In a kitchenette used mainly for reheating and defrosting, a solo microwave covers the essentials. Choose a grill model if you’d also like to brown or crisp food from time to time, or a combination model with convection if you plan to cook oven-style dishes regularly. Whichever type you choose, measure the space, allow room for the door to open and follow the clearance instructions in the model’s manual.
If you mainly heat leftovers, ready meals or frozen food, and aren’t looking to replace an oven, start by looking at solo models. Que Choisir and Samsung France distinguish this type of use from cooking with a grill or convection function.
If you’d sometimes like to brown a gratin, toasted sandwich or pizza as well as reheating food, look at models with a grill. A grill function doesn’t necessarily mean the appliance also has convection.
If you don’t have an oven and regularly plan to cook food in ways other than reheating, compare the cooking modes on combination models. Their external dimensions and installation requirements are still key considerations on a small worktop.
Choose this if: you mainly plan to reheat and defrost, and have another appliance for oven-style cooking.
Bear in mind: a solo model won’t brown or crisp food and doesn’t offer convection cooking.
Choose this if: you want to brown the top of some dishes without regularly cooking oven-style meals.
Bear in mind: a grill on its own doesn’t replace a fan-assisted or convection cooking mode.
Choose this if: you don’t have an oven and will make regular use of the convection or fan-assisted mode on your chosen model.
Bear in mind: extra functions don’t remove the need to check the appliance’s depth and the space required around it.
| Priority | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the defrost settings and make sure there’s room for your plates or dishes. | When I mainly need to reheat or defrost food, I don’t need an extra cooking mode; around 33% of consumers could make this their priority. |
| Browning and crisping | Check for a grill and see which modes can be used alongside the microwave function. | For gratins or toasted sandwiches, I want to brown the top without relying on a separate oven. This could be the main need for around 25% of consumers. |
| Cooking without an oven | Look specifically for a convection or fan-assisted mode and measure the appliance’s external depth. | Without an oven in my kitchenette, I want to regularly cook food in ways other than reheating; around 25% of consumers could put this need first. |
| Saving space | Measure the appliance, allow for the door to open and check the clearances required in the manual. | On my small worktop, the appliance needs to fit and have enough ventilation without blocking the door or vents. Space could be the main concern for around 17% of consumers. |
The cavity capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up. Panasonic lists a depth of 324 mm for the NN-GT21Q, while Whirlpool gives 49,4 cm for the MCP349WH. These dimensions relate to two different models.
Measure the external width, depth and height, then check the door clearance and space for the plug.
A grill browns or crisps food; having one doesn’t guarantee that the appliance has a fan-assisted cooking mode. This distinction matters if the appliance needs to handle dishes usually cooked in an oven.
Check the specifications for microwave, grill and convection modes separately on the model you’re considering.
A recess may be large enough for the appliance but still restrict ventilation. Samsung France provides average clearances as a guide, but notes that requirements vary by model.
Before choosing a shelf or recess, follow the clearances and installation instructions in the manual for the exact model.
According to Anses, heating food for too long can increase the transfer of substances from certain types of packaging into food.
Use containers designed for microwave use, and follow the timings and power settings shown on the relevant food packaging.
A range of grill and combination models to compare when space is at a premium.
The MCP349WH is a freestanding model with both grill and forced-air cooking functions.
The EMZ421MMK is a freestanding model with a grill, useful for comparing reheating and browning options.
Its guidance helps distinguish the uses of solo, grill and convection models.
These Joybuy models are suited to reheating and defrosting, with several options listed that add a grill. If you also plan to cook using convection, look specifically for that mode: a grill alone isn’t enough.
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Worth considering if you mainly reheat and defrost, but would also like to brown or crisp food from time to time.
The product title lists 20 L and 700 W. Check the manual and allow enough space for the door to open when positioning it.
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If you want to reheat and brown food from time to time, check the functions on this variant before deciding where to put it.
The product title lists 21 L and 800 W. Measure your worktop and allow room for the door to open.
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If you mainly want to reheat food, check the functions carefully if you’d also like to brown or crisp it: the product title says ‘solo’, while the description mentions a grill.
The product title lists 25 L and 900 W. Also check the required clearances for the variant you choose.
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Worth a look if you want to reheat and defrost food, and use a grill from time to time, without assuming it has a convection mode.
The stated capacity is 25 L. The grill power differs between the product title and description, so confirm the specification of the variant being sold before you buy.
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Worth considering if reheating and defrosting matter more to you than browning food or oven-style cooking.
The product title lists 20 L and 700 W. Measure the space and check the manual for the required clearances.
Yes, if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food. For browning or crisping, choose a model with a grill; for regular oven-style cooking, check that it has a convection or fan-assisted mode.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for your chosen model. Samsung France gives average guidance of at least 10 cm at the back and sides, and 20 cm above, while noting that requirements can vary by appliance.
Don’t assume that a freestanding model is suitable for an enclosed cabinet. Check the model’s manual for its specific installation and ventilation requirements instead of relying on the recess dimensions alone.
Follow the power and timing instructions on the packaging. Anses warns that heating food for too long can increase the transfer of substances from certain types of packaging into food.
Yes. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer in France. It’s separate from any commercial guarantee offered by the seller.