For a kitchenette, choose a solo microwave if you mainly want to reheat and defrost, a grill model if you’d also like to brown or crisp food, or a combination microwave with fan-assisted heat if you plan to cook dishes in the style of an oven. Before choosing one, compare its dimensions and ventilation clearance requirements with the space you have available, then check that your dishes will fit inside.
You mostly prepare individual portions, leftovers or soup, and want to be able to defrost food without giving up all your worktop space. A solo model will do the job, but make sure you have enough room to install it.
You reheat meals every day but would also like to brown or crisp a dish from time to time. As Que Choisir explains, the grill function adds this option to the microwave’s usual capabilities.
You want to reheat and defrost food, but also prepare a wider range of dishes from time to time. A combination microwave with fan-assisted heat is worth considering, provided its depth and the clearance it needs are suitable for your kitchen.
Start by choosing the cooking modes you’ll genuinely use. Then measure the space and check the size of the dishes the appliance can accommodate. If your cooking regularly calls for another type of appliance, you could also consider a separate compact model.
Best for: if you mainly use your microwave to reheat and defrost food.
The downside: it doesn’t have a grill function for browning food.
Best for: if you’d like to brown or crisp food occasionally as well as reheat meals.
The downside: a grill alone doesn’t provide the fan-assisted heat needed for the kinds of cooking you’d expect from a convection oven.
Best for: if you also want to use the appliance for some oven-style cooking.
The downside: extra functions don’t mean you can overlook its size: Whirlpool’s MCP349WH and MWSC833W combination microwaves are listed by the brand as 49.4 and 54 cm deep respectively.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Compare the appliance’s height, width and depth with the space you’ve measured, then check the manual for the ventilation clearances required for that model. | If my worktop is narrow, the appliance needs to fit without getting in the way of using it; around 29% of consumers put this practical constraint first. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check that it has a defrost function, and compare the internal dimensions or turntable diameter with your containers. | For leftovers, soups and frozen portions, I mainly want functions suited to these everyday meals; around 29% of consumers share this priority. |
| Occasional browning | Look for a grill mode and check the accessories, as well as the available height for your dishes. | I sometimes want to brown a dish, but don’t plan to bake or cook regularly in an oven; around 18% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Oven-style cooking | Make sure it has fan-assisted or convection cooking, and check which modes are available for the recipes you have in mind. | In a home without an oven, I’d like to be able to make a tart or roast a dish from time to time; around 24% of consumers put this versatility first. |
Capacity in litres tells you neither how deep the appliance is nor how much clearance it needs. For example, Whirlpool lists the MCP349WH as 49.4 cm deep and the MWSC833W as 54 cm deep. Check these dimensions separately from the capacity.
Measure the space available, check the manual for ventilation clearances, then compare the cavity or turntable with your plates and dishes.
A grill can brown the surface of a dish, but having one doesn’t mean the appliance has an oven-style convection cooking mode.
Make a note of the dishes you plan to cook. If they need it, look specifically for a fan-assisted or convection function.
Terms used by manufacturers, such as Crisp or Inverter, don’t by themselves guarantee the results you’ll get from a particular model. In its tests, Que Choisir distinguishes between reheating and defrosting performance and the features claimed by manufacturers.
Compare the modes listed in the product details and manual for the exact model. If you want to assess its cooking performance, look for an independent test of that same model.
Countertop combination microwaves to consider if you want your microwave to do more than reheat food.
A useful comparison if you’re looking for a countertop model with a grill, somewhere between a solo microwave and a combination model with fan-assisted heat.
Models to compare if you’re deciding between a grill microwave and an appliance with a wider range of cooking modes.
Solo models to consider if reheating and defrosting are still your main priorities.
These models are suited to reheating in a small kitchen and, in some cases, occasional browning. Before deciding whether a model suits your needs, check its functions and the installation requirements in its manual.
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Worth considering if you reheat meals and would also like to brown or crisp food from time to time.
The model name lists a capacity of 20 L and a power rating of 700 W. Compare the internal dimensions with your dishes and check the manual for the space needed to install it.
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Worth considering for reheating meals on a worktop. If browning food matters to you, check the cooking modes available on the exact model.
The product name lists a capacity of 23 L and a power rating of 900 W. Check the appliance’s dimensions and the clearance required in its manual for your chosen space.
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Worth considering if you mainly reheat and defrost food and don’t need a grill function.
The product name lists a capacity of 23 L and a quick defrost function. Check that your dishes will fit inside and that the appliance is installed in accordance with the manual.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat and occasionally brown dishes.
The product name lists a capacity of 25 L. Check the power rating for each mode in the documentation for the exact model, along with the space needed for ventilation.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting when these uses matter more to you than browning food.
The product name lists a power rating of 700 W, 11 power levels and 6 pre-set menus. Compare its internal dimensions with your containers and follow the manual for installation.
Measure the width, height and depth of the space, then compare them with the appliance’s external dimensions, allowing for the clearances specified in its manual. Separately, check the cavity or turntable dimensions against your dishes: the capacity in litres won’t tell you whether they’ll fit.
Yes. Depending on the model and recipe, it can be used for some simple cooking as well as reheating and defrosting. Que Choisir mentions potatoes and fish cooked in a parcel, for example. However, a solo model won’t brown food like a grill.
No. Having a grill doesn’t mean the appliance has fan-assisted heat. Choose a grill model for occasional browning; if you plan to cook dishes in the style of an oven, check that the combination microwave has the mode you need and will fit in your kitchenette.
The legal guarantee of conformity applies when a business sells goods to an individual, including when a product doesn’t match its description or has a conformity defect. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control explains that this mandatory guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. It is separate from any commercial warranty that may also be offered.