If you plan to cook small dishes regularly and don’t have a practical oven, consider a combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking, provided your dishes fit inside and you can position it as instructed in the manual. For occasional reheating, defrosting and browning, a model with a grill may be enough. If you already have an oven, a solo microwave avoids duplicating functions. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the functions of a combination model and those of a solo microwave: having a particular mode doesn’t, by itself, guarantee the result you want.
You often reheat and defrost food, but would also like to cook smaller portions. A combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking is worth considering if its dimensions and the required clearances suit your worktop.
If you mainly reheat and defrost, a solo microwave will meet those needs. A grill can be useful if you’d also like to brown or grill food occasionally, without expecting oven-style cooking.
If you’d like to cook pizzas, gratins or pastries occasionally in a countertop appliance, check for fan-assisted cooking, make sure there’s enough room for your dishes and leave the required space around the appliance.
Consider it: if you don’t have a practical oven and plan to cook small dishes, rather than just reheat or brown food.
The trade-off: you’ll need to allow space for the appliance and the required clearances. Its extra modes are only useful if you’ll use them.
Consider it: if you mainly reheat and defrost, with the occasional dish to grill or brown.
Limitation: a grill won’t replace fan-assisted cooking for dishes that need oven-style cooking.
Consider it: if you already have a usable oven for cooking and mainly use your microwave to reheat and defrost.
The trade-off: you’ll need to keep enough space for the separate oven.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking modes | Check the difference between microwave, grill and fan-assisted modes. See which programmes and accessories are suitable for the dishes you make. | Do I only want to reheat and defrost, occasionally grill food, or also cook dishes as I would in a small oven? |
| Space and ventilation | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with the space available, then check the door opening and the clearances specified in the manual for that exact model. | My worktop needs to accommodate the appliance while allowing air to circulate as set out in its manual. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the diameter and height of your dishes with the cavity, turntable and compatible accessories. The stated capacity in litres isn’t enough on its own. | My usual plates and dishes need to fit, so I shouldn’t choose a large cavity based on its capacity in litres alone. |
| Controls | Check the manual to see how to set the time, power, defrosting and any cooking modes you’ll actually use. | I’d rather have easy access to my everyday settings than lots of programmes I’ll never use. |
A grill is for browning or grilling food. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a combination microwave adds the basic functions of a conventional oven. A model with a grill alone may therefore not meet your oven-cooking needs.
Make a list of the dishes you usually cook. If you want to make pizzas or cakes, look specifically for a mode suited to those types of cooking.
A microwave may fit into the space you’ve planned for it, but that doesn’t mean the door will open properly or that the required ventilation clearances will be met.
Measure the space and check the clearances in the manual for the exact model. Don’t use the measurements for a different appliance.
The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you on its own whether your plate or gratin dish will fit inside the cavity.
Measure the dishes you use most and compare them with the turntable, available height and accessories designed for the model.
The presence of a programme doesn’t prove how well it will work for every type of food and dish. UFC-Que Choisir says it tests microwaves in an independent laboratory.
First choose the functions that suit the meals you make. Then distinguish between features claimed by the brand and test results for the specific model.
These models offer different capacities and functions. Check the manual and the details for the specific model before choosing.
Samsung France describes the MC32DG7646CKE1 as a 32 L combination microwave with an Air Fry function.
Whirlpool France describes the MCP349WH as a 25 L freestanding combination microwave for small kitchens.
Panasonic France describes the NN-CD87KS as a 34 L combination microwave with convection, a grill and automatic programmes.
These microwaves are mainly suited to reheating and defrosting, with a grill explicitly listed for some models. A solo microwave is worth considering if you already have a separate oven for cooking. This selection doesn’t include a combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking.
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Consider this if you want to reheat and defrost food, as well as brown it occasionally using the grill. For oven-style cooking, check the modes available on the exact model. Also check the clearances in the manual before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering for reheating, defrosting and the occasional gratin, rather than as a replacement for oven cooking. Compare the space available with the clearances specified in the MGC20100B1 manual.
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Worth comparing for reheating and defrosting. Before relying on a grill function or deciding where to put it, confirm the modes, external dimensions and clearances in the H25MOBS7H manual.
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Worth considering if reheating and defrosting are still your main uses. Before relying on it to grill food or deciding where to put it, check the cooking modes, microwave power and clearances in the MH6535GIS documentation.
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This solo microwave is worth considering for reheating and defrosting if you already have an oven or don’t need to cook using an oven. Its product description lists five power levels, a 30-minute timer and a 245 mm turntable. Also check the external dimensions and clearances in the manual.
A combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking can handle some oven cooking if your dishes fit inside, but it isn’t automatically equivalent to your usual oven. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the functions of combination models. Check the functions of the exact model and the space needed to install it.
Follow the clearances specified in the manual for the exact model, and make sure there’s enough room to open the door. For example, a copy of the manual for the Samsung MC32DG7646 family specifies 20 cm above and 10 cm behind and at the sides. These distances shouldn’t be applied to a different appliance.
No. Their usefulness depends on the dishes you make and how easily you can find your everyday settings. Check the manual to see how to start reheating, defrosting and any cooking modes you plan to use.