Student who mainly reheats meals
If you use your microwave for leftovers, ready meals and defrosting, a solo model should cover these needs. However, measure the space on your worktop and check that your usual plate will fit inside the cavity.
Who is this option for?
Tenant who occasionally wants to brown a dish
If you already have another way to cook but would like to brown a dish now and then, compare models with a grill. UFC-Que Choisir’s buying guide distinguishes this function from the fan-oven feature found in combination models.
Household without a practical oven
If you also plan to do some occasional oven-style cooking, look at combination models that explicitly advertise a fan oven. This feature doesn’t remove the need to check which dishes will fit or how much space is needed for installation.
What should you check before buying?
Think about the cooking you’ll actually do, then compare the appliance’s overall dimensions and cavity with your available space and dishes.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Size and dishes | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with the space available, then check the cavity and turntable against your dishes. Don’t forget to allow room to open the door. | In a small kitchenette, I need to be able to fit the appliance and still use it with my usual plate. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this combination of requirements. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the defrost settings, controls and how easy the appliance is to use. | If I mainly need to reheat or defrost meals, I don’t need an oven function for that. This is the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Oven-style cooking | Look for an explicitly advertised fan oven and check the model’s temperatures, cavity and accessories. | Without a practical oven to hand, I want to be able to prepare the occasional dish that isn’t just something reheated. Around 21% of consumers put this option first. |
| Occasional browning | Check whether the appliance has a grill and whether it can be used with the microwave function. | I’d like to brown a gratin from time to time, but don’t need fan-oven cooking. This is the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based only on capacity in litres
Capacity doesn’t tell you whether the appliance will fit in the space you have or whether your dishes will fit inside the cavity. Panasonic, for example, lists separate external and internal dimensions for its NN-E20JW.
Measure your worktop and the largest dish you use regularly, then compare these measurements with the dimensions of the model you’re considering.
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Blocking the ventilation on a freestanding model
Whirlpool says not to block the ventilation grilles or place anything on top of the appliance. So the space taken up by the casing alone isn’t all the room you’ll need.
Check the manual for the exact model to find out how much clearance it needs. Don’t install it in an enclosed alcove unless the manufacturer says this is suitable.
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Buying a combination model just for reheating
According to UFC-Que Choisir’s buying guide, a combination model adds fan-oven cooking to the functions of a microwave, while a grill lets you brown food. These features offer little benefit if you don’t plan to use them.
Think about what you usually eat: start by comparing solo models if you mainly reheat and defrost, then look at grill models if you only want to brown dishes.
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Confusing the statutory guarantee with an optional extended warranty
If you buy a microwave from a professional seller in France, an extended warranty offered at the point of purchase doesn’t replace the statutory legal guarantee of conformity, which applies in the event of a fault or non-conformity.
Check your options with the seller separately from the terms and conditions of any extended warranty you’re considering.
Brands to consider
These ranges offer useful comparisons for the features you may be looking for. Check the specifications of the exact model before choosing.
Panasonic
The range lets you compare a solo model for everyday use with a fan-oven model for occasional cooking.
- The NN-E20JW is a 20 L solo microwave. Panasonic lists external dimensions of 443 × 330 × 258 mm and a cavity measuring 306 × 308 × 214 mm.
- According to Panasonic, the NN-C69KSM has a fan-oven setting at 40 °C and from 100 to 220 °C. This feature isn’t available across the brand’s solo models.
Whirlpool
Its freestanding microwave range includes models with a grill and combination models.
- Whirlpool describes the MCP349WH as a 25 L model with a function that combines the grill and microwave.
- For this and other models, check the exact cooking modes, dimensions and ventilation instructions rather than assuming which features are included from the word ‘combination’ alone.
Electrolux
The EMZ421MMK is worth comparing if you’re looking for a freestanding appliance for reheating and occasional browning.
- Electrolux lists microwave, grill and microwave-with-grill modes for the EMZ421MMK, along with external dimensions of 262 × 442 × 345 mm.
- These modes don’t mean that this model has a fan oven.
Microwaves to discover on Joybuy
These freestanding models cover reheating and defrosting in a small home, with grill options for occasional browning. If you also want fan-oven cooking, confirm that the model you choose has this feature: the word ‘combination’ alone isn’t enough to establish that.
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Heinrich's, 20 L solo microwave
Worth considering if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food on a worktop. The product title lists 700 W, six power levels, a defrost function and a 30-minute timer. Also check the internal dimensions and ventilation instructions for your chosen location.
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Beko MGC20100B1, 20 L microwave with grill
The grill is handy for occasional browning, alongside the usual microwave functions. The product title lists 20 L and 700 W. Before installing it, check that the cavity and the specified clearances suit your dishes and available space.
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Samsung MS23K3513, 23 L solo microwave
Consider this model for reheating and defrosting if you’d like controls with a display. The product title lists 23 L and the Quick Defrost function. Measure the space and check the cavity dimensions and ventilation requirements before choosing this size.
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COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK), 20 L microwave
For reheating and defrosting with digital controls, this model lists 700 W, six pre-set menus and eleven power levels. Check that your dishes will fit inside the cavity and that the space allows for the clearances specified in the manual.
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LG MH6535GIS, 25 L combination microwave
Worth looking at if you want to reheat food and brown it occasionally: the information for this model describes a grill. If you also want a fan oven, check the exact cooking modes, as well as the cavity size and clearance requirements for this 25 L model.
Frequently asked questions
Is a combination microwave worth it if I already have an oven?
A combination microwave with a fan oven is mainly worth considering if you’ll actually use this feature alongside your existing oven. For reheating and defrosting alone, a solo model will do the job; if you simply want to brown food, compare models with a grill too. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes these three categories in its buying guide.
What should I measure before buying a microwave for a kitchenette?
Measure the width, depth and height of the space, as well as the room needed to open the door. Then compare your usual dish with the cavity and turntable dimensions, and allow for the ventilation clearances specified in the model’s manual.
Can you put a freestanding microwave in an enclosed cupboard?
Don’t do this unless the manufacturer explicitly says it’s suitable for the model in question. Whirlpool says the ventilation grilles must not be blocked and that nothing should be placed on top of the appliance. Check the manual for the required clearances.
What guarantee applies to a new microwave bought in France?
If you buy a new microwave from a professional seller in France, you can claim under the statutory legal guarantee of conformity from that seller if the product is faulty or doesn’t conform to the contract. The Ministry of the Economy states that you have two years to make a claim and explains that, for a new product, consumers don’t have to prove during this period that the fault existed on the date of sale. Any commercial extended warranty is separate from this right.