For everyday reheating and defrosting in a studio flat, a solo microwave is usually all you need. Choose a grill model if you’d also like to brown or crisp food, or a combination microwave if you plan to use its oven-style cooking functions. Whichever type you choose, check the space needed for the appliance and its ventilation, as well as its power consumption: the stated cooking power alone won’t tell you whether it’s suitable for your electrical installation.
If most of what you need to heat up is leftovers, soup and ready meals, a solo model will usually do the job. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes this kind of use from the grill and oven functions found in other types of microwave.
If you’d also like to brown or crisp a dish from time to time, a grill gives you a separate function from reheating. However, it shouldn’t be confused with an oven mode designed for other types of cooking.
If you need the same appliance to handle some of the cooking you’d usually do in an oven, consider a combination model with cooking modes you’ll actually use. You’ll still need to check that it fits on your worktop and meets the installation requirements.
First, decide whether you need a browning function or oven-style cooking: that’s what sets the three types of appliance apart. Then check that the model you’re considering can be installed in your kitchen.
Choose this if: you mainly reheat and defrost food, and don’t regularly need to brown it.
Bear in mind: it won’t replace a grill or an oven’s cooking functions.
Choose this if: you’d like to brown or crisp food occasionally as well as reheat it.
Bear in mind: a grill doesn’t necessarily mean the appliance has an oven mode.
Choose this if: you expect to use oven-style cooking functions regularly.
Bear in mind: its dimensions and installation requirements need to suit your space.
| Priority | What to check | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Defrost settings and whether there’s enough room for the plates or dishes you usually use. | If I mainly reheat leftovers or ready meals, I’d prioritise straightforward use over extra cooking modes. Around 36% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Occasional browning | Whether a grill is clearly listed, and which accessories are supplied for this function. | If I want to brown or crisp a small portion now and then, I’d look for a grill without expecting it to work like an oven. This would be the main requirement for around 14% of consumers. |
| Oven-style cooking | The oven or convection modes listed for the model, and the dishes it can accommodate. | Without a usable oven, I need my microwave to handle some cooking as well as reheating. Around 21% of consumers would put this capability first. |
| Space and installation | Overall dimensions, door clearance, required ventilation gaps and power consumption. | In a very small kitchen, I first need to be able to position and use the appliance in line with its instructions. For around 29% of consumers, this constraint would take priority over extra functions. |
Two microwaves with a similar capacity can take up different amounts of space. You also need to keep the ventilation areas clear: Whirlpool France advises that the vents must not be blocked.
Measure the space, allow for the door to open and follow the clearance distances in the instructions for your chosen model.
A grill is used to brown or crisp food; its presence doesn’t confirm that the appliance offers the oven-style cooking you’re looking for.
If you plan to cook oven-style dishes regularly, check the listed modes and the instructions for each one before choosing.
The microwave output power alone isn’t enough to determine the appliance’s electrical load, particularly if it also has a grill or other heating elements.
Check the model’s power consumption and electrical requirements, then make sure the socket and circuit you plan to use are suitable.
In France, a commercial guarantee is optional protection that supplements statutory guarantees; it doesn’t replace them, as the Ministry of the Economy explains.
Before accepting an extended guarantee, compare its duration, exclusions and claims process with the statutory protection that applies to your purchase.
These brand examples showcase features and formats worth considering. The right choice still depends on the specific model and the space you have available.
The French MS2535GIB and MH6535GDB models let you compare a solo microwave with a 25 L grill model.
The NN-DF38PBEPG is worth considering if you want oven-style cooking functions as well as microwave and grill modes.
The MWF255B may appeal if you’re looking for a combination microwave without a turntable.
Samsung France’s guide distinguishes between solo, grill and combination microwaves according to the type of cooking you need.
These appliances cover simple reheating, browning with a grill and cooking with a combination model. Compare their features with the way you plan to use them, then check that they’ll fit your available space.
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Worth considering if you’d like to brown or crisp food occasionally as well as reheat it. This model is listed with a grill and a capacity of 20 L; the grill shouldn’t be confused with an oven function. Check the ventilation clearances and power consumption before installation.
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A good option if you want to focus on reheating and defrosting without choosing a grill. The product title lists a capacity of 20 L, six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a defrost function. Check the instructions for ventilation clearances and the electrical requirements for your installation.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a 25 L capacity. If browning is important to you, confirm that the exact model has a grill: its product title describes it as ‘solo’. Also check the orientation of the dimensions and the required clearances before deciding where to put it.
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For reheating and defrosting with a solo model, rather than looking for a grill. The product title lists a capacity of 23 L and a quick defrost function. Allow for the ventilation space specified in the instructions; to check the electrical installation, look up the model’s power consumption.
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Worth considering if you need one appliance to handle some oven-style cooking as well. This combination model is listed with a capacity of 39 L, so measure the space carefully in a studio flat and check the required clearances before choosing this size. Also check its power consumption for your planned installation.
Yes, if you mainly plan to reheat and defrost food and do some simple cooking. If you regularly want to brown or crisp dishes or use an oven mode, look at models with the relevant functions instead.
Not if you need oven-style cooking functions. A grill is for browning or crisping food; for other types of cooking, check whether the model you’re considering has oven modes and what they offer.
Measure the width, height and depth of the space, and allow for the door to open and the clearances specified in the instructions. For a freestanding appliance, keep its ventilation openings clear, as advised by Whirlpool France.
No: cooking output power and power consumption are not the same thing. Check the electrical requirements for the exact model and make sure the socket and circuit you plan to use are suitable.
No. For a purchase from a professional seller in France, any commercial guarantee is in addition to statutory guarantees; it doesn’t replace them, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. Read its terms to see what extra protection it offers for your purchase.