In a student flat or second home, choose a solo microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost food; opt for a grill model if you also want to brown dishes, or a combination microwave if you plan to cook regularly using convection. Before choosing, check the appliance’s dimensions, door clearance and the space required around it according to the manual against the room you actually have available.
If you reheat and defrost food more often than you cook in an oven, a solo microwave is worth considering. To check whether it will fit in your kitchen, compare its external dimensions and turntable size with your available space and cookware.
If reheating is still your main use, but you’d also like to brown some dishes, consider a microwave with a grill. Check that you have room for it on your worktop and which accessories are suitable for each setting.
If you also plan to use convection, a combination microwave can bring several cooking modes together in one appliance. However, measure its depth and consider whether you’ll use these functions often enough to justify an appliance that may take up more room.
Start by working out what you’ll actually cook, then rule out any models that can’t be installed in line with their instructions.
Choose this if: you mainly reheat and defrost food, without needing to brown dishes.
Bear in mind: it won’t brown food like a grill model or offer convection like a combination microwave.
Choose this if: you’d like to brown a dish now and then, as well as reheat food every day.
Bear in mind: a grill doesn’t mean the appliance has convection.
Choose this if: you plan to cook oven-style dishes regularly enough to use its grill and convection settings.
Bear in mind: these extra functions can mean a larger appliance, so check the dimensions carefully if you live in a small home.
Consider this if: your priority is a type of cooking that the microwave settings you’re considering can’t provide.
Bear in mind: it will take up extra space and may not replace the reheating and defrosting functions you need.
| Consideration | What to check | What consumers say |
|---|---|---|
| Space and ventilation | External dimensions, door clearance and the space required according to the manual. | If my worktop is narrow, I need to be able to install the appliance without blocking its vents. Around 36% of consumers would put this at the top of their list. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Defrost settings, power levels and turntable size. | For the meals I usually eat, reheating and defrosting matter more than cooking as I would in an oven. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Occasional browning | Whether it has a grill setting and which accessories are suitable for it. | I want to be able to brown dishes from time to time, but I don’t necessarily need an appliance with convection. Browning would be the main priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Oven-style cooking | Whether it has convection, its usable capacity and external dimensions. | Without a convenient oven available, I plan to cook dishes that need this setting regularly. Around 14% of consumers would make this their priority. |
Capacity doesn’t tell you whether the appliance, its door and your cookware will fit in the space available. The external dimensions and turntable size could affect your decision.
Measure the width, depth and height, then compare the turntable with your dishes and check the required clearances in the manual for the exact model.
The grill and convection functions are only useful if you’re actually going to use them. A combination microwave may also take up more space.
If you mainly reheat and defrost food, start by comparing solo models that will fit in the space you have available.
Whirlpool advises that a microwave’s ventilation grilles must not be blocked and that nothing should be placed on top of the appliance.
Check the clearances specified in the manual before installing the appliance under a shelf or between cupboards.
A rack intended for grilling isn’t automatically suitable for microwave mode. Not all plastic containers are suitable either.
Before use, check the manual for guidance on each setting and follow the container manufacturer’s instructions.
These ranges are examples to help you compare features and size. Always check the specifications for the exact model you’re interested in.
Panasonic offers the solo NN-E20JW and the grill NN-K10JW, two freestanding 20 L models designed for different needs.
The MCP349WH is an example of Whirlpool’s freestanding combination microwaves, with microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking functions.
The Electrolux Series 300 EMZ421MMK is an example of a freestanding model with microwave, grill and combination settings.
These freestanding models are worth considering for reheating food in a small home. If browning matters to you, check that the model you choose has a grill setting. The ‘Solo’ name on the Hisense H25MOBS7H alone doesn’t confirm this.
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Worth considering if reheating is your main use and this model fits in the space you have available.
The product name lists a capacity of 25 L and microwave power of 900 W. If you want to brown dishes, check the H25MOBS7H product information and manual to confirm it has a grill setting before relying on this function.
Also check the appliance’s dimensions and the installation clearances specified in its manual.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat meals and have a grill for occasional browning.
The product name lists a capacity of 25 L and microwave power of 900 W. Check the appliance’s dimensions and the clearances specified in its manual before planning where to install it.
Don’t choose based on capacity alone: check whether your plates and dishes will fit on the turntable and inside the cavity. Then compare the external dimensions and clearances specified in the manual with the space available.
Yes: the vents must be kept clear. Whirlpool also advises against placing anything on top of the appliance. Check the manual for the required clearances before installing your chosen model in a recess or on a shelf.
No: don’t use a metal container or a rack intended for another setting in microwave mode unless the manual expressly says it’s suitable. Also check that the container’s manufacturer states that plastic containers are suitable for microwave use.
It can handle some oven-style cooking if it has the settings you need, including convection for dishes that require it. Check the available settings and the space you have rather than assuming that a microwave with a grill offers the same options.
According to France’s Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a private individual in France. Keep your proof of purchase and the product description if its features don’t match what was advertised. This guarantee is separate from a retailer’s returns policy for change of mind.