Choose a solo microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost portions or ready meals: it is the simplest option when space is limited. A grill is useful for occasional browning, while a combination microwave or mini oven makes sense if oven-style cooking becomes part of your regular routine. Measure the space available and check the exact model’s instructions before buying.
You may have limited worktop space or use a shared kitchen, and mainly want to reheat, defrost and keep washing-up to a minimum. Some refurbished rooms in halls of residence already include a fridge and microwave, so check the inventory before buying a duplicate, as recommended by Étudiant.gouv.
You want a useful appliance for portions, frozen meals and leftovers, but need to decide whether you cook in the oven often enough to justify a combination microwave or mini oven. UFC-Que Choisir specifically lists second homes among the situations concerned.
Before buying, check the inventory and the property condition report. According to ANIL, a furnished rental used as a main residence must include, among other things, a hob and an oven or microwave.
Start with the meals you usually prepare, then check the appliance’s actual footprint and installation requirements before choosing an additional function.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Size and washing-up | Compare the width, height and depth with the cabinet or worktop. Also check the usable capacity, turntable diameter and clearances specified in the instructions. | I want the appliance to fit on the worktop while accommodating my usual plates, bowls and dishes. |
| Simple reheating | Look for a microwave mode, power levels and defrosting functions that suit your habits. The stated power alone cannot predict how evenly food will be heated. | I mainly reheat leftovers or ready meals and want to defrost food without juggling lots of settings. |
| Cooking and browning | The grill is useful for occasional browning. For pizzas, gratins or baking, look for convection or consider a fan-assisted mini oven. | I sometimes need to brown dishes, or regularly cook as I would in an oven when the property does not have one. |
| Installation and safety | Check the exact model’s instructions for ventilation, the installation surface and connection requirements. Check packaging and container compatibility information too. | I want to install the appliance in a small space and use containers suitable for microwave cooking. |
A refurbished room in halls of residence may already include a microwave. In a furnished rental used as a main residence, ANIL points out that an oven or microwave is part of the minimum required equipment.
Check the listing, the inventory attached to the tenancy agreement and the condition of existing appliances before choosing a capacity or format.
An appliance can be compact in terms of litres while still being deep or heavy. For example, Panasonic lists dimensions of 443 × 330 × 258 mm for the NN-E20JW, while the NN-CD58RS measures 520 × 391 × 310 mm.
Measure the worktop and access to the socket, then check the ventilation clearances and connection instructions in the exact model’s manual.
The grill adds browning, while a combination model also adds convection, but these functions are only worthwhile if they match the meals you actually prepare. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between solo, grill and combination models according to these uses.
List the meals you prepare over a week: a solo microwave is suitable for reheating and defrosting, a grill for occasional browning, and a combination model or mini oven for frequent oven-style cooking.
DGCCRF states that cling film and bags without a clear compatibility statement must not be used in a microwave. Metal is not suitable for this purpose.
Follow the usage instructions and choose containers explicitly designed for microwave cooking.
Panasonic offers a comparison between a compact solo microwave and a combination model: the NN-E20JW is a 20 L solo microwave, while the NN-CD58RS combines microwave, grill and convection cooking in a 27 L format.
The MWP 253 B represents the grill microwave category, with a freestanding 25 L appliance combining microwave cooking and a quartz grill.
The MS23K3513AK/EF is a 23 L solo microwave designed for reheating and defrosting.
The Optimo 39 L OX485810 represents the mini-oven option for a kitchen without a main oven, when everyday cooking matters more than quick reheating.
Joybuy options for reheating, defrosting and, depending on the model, browning food in a small kitchen.
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Suitable for reheating, defrosting and occasional browning in a small kitchen.
20 L, 700 W microwave power, 800 W grill, nine power levels, 245 mm turntable and dimensions of 45,2 × 35,3 × 26,2 cm.
The grill does not replace fan-assisted cooking. Check the instructions for the required clearance above the appliance.
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An option for everyday reheating and defrosting, with occasional grilling for a browned finish.
25 L, 1,000 W, quartz grill, Quick Defrost function, automatic programmes with weight control and dimensions of 47,6 × 38,8 × 27,2 cm.
No fan-assisted cooking function is indicated for the grill model: check the instructions for clearances and connection requirements.
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Designed for simple meals involving reheating, defrosting and occasional browning with the grill.
25 L, 900 W, 11 power levels, defrosting by weight or time, 28,8 cm glass turntable and dimensions of 485 × 293 × 410 mm.
Allow for the model’s depth and the stated clearances of 20 cm at the sides and 30 cm at the rear.
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A solo microwave for a small worktop when reheating and defrosting are the priorities.
20 L, 700 W, six pre-set menus, express cooking, 11 power levels, defrosting by weight or time and dimensions of 440 × 319 × 259 mm.
No grill or fan-assisted cooking function is indicated. Check the instructions for the turntable, ventilation and connection requirements.
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A straightforward choice for reheating and defrosting, with mechanical controls.
20 L, 700 W, six power levels, 245 mm turntable, 30-minute mechanical timer and dimensions of 452 × 362 × 262 mm.
No grill or convection mode is indicated. The specifications allow for 10 cm of clearance on all sides.
For a furnished rental used as a main residence, the minimum list includes a hob and an oven or microwave, according to ANIL. The landlord is therefore not required to provide both: check the inventory attached to the tenancy agreement and that the appliances are working. This rule does not automatically apply to a second home or a holiday rental.
Use containers and packaging intended for food contact and marked as microwave-safe according to their usage instructions. For cling film and bags, DGCCRF states that if there is no clear positive compatibility statement, they should not be used in a microwave; metal is not suitable for this purpose.
No. Power helps you understand the appliance category and the settings available, but it is not enough to predict how evenly food will be reheated or defrosted. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol measures, among other things, the temperature at several points on a plate and temperatures after defrosting.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then check the exact model’s instructions for ventilation clearances, the installation surface, socket and connection requirements. DGCCRF identifies risks including electric shock and fire for microwave ovens.
No. A combination microwave can bring together microwave, grill and convection cooking, but its value depends on how often you actually cook in an oven and how much space you have. If you mainly cook pizzas, gratins and roasts, a fan-assisted mini oven may be a better fit; for reheating portions, a solo microwave remains simpler.