In a small home, a solo microwave is all you need if you mainly reheat and defrost portions. Choose a model with a grill if you’d also like to brown dishes, or consider a combination microwave with convection if you plan to cook without a separate oven. Whichever type you choose, check the space needed for the appliance and its ventilation, as well as the size of the dishes you’ll use.
In a studio flat, student room or holiday home, you may mainly want to reheat portions and defrost food. Before prioritising extra cooking functions, measure the available depth, allow for ventilation and check the size of the dishes you use most often.
If you often reheat pizzas or gratins and want a golden finish, a microwave with a grill can do the job without requiring a convection function.
If you occasionally prepare quiches, pastries or roasts, look for a combination model with convection. Check, however, that its size and the clearances specified in the manual suit the space you have available.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and ventilation | Compare the appliance’s width, height and depth with the space available, allowing for the clearances required in the manual. Check that your dishes fit inside the cavity and, where applicable, rotate on the turntable. | In a small kitchen, I need to be able to position the appliance and use my plates without blocking its ventilation. Around 36% of consumers put compatibility with the available space first. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check that the power settings and defrost function suit the way you’ll use the microwave. | When my meals are mostly leftovers or frozen portions, I look for controls suited to those tasks rather than extra cooking modes. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this simplicity. |
| Grill finish | Look specifically for a grill function; don’t confuse it with convection. | If I often reheat pizza or gratin, I also want to brown the top. Around 21% of consumers make this their main requirement. |
| Oven-style cooking | Check for a convection function, its temperature range and any accessories needed for the recipes you plan to make. | Without a separate oven, I want to make dishes that need hot-air cooking, not just reheat them. This is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Two microwaves with similar capacities may take up different amounts of space and may not fit the same dishes. An appliance that fits into an alcove won’t necessarily have the ventilation clearance it needs.
Measure the space and your largest dish, then check the model’s external dimensions, cavity, turntable and the clearances specified in the manual.
A grill browns or gratinates food. On its own, it doesn’t provide the hot-air cooking needed for some quiches, pastries or roasts.
For a golden finish, compare models with a grill. If you plan to cook without a separate oven, check that the combination model has a convection function and a temperature range suited to your recipes.
Anses states that using too high a power setting or heating food for too long can increase the migration of substances from some packaging into food.
Follow the instructions on heating time, power and whether to remove the film. If film or a pouch isn’t clearly labelled as microwave-safe, use a suitable container instead, in line with DGCCRF recommendations.
A combination microwave offers extra cooking modes, but its size can make it harder to fit on a small worktop. The Panasonic NN-C69KSM, as listed by the brand, measures 520 × 520 × 327 mm and weighs 22,2 kg.
Before choosing this type of appliance, check that you’ll use the convection function and that the space, supporting surface and clearances specified in the manual are suitable.
The worktop space it takes up won’t be available for preparing meals.
The NN-GT21Q and NN-C69KSM are designed for different needs: the former offers a grill for browning, while the latter has convection.
The MS23K3614AW/EF is an example of a 23 L freestanding Solo microwave, useful for comparing the appliance’s size with the dishes you use.
The MCP349WH and MWF259SG combination models offer different functions, so compare them with the recipes you have in mind.
The EMZ421MMK is an example of a 21 L freestanding microwave with a grill.
These models are suited to reheating and defrosting in a small home: four solo microwaves, plus a model with a grill for anyone who’d also like to brown their dishes.
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For reheating portions and defrosting, without the need for a grill function. The product name lists six power levels and a 30-minute timer. Check the ventilation clearance it needs before installation.
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Worth considering for reheating in a small space, provided its dimensions and the clearances in the manual suit your set-up. Also check that your usual plate or dish fits inside the cavity.
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For reheating meals, with the option to brown a gratin or pizza. The grill isn’t a substitute for a convection function. Check the manual for the clearance needed for installation.
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For reheating and defrosting meals without a grill function. Its product description mentions Quick Defrost. Before buying, compare the cavity size with your containers and check that the ventilation requirements in the manual suit the space you have in mind.
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For reheating portions and defrosting with digital controls. The product name lists eleven power levels. Check the usable dimensions for your dishes and the ventilation clearances specified in the manual.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the model you choose. Samsung France gives a general guide of at least 10 cm at the back and sides, and 20 cm above, while noting that requirements vary by appliance. Check these distances before placing it in an alcove or near a wall.
A grill can brown or gratinate food, but on its own it doesn’t provide convection cooking. If you plan to make quiches or pastries without a separate oven, look for a combination model with this function and check the temperatures and accessories your recipes require.
Don’t assume that packaging is suitable for microwave use. The DGCCRF recommends following the instructions for food containers and, for films and pouches, not using them in the microwave unless they’re explicitly labelled as suitable. For microwave-safe packaging, also follow the stated power and heating time.
Don’t use an ordinary metal container in microwave mode. Only use a metal accessory supplied with the appliance if the manual explicitly allows it for the mode you’ve selected, such as grill mode.
If it’s still usable, ADEME recommends considering repair, donation or resale. Otherwise, take the electrical appliance to an appropriate collection point, such as a shop or recycling centre, rather than putting it in household rubbish.