Everyday reheating in a studio flat
You mainly reheat leftovers and defrost food. Easy-to-use controls and enough room on your worktop matter more to you than extra cooking modes.
Which option suits each use?
Small dishes that need browning
You’d like to brown some dishes, but don’t necessarily need fan-assisted cooking for your everyday meals.
Cooking without a traditional oven
You also want to handle some oven-style cooking. In that case, it’s worth considering a combination microwave, along with its dimensions, accessories and installation requirements.
What should you check before choosing?
The space you have and the way you cook will help determine which type of cooking function you need. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between standard microwaves, models with a grill and combination microwaves. A grill is for browning, while oven-style cooking requires a convection function suited to the dish.
Standard microwave
Choose this if: you reheat and defrost much more often than you cook in an oven.
Bear in mind: it won’t brown food with a grill or provide fan-assisted cooking.
Microwave with grill
Choose this if: you want to brown or grill food occasionally as well as reheat it.
Bear in mind: having a grill doesn’t mean the appliance has oven-style convection.
Combination microwave
Choose this if: you regularly plan to cook oven-style meals without a traditional oven.
Bear in mind: check its dimensions, accessories and available modes carefully before installing it.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and ventilation | Measure the appliance and the space you have in mind, then check the model’s manual for clearance requirements and ventilation openings. Also make sure your dishes will fit inside the cavity. | When worktop space is tight, I need to be able to install the appliance without losing the room I need every day; around 38% of consumers would make its footprint their top priority. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Compare the power settings and defrost function, and make sure the controls will be easy for you to use. | If I mainly prepare cooked or frozen meals, I want to reheat them without having to adjust lots of settings; around 31% of consumers would make this simplicity their priority. |
| Cooking without an oven | Know the difference between a grill and convection. For a combination microwave, check the temperature range, usable space and accessories approved for each mode. | Without a traditional oven, I want to regularly cook dishes that need more than just reheating; around 31% of consumers would prioritise this cooking capability. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Judging the space you need by litres alone
The internal capacity tells you neither the external dimensions nor how much clearance a freestanding appliance needs. A microwave might fit on a unit but still not be suitable for installation there according to its manual.
Measure your worktop, check that the door can open and follow the clearance requirements for the model you choose. Separately, compare the cavity size with the dimensions of your dishes.
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Confusing a grill with oven-style cooking
A grill lets you brown or grill food, but it doesn’t confirm that the appliance has a convection function. This distinction matters if you want to regularly cook cakes, pizzas or roasts.
For these uses, look for an explicitly stated convection function and check its temperature range, usable space and approved accessories.
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Choosing a combination microwave without planning for its accessories
Extra modes are only useful if the appliance, dishes and accessories all fit in your small kitchen. As examples specific to their models, Whirlpool lists a depth of 46,8 cm for the MWF259SG, while Panasonic lists a capacity of 34 L for the NN-CD88.
Before choosing a combination microwave, measure the space where it will go and decide where to store the accessories you’ll need for the cooking you have in mind.
Brands to consider by model
Panasonic
Its standard and combination models let you compare two distinct ways of using a microwave.
- Panasonic France lists the standard NN-E20JW microwave as 20 L, 800 W and 443 × 330 × 258 mm.
- Panasonic’s NN-CD88 combination microwave has convection; check its dimensions and accessories before considering installation.
Electrolux
The freestanding EMZ421MMK is an example of a microwave with a grill, rather than a combination microwave with convection.
- Electrolux France lists the EMZ421MMK as having 800 W microwave power and a 1 000 W grill.
- Check the manual for the exact model’s installation requirements; these specifications don’t automatically apply to other Electrolux models.
Whirlpool
According to Whirlpool France, the MWF259SG combines microwave and grill functions in a cavity without a turntable.
- The brand lists this model’s capacity as 25 L.
- Its listed depth of 46,8 cm needs to be considered alongside your worktop space and the clearances specified in the manual.
Samsung
Samsung France offers standard microwaves, models with a grill and combination models, so the cooking mode you need can help you find the right one.
- Understanding the difference between reheating, browning and convection helps you rule out functions you won’t use.
- Samsung says installation clearances vary by model, so always check the manual.
Microwaves to compare on Joybuy
These models cover reheating with standard microwaves and browning with appliances that have a grill. If you regularly want to cook with fan-assisted heat, check separately that a model has a convection function: the appliances featured here should not be mistaken for combination microwaves.
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Electrolux EMZ421MMTI with grill, 21 L, Titanium
Worth considering if you’d also like to brown some dishes. The Joybuy listing for the EMZ421MMTI gives a capacity of 21 L, microwave power of 800 W and a 1 000 W grill; check the dimensions and the clearance requirements in the manual before installing it.
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Heinrich's standard microwave, 20 L, 700 W
For reheating and defrosting with straightforward settings. The product title lists six power levels, a defrost function and a 30-minute timer; check the manual for the ventilation clearance needed before placing it under a cupboard.
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Beko MGC20100B1 with grill, 20 L, 700 W, black
The grill is useful if you occasionally want to brown food as well as reheat it. Check the manual for the clearance this model needs and which accessories are suitable for each mode; a grill shouldn’t be confused with a convection function.
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Samsung MS23K3513 standard microwave, 23 L
Worth comparing if you mainly need to reheat and defrost food. Its listed capacity of 23 L doesn’t tell you whether your largest dishes will fit: check their dimensions, as well as the ventilation requirements for this model.
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COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK) standard microwave, 20 L, 700 W, black
For reheating or defrosting with digital controls. The product title mentions six preset programmes and 11 power levels; compare the internal dimensions with your dishes and check the manual for installation and electrical requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a freestanding microwave in an alcove or under a cupboard?
Only if the model’s manual allows it and you can leave the specified clearances. Samsung France gives 10 cm at the back and sides and 20 cm above as a guide, while noting that these distances vary by model. They aren’t universal requirements for every appliance, particularly built-in models.
Can a microwave with a grill replace a traditional oven?
Not for every type of cooking. A grill is for browning and grilling, while oven-style cooking requires an explicitly stated convection function. If you’re considering a combination microwave, check its temperature range, usable space and the accessories suited to the dishes you prepare.
What statutory guarantee applies to a microwave bought from a trader in France?
According to the DGCCRF, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer. It covers lack of conformity under the conditions set out for this guarantee; any commercial warranty is separate from this right.
What should you do with an old microwave in France?
You may be able to repair, donate or resell it, depending on its condition. Otherwise, ADEME directs electrical and electronic equipment to be returned to a shop or taken to an appropriate collection point, such as a household waste recycling centre.