If you regularly reheat and defrost food, start by choosing a freestanding microwave if you have a suitable space, or a built-in model only if its instructions confirm it will fit your housing unit. Next, check that there’s room for your dishes, that it’s easy to clean and that tests of the exact model show even results. A grill or combination model is only worth considering if you also plan to brown or cook food.
If leftovers, prepared portions and frozen food are regulars on your menu, look for easy-to-understand controls, hassle-free cleaning and reheating and defrosting results that suit your needs. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these last two aspects in its tests.
The choice between a freestanding and built-in model depends on the space you actually have. For a built-in model, measure the housing unit and compare it with the installation plan for the model you’re considering.
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between standard microwaves, models with a grill and combination models. If you’ll genuinely use the extra browning or cooking functions, consider these options. If you only need to reheat and defrost, start with standard models.
Choose a format to suit the space you have, then check that your usual dishes will fit inside. If you’ll use it regularly, also pay attention to reheating results, controls and cleaning.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Look for a test of the exact model that assesses even heating and defrosting; check its defrost settings too. | When I often need to reheat or defrost portions, I want to avoid food being at very different temperatures in different places. Around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Format and location | Measure the width and depth. For a built-in model, compare the housing unit and installation requirements with the model’s instructions. | In a kitchen where space is limited, the first thing I need to know is where the appliance can go. Around 29% of consumers would put this constraint first. |
| Room for your dishes | Compare your dishes with the internal dimensions, any turntable and the shape of the cavity, not just its capacity in litres. | If my usual plates don’t fit well inside, the stated capacity isn’t much help in everyday use. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise finding a model that fits their dishes. |
| Controls, cleaning and thermal safety | Check access to the cavity and the controls; consult tests of the model covering ease of use, cleaning and thermal safety. | When I use an appliance regularly, I mainly want to be able to set it, clean it and handle it without difficulty. This would be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
To compare the reheating performance of specific models, UFC-Que Choisir measures the temperature at several points on a plate, among other things. The stated power rating can’t replace results from this kind of test.
The Samsung MS23K3614AW/EF, listed as 23 L by Samsung France, has a 28.8 cm turntable, while the Whirlpool MWF421SL, listed as 25 L by Whirlpool France, has no turntable. Capacity alone won’t tell you whether your dishes will fit.
Measure the dishes you use most often, then compare their size with the turntable, if there is one, and the dimensions of the cavity.
A defrost setting describes a function, not the results you’ll get with every type of food. UFC-Que Choisir assesses how evenly food is reheated separately in its tests.
If this matters to you, look for an independent test of the exact model rather than relying on the programme name alone.
The dimensions and installation plans published by Bosch and Electrolux apply to their respective models. A similar-looking front width isn’t enough to confirm that a model will fit your kitchen unit.
Measure the available height, width and depth, then follow the installation diagram and ventilation instructions for the model you choose.
If the kitchen unit isn’t suitable, you may need to adapt it, or it may be impossible to install the appliance.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that a plastic container suitable for microwave mode isn’t necessarily suitable for the grill or convection mode.
If you choose a model with these functions, check the container’s instructions and the selected mode before use.
Worth considering for freestanding solo microwaves. Samsung France features the MS23K3614AW/EF, a 23 L model with a 28.8 cm turntable.
Worth considering for freestanding models, including standard models and those with a grill. Whirlpool France features the 25 L MWF421SL, which has a cavity without a turntable.
Worth considering if you’re planning a built-in installation. Bosch Home Appliances France lists the BFL523MB1F as a built-in model and publishes its dimensions.
Worth considering for a built-in model with extra cooking functions, provided your housing unit suits the model you choose.
These models are suitable for reheating and defrosting food at home. Some offer extra functions to consider if you’d also like to brown food. For each model, check the space available and the size of your dishes.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting in a freestanding space. If you’d also like to brown food, check which modes are available. The listing states a capacity of 21 L and a power rating of 800 W. Compare your dishes’ dimensions with those of the cavity, and look for a test of the exact model if even heating is important to you.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for straightforward settings for reheating and defrosting. The listing states a capacity of 20 L and a power rating of 700 W. Measure your plates before buying, and consult a test of the exact model if even reheating is your top priority.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting, or if you’d also like the option to brown food. The listing states a capacity of 25 L and a power rating of 1000 W; check which mode this rating refers to. Before choosing a dish or container, check its dimensions and make sure it’s suitable for the mode you’ll use.
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Worth considering if you’d like digital settings for everyday meals and defrosting. The listing states a power rating of 700 W, six pre-set menus and eleven power levels. Check the instructions for the usable cavity dimensions and installation requirements before choosing this model.
Choose a freestanding model if you want to use a suitable space without a built-in housing unit. For a built-in model, first compare your kitchen unit with the dimensions required for the housing, the installation plan and the ventilation instructions for the exact model.
Look for an independent test of the exact model: its technical specifications alone can’t confirm how evenly it heats food. In its microwave testing, UFC-Que Choisir measures the temperature at several points on a plate, among other things.
No. A standard microwave is enough for reheating and defrosting. Consider a grill if you also want to brown food, or a combination model for its extra cooking functions. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a container suitable for microwave mode isn’t automatically suitable for the grill or convection mode.