Mainly for reheating and defrosting
If your meals are usually already cooked, a solo microwave is ideal for both tasks. However, measure the space available before choosing a model: its internal capacity won’t tell you its external dimensions.
Who is each appliance for?
For the occasional browned or crispy dish
A microwave with a grill lets you reheat and defrost food, while also giving you the option to brown the top of some dishes. Check that it has the functions you need: a grill and convection cooking are not the same thing.
For regular oven cooking
If you often make gratins, roast dishes or bakes, it’s worth looking at the cooking modes offered by a mini oven. You’ll need a suitable spot for it, in line with the manual, and its use must be allowed in your accommodation.
What sets these appliances apart?
Start with the meals you actually make, then check your preferred appliance against your accommodation rules and the space needed to install it.
Solo microwave
Worth considering: if reheating meals and defrosting make up most of your use.
The trade-off: it doesn’t have a grill for browning or crisping food.
Microwave with grill or combi microwave
Worth considering: if you want to keep microwave functions and add a grill for browning and crisping—or, with a true combi model, oven-style cooking modes too.
The trade-off: available modes vary by model. A study published by the National Consumer Institute and ADEME in February 2026 found no general advantage for combi microwaves across all the dishes and appliances tested.
Countertop mini oven
Worth considering: if oven cooking is a regular part of your meals and you have a suitable place to put it.
The trade-off: it doesn’t meet the same need for microwave reheating and may be prohibited by your residence rules.
| Consideration | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with the space available, and check that it has a defrost function. | If I mainly prepare meals that need reheating, I want to use them without giving up a large part of my worktop to the appliance. Around 36 % of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| A wider range of cooking | Check whether it has a grill or convection cooking, and confirm the modes listed in the manual. | If I sometimes want to brown or crisp food without having two appliances, I want to combine the functions I’ll actually use. Versatility would be the top priority for around 29 % of consumers. |
| Rules and installation | Check the rules that apply to your accommodation, then make sure the space meets the clearance and power requirements in the manual. | If I live in a residence, I don’t want to choose an appliance I can’t use or install properly. Around 21 % of consumers would put the option to install it ahead of its functions. |
| Cleaning and moving | Check how easy it is to access the cavity, whether parts are removable, and the appliance’s weight and external dimensions. | If I need to clean the appliance often or move it when I change accommodation, how easy it is to handle matters as much as its cooking modes. Around 14 % of consumers would make this their top priority. |
What to avoid before you buy
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Buying a mini oven without checking the rules
The general rules for Crous residences may be supplemented by local requirements. The 2023 Crous Versailles rules prohibit cooking appliances other than microwaves, except those provided by Crous. This rule doesn’t apply to all student accommodation.
Before ordering a mini oven, check your admission letter, your residence rules and any appendices.
You may have to store an unauthorised appliance elsewhere or replace it.
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Measuring only the width of your worktop
Depth, door clearance and the space needed for ventilation all matter too. Whirlpool warns that blocking a microwave’s ventilation grilles can cause it to overheat.
Measure the full space and follow the clearance requirements in the manual for your chosen model.
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Assuming a combi microwave works for every recipe
An extra mode doesn’t guarantee the same results for every dish. A study published by the National Consumer Institute and ADEME in February 2026 found that performance varied depending on the dishes, models and brands compared.
Think about the modes you need for your usual recipes before choosing between a microwave with a grill, a combi microwave and a mini oven.
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Confusing internal capacity with overall size
The cavity volume alone won’t tell you how much space the appliance takes up or how easy it is to move. For example, Whirlpool lists its MWSC9133SB model as 54 cm deep and weighing 27,45 kg. These specifications apply to this particular model.
Compare the external dimensions and weight of the models you’re considering, especially if you move frequently.
Brands to know
These ranges offer examples of features to compare. Your choice should be based on the specifications and manual for the exact model.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool’s freestanding microwave range includes solo models as well as appliances with a grill or combination functions.
- Whirlpool’s product listings include the 20 L MWP201W solo microwave and the 30 L MWP303SB model with a grill.
- The grill, programmes and cleaning functions vary by model. Check its overall size and installation instructions too.
Moulinex
Moulinex countertop mini ovens show how models can differ in capacity and oven cooking modes.
- Moulinex lists six cooking modes for the Optimo 33L CT. The manual for the Uno 15 L mini oven describes a non-stick cavity and a cleaning drawer.
- These features aren’t available on every model. Check the space you’ll need and the rules for your accommodation before choosing a mini oven.
Microwaves for these uses
These Joybuy models let you compare microwaves designed for reheating and defrosting, some of which also have a grill. If you mainly cook using an oven, keep a mini oven in your comparison too: this product selection focuses on microwaves.
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LG Electronics MH 6535 gih, microwave with grill, 25 L, white
Worth considering if you want to reheat and defrost food, with the option to brown some dishes using the grill.
Stated capacity: 25 L. Check the installation dimensions, ventilation and power supply in the manual before setting it up.
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Hisense H25MOBS7H, 25 L microwave, black
Worth considering for reheating and defrosting meals. If a grill is important to you, check the exact cooking modes listed for this model.
Stated capacity: 25 L; power shown in the product name: 900 W. Check the weight too if you’ll need to move it.
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COMFEE' CM-E202CC(WH), 20 L digital microwave, white
Worth considering if reheating and defrosting are your main uses.
The product name lists 700 W, six preset programmes and eleven power levels. Compare its dimensions and ventilation requirements with the space available.
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Samsung MS23K3513, 23 L solo microwave
Worth considering for reheating and defrosting if you don’t need a grill function.
Stated capacity: 23 L. Check its external dimensions and ventilation clearances before deciding where to put it.
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Electrolux EMZ421MMTI, 21 L freestanding microwave, titanium
Worth a look if you want to reheat and defrost food, and would like to check whether it has modes for browning some dishes.
Stated capacity: 21 L. Consider the space available, the stability of the surface and the instructions in the manual.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a mini oven in a Crous residence?
It depends on the rules that apply to your residence. The general Crous residence rules published in 2025 allow for additional measures; the 2023 Crous Versailles rules prohibit cooking appliances other than microwaves, except those supplied by Crous. Before buying, read your admission letter, local rules and any appendices. This ban doesn’t automatically apply to other residences or private accommodation.
Can you put a freestanding microwave in a closed cupboard?
Don’t install a freestanding model as a built-in appliance unless the manufacturer says you can. Whirlpool says not to block the ventilation openings on its microwaves and to place them on a flat surface. Check the exact clearance requirements in the manual for your chosen model.
Will a combi microwave always replace a mini oven?
No. It depends on the modes you’ll use, the dishes you prepare and the space available. In a study published in February 2026, the National Consumer Institute and ADEME found that the comparative performance of combi microwaves and convection ovens varied by dish, model and brand. Also check that each appliance is allowed in your accommodation.
How can you compare appliances’ electricity use?
Compare the modes and cooking times that match the meals you prepare, rather than choosing based on the stated power alone. A combi microwave’s energy use depends in particular on the mode you use. The study published by the National Consumer Institute and ADEME in February 2026 doesn’t show that one type of appliance is consistently more efficient for every dish.