For reheating and defrosting in a small kitchenette, choose a solo microwave; opt for a grill model if you’d also like to brown food from time to time. A combination microwave is worth considering mainly if you plan to cook oven-style dishes regularly and don’t have a conventional oven, provided its size and the clearance required by its instructions are suitable for your space.
If you live in a studio flat, rented accommodation or a holiday home, a solo model will reheat and defrost food without adding cooking modes you may never use. E.Leclerc suggests 15 to 25 L as a guide for a studio flat or shared accommodation; also check that your dishes will fit inside.
If you sometimes want a golden finish on your meals, a grill model adds this option to everyday reheating. As UFC-Que Choisir points out, this function is not the same as the convection cooking found in a combination microwave.
If you plan to cook oven-style dishes regularly, consider combination models with convection or fan-assisted cooking. Check their weight, depth and ventilation clearance requirements before setting aside worktop space for one.
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between solo, grill and combination models by their cooking modes. Start with the meals you actually prepare, then check that your chosen appliance can be installed in the space available.
Choose this if: you mainly reheat and defrost, and have other ways to cook dishes that need browning.
Bear in mind: it has neither a grill nor convection cooking.
Choose this if: you’d like to brown food occasionally as well as reheat meals.
Bear in mind: the grill doesn’t replace cooking in a fan-assisted oven.
Choose this if: you don’t have a conventional oven and will use the convection function regularly.
Bear in mind: check that the model’s size and weight are suitable for your kitchenette.
| Priority | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Space and reheating | Measure the external dimensions, the clearances specified in the instructions and the space needed for your dishes. | In a studio flat where I mainly reheat and defrost, I want to keep as much worktop space as possible; around 50% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Occasional browning | Check that it has a grill and find out which utensils are approved for each mode. | My meals are simple, but I’d sometimes like to brown them without using a full-sized oven; around 30% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Oven-style cooking | Check for a convection mode, and confirm the depth, weight and ventilation clearance requirements. | Without a conventional oven, I need to cook dishes regularly using convection; around 20% of consumers would put this function first. |
Convection cooking only adds something extra if you genuinely plan to prepare oven-style dishes. Depth is particularly important in a kitchenette: Whirlpool lists its MCP349WH as 49.4 cm deep, compared with 34.5 cm for the Bosch FFL020MS2, which belongs to a different category.
Make a note of the meals you plan to prepare. If oven-style cooking will be rare, compare solo or grill models first.
An appliance may fit between two units but still lack the necessary space behind or above it, or in front of the door. Ventilation clearances vary by model.
Measure the space in all three dimensions, check that the door can open fully and follow the instructions for your chosen appliance.
A recess or enclosed unit may prevent the appliance from being installed correctly. Bosch’s instructions for the FFL020M state that this freestanding appliance is not designed to be installed or used in a built-in unit.
If the appliance needs to go in a recess, check that it is explicitly designed for this type of installation. Otherwise, choose an open space that complies with its instructions.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a freestanding combination microwave.
A brand to consider for a freestanding model with a grill.
A brand that lets you compare a basic freestanding model with a grill version.
These freestanding models are suited to reheating and defrosting in a small kitchenette; the Beko also has a grill for occasional browning. Compare their dimensions with your available space and the clearances specified in each model’s instructions.
Image unavailable
For reheating and defrosting with digital controls. This 20 L model is rated at 700 W for microwave cooking, has 11 power levels and measures 440 × 319 × 259 mm. Check the ventilation clearances and electrical requirements in its instructions before installation.
Image unavailable
For reheating, defrosting and occasional browning. This 20 L model is rated at 700 W for microwave cooking and 800 W for the grill, and measures 45.2 × 35.3 × 26.2 cm. The grill doesn’t provide convection cooking; check the full clearance requirements in the instructions.
Image unavailable
For reheating and defrosting using mechanical controls. This 20 L model is rated at 700 W, has six power levels and a 30-minute timer, and measures 44.6 × 36.3 × 24.3 cm. Check its instructions for the required clearances and power supply specifications before installation.
Image unavailable
For reheating and defrosting in a space you’ve measured before buying. This 20 L model is rated at 700 W, has a 24.5 cm turntable and measures 45 × 35 × 26.5 cm. Check its instructions for the settings, ventilation clearances and electrical requirements.
Image unavailable
For reheating and defrosting with a choice of cooking programmes. This 23 L model is rated at 800 W for microwave cooking, has 29 automatic programmes and measures 48.9 × 27.5 × 37.4 cm. Measure the space, allowing for the clearances specified in its instructions.
Follow the clearance requirements in the instructions for your chosen model and don’t block its ventilation grilles. For example, the instructions for the Schneider SCMWN20SDG specify at least 10 cm behind it, 5 cm at the side and 20 cm above it. These measurements won’t necessarily apply to another microwave.
Only do so if the model’s instructions explicitly allow this type of installation. Bosch states that its freestanding FFL020M is not designed to be installed or used in a built-in unit. Having a suitable-looking recess doesn’t, by itself, mean an appliance is suitable for it.
Compare the electrical specifications on the appliance and in its instructions with the available socket and electrical installation. The Electrolux EMZ421MMK specifications list a total power rating of 1,270 W, 230 V and 10 A for this model. If you’re concerned about the condition or capacity of the electrical installation in your rented accommodation, ask your landlord or a qualified professional for advice rather than assuming it’s suitable based on the type of socket alone.
Yes, if the model has a convection or fan-assisted mode suited to the dishes you want to cook, and you have enough space to install it in line with its instructions. If you’ll mainly use it for reheating and defrosting, you won’t need these extra functions.