For reheating and defrosting in a kitchenette, choose a solo microwave; a grill is useful if you also want to brown or crisp dishes occasionally. If you also plan to cook like you would in an oven on a regular basis, compare a combination microwave, which retains microwave functions, with a mini oven, which does not have them. In every case, check the space available, the usable dimensions and the clearances required for your chosen model.
In a studio flat, kitchenette or holiday home, if you mainly reheat portions and defrost ingredients, a solo microwave will do the job without adding oven-cooking functions. UFC-Que Choisir lists student accommodation and holiday homes among the situations where a microwave may be a good choice.
If you need one appliance on your worktop for both reheating and oven-style cooking, consider a combination microwave. Models with fan-assisted cooking also mean checking the size of your dishes, the space the appliance takes up and which settings you’re likely to use.
For gratins, pizzas, roasted vegetables or baking, weigh up a combination microwave against a mini oven based on the space available and whether you need to retain microwave reheating and defrosting. A mini oven is suitable for oven cooking, but it does not have a microwave function.
Start with the meals you make most often, then compare the features you need with the dimensions of the appliance and your dishes.
| Priority | What to check | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Compare the external dimensions, space for your containers and the clearances specified in the manual. | In a studio flat, I want to reheat portions and defrost food without using lots of different utensils. Around 33% of consumers would put this need for simplicity first. |
| Browning or crisping dishes now and then | Check that it has a grill, and look at the accessories and usable height for your dishes. | If I only brown a few dishes occasionally, I want to keep the convenience of a microwave without choosing oven functions I’d rarely use. Occasional browning would be the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Replacing an oven | Check for fan-assisted cooking, the available temperature settings and the dimensions of dishes the appliance can accommodate. | Without a usable oven, I plan to cook pizzas, gratins or baked goods regularly while still having a microwave. For around 27% of consumers, combining these functions in one appliance would take priority over other needs. |
| Prioritising oven cooking | Check the cooking modes, the size of the rack or tray, and the space needed to open the door. | If most of my meals involve oven cooking, I could consider a mini oven instead of a microwave. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this use. |
Capacity won’t tell you whether your plate will fit inside or whether the appliance will fit where you plan to put it. For example, Panasonic lists external dimensions of 443 × 330 × 258 mm and internal dimensions of 306 × 308 × 214 mm for its NN-E20JW solo microwave.
Measure the space and the containers you usually use. Also check the turntable or rack, the door opening and the clearances specified in the manual.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, combination microwaves offer oven functions but cost more. If you mainly reheat meals, these functions also add extra settings without meeting a regular need for oven cooking.
Think about what you eat in a typical week. If gratins, pizzas or baked goods are a rare treat, start by looking at a solo microwave or a model with a grill.
A grill is used to brown or crisp food; its presence doesn’t mean the appliance has the fan-assisted cooking you need for oven recipes.
If you want to cook in the oven, look specifically for “fan-assisted” or “convection” in the model’s specifications, then check the size of dishes it can accommodate.
When replacing an electrical appliance, remember to plan what to do with the old one. In France, the DGCCRF also distinguishes between an optional commercial warranty and statutory warranties, which it supplements.
Before placing your order, check the retailer’s take-back arrangements and keep your proof of purchase.
Panasonic offers solo, grill and combination microwaves. Its product pages make it easy to compare different features across the range.
Samsung offers, among other options, freestanding combination microwaves for people who want several cooking modes in one appliance.
Moulinex is worth considering for a mini oven if oven cooking matters more to you than having a microwave.
These models suit three kitchenette needs: reheating with a solo microwave, adding a grill, or combining microwave and oven-style cooking. Your choice will mainly depend on how often you plan to brown or bake dishes, and how much space you actually have.
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Worth considering if you often reheat and defrost food, and would also like to brown or crisp dishes occasionally.
Stated capacity: 20 L; stated microwave power: 700 W. Make sure the installation instructions are compatible with your available space and the dishes you use.
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An option if reheating and defrosting matter more than browning or oven cooking.
Stated power: 700 W; the product title lists six power levels and a 30-minute timer. Check there’s room for your containers and follow the model’s installation instructions.
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Compare it with other grill models if you’d also like the option to brown some dishes.
Stated capacity: 25 L; stated power: 900 W. Check the usable dimensions for your dishes and all the clearances required in the manual.
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This model is for people who want to keep microwave reheating and add a grill, without assuming it has a fan-assisted cooking function.
Stated capacity: 25 L; the product title mentions a digital display. Before choosing, check the dimensions of dishes it can accommodate and the installation clearances.
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Consider it if you want to combine microwave functions and oven-style cooking in your kitchenette.
Stated capacity: 39 L. Measure the space carefully, then compare the usable dimensions for your dishes with the clearances specified in the manual.
Choose a combination model if you don’t have a usable oven and plan to cook dishes requiring oven functions regularly. If you mainly reheat and defrost portions, a solo microwave will meet your needs. A model with a grill is another option if you mainly want to brown or crisp food from time to time.
No. Compare the internal dimensions and the size of the turntable or rack with your containers. For the NN-E20JW, Panasonic lists external dimensions of 443 × 330 × 258 mm, a cavity measuring 306 × 308 × 214 mm and a 255 mm turntable. These measurements apply to this specific model.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the model you’re considering rather than assuming the same measurements apply to every appliance. Check how they fit with your worktop and nearby cupboards, and leave enough room to open the door.
You can contact the retailer under the statutory guarantee of conformity if the relevant conditions are met. The French Ministry of the Economy says this guarantee covers new and second-hand goods. The DGCCRF clarifies that any commercial warranty is optional and supplements, rather than replaces, statutory warranties.
Before your new appliance is delivered or collected, check with the retailer how they’ll take back your old electrical appliance. The DGCCRF outlines the take-back of old equipment when you buy a corresponding new appliance; agree the practical arrangements for your order with the retailer.