | Check for a grill or fan-assisted cooking, as well as the cavity size and which dishes will fit. | If I reheat or defrost food much more often than I cook large batches, I’m looking for a microwave that can handle some cooking too. Speed would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Cooking without built-in installation | Measure the space it will take up on the worktop and the room needed to open it; check the instructions for ventilation requirements. | Without a suitable housing space, I’d rather have an appliance I can put on the worktop and then move or store away, even if it needs a dedicated spot while cooking. Around 20% of consumers would choose this option first to avoid built-in installation. |
| Choosing a size to suit your meals | Check the dimensions of your dishes, the accessories and the number of portions you cook—not just the capacity in litres. | For the portions I usually make, a cavity that’s too small would mean cooking in batches, while a larger appliance would take up space I don’t need to use. The size of their meals would come first for around 20% of consumers. |
UFC-Que Choisir notes that combi microwaves add oven functions such as grilling and fan-assisted cooking. ADEME points out that a combination oven’s versatility doesn’t guarantee the same results for every type of cooking.
Make a list of the dishes you cook each week. If you often bake, roast or cook several dishes at once, check the cooking modes, cavity and accessories before deciding you no longer need a dedicated oven.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you the shape of dishes that will fit or how much room you’ll need to open a door or drawer. For a built-in model, the external dimensions are no substitute for checking the housing diagram.
Measure your dishes and the space available, then check the chosen model’s instructions for opening clearance and required gaps.
Results quoted for a countertop appliance depend on factors such as the recipe, quantity and cooking cycle used for comparison. They won’t necessarily apply to everything you cook.
Start by choosing the cooking modes and capacity that suit your meals. If a manufacturer’s comparison affects your decision, check the conditions under which it was carried out.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer. A commercial warranty does not replace it.
Before taking out extra cover, read its duration, what it covers and any exclusions, and understand how these differ from your rights if the product is not as described.
Whirlpool France offers combi microwaves as well as compact ovens with several cooking modes, depending on the model.
Bosch Home Appliances France describes the CMG7241B1 as a compact built-in oven with a microwave function.
Electrolux France offers the KVLBE08X compact built-in oven, which combines oven and microwave functions.
Moulinex France offers countertop appliances ranging from air fryers to a 20 L air fryer oven.
Tefal France offers worktop air fryers designed for different quantities, depending on the model.
These models are mainly suited to worktop use: cooking with hot air or, in the case of the solo microwave, reheating and defrosting. Choose according to the dishes you want to prepare and the space you can spare for the appliance.
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Worth considering if you’d like a countertop air fryer for a wider variety of dishes without installing a built-in appliance. Check which container suits the portions you usually make and the clearance required in the instructions.
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Worth a look if you want several cooking functions in one countertop appliance: its listing describes it as an 11 L 9-in-1 model. Check the exact variant on offer, as well as the space needed for opening, ventilation and connection.
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This countertop air fryer is worth considering if portion size is an important factor for you. Its stated capacity is 7.6 L. Check the external dimensions, which dishes or accessories can be used and the required clearances before deciding where to put it.
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Its 2 L size is worth considering for smaller portions and worktop hot-air cooking. The stated power is 1150 W. Measure the space available and check that it offers the cooking modes your recipes need, rather than assuming it can do everything a combination oven can.
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Worth considering if your main need is reheating or defrosting rather than grilling or oven cooking. The listing specifies six power levels and a 30-minute timer; “solo” means it isn’t a combi microwave. Check the required installation clearances for this model.
Don’t assume you can: a built-in model is designed to be installed in line with its instructions, while a freestanding model has different installation requirements. Check the diagram, ventilation openings and instructions for your chosen model. For example, Electrolux specifies a housing space of 450 × 560 × 550 mm for the KVLBE08X.
The container must be suitable for the mode you’re using. UFC-Que Choisir advises against using steel or gold-trimmed cookware in microwave mode, and says microwave-safe plastic should only be used in that mode—not for grilling or convection. Check your model’s instructions for any supplied accessories, and don’t heat a sealed container.
No. In France, according to the Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity is compulsory for new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer. It covers, among other things, goods that don’t match their description. Any commercial warranty is additional and subject to its own terms.
Ask about taking back your old appliance when you buy a new one. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition describes the “1-for-1” take-back scheme, which applies when you buy an appliance of the same type; the terms for take-back without a purchase are different.