Choose a simple freestanding microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost meals: its functions match this use without the added constraints of a more complex appliance. A grill is suitable for occasional browning, while a combination model is worth considering if you genuinely plan to cook as you would with an oven. In that case, carefully check the depth, ventilation and available space.
You mainly need an appliance for everyday portions, reheating and defrosting in a home where every centimetre counts. The 2023 housing survey by the Réseau des Crous, carried out among more than 12 000 respondents, illustrates the realities of small student homes.
You need to decide whether a simple appliance is enough or whether a combination model could handle some of your cooking without adding several appliances. Combination models add a grill and fan-assisted heat, but they often require more worktop depth.
You are looking for an appliance that is easy to install and move, for reheating and defrosting, with browning or occasional cooking functions only if they suit your usual habits.
Start with how you will actually use the appliance, then check its external dimensions and the installation requirements for your chosen model.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking functions | Compare a microwave-only model, a grill and fan-assisted heat. A grill is used for browning and gratinating, while a combination model adds oven-style cooking functions. | I mainly reheat and defrost: a simple model may be enough. If I occasionally brown food, I will look for a grill; if I want to cook regularly without a full-size oven, I will consider a combination model. |
| Size and installation | Measure the width, height and, most importantly, depth, including the space needed with the door open. For a freestanding model, check that the surface is flat, follow the clearances in the manual and make sure the vents are not obstructed. | My appliance must fit on the worktop without blocking cupboards or passageways. A capacity of 20 or 25 L is not enough to confirm that the appliance will fit the available space. |
| Portability and length of use | A freestanding model is easier to move. For a built-in model, check the dimensions of the housing unit, the socket inside the recess, the fixings and the manufacturer's installation instructions. | If I rent or move frequently, I prefer an appliance that is easy to move. If a compatible housing unit is already available, a built-in model may be considered, but the necessary checks still apply. |
The cavity volume does not indicate how much worktop space the appliance will occupy. For example, the dimensions given for a 20 L grill model and a 25 L combination model may show very different depths.
Measure the available width, height and depth, allow room for the door to open and follow the clearance figures in the manual for the exact model. Never block the ventilation openings.
A combination model brings together microwave, grill and fan-assisted heat, but its additional size is only worthwhile if these functions will be used regularly.
List the meals you would prepare in a typical week: reheating and defrosting, occasional browning or oven-style cooking. Choose the functions that match the use you will genuinely make most often.
A built-in model requires a housing unit, a socket inside the recess and fixings: it cannot be installed like an appliance placed on a shelf.
For a rental property or if you are likely to move, choose a freestanding model unless the kitchen already has a compliant housing unit and you have checked the installation instructions.
A microwave is electrical and electronic equipment and must be taken to an appropriate collection scheme.
The French Ministry responsible for ecological transition states that it can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre, returned to a shop or given to a reuse organisation, depending on your circumstances.
A brand available in France offering straightforward freestanding microwaves, grill models and combination models, making it useful for comparing functions in 20 to 25 L formats.
A brand worth considering for countertop combination models designed to bring several cooking modes together in one appliance.
A relevant brand for a built-in installation when the kitchen already has a compatible housing unit, rather than as a way of compensating for a worktop that is too small.
A brand to compare for convection-grill combination models aimed at people who want to do more than simply reheat food.
Joybuy options for reheating, defrosting and, depending on the model, browning food in a kitchenette or small home.
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For reheating, defrosting and occasional browning in a freestanding appliance.
20 L, 700 W microwave, 800 W grill, nine power levels and a 245 mm turntable. Listed dimensions: 45,2 × 35,3 × 26,2 cm; allow 10 cm at the sides and rear, then check the manual for the space required above and for door opening.
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A grill option for reheating, defrosting and browning everyday portions.
25 L, quartz grill, rapid defrosting, keep-warm function and automatic programmes with weight control. Listed dimensions: 47,6 × 38,8 × 27,2 cm; no fan-assisted heat is listed, and the ventilation clearances should be checked in the manual.
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For reheating and defrosting in a compact space.
20 L, 700 W, 11 power levels, express cooking and weight- or time-based defrosting. Listed external dimensions: 440 × 319 × 259 mm; no grill or fan-assisted heat is advertised, and the installation requirements should be checked in the manual.
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A simple solution for reheating and defrosting in a studio or hall of residence.
20 L, 700 W, six power levels, 30-minute timer, defrost function and a 9,6-inch turntable. Listed dimensions: 44,6 × 36,3 × 24,3 cm; no grill or fan-assisted heat mode is listed.
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For reheating, defrosting and browning if your worktop is deep enough.
25 L, 900 W microwave, 1 150 W quartz grill, combination cooking and weight- or time-based defrosting. Listed dimensions: 53,6 × 43,6 × 33 cm; allow at least 10 cm at the sides and 20 cm above. No fan-assisted heat is listed.
Do not assume so. Whirlpool France states that a freestanding model should be placed on a flat surface, at an ambient temperature of 5 to 35 °C, without obstructing its ventilation openings. Check the specified clearances in the manual for the exact model before installing it.
A grill is mainly used for browning or gratinating. A combination model adds oven functions, such as fan-assisted heat: according to the Que Choisir guide, it is suitable when these cooking methods are genuinely used regularly, but you must accept that the appliance may be more bulky.
No. Que Choisir states that metal utensils must not be used in a microwave and that not every plastic container is suitable. Use containers explicitly marked as microwave-safe and follow the appliance instructions.
Take it to an appropriate recycling scheme rather than putting it in the household bin. The French Ministry responsible for ecological transition states that an electrical appliance can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre, returned to a retailer or given to a social and solidarity economy organisation. The “one-for-one” take-back scheme applies when buying equipment of the same type.
No, not without checking the housing unit and installation instructions. A built-in model requires a socket inside the recess and fixings; the appliance's external dimensions alone are not enough to prove that the housing unit is compatible or that the ventilation requirements are met.