Everyday reheating and defrosting
In a studio flat or holiday home, you mainly want to reheat portions and defrost food without giving up too much space for cooking.
Who are these appliances for?
A range of cooking options in one appliance
You’d also like to brown dishes or cook some oven-style meals. A combination microwave is worth considering if its size and installation requirements suit your home.
Oven-style cooking is the priority
You make quiches, cakes or roasts more often than meals that need reheating. In that case, compare a fan-assisted mini oven with a combination microwave.
What should you look for?
Start with the meal you prepare most often, then check the available space and the instructions for the appliance you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between basic microwaves, grill models and combination microwaves according to how they’re used. A mini oven suits a different priority, when oven-style cooking is more important.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Defrost settings, external dimensions and available space. | In a small home, I mainly want to bring a meal back up to temperature without making room for cooking modes I’d rarely use; around 27% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Occasional browning | Whether it has a grill and the model’s dimensions; a grill alone doesn’t provide fan-assisted cooking. | If I sometimes want to brown the top of a dish while still being able to reheat food in the microwave, a grill meets my needs; this would be the main priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Several cooking modes in one appliance | Whether it has convection or fan-assisted cooking, its external dimensions and the clearance required by the instructions. | Without a conventional oven, I want to combine microwave, grill and oven-style cooking without installing several appliances; around 37% of consumers would prioritise this versatility. |
| Oven-style cooking | The mini oven’s cooking modes, the space it needs and the fact that it has no microwave function. | If I mainly want to bake or roast dishes, I’m happy to give up microwave reheating; this would be the priority for around 18% of consumers. |
What pitfalls should you avoid?
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Confusing a grill with fan-assisted cooking
A microwave with a grill can brown a dish, but this function alone doesn’t give it the cooking modes of a convection combination microwave. UFC-Que Choisir treats these as two separate categories.
Make a note of the dishes you usually prepare. If oven-style cooking matters as much as reheating, check that the appliance explicitly includes convection or fan-assisted cooking.
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Measuring only the width of the unit
The appliance’s depth and the space needed for ventilation could prevent you from installing it where you planned. Whirlpool France specifically advises against blocking the air vents.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then compare them with the external dimensions and clearances listed in the instructions for the exact model.
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Assuming the microwave wattage is the total power
These figures refer to different things: for its EMZ421MMK, Electrolux France lists a microwave output of 800 W and a total power consumption of 1,270 W.
Before checking the electrical connection, look up the total power, voltage and current for your chosen model, as well as the specifications of the available circuit.
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Discarding a faulty appliance without checking your options
If an appliance sold in France by a professional to an individual doesn’t conform to the contract, it is covered by the legal guarantee of conformity, according to the French Ministry of the Economy. The appliance’s condition will determine whether it can be repaired or should go to an appropriate collection scheme.
Contact the retailer if the appliance doesn’t conform to the contract. If its cavity is damaged, follow Whirlpool France’s advice to stop using it. At the end of its life, ADEME explains the options for take-back and disposal through the electrical and electronic equipment collection scheme.
Brands to consider by appliance type
Whirlpool
The French range includes freestanding microwaves and combination models. The MCP349WH is an example of an appliance that combines microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking.
- According to Whirlpool France, the MCP349WH combines these functions in a cavity with a stated capacity of 25 L.
- Its stated dimensions of 52 × 30,1 × 49,4 cm mean you’ll need to check the available space; they don’t apply to other models in the range.
Panasonic
The NN-CD88 is an example of a combination microwave to consider if you want several cooking modes in one appliance.
- Panasonic France lists a capacity of 34 L for this model, along with microwave, grill and convection functions.
- Capacity alone doesn’t tell you whether it will fit your space: check its dimensions and installation instructions.
Samsung
The brand provides useful guidance on installing a freestanding microwave.
- Samsung France reminds users to leave space around the appliance for ventilation.
- The required clearances vary by model, so general guidance is no substitute for the instructions supplied with your appliance.
Electrolux
The EMZ421MMK gives you a point of comparison for a freestanding microwave with a grill, without assuming that it has convection functions.
- Electrolux France lists a 20 L cavity and dimensions of 442 × 262 × 345 mm for this model.
- Its electrical specifications and size apply to this model only; check the details of the one you’re considering.
Moulinex
The Optimo mini ovens are another option if oven-style cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating.
- Moulinex France describes 19 L and 33 L Optimo models with fan-assisted cooking and a grill.
- These mini ovens don’t have a microwave function, so compare your cooking needs with your reheating needs.
Microwaves for different needs
These appliances suit three needs covered here: reheating with a basic microwave, browning with a grill model, and choosing a combination microwave if you want to explore several cooking modes. Compare the space they need and their instructions before choosing. A mini oven is another option if oven-style cooking is your priority.
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Beko MGC20100B1, 20 L microwave with grill, black
Worth considering if you want to reheat food and brown dishes occasionally without going straight for a combination microwave. Stated capacity: 20 L; stated microwave output: 700 W. Check the installation clearances in the instructions.
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COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK), 20 L microwave, black
For prioritising reheating and defrosting. Stated capacity: 20 L; stated power: 700 W; six pre-set menus and eleven power levels. If you want to brown dishes or cook using convection, check the model’s functions before choosing it.
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Electrolux EMZ725MMTI Inverter, 25 L microwave with grill, titanium
Another grill option if you’d like to compare the capacities available for reheating and browning. Stated capacity: 25 L; stated microwave output: 900 W. Check the dimensions and don’t assume it has a fan-assisted cooking function.
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LG MJ3965ACS, 39 L combination microwave, black
Worth considering if you’re looking for an appliance for reheating and would also like to compare its cooking options. Stated capacity: 39 L. Before relying on it to replace some of the functions of an oven, check the cooking modes it actually offers, its external dimensions and the required clearances for this model.
Frequently asked questions
How much space should you leave around a freestanding microwave?
Leave the clearances specified in the instructions for your chosen model. Samsung France gives general guidelines of at least 10 cm at the back and sides and 20 cm above, but notes that requirements vary by model. Whirlpool France advises against blocking the air vents.
Can you install a freestanding microwave in a cabinet recess?
Only plan to do so if the instructions allow it and your recess meets the requirements for dimensions and ventilation. A freestanding appliance doesn’t become built-in just because it fits in a cabinet: compare the manufacturer’s instructions with the space you actually have.
What electrical specifications should you check before buying?
Check the model’s total electrical power, voltage and current, then make sure they’re compatible with the circuit in your home; the microwave output in watts alone isn’t enough. For this model only, Electrolux France lists a total power of 1,270 W, 230 V and 10 A for the EMZ421MMK.
What should you do if your microwave develops a fault?
If an appliance bought in France from a professional retailer develops a fault that means it doesn’t conform to the contract, contact the retailer under the legal guarantee of conformity. The French Ministry of the Economy states that this guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods; keep your proof of purchase and a description of the product.
What should you do with an old microwave?
If it can still be used, consider having it repaired, donating it or selling it on. Otherwise, take it to a retailer offering a take-back service or to an electrical and electronic equipment collection point at a recycling centre. ADEME outlines these options for electrical appliances, including microwaves.