If you mainly need to reheat and defrost food in a kitchenette, choose a solo microwave if you have another way to cook. A grill is useful when you want to brown or crisp food; a combination microwave is worth considering if you’ll make proper use of its fan oven function and don’t have a conventional oven. Whichever type you choose, check the external dimensions and the clearances required in the manual before deciding on capacity in litres.
If you mainly reheat meals and defrost food, a solo model can cover those needs without taking up space with features you won’t use. E.Leclerc’s student guide suggests 15 to 25 L for a studio flat or shared accommodation; remember to measure your worktop and the dishes you use, too.
If you only need to reheat food during your stays, a solo model may be all you need. If you also prepare dishes to brown or crisp, or want to cook using a fan oven because you don’t have an oven, choose the relevant function rather than relying on capacity alone.
A combination microwave brings together microwave, grill and fan oven functions, but it only saves space if it fits and genuinely replaces another appliance you would otherwise have installed. Compare its external dimensions and ventilation requirements with the space available.
Start with the cooking tasks you’ll do regularly, then check whether the appliance you choose can be installed where you want it.
Consider it: for reheating and defrosting, if you have another way to cook food that needs browning or crisping.
Limitation: it doesn’t have a grill or fan oven function.
Consider it: if you also want to brown or crisp certain dishes.
Limitation: the grill doesn’t replace a fan oven function.
Consider it: if you don’t have a conventional oven and plan to use the fan oven function for some of your cooking.
Limitation: check that there’s enough room for the appliance and the required ventilation.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Compare the external width, depth and height, not just the capacity in litres. Allow room to open the door and for the clearances specified in the manual. | My worktop is narrow: the appliance needs to fit without blocking access or ventilation. |
| Everyday use | Check the defrost function and the model’s controls. A solo microwave is suitable for reheating and defrosting, but won’t brown food like a grill. | I reheat leftovers and defrost food; I use other equipment for my other cooking. |
| Extra cooking functions | Know the difference between a grill, which browns or crisps food, and the fan oven function on a combination microwave. Check which modes are available on the exact model: “combination” on its own doesn’t tell you which programmes it has. | A grill will meet my needs for the occasional gratin; if I also want to cook using a fan oven without a conventional oven, I’ll look at combination models. |
| Installation | Read the manual for the model you choose, place it on a flat, stable surface and keep the vents clear. Also check the power supply specified for the appliance. | I need to be able to install the microwave where I’ve planned, without reducing the necessary clearances to save space. |
The internal capacity doesn’t tell you how large the appliance is. For example, Panasonic France lists its 20 L NN-K10JW grill model as measuring 443 × 340 × 258 mm. So even a suitable capacity doesn’t guarantee that a model will fit on your worktop.
Measure the available space, allow for the door to open and check the ventilation clearances before comparing capacities.
A grill browns or crisps food; it isn’t the same as the fan oven function on a combination model. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between these functions in its microwave buying guide.
Make a list of the dishes you plan to cook: choose a grill for browning, or consider a combination model if your cooking genuinely requires a fan oven function.
A product page may still be accessible even when the model can no longer be ordered. Whirlpool France says the MCP341WH is no longer in its catalogue, and its Joybuy listing shows that it’s unavailable.
Before ordering a specific model, check that it’s available, confirm its exact identity and make sure you can access its manual.
Whirlpool France says blocked ventilation can cause overheating. So a space that looks wide enough for the appliance may not be suitable for installation.
Keep the vents clear and follow the clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model. Don’t assume one distance applies to every microwave.
These examples illustrate the differences between functions; they don’t indicate whether the models are currently available.
Whirlpool France’s product pages include the MCP341WH, described as a solo microwave, and the MCP 345 WH, a model with a grill.
Panasonic France features models with a grill and combination models with a fan oven function.
Samsung France’s product page describes the MC28H5015CK/EF as a 28 L model with microwave, grill and convection functions.
These solo and grill models are suited to reheating and defrosting, and some can also brown food. If you need a fan oven function, check that the model you’re considering has one: a grill on its own won’t do the same job.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting in a small kitchen if you have another way to cook food that needs a grill or oven. The product name lists 700 W, six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a defrost function. Check the manual for ventilation requirements and the power supply needed for your installation.
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Consider it if you want to brown or crisp food as well as reheat it. The product name lists a capacity of 20 L and 700 W; don’t confuse the grill with a fan oven function. Check the MGC20100B1 manual to make sure your chosen space is suitable for installation.
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An option for reheating and defrosting if you don’t need a grill. The product name lists 700 W, five power levels, a 30-minute timer and a 245 mm turntable. In a kitchenette, check the external dimensions and the clearances in the manual before choosing based on the 19 L capacity.
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If you need to reheat and defrost without a grill, this solo model includes a quick defrost function according to its product name. The name also lists a capacity of 23 L and an LED display. Before setting aside a space for it, check its external dimensions and the clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth comparing if you want to crisp or brown food as well as reheat it. The product name lists a capacity of 25 L and a digital display; having a grill doesn’t mean it also has a fan oven function. Check the documentation for this model to confirm the power of each function and its installation requirements.
Yes, if you mainly plan to reheat and defrost food and have another way to brown or cook food using a fan oven. A solo microwave can also be used for some other preparations, but it doesn’t have the functions of a grill or combination model.
Choose a microwave with a grill if you also want to brown or crisp food. If you plan to cook using a fan oven without a conventional oven, consider a combination model instead and check that its dimensions and manual allow it to be installed in your kitchenette.
E.Leclerc’s student guide suggests 15 to 25 L as generally sufficient for a studio flat or shared accommodation. Even so, check that your dishes will fit and that the external dimensions, including space for the door and ventilation, are suitable for the available space.
Don’t choose this position without checking the manual for the exact model. Whirlpool France recommends a flat surface and clear ventilation openings; blocked ventilation can cause overheating. The required clearances depend on the model you choose.