Before buying anything, check the inventory for your accommodation and the residence rules. Étudiant.gouv describes a range of options, from shared kitchens to rooms with a microwave. A basic model may be all you need for reheating and defrosting. Choose one with a grill if you want to brown food, or consider a combination microwave if you also need to cook regularly without access to a working oven. Renting can be a practical option for a temporary stay, provided the contract length, maintenance, return arrangements and cancellation terms suit your needs, as the French National Consumer Institute points out.
Before buying, check what’s provided in your room, studio flat or shared kitchen. Étudiant.gouv outlines several types of university accommodation, some of which already have a microwave.
If you mainly plan to reheat and defrost food, focus on those needs and the space available rather than paying for cooking functions you’re unlikely to use during your stay.
If you want to brown dishes or cook in ways that go beyond reheating, choose between a grill and a combination microwave based on the meals you’ll actually prepare.
First, confirm what your accommodation provides and what its rules allow. Then choose the functions that suit your meals. If you’re considering renting, check the contract terms separately.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| What your accommodation provides | Ask for an inventory of your allocated accommodation and check the residence rules before ordering. | If there’s already an appliance in my room or a shared kitchen, I want to avoid buying one unnecessarily. Around 36% of consumers would put this check first. |
| Available space and everyday functions | Measure the space available and check that the model you choose meets your reheating and defrosting needs. | For a short stay, I mainly want to prepare everyday meals without taking up my workspace. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise this simplicity. |
| Cooking without an oven | Identify which dishes you want to brown and which need other cooking modes, then check the model’s functions. | Without a working oven, I want to do more than reheat food, but only if I’ll cook often enough to use those functions. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this versatility. |
| When your stay ends | If you’re renting, check the contract length, maintenance, collection arrangements and cancellation terms. | I’d rather not keep or transport the appliance after I move out, provided the rental period suits my stay. Around 14% of consumers would have this as a priority. |
Étudiant.gouv describes accommodation with shared kitchens as well as rooms that already have a microwave. The name of the residence alone won’t tell you what you’ll need.
Ask for an inventory of your accommodation and check the rules before buying anything.
A long-term rental doesn’t make you the owner of the appliance. The French National Consumer Institute advises checking the contract’s return arrangements and early cancellation terms too.
Make sure the rental period matches your stay, and clarify the maintenance, collection and cancellation arrangements before signing.
A grill is useful if you want to brown food. The extra modes on a combination microwave are only worthwhile if you plan to cook other dishes too.
List the meals you’ll prepare regularly before choosing between a solo microwave, a grill microwave and a combination microwave.
If you buy an appliance, you’ll need to transport it, keep it or pass it on to someone else. If you rent one, you’ll need to return it in line with the contract.
If you buy, consider having it repaired or donating it if necessary, as ADEME suggests for small electrical appliances. If you rent, keep the documents that describe its original condition.
These basic and grill models are suited to reheating and defrosting, with the grill models also offering a way to brown food. Compare their dimensions and functions with the space and facilities in your accommodation before choosing.
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For reheating and defrosting, without a grill function. 20 L capacity, 700 W power, six power levels and a 30-minute timer.
Check the available space, voltage and plug type before buying.
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For reheating meals and defrosting food. 19 L capacity, 700 W power, five power levels and a 30-minute timer.
Check its external dimensions, voltage and plug type for your accommodation.
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Offers a grill function as well as reheating; choose this model if you plan to brown or grill dishes. 25 L capacity and stated microwave power of 900 W.
Check the space available, voltage and plug type before installation.
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For reheating meals and using the grill when browning is part of your cooking. 20 L capacity and stated microwave power of 700 W.
Before installing it, check the space needed for ventilation and the rules for your accommodation.
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For reheating and defrosting with digital controls. 20 L capacity, 700 W power, eleven power levels and six preset menus.
The stated external dimensions are 440 × 319 × 259 mm; also check the voltage and plug type.
Wait until you know what your allocated accommodation includes. Étudiant.gouv describes different setups across residences, so ask for an inventory of your room or studio flat and check the rules on personal appliances.
Not necessarily. For furnished accommodation that is the tenant’s main residence, a French decree dated 31 July 2015 requires an oven or a microwave. Check which one is listed in your accommodation inventory.
A grill microwave can help you brown or grill dishes, but it can’t replace all the cooking modes of an oven. If you plan to cook other dishes regularly, check the functions of a combination microwave and how much space it will take up.
Consider renting if you don’t want to keep the appliance after your stay and the contract length suits you. Before committing, the French National Consumer Institute recommends checking details such as maintenance, return arrangements and cancellation terms.