A basic microwave is ideal for reheating, defrosting and preparing a few quick dishes, especially when an oven or hob is already available. Choose a grill model if you regularly want to brown or crisp food, a combination model if the appliance genuinely needs to handle oven-style cooking, or compare a compact mini oven if this type of cooking is your priority.
For reheating, defrosting and preparing simple meals in a small space, first check which appliances are already provided, how much room you have and the ventilation space around the appliance. UFC-Que Choisir and Campus France place these needs in the context of small student homes.
A versatile appliance can be useful when it replaces a missing oven. If an oven is already available, a basic model avoids paying for functions you may not use. Insee recorded 3.753 million second homes and occasional-use homes in France excluding Mayotte in 2025, based on provisional figures.
If oven cooking is already available, a basic microwave will usually cover reheating and defrosting. A grill is worth considering only when browning or gratinating is genuinely part of how you cook.
Start with the meals you usually prepare, then check the available space, your cookware and the installation details for the exact model.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking functions | Compare reheating and defrosting with your need for grilling or fan-assisted cooking. Check whether an oven or hob is already available. | I mainly want to reheat and defrost: a basic model may be enough. I would only add a grill or combination function if I regularly brown food or cook as I would in an oven. |
| Available space | Measure the worktop width, depth and height. Check the door opening direction and clearance, along with the ventilation gaps specified in the instructions. | My appliance must fit without blocking the walkway or ventilation openings. |
| Usable capacity | Check the cavity dimensions and turntable diameter, not just the litre capacity. Compare them with the plates, dishes and containers you normally use. | I need to be able to use my everyday containers, even in a compact kitchen. |
| Power supply and settings | Check the microwave output power, input power, voltage and power levels listed for the exact reference. Do not infer even heating from a single power rating. | I want to make sure the electrical installation and controls suit my home and the way I use the appliance. |
| Alternative appliance | Compare a compact mini oven if you mainly cook pizzas, gratins, pastries or roast dishes. Also check its size, accessories and connection requirements. | If fast reheating and defrosting are not central to my needs, I would rather use the space for oven-style cooking. |
The grill and fan-assisted cooking functions may duplicate what you already have without improving your main reheating and defrosting needs.
Make a list of the meals you prepare over a week. Choose a combination model only when you often need to cook as you would in an oven and do not have a working oven available.
Appliances with a similar capacity can have different external dimensions, cavities and turntables, so your usual dish may not fit.
Compare the H × W × D dimensions, interior space and turntable diameter with your worktop and containers.
Whirlpool France states that blocked ventilation can cause a freestanding appliance to overheat quickly.
Follow the clearances specified in the instructions for the exact model and do not place objects against the ventilation areas.
UFC-Que Choisir assesses defrosting, evenness and reheating speed, grilling, combination cooking and fan-assisted cooking separately.
For a specific need, look for information about that function and the exact reference, whether you need defrosting, browning or fan-assisted cooking.
These Joybuy options include basic microwaves for reheating and defrosting, as well as grill models for occasional browning in a studio flat or holiday home.
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A straightforward option for reheating and defrosting without adding oven-style functions.
External dimensions: 452 × 362 × 262 mm; cavity: 315 × 294 × 210 mm; 245 mm turntable. It offers 700 W, six power levels and a 30-minute timer.
Allow at least 10 cm of clearance around the appliance and check that your dishes fit inside the cavity.
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Worth considering if browning or gratinating genuinely complements your reheating and defrosting needs.
700 W microwave power, 800 W grill, nine power levels and a 245 mm turntable. Dimensions: 45.2 × 35.3 × 26.2 cm; power supply 230 V / 50 Hz.
Interior dimensions are not listed here: check that your dishes fit and allow 10 cm of clearance at the sides and rear.
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A basic microwave for a small worktop and everyday meals.
External dimensions: 440 × 319 × 259 mm. It offers 700 W, 11 power levels, defrosting by weight or time, express cooking and six pre-set menus.
Before installation, check the instructions for the turntable diameter, cavity dimensions, power connection and required clearances.
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A solo solution for reheating and defrosting in a studio flat or small home.
Dimensions: 44.6 × 36.3 × 24.3 cm. It offers 700 W, six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a defrost function.
Check that your containers are compatible, and review the connection and ventilation requirements in the instructions.
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This grill model covers reheating and defrosting, with occasional browning when you need it.
It combines a 25 L capacity, quartz grill, rapid defrosting, automatic programmes and a glass turntable. External dimensions: 47.6 × 38.8 × 27.2 cm.
Measure your worktop and door clearance; also check the voltage, input power and clearances specified in the instructions.
Yes, if you mainly need to reheat, defrost and prepare a few quick dishes, particularly when the accommodation provides access to an oven or hob. A grill or combination model becomes worthwhile when browning or oven-style cooking is something you do regularly.
Measure the width, depth and height of the available space, then check the door opening and the clearance needed for ventilation. Also compare the interior dimensions and turntable with the plates and dishes you actually use.
No. It can combine microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking for certain uses, but its value depends on what you prepare and whether you genuinely lack an oven. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between reheating, defrosting, grilling, combination cooking and fan-assisted cooking: having a function does not guarantee the same results for every use.
Place it on a flat surface and do not cover the ventilation openings. Read the instructions for the exact reference before first use, as connection, clearance and safety requirements vary between appliances.
Avoid metal utensils and containers inside the cavity; UFC-Que Choisir specifically states that a tin can must not be heated in it. Also check that plastic containers carry a microwave-safe marking.