Student or renter who mainly prepares one portion
If you mostly reheat and defrost individual meals, start by comparing freestanding solo models. Measure your usual plate too: even a compact appliance needs to be able to fit it inside.
Which type suits each use?
In a small home, start with the dishes you actually make: they’ll help you work out which functions you need and how much space to allow.
Studio flat resident without an oven
If you want to cook or brown dishes as well as reheat them, look at models with a grill or convection, depending on the recipes you plan to make. For a combination microwave, check the available depth and ventilation requirements in particular.
Anyone using large or rectangular dishes
A cavity without a turntable can make it easier to fit certain dish shapes inside. However, compare the model’s internal and external dimensions before choosing: no turntable doesn’t necessarily mean a compact appliance.
What should you check before choosing?
First decide whether you need to brown or cook dishes, then compare the appliance’s dimensions with those of your containers and the space available.
Solo
Worth considering: if you mainly reheat and defrost individual portions and don’t need to brown or crisp food.
Limitation: this type of appliance doesn’t include a grill or convection function, as Boulanger’s guide explains.
With grill
Worth considering: if you also want to brown or crisp the top of certain dishes.
Limitation: having a grill doesn’t mean the appliance also has convection cooking.
Combination with convection
Worth considering: if you don’t have an oven and plan to use this cooking mode regularly.
Limitation: check the depth before choosing: the Whirlpool MCP349WH is 494 mm deep, according to Whirlpool France, compared with 345 mm for the Electrolux EMZ421MMK grill model, according to Electrolux France.
| Factor | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Space and ventilation | Compare the width, depth and height with the space available. Allow for the required clearances and follow the installation instructions for the exact model. | I want to be able to place the appliance without blocking its ventilation or having it stick out beyond my worktop. |
| Functions | Distinguish between reheating and defrosting, a grill for browning, and convection for other types of cooking. Check which modes are available on the model you’re considering. | If I mainly reheat portions, a grill won’t affect my choice; if I make gratins, it becomes a useful feature. |
| Dish size and shape | Compare the internal dimensions with your usual dish and, if there is one, check the turntable’s diameter. For a cavity without a turntable, check the appliance’s external dimensions too. | My dish needs to fit inside the cavity and, for a model with a turntable, be able to rotate properly. |
| Instructions for use | Read the instructions for installation and routine care. Don’t confuse these tasks with work that requires removing a protective cover. | I want to know how to care for my appliance without attempting a dangerous repair. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
-
Measuring the space but forgetting about ventilation
A microwave might fit in the space you’ve set aside but still lack the clearance required by its instructions. These distances vary by model.
Measure the space, then check the instructions for the model you’ve chosen before deciding where to put it.
-
Assuming a combination microwave will be compact
Convection adds another cooking option, but the Whirlpool MCP349WH is 494 mm deep, according to Whirlpool France, compared with 345 mm for the Electrolux EMZ421MMK with grill, according to Electrolux France. This comparison applies to these two models, not to all combination and grill microwaves.
Choose this cooking mode if you plan to use it, and check the available depth as well as the clearances required for the specific model.
-
Relying on the capacity in litres alone
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your plate or dish will fit, particularly when it needs to rotate on a turntable.
Compare your dish with the internal dimensions and turntable diameter, or check the cavity shape if you’re considering a model without a turntable.
Which brands are useful points of comparison?
The models below illustrate differences in functions and installation requirements; their features don’t apply to every appliance made by each brand.
Whirlpool
Two models to compare if you’re deciding between a cavity without a turntable and a combination microwave with convection.
- According to Whirlpool France, the MWF421SL has a 25 L cavity without a turntable, while the MCP349WH is a 25 L combination microwave with convection.
- The MWF421SL measures 490 × 426 × 320 mm and the MCP349WH measures 520 × 494 × 301 mm, according to their Whirlpool France product information. Measure the space available for the model you’re considering.
Electrolux
These two freestanding grill models make it easy to compare different capacities and external dimensions.
- According to Electrolux France, the EMZ421MMK has a 21 L capacity and measures 442 × 345 × 262 mm; the EMZ725MMK has a 25 L capacity and measures 469 × 348 × 280 mm.
- These figures apply to the models listed. Check the specifications for any other variant before using the measurements to plan your kitchen layout.
Schneider Consumer
The SCMWN20SMG/SCMWN20SMW instructions show why it’s important to check the installation requirements for your chosen model.
- The instructions require 30 cm of clear space above the appliance and 20 cm between the oven and each wall.
- These clearances apply to the SCMWN20SMG/SCMWN20SMW; always check the instructions for any other microwave.
Microwaves available on Joybuy
These models cover reheating and defrosting in a small home, with grill options if you also want to brown certain dishes. Compare the model number and installation requirements before choosing.
Image unavailable
Heinrich's 20 L solo microwave, 700 W
Worth considering if you want to reheat and defrost portions without needing a grill. The product title lists six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a turntable. Check the required clearances in the instructions, then make sure there’s enough room for your dish.
Image unavailable
Beko MGC20100B1 20 L grill microwave, 700 W
An option if you want to brown or crisp food as well as reheat meals. Before installing it, check that your dish fits on the turntable and read the MGC20100B1 instructions for all the required clearances.
Image unavailable
Whirlpool MWP 101 W 20 L microwave, 700 W
Worth a look if reheating and defrosting matter more to you than additional cooking modes. Check that your container fits inside the cavity and read the MWP 101 W instructions for ventilation clearances.
Image unavailable
COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK) 20 L digital microwave, 700 W
This model may appeal if you’d like preset settings and programmes for everyday meals. The product title lists 11 power levels and six menus. Check the size of your dishes and the ventilation requirements before installation.
Image unavailable
LG MH6535GIS 25 L microwave
Worth comparing if you’re looking for a 25 L capacity and a grill for certain dishes. Confirm the grill specifications for the exact model, then check its dimensions and the clearances listed in the instructions. Don’t assume it has convection cooking.
Frequently asked questions
How much space should you leave around a freestanding microwave?
Follow the clearances specified in your model’s instructions: they aren’t the same for every appliance. For example, the instructions for the Schneider SCMWN20SMG/SCMWN20SMW require 30 cm of clear space above the appliance and 20 cm between the oven and each wall. Don’t use these measurements for another appliance without checking its instructions.
Is the capacity in litres enough to tell me whether my dish will fit?
No. Compare your dish with the internal dimensions and, if the appliance has a turntable, check its diameter too. A cavity without a turntable, such as that of the Whirlpool MWF421SL described by Whirlpool France, removes the need for your dish to rotate. However, you should still check the internal dimensions and the appliance’s external size.