For student accommodation or a second home where you mainly reheat and defrost food, start by comparing solo microwaves. Make sure the turntable can hold your dishes and the appliance will fit in the space you have. According to Que Choisir’s guide, a grill adds the option to brown food; consider a combination microwave with convection if you genuinely plan to cook in it, bearing in mind the space the appliance needs, including for ventilation.
If you mainly reheat and defrost food, first check what your accommodation provides and where you could put the appliance. For example, a Crous room listing describes a shared kitchen, so access to a kitchen depends on the accommodation you choose.
If you want to keep the number of appliances there to a minimum, start with the meals you plan to prepare. A solo model is suitable for reheating; if you regularly want to cook as you would in an oven, it’s worth considering a combination microwave. Que Choisir includes second homes among the situations where this choice arises.
If you want to brown or crisp food from time to time, look for a grill. If your recipes also call for hot-air cooking, check that the model you’re considering explicitly lists convection or fan-assisted cooking, and check its external dimensions too.
First decide which cooking functions you’ll use, then compare the appliance’s dimensions and the size of your dishes with the space available.
Choose this if: you reheat and defrost food without needing to brown it.
Bear in mind: a microwave-only function does not provide a grill or convection cooking.
Choose this if: you’d also like to brown or crisp food from time to time.
Bear in mind: a grill does not mean the appliance has convection cooking, as Que Choisir explains.
Choose this if: you plan to use hot-air cooking regularly as well as reheating.
Bear in mind: this function isn’t needed just for reheating. Check how much space the appliance takes up and the clearance it needs.
| Factor | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking functions | Check the microwave, grill and convection or fan-assisted functions separately. Confirm the functions listed for the exact model number. | I mainly reheat meals, or I also want to brown food and cook with hot air: these uses call for different functions. |
| Size and dishes | Compare the appliance’s external width, height and depth with the space available. Check the turntable size, door opening and clearance specified in the manual. | My plates need to fit inside without the appliance taking up all the available space or blocking ventilation. |
| Containers | Check that each container is suitable for the function you’re using. If heating a meal in its packaging, follow the recommended power and heating time. | I want to reheat meals without assuming that every tray or container is suitable for all cooking functions. |
| Everyday use | Look at the model’s controls and programmes. If even heating matters to you, look for tests carried out using the same method rather than comparing the power ratings alone. | Easy-to-use settings matter more to me than extra functions I’m unlikely to use. |
Internal capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up or how large a dish will fit inside. For example, Whirlpool lists external dimensions of 52 × 30,1 × 49,4 cm for its 25 L MCP349WH combination microwave.
Measure the space and your dishes, then check the manual for the ventilation clearance required by the model you’ve chosen.
Que Choisir distinguishes between a grill, which browns food, and the convection function found in combination models. A grill alone won’t do the job if your recipe requires convection cooking.
If hot-air cooking is essential, check that convection or fan-assisted cooking is explicitly listed in the model’s product details and manual.
A category or sales listing doesn’t necessarily spell out the cooking functions of a specific model.
Note the full model number and check the listed functions against the manufacturer’s product details or manual before you choose.
Anses states that intensive heating can increase the transfer of substances from some types of packaging into food.
Use a container designed for the function you’ve chosen. DGCCRF recommends following the container’s instructions and not reusing single-use containers. Also follow the power and heating-time instructions on the food packaging.
These models illustrate different functions. The features mentioned apply to each individual model, not to the brand as a whole.
The H20MOWP1 is an example of a freestanding solo microwave.
The MH6032GAS is an example of a freestanding microwave with grill.
The MWP253B and MCP349WH illustrate the difference between a grill model and a combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking.
Samsung describes the MS23K3515AK/EF as a 23 L solo microwave.
The NN-CD575MEPG is an example of a 27 L multifunction appliance.
These models include solo appliances and options whose names indicate a grill, for homes where space is at a premium. If a particular cooking function is important to you, check the details for the exact model before ordering.
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For reheating and defrosting without needing a grill. The product name lists six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a defrost function. Check that the appliance and your dishes will fit in the space available.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a 25 L cavity. The product name lists 1000 W but doesn’t specify the function it applies to here. If you plan to brown food or cook with hot air, check that these functions are listed for the MH6535GIS model.
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The grill is useful if you want to brown food as well as reheat it. The product name lists 20 L and 700 W; if you want to cook with convection, don’t assume the appliance has this function just because it has a grill.
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This white variant lists a grill in its name, for meals you want to brown. Its stated capacity is 25 L; compare the external dimensions and turntable size with your dishes and the space available.
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For reheating in a stated 25 L cavity, the product name describes this model as a solo microwave. If browning food is important to you, check the cooking functions listed for the exact model before choosing.
Not necessarily. According to Service Public, for furnished accommodation used as a main residence and covered by the type of tenancy described, the minimum list includes an oven or a microwave. An oven can therefore meet this requirement. This rule doesn’t, by itself, describe the facilities in all student accommodation or second homes.
Measure the available width, height and depth, then compare them with the model’s external dimensions. Also check that the door can open, that your dishes will fit and that you can leave the clearance specified in the manual. Whirlpool recommends installing the appliance on a flat surface and keeping the vents clear.
No. Use only a container designed for the function you’re using and follow its instructions. For a packaged meal intended for microwave heating, Anses recommends following the power and heating-time instructions. DGCCRF also advises against reusing single-use containers.
The word ‘grill’ alone doesn’t guarantee convection cooking. If a recipe calls for this function, check that it’s available on the specific model: Whirlpool describes the MWP253B as a microwave with grill and the MCP349WH as a combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking.
Look at the controls, how easily your dishes fit inside and the cleaning instructions for each appliance. Que Choisir’s testing method assesses factors including the controls, visibility and cleaning. The presence of a listed programme alone doesn’t prove that one model will be easier to use than another.