For mainly reheating food
You mostly prepare individual portions, reheat leftovers and defrost food. A grill or oven function is only useful if your meals call for it.
Who is this choice for?
In student accommodation, a holiday home or a small kitchen, the right choice depends on the meals you prepare, the dishes you need to cook in the oven and the space available. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between basic microwaves, models with a grill and combination models.
For cooking without an oven
You want to brown dishes or cook oven-ready meals regularly without adding several appliances. The recipes you plan to make will help you choose between a grill, a combination microwave and a mini oven.
When every centimetre counts
Your choice depends first on where the appliance will go, the size of your dishes and the clearance required in the manual for your chosen model.
What should you compare before buying?
In a small kitchen, start with the job you need the appliance to do most, then check that both the appliance and your dishes will fit in the available space.
Basic microwave
Choose this if: you mainly reheat and defrost food, and cook dishes suited to microwave use.
Bear in mind: it won’t give you a grill for browning or convection cooking for oven-style recipes.
Microwave with grill
Choose this if: you’d also like to brown dishes from time to time.
Check: having a grill doesn’t confirm that the appliance has an oven or convection mode. Check the settings and manual for the exact model.
Combination microwave
Choose this if: you don’t have a usable oven and genuinely plan to cook or roast using an oven mode, as well as reheat and brown food.
Bear in mind: a versatile appliance can still be bulky and heavy. UFC-Que Choisir says combination models cost more than basic ones.
Mini oven
Choose this if: cooking oven-ready dishes and browning food matter more to you than quick defrosting and reheating.
Bear in mind: a mini oven isn’t a microwave. Compare its settings, installation space and the size of the dishes you’ll use.
| Priority | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Defrost setting, controls and the size of the containers you usually use. | If you mainly reheat individual portions and defrost food, prioritise the functions you’ll use every day. This is a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Space and dish size | External dimensions, turntable or internal dimensions, door opening and the clearance specified in the manual. | When space is limited, also check that your plates will fit and can turn. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the appliance’s position and the size of the dishes they use. |
| Oven-style cooking | Whether an oven or convection mode is explicitly listed, the size of your dishes and the space needed around the appliance. | If you want to cook oven-ready dishes regularly without another oven, check the exact settings before you choose. This is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Occasional browning | Whether it has a grill, the cooking modes it can be used with and the accessories permitted in the manual. | If you want to brown a dish now and again without planning to cook regularly in an oven, look for a confirmed grill function. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this. |
Pitfalls to avoid
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Choosing based on capacity alone
Capacity alone won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop or whether your dishes will fit inside it. You also need to allow for the clearance required for that particular model.
Measure the space and your dishes, then check the dimensions and clearance specified in the manual before choosing.
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Assuming a model with a grill can replace an oven
A grill lets you brown dishes, but its presence doesn’t confirm that the appliance offers convection cooking or an oven mode. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes browning from oven-style cooking.
Make a list of the dishes you want to prepare and check that the required settings are explicitly listed on the product page and in the manual.
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Buying an appliance without checking your accommodation
For the furnished rentals covered by it, the French decree of 31 July 2015 requires, among other things, a hob and either an oven or a microwave, but not both. This doesn’t mean that every rental comes with a microwave.
Check the inventory and make sure any existing equipment works before adding to your kitchen.
Brands and models to consider
Panasonic
The NN-E20JW and NN-K10JW are examples of a basic microwave and a model with a grill, respectively.
- Panasonic lists a capacity of 20 L and a 255 mm turntable for both models.
- The listed features of the NN-K10JW don’t mention convection cooking, so check that it has the settings your recipes need.
LG
The MJEN2863G is an example of a combination microwave with microwave, grill and oven functions, according to LG’s French product page.
- LG lists a capacity of 28 L and dimensions of 511 × 310 × 480 mm for this model.
- At a listed weight of 19.3 kg, check that the space and handling requirements suit your kitchen.
Moulinex
The Optimo OX441110 is an example of a mini oven to compare when oven-ready dishes are your priority.
- Moulinex lists a capacity of 19 L and three settings for this model: conventional heat, grill and bain-marie.
- This mini oven isn’t presented as a microwave, so don’t choose it as a replacement for microwave reheating.
Electrolux
The EMZ421MMK is an example of a freestanding model with a grill function.
- Electrolux lists a capacity of 21 L, microwave power of 800 W and a grill for this model.
- Its listed dimensions are 262 × 442 × 345 mm, in height × width × depth order. Check the space available and the clearance specified in the manual.
Microwaves available on Joybuy
This selection includes solo microwaves and models with a grill. Some models also list additional cooking options. Compare their functions with the way you’ll use them and the dimensions of the space available.
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Heinrich’s, 20 L solo microwave
For reheating and defrosting, this solo model offers several power levels.
Capacity: 20 L; power: 700 W; 6 power levels; 9.6-inch turntable.
Listed external dimensions: 44,6 × 36,3 × 24,3 cm.
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LG Electronics MH 6535 GIH, 25 L microwave with grill
For reheating and defrosting with a grill function, check that this model’s settings suit the dishes you prepare.
Capacity: 25 L; listed power: 1 000 W; digital display.
The product page also mentions automatic programmes and a child lock.
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Cecotec, 20 L freestanding microwave, 700 W
For everyday reheating and defrosting, this freestanding model offers 6 power levels.
Capacity: 20 L; power: 700 W; 6 power levels.
The product page lists a Ready2Clean interior coating.
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Beko MGC20100B1, 20 L microwave with grill, black
For reheating and defrosting with the option to brown food, check the settings and which accessories are permitted in the manual.
Capacity: 20 L; power: 700 W; 245 mm turntable; 9 power levels.
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Candy Essenza CMCA29EDLB/ST, 29 L combination microwave
For a wider range of dishes, this model combines a microwave and grill; the product page also lists steam cooking.
Capacity: 29 L; 31,5 cm turntable; listed microwave power: 1 000 W; grill: 1 000 W.
Listed external dimensions: 52,3 × 44,9 × 30,0 cm; freestanding installation.
Frequently asked questions
Will a 20 L microwave necessarily fit in my kitchenette?
No. Compare the external dimensions with the space available, the turntable with your crockery, and the clearance requirements with the manual for the exact model. Requirements can vary from one model to another.
Can you reheat a meal in its packaging?
Follow the food manufacturer’s instructions for power and cooking time, and check that the container is microwave-safe and in good condition. Anses recommends not reusing single-use packaging as a container for reheating food.
How should you use the rack in a microwave with a grill?
Check the manual for the exact model to find out which settings allow you to use the accessory supplied. The rack included with the Panasonic NN-K10JW doesn’t mean that all metal cookware is suitable for microwave mode.
What should you do if an appliance bought from a retailer has a fault?
In France, contact the retailer under the legal guarantee of conformity, subject to the conditions that apply. The DGCCRF states that claims must be made within two years of the goods being delivered; an optional commercial warranty does not replace this legal guarantee.
Does a student renting furnished accommodation have to buy their own microwave?
Not simply because they’re a student. For furnished rentals covered by the French decree of 31 July 2015, the minimum equipment includes a hob and either an oven or a microwave; a microwave is not specifically required. Check the inventory and what has already been provided before buying one.