Choose a simple model if you mainly reheat and defrost portions on a daily basis. A grill is suitable if you also want to brown dishes, while a fan-assisted combi microwave is worth considering only if you regularly cook as you would in a small oven and it genuinely fits your worktop space.
You want one appliance for reheating, defrosting and occasionally cooking simple meals in a limited space. A combi model becomes worthwhile when oven-style cooking is a regular requirement rather than an occasional one.
A fast appliance for leftovers, individual portions and frozen foods may be all you need. UFC-Que Choisir lists student accommodation and second homes among the situations where microwaves are used.
A grill microwave meets an in-between need: browning or finishing dishes, without being intended for baking or roasting with fan assistance.
Choose this if: reheating, defrosting and a few microwave-compatible cooking tasks cover most of your meals.
Limitation: it does not provide grill browning or the fan-assisted cooking of an oven.
Choose this if: you want to brown or finish dishes without fully replacing a traditional oven.
Limitation: the grill alone does not provide fan-assisted cooking.
Choose this if: you also need to bake, roast or prepare dishes that require fan-assisted heat because you do not have an oven.
Limitation: pay particular attention to the available depth, height and ventilation space.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Useful functions | Compare a solo model for reheating and defrosting, a grill for browning, and a combi model with fan assistance for cooking as you would in a small oven. Avoid choosing based solely on the number of programmes. | I want the functions that match my usual meals, without giving up space to modes I will rarely use. |
| Size and ventilation | Measure the width, height, depth, door clearance and actual location. For a freestanding model, keep the ventilation openings clear and check the model’s manual for the required clearances. | My appliance must fit on the worktop without getting in the way of other preparation or cupboard doors. |
| Cooking results | Defrosting, reheating, grilling and fan-assisted cooking are separate functions. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses them separately on appliances sold in France. | I prioritise even reheating for everyday use; fan-assisted cooking only matters if I genuinely cook as I would in an oven. |
| Containers and accessories | Follow the power and cooking-time instructions on microwaveable packaging. Do not use metal containers in microwave mode, and use a metal rack only in the mode specified in the manual. | I want to reheat my usual portions and dishes while following the instructions for safe container use. |
A combi model adds a grill and fan-assisted cooking, but its external dimensions can be substantial. The Panasonic NN-C69KS, for example, measures 520 × 327 × 520 mm.
List how you use an appliance over a week: reheating and defrosting, browning, then baking or roasting. Choose a combi model for the final requirement only when it is a regular one.
The internal capacity does not tell you the external depth, door clearance or ventilation requirements. A 23 L Samsung solo model is listed as measuring 489 × 275 × 374 mm, compared with 520 × 327 × 520 mm for the 30 L Panasonic combi model mentioned above.
Measure the width, height, depth, door clearance and ventilation position, then check the clearances specified in the manual for the exact model.
Metal is not suitable for microwave mode. Anses also recommends following the cooking-time and power instructions on microwaveable packaging, as excessively intense reheating can increase the migration of substances from the packaging into food.
Follow the symbols on the packaging, use a suitable glass or ceramic container if in doubt, and only use a metal rack in the mode explicitly permitted.
Catalogues change: Whirlpool, for example, states that the MWP203SB is no longer in its catalogue.
Before buying, check the exact model, its French manual, the warranty terms and availability from your chosen seller.
The French range includes solo, grill and combi models, making it easier to compare functions within the same brand.
Whirlpool offers simple freestanding, grill and combi models for comparing capacity, dimensions and cooking modes.
The brand offers convection combi models and multifunction appliances for people who want to combine several uses in one appliance.
These Joybuy options cover solo and grill microwaves suitable for reheating and defrosting and, for grill models, browning dishes in a small home.
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For reheating, defrosting and browning simple dishes without requiring fan-assisted heat.
Quartz grill, rapid defrosting and a freestanding format measuring 47,6 × 27,2 × 38,8 cm. Check the manual for ventilation clearances, door opening and the use of accessories with the grill.
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An option for portions, leftovers and frozen foods when you only occasionally need to brown dishes.
20 L, 700 W and grill function, with dimensions of 45,2 × 35,3 × 26,2 cm. The 245 mm turntable may limit the size of larger dishes; allow at least 10 cm at the sides and rear if required by the model’s manual.
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It is suitable for reheating, defrosting and browning simple dishes in a small home.
950 W grill, automatic programmes with weight control and dimensions of 47 × 26 × 37 cm. This model does not specify fan-assisted heat; check the ventilation clearances in the manual.
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A sensible choice if your meals mainly involve reheating and defrosting, with no need for browning.
23 L freestanding solo model with Quick Defrost, 29 automatic programmes and dimensions of 48,9 × 27,5 × 37,4 cm. It has neither a grill nor fan-assisted heat.
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Suitable for reheating, defrosting and browning dishes when you can accommodate a greater depth on your worktop.
25 L, 900 W, 1 150 W quartz grill, defrosting by weight or time, and multi-stage cooking. Its dimensions of 53,6 × 43,6 × 33 cm require you to check the available space; the listing specifies a minimum of 10 cm on each side and 20 cm above.
Yes, if your main uses are reheating, defrosting and a few simple microwave-compatible cooking tasks. It does not replace the browning function of a grill or the fan-assisted cooking of an oven, so choose those functions only when you will use them regularly.
No. The grill is mainly used for browning or finishing dishes. If you also need to bake or roast as you would in an oven, choose a combi model with fan-assisted heat and check the model’s specifications, as the term “combi” alone does not tell you how suitable it is for every use.
Yes. Whirlpool recommends a flat surface, a room temperature of between 5 and 35 °C, and unobstructed ventilation openings for a freestanding model. Then consult the manual for the exact model to check the required clearances around the appliance.
No. Metal containers are not suitable for microwave mode. For packaging labelled as microwaveable, Anses recommends following the time and power instructions; any supplied metal rack should be used only in the modes specified in the manual.
A microwave falls within France’s waste electrical and electronic equipment system. Use a collection, take-back, reuse or recycling service available in your area or offered by the retailer.