If you mainly reheat and defrost individual portions, a solo microwave should do the job. Choose a grill model if you’d also like to brown or grill food occasionally. A combination microwave with a fan oven is worth considering for some oven-style cooking, provided its functions, cavity and the clearances specified in the manual are suitable for your kitchenette.
If worktop space is limited and you mainly prepare simple meals, start with the essentials: reheating and defrosting. Then measure the space, allow room for the door to open and check the size of the dishes you use most often.
If you’ll be using it occasionally and don’t have a conventional oven, your choice depends on what else you need the appliance to do besides reheating: browning food with a grill, or handling some oven-style cooking with a combination model.
If you make gratins or simple cakes, check that the appliance has a fan oven function and that there’s enough usable space inside the cavity. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether a tin or dish will fit.
Think about what you’ll actually cook, then check that your chosen model fits the available space and can accommodate your dishes.
Choose this : for reheating and defrosting, if you don’t need browning or oven-style cooking.
Limitation : if you want to brown food or cook it in an oven-style mode, you’ll need a different function.
Choose this : if you want to add occasional browning or grilling to reheating and defrosting.
Limitation : a grill doesn’t mean the appliance has a fan oven function.
Choose this : if you want one appliance that combines microwave, grill and some oven-style cooking functions.
Limitation : check that it fits on your worktop and that the cavity can accommodate your dishes before relying on it for cooking.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking functions | Check the product details and manual for microwave, grill and fan oven functions separately. Make sure the programmes cover the dishes you plan to prepare. | Do I only want to reheat meals, or do I also need to brown food and cook some oven-style dishes ? |
| Positioning | Compare the width, height and depth with the available space. Allow for the door to open and the clearances specified for the exact model. | Is there enough room on my worktop to position and open the appliance without making it difficult to use ? |
| Dish size | Check the turntable diameter, or the cavity dimensions depending on the design, as well as the shape and height of your dishes. The capacity in litres alone doesn’t guarantee they’ll fit. | My usual plates, tins and dishes need to fit and be suitable for the cooking function I plan to use. |
| Containers and cleaning | Follow the manual’s guidance on which containers are suitable for each function. Also check the recommended way to clean the cavity. | I use different containers and want to be able to clean the appliance after cooking food that splatters. |
A grill is for browning food, but having one doesn’t mean the microwave offers fan oven cooking.
If you plan to cook oven-style dishes, look specifically for “fan oven” or “convection” in the functions listed for your chosen model.
An appliance may fit on your worktop but still not have enough depth to open the door or allow for the required ventilation gaps.
Measure the space in all three dimensions, then check the door clearance and gaps specified in the manual for the exact model.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you everything about the shape of the cavity or how much room there is for a rectangular dish.
Compare your dishes with the turntable or cavity dimensions, and check they’re suitable for the cooking function you want to use.
A container suitable for the grill or fan oven may not be suitable for microwave cooking, and vice versa.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for each function, especially before using a container that contains metal.
These models illustrate different functions and capacities ; always check the product details and manual for the specific version you’re considering.
The MWP203SB is an example of a 20 L grill microwave, while the MWF259B is described as a 25 L freestanding combination model.
The MS20A3010AL is listed as a 20 L solo microwave. The MC35R8058CC/EF is a 35 L combination model with a fan oven, according to their Boulanger product listings.
LG France describes the MJ3965BPS NeoChef as a 39 L combination model that brings together microwave, grill and oven functions.
Electro Dépôt describes the MWO 23 CG K 902C 2 as a multifunction microwave combining a fan oven and microwave functions.
These Joybuy models are suited to reheating and defrosting; some also include a grill for browning food. If you want to cook with a fan oven, check that the model you’re considering specifically lists this function.
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For reheating and defrosting, with the option to brown or grill food. The model name indicates 700 W and a black finish; check the manual for installation clearances and available functions if you need more than a grill.
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A grill option for reheating, defrosting and browning food. The product name indicates 900 W and a Titanium finish; before buying, check the space required, the size of your dishes and that the electrical connection is compatible with your setup.
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Worth considering if you mainly plan to reheat and defrost, without needing to brown food. The product name indicates 700 W; check that your dishes fit in the cavity and confirm the plug type before buying.
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The grill adds browning to reheating and defrosting. The product name indicates 1 000 W, a digital display and a white finish; check the turntable, clearances and exact functions before planning which dishes to use.
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Designed for reheating and defrosting rather than browning. The product name indicates 700 W, six pre-set menus and 11 power levels; check the dimensions in the order given, as well as the turntable and clearances for your space.
It can reheat, defrost and brown food, but a grill alone doesn’t provide fan oven cooking. If you also want to cook some oven-style dishes, look for a combination model that explicitly lists this function and check that its cavity can accommodate your dishes.
No. Compare the size and shape of your dish with the turntable diameter or the cavity dimensions of your chosen model. Also measure the space needed around the appliance, especially to allow the door to open.
Follow the clearance guidance in the manual for the exact model. For example, the Boulanger listing for the Samsung MS20A3010AL specifies a minimum of 10 cm at the back and 20 cm above; don’t apply these distances to another appliance without checking its manual.