If you mainly reheat and defrost portions, start by comparing solo microwaves that will fit your space. A model with a grill is worth considering if you occasionally want to brown food; a combi microwave adds oven-style cooking if you’re sure you’ll use it. A mini oven is a better fit when oven cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating. In every case, check the appliance dimensions and the clearances specified in its manual.
If worktop space is limited and you mainly defrost or reheat individual meals, start by checking the external dimensions, whether your plates will fit and how easy the controls are to use. Oven functions aren’t a deciding factor for this type of use.
In student or temporary accommodation, it’s worth comparing microwaves with a grill if you genuinely plan to brown or crisp food without adding another appliance. Check which modes are available and which accessories are approved for each one.
For oven-style cooking, compare a combi microwave with fan-assisted cooking against a mini oven. The former still reheats food using microwaves; the latter is designed primarily for oven cooking. Either way, allow enough room for installation and ventilation.
Start with the meals you make most often, then match the useful features to the space you actually have.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Compare the turntable diameter with your plates, then choose controls and settings that suit the way you use the appliance. The stated power rating alone doesn’t tell you how well it will reheat food. | I mainly reheat prepared portions and want to use my usual crockery without any faff. |
| Browning and oven cooking | Check for a grill if you want to brown or crisp food, and fan-assisted cooking if you want oven-style results. A grill on its own doesn’t mean the appliance has this latter function. | Will the occasional gratin be enough, or will I regularly cook dishes that need an oven setting? If microwave reheating isn’t a priority, I could also compare mini ovens. |
| Size and installation | Measure the space’s width, depth and height. Allow for the ventilation clearances required in the manual for your chosen model: the external dimensions alone don’t tell you how much room you’ll need to install it. | My worktop is narrow, so the appliance must fit without blocking its vents or getting in the way when I’m preparing meals. |
| Containers and cooking modes | Check that the container is suitable for the mode you’re using; don’t use metal in microwave mode. For packaged food intended for microwave cooking, follow the power and timing instructions on the packaging, as recommended by Anses. | I want to reheat packaged meals or food in suitable containers, without assuming the same accessories work in every mode. |
Two 20 L appliances can take up different amounts of worktop space, and capacity won’t tell you whether your plate will turn freely on the turntable.
Compare the overall dimensions, turntable diameter and clearances in the manual with your available space and crockery.
A combi microwave offers extra cooking modes, but may take up more room than a compact solo microwave. Those extra features are only worth the space if they suit the meals you make.
Think about what you usually cook: if you mainly reheat and defrost, compare solo models first; if you occasionally want to brown food, look at models with a grill before moving up to a combi.
Electrolux says a microwave’s cooling fan may continue running after the appliance is switched off. So don’t position a freestanding model in a way that blocks its vents.
Place it on a stable surface and follow the clearances in its own manual rather than using the guidance for another model.
The rules for microwave mode may not be the same as those for grill or oven modes. Anses also recommends following the power and timing instructions on food packaging designed for microwave use.
Keep metal out of microwave mode and check the manual to see which accessories and containers are allowed in each of the other modes.
These examples represent different types of appliance; the features mentioned apply to the named models, not to every product from each brand.
The MWO 20L W 902C V4 is a 20 L freestanding solo microwave, designed for tasks such as reheating and defrosting.
The MWO 20 GM K343C combines a microwave and grill in a 20 L cavity.
The MCP349WH is a 25 L freestanding combi microwave with a grill and fan cooking, according to Whirlpool France.
The Optimo 19 L OX444810 is a freestanding electric mini oven to consider if oven cooking matters more to you than microwave reheating.
These two options are worth considering for reheating in a small home: one adds a grill for occasional browning, while the other focuses on straightforward microwave use. Compare their features with the meals you make, and check that you have enough space to install them.
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Worth considering if you reheat meals and would also like a grill for occasional browning. This model is listed with a capacity of 20 L and a microwave power rating of 700 W. Before installing it, check the manual for the ventilation space required and the connection requirements.
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An option to compare if you mainly want to reheat or defrost food and don’t need a browning function. Its stated capacity is 20 L and its power rating is 700 W. Before buying, check its overall size and the clearances in its manual against the space on your worktop.
Yes, if you mainly reheat and defrost portions and won’t use a grill or oven mode regularly. Then check that your plates fit on the turntable and that the appliance, with the clearances specified in its manual, will fit in the space you’ve chosen.
Choose a microwave with a grill if you mainly want to brown or crisp food occasionally. If you also plan to cook regularly using fan-assisted heat, compare combi models that specifically list this mode: a grill alone doesn’t guarantee it.
Follow the clearance guidance in the manual for the model you’re buying. It varies by appliance: for the Samsung MS20A3010AL only, Boulanger recommends at least 10 cm at the back and 20 cm above. Don’t use these measurements for another appliance without checking its manual.
No. Don’t use metal containers or utensils in microwave mode. For grill or fan-assisted modes, check the manual separately to see which accessories and containers are permitted.
If the packaging is designed for microwave use, follow the power and timing instructions printed on it. Anses recommends following these instructions and notes that, in some cases, heating food for longer may increase the transfer of substances from the packaging into the food.