Start by choosing the features you need for your meals, then check that the appliance and its required clearances will fit in your kitchen. A basic model is suitable for reheating and defrosting; a grill adds a golden finish, while a combination model may also offer a proper oven mode. Capacity in litres alone won’t tell you how much space it takes up: check the dimensions, handle, door opening and instructions for the exact model.
If you live in a small home and mainly want to reheat or defrost food with minimal effort and washing-up, a basic model may suit your needs. Que Choisir Ensemble distinguishes between basic functions and grill and cooking options.
If your home doesn’t have an oven, check that the microwave you choose has a proper oven cooking mode. The Panasonic NN-DF38PBEPG, for example, is listed by Panasonic France as having top and bottom heating.
If you want to brown the tops of certain dishes, a grill can be useful. However, having a grill doesn’t mean the appliance also has an oven mode.
Choose this if : you mainly need to reheat and defrost food.
Limitation : a basic model won’t have a grill or an oven cooking mode.
Choose this if : you also want to brown the tops of certain dishes.
Limitation : a grill alone doesn’t replace an oven mode; check the exact cooking functions.
Choose this if : your home doesn’t have an oven and you want to prepare dishes using a proper oven cooking mode.
Check : the Panasonic NN-DF38PBEPG, for example, uses top and bottom heating; consult the instructions and installation requirements for the exact model.
| Priority | What to check | Who should prioritise it |
|---|---|---|
| Space and ventilation | Measure the width, height and depth, including the handle. Check the clearances in the instructions for the exact model. | If your worktop space is already limited, check the location and ventilation before choosing; around 33 % of consumers prioritise installation first. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the functions you’ll use every day and the power or time settings. | If you mainly prepare simple meals, you can prioritise basic functions; around 27 % of consumers put everyday meals first. |
| Cooking without a separate oven | Look for an explicitly stated oven mode, its temperature range and the accessories specified for that mode. | If your home doesn’t have an oven and you want to prepare the same kinds of dishes, check the cooking mode; around 27 % of consumers prioritise this use. |
| Browning and grilling | Check that it has a grill and that your dishes will fit in the cavity and on the turntable. | If you mainly want to brown the tops of certain dishes without replacing an oven, around 13 % of consumers prioritise browning and grilling. |
For these choices, Que Choisir Ensemble distinguishes between basic models, models with a grill and combination models. The percentages relate to the priority needs described for a compact student kitchen or a small second home in France.
The space you need to allow for isn’t limited to the dimensions of the appliance casing. Panasonic France gives the NN-DF38PBEPG a depth of 412 mm, increasing to 456 mm with the handle. Samsung France notes that ventilation requirements vary between models, so its general guidance doesn’t replace the instructions for the model you choose.
The handle, door opening and required clearances can all affect the space needed for installation.
Compare the full dimensions with the space you have, then follow the instructions for the exact model.
An appliance that doesn’t fit may mean you have to rearrange your kitchen.
A grill browns the surface of food, but its presence doesn’t prove that the appliance can cook like an oven.
If you want to cook dishes in oven mode, look for this function and its heating method in the specifications.
The stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that your dishes will fit or work properly. A turntable also limits the size of dishes you can use.
Check the usable dimensions of the cavity and your dishes. For the Whirlpool MWP203SB, Boulanger’s French product listing gives a turntable diameter of 24,5 cm.
A commercial guarantee is separate from the legal guarantee of conformity. Service Public states that, for a purchase from a professional seller, the fault must appear within two years of the goods being delivered.
Check who the seller is, keep your proof of purchase and compare the cover provided by any commercial guarantee separately.
Samsung France describes the Samsung MS23K3515AK/EF as a 23 L solo microwave for everyday use.
The MWP203SB is an example of a 20 L microwave with grill available in France.
The NN-DF38PBEPG combines microwave, grill and top and bottom heating in a stated 23 L cavity.
This selection includes solo microwaves and models with a grill for reheating and defrosting, with a grill function on some models.
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A solo model for reheating and defrosting, with no grill function listed.
20 L; 700 W; 6 power levels; 30-minute timer; defrosting by time or weight.
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The grill adds a function for browning certain dishes; check the dimensions and clearances in the instructions before choosing where to put it.
21 L; 800 W; 1 000 W grill stated in the description; stated dimensions of 53,6 × 43,6 × 33 cm.
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This model with grill may suit you if you also want to brown certain dishes; don’t confuse it with an oven mode.
25 L; 900 W stated in the title; 1 150 W quartz grill stated in the description; stated dimensions of 53,6 × 43,6 × 33 cm.
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A model with a grill for reheating and defrosting, if these functions suit the dishes you make and the space available.
25 L; 1 000 W stated in the title; quartz grill, programmes with weight control and easy-clean interior coating stated in the description.
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The grill may be useful if you want a golden finish; check the exact cooking mode if you also need an oven function.
25 L; 1 000 W stated in the title; 950 W quartz grill, 5 power levels and automatic programmes with weight control stated in the description.
Follow the instructions for the exact model, as ventilation requirements vary between models. Samsung France gives general guidance of 10 cm at the back and sides and 20 cm above, while also referring users to the instructions. For the NN-DF38, Panasonic Assistance’s French-language guide specifies 5 cm on the left, 10 cm behind, 25 cm above and an unobstructed right-hand side; this guidance doesn’t automatically confirm that the French NN-DF38PBEPG can be installed in the same way.
Don’t rely on the appliance dimensions alone. The Panasonic guide consulted for the NN-DF38 rules out placing it in a cupboard or built-in space; for any other model, check the instructions for the exact model.
Not necessarily: a grill browns the surface of food, while an oven mode should be listed separately. If you want to cook oven dishes, check the heating mode and temperature range in the specifications.
No. Also compare the dimensions of your dish with those of the cavity and, if there is one, the diameter of the turntable. For the Whirlpool MWP203SB, Boulanger lists a 24,5 cm turntable.
Follow the preparation instructions for the food and its packaging, as recommended by Anses. This doesn’t mean that all packaging is suitable for microwave use.