If you mainly reheat and defrost individual portions, start with a solo microwave. A grill model is worth considering if you also want to brown the top of dishes from time to time. If you don’t have a conventional oven, consider a combination microwave if you’ll genuinely use its oven-style cooking modes, or a mini oven if you regularly need to cook meals from scratch rather than simply heat them up. In a studio flat, check the appliance’s external dimensions and installation instructions before you choose.
A solo microwave may be all you need to reheat leftovers and defrost portions with minimal washing-up. If you also make dishes that need to be baked, compare the cooking modes on a combination microwave or mini oven. UFC-Que Choisir lists student accommodation among the settings where a microwave can be useful.
If you mainly use the kitchen to heat up meals, prioritise the functions you’ll use while you’re there. Without an oven, a combination microwave can bring several cooking modes together in one appliance. UFC-Que Choisir also highlights second homes as a setting where this can save space.
If your recipes need conventional cooking, a grill or fan-assisted heat, compare the modes actually available, the space you have and the safety instructions. Moulinex describes these uses for mini ovens, while the instructions for a freestanding SEB model warn that its glass door and metal parts can get very hot.
Consider one if: you mainly need to reheat and defrost food.
Limitation: it doesn’t add a grill or oven-style cooking.
Consider one if: you’d also like to brown the top of dishes occasionally, as described by UFC-Que Choisir.
Limitation: a grill doesn’t mean the appliance has fan-assisted cooking.
Consider one if: you don’t have a conventional oven and will use the grill and fan-assisted cooking as well as the microwave. UFC-Que Choisir describes these functions on combination models.
Limitation: check that the cavity size and cooking modes suit the recipes you usually make.
Consider one if: you regularly prepare dishes that need oven-style cooking rather than simply reheating.
Limitation: you’ll need a suitable position that allows for heat from the outside of the appliance. Follow the model’s instructions.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating | Check the defrost function and power settings, as well as the size of the dishes the cavity can hold. | I mainly reheat portions or leftovers and want to avoid using lots of different containers. |
| Browning | Look for a grill mode and, if you plan to use it, a mode that combines microwave and grill. Check the list of modes for the exact model. | I’d like to brown the top of a dish from time to time, but I may not need to cook meals in the oven. |
| Oven cooking | For a combination microwave or mini oven, check for fan-assisted or conventional cooking modes, and make sure there’s room for your dishes. | Without a conventional oven, I want to regularly make recipes that need more than just a grill. |
| Size | Compare the external width, height and depth with the space you have. Also check the size of the cavity or turntable. | My worktop space is limited, and the appliance needs to fit the dishes I use. |
| Installation | Read the model’s instructions for information on the supporting surface and required clearances. Whirlpool says not to block a microwave’s vents or place anything on top of it. | I need to install the appliance without blocking its ventilation and avoid contact with the hot surfaces of a mini oven. |
Extra cooking functions may not add much if you use the microwave almost exclusively. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes combination models by their grill and fan-assisted cooking modes.
Make a list of the meals you usually prepare. If reheating and defrosting are your main priorities, compare solo models first.
Depth can vary even between models with the same capacity. Samsung lists its 23 L solo MS23K3515AW as measuring 489 × 275 × 374 mm, compared with 489 × 275 × 392 mm for its 23 L grill MG23K3515AW.
Measure the space available in width, depth and height, then check the external dimensions and clearances listed in the instructions for your chosen model.
A grill mode can brown the top of a dish, but it doesn’t confirm that the appliance has a fan-assisted cooking mode. The modes Electrolux lists for the EMZ421MMK include microwave, grill and combined microwave and grill.
If your recipes need oven-style cooking, check the list of modes explicitly rather than relying on the word ‘combination’ alone.
The instructions for the SEB OF2858 warn that its glass door and metal parts can get very hot during use.
Choose a stable surface, avoid contact with hot parts and follow the positioning instructions for the mini oven you choose.
Samsung’s freestanding solo and grill models offer two distinct options for reheating and occasional browning.
The EMZ421MMK is an example of a freestanding microwave with a grill, combining reheating with occasional browning.
Whirlpool’s combination microwave range may suit anyone looking to bring several cooking modes together in a kitchenette without an oven.
Moulinex mini ovens are designed for oven-style cooking, rather than just reheating food in a microwave.
These models cover reheating with solo microwaves, browning with grill models and cooking with a combination model. Compare their features and the space they need against the meals you prepare.
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For reheating and defrosting portions, without the need for oven cooking. The model name indicates six preset menus and eleven power levels. Before installing it, check that your electrical supply is compatible and follow the ventilation instructions in the manual.
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Consider this model if you’d like to brown the top of dishes occasionally as well as reheat and defrost food. If you need fan-assisted cooking, check the cooking modes, then consult the manual for positioning and ventilation instructions.
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This solo model is suited to reheating and defrosting, rather than browning food. Measure the space where you plan to put it and check the manual for the clearances it needs.
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The grill is useful for occasional browning alongside reheating and defrosting. It shouldn’t be confused with fan-assisted cooking. Before installing the appliance, check the full ventilation instructions in the manual.
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Worth considering if you don’t have an oven and want to compare several cooking modes in one appliance. With a listed capacity of 39 L, it’s especially important to check the external dimensions, the modes you’ll need for your recipes and the installation instructions.
It can take over some oven duties if its modes suit the recipes you make. UFC-Que Choisir describes combination models that bring together microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking. Even so, check the features of the model, the size of its cavity and the dishes you plan to cook in it.
Don’t block the air vents or place anything on top of the appliance. These are Whirlpool’s general instructions. To check whether it’s suitable under a cupboard, follow the clearances and restrictions in the manual for your exact model.
Two models with the same capacity can have different depths. Samsung lists its 23 L solo MS23K3515AW as measuring 489 × 275 × 374 mm and its 23 L grill MG23K3515AW as measuring 489 × 275 × 392 mm. Measure the space available, then allow for the clearances specified in the manual for the model you choose.
Put it on a stable surface and follow the instructions for your model. The SEB OF2858 manual specifies how the back of the appliance should be positioned and warns that the glass door and metal parts can get very hot. Don’t assume the positioning instructions apply to all mini ovens.