For a small kitchen, choose a solo microwave if you mainly want to reheat and defrost, or a model with a grill if you’d also like to brown some dishes. A combination microwave with convection can handle some tasks you’d normally use a conventional oven for, according to UFC-Que Choisir. Before relying on it as your only cooking appliance, though, check its external dimensions, the clearances specified in the manual and which containers are suitable.
In a studio flat or kitchenette, you mainly want to reheat and defrost food, without giving up space for cooking functions you’re unlikely to use. A solo model suits you if browning food or cooking it like you would in an oven isn’t a priority.
You reheat most of your meals, but would sometimes like to brown or crisp up a dish. A model with a grill offers a useful middle ground. Just make sure you use containers that are suitable for the selected setting, as UFC-Que Choisir advises.
You’re looking for an appliance to reheat food every day and cook simple dishes from time to time. A combination microwave with convection can handle some oven tasks, provided its dimensions and the required clearances suit the space you have in mind.
Start with the cooking function you genuinely need, then measure the space: the cavity capacity alone won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop.
| Priority | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Choose the microwave functions you need and measure the appliance’s external width, height and depth. | If I mainly reheat meals in my studio flat, I’d rather have an appliance without oven functions I won’t use. This could be the priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Occasional browning | Check that it has a grill and read the guidance on suitable containers and accessories. | If I want to finish off a gratin without adding another appliance, I need a grill as well as everyday reheating functions. This could be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Cooking without a separate oven | Check explicitly for convection, the external dimensions and the ventilation clearances specified in the manual. | If my holiday home doesn’t have an oven, I need to cook simple dishes from time to time, not just reheat food. Around 33% of consumers could make this their main priority. |
The cavity capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up. Samsung’s product information for the solo MS23K3513AS/EF and LG’s for the combination microwave MJ3965ACW give the external dimensions of each model. You can’t work out how much space either will take up from its capacity alone.
Measure the available width, height and depth, then check the manual for the space needed to open the door and for ventilation clearances.
A grill browns or crisps food, but having one doesn’t mean the appliance also has the convection function needed for some oven-style cooking.
If you’d like to cook without a conventional oven, look for an explicit mention of convection on the exact model you’re considering, then check that its capacity suits the dishes you have in mind.
UFC-Que Choisir advises that plastic suitable for microwave use shouldn’t be used with the grill or convection setting.
Check that your container is suitable for each cooking mode, and don’t heat anything in an airtight container.
The DGCCRF distinguishes between the legal guarantees that apply to goods and any additional commercial warranty. An extended warranty doesn’t replace your statutory rights.
Before taking out an extended warranty or insurance policy, compare its exclusions, what it covers and how to make a claim with the protection you already have.
The MS23K3513AS/EF is an example of a freestanding solo model for reheating and defrosting.
The MWF421SL is an example of a microwave with a grill for when browning food matters.
The NeoChef MJ3965ACW is an example of a combination microwave to consider if you need to cook occasionally without a separate oven.
These models suit three different needs: reheating with a solo microwave, using a grill for occasional browning, or considering a combination model for cooking without a separate oven. Check the functions and installation requirements of the model you choose before you buy.
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Worth considering if you mainly reheat and defrost meals in a small kitchen.
The product name lists 700 W, 11 power levels and six preset programmes.
Check the space available and the clearances required in the manual. If you’d like to brown food or cook it as you would in an oven, check that the necessary functions are included.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat meals and brown a dish from time to time.
The product name lists a microwave power of 700 W.
Check the clearance needed around the appliance and use containers suitable for the grill. If you want to cook as you would in an oven, check separately whether it has convection.
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Worth considering if your priority is reheating and defrosting, rather than having an oven function.
The product name mentions quick defrost.
Measure the space and check the manual for ventilation clearances. Don’t assume that specifications for another Samsung variant also apply to this model without checking.
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Worth considering if you mainly reheat food but occasionally want to brown it. Check which functions are included before you buy.
The product name lists a capacity of 25 L.
Check that it has a grill and, if you want to cook as you would in an oven, convection too. Also measure the available space and check the manual for ventilation requirements.
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Worth considering if you’d like to reheat food and cook occasionally without a separate conventional oven.
Joybuy’s product description lists microwave, grill and convection functions for this model.
Before making room for it in a kitchenette, measure the space, check the manual for ventilation clearances and choose containers that are suitable for each setting. The MJ3965ACS is different from the MJ3965ACW mentioned in the LG brand examples.
A combination microwave with convection can handle some tasks you’d normally use a conventional oven for, according to UFC-Que Choisir. That doesn’t mean it will suit every recipe or the same quantities, so check the cooking modes, usable capacity and available space for the model you’re considering.
No. UFC-Que Choisir says that plastics suitable for microwave use shouldn’t be used with the grill or convection settings. Check the container’s instructions for the setting you want to use, and don’t use it while it’s airtight.
Compare its external dimensions with the width, height and depth you actually have available, rather than relying on the cavity capacity in litres. Also allow for the door to open and for the ventilation clearances specified in the model’s manual.
Not necessarily. For a purchase in France, the DGCCRF distinguishes between legal guarantees and any additional commercial warranty. Check what the extended warranty genuinely adds, including what it covers, its exclusions and what you need to do to make a claim.
No. The DGCCRF explains that the CE marking represents the manufacturer’s commitment to meeting the applicable requirements before the product is placed on the European market. It isn’t an independent certification mark.