Everyday reheating in a small space
You mainly want to reheat a plate or ready meal and defrost food. A solo model is worth considering, provided its dimensions, turntable and ventilation requirements suit your kitchen.
Who are these options for?
Simple meals with a browned topping
You often make gratins, toast or other dishes where you want to brown the top. The question is whether you’ll use the grill regularly, rather than choosing this feature for the occasional meal.
Cooking without a conventional oven
You don’t have a usable oven and want to cook or grill dishes in one appliance. Check the actual modes included with each combination model: the word “combination” doesn’t remove the need to check its functions and accessories.
What sets the models apart?
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between solo, grill and combination microwaves according to their cooking capabilities. Start with the meals you’ll prepare, then check that the appliance can be installed in your home.
Solo microwave
Choose this if: you mainly reheat and defrost portions, without needing to brown the top.
Bear in mind: it doesn’t have a grill for browning the top of dishes.
Grill microwave
Choose this if: you want to reheat dishes and regularly brown the top.
Bear in mind: a grill alone doesn’t necessarily provide the fan-assisted cooking of an oven.
Combination microwave
Choose this if: you don’t have a usable oven and plan to use the extra cooking modes on your chosen model regularly.
Bear in mind: these functions only save space if the appliance genuinely replaces another cooking appliance.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Available space | Measure the space and compare the external dimensions, as well as the clearances required in the instructions. Check that the turntable can accommodate your usual dishes. | If my worktop is narrow, I want the microwave and my plates to fit without obstructing ventilation; around 45% of consumers would put this fit first. |
| Everyday use | Look for defrosting, power levels and controls that you’ll find easy to use, whether they’re mechanical or digital. | For simple meals, I want to reheat and defrost without having to adjust lots of settings; around 22% of consumers would prioritise this simplicity. |
| Browning and cooking | Distinguish between a grill and convection cooking, and check the modes and accessories included with the specific model before relying on it instead of an oven. | If I don’t have a practical oven, or I often brown dishes, I want a cooking function I’ll actually use; around 33% of consumers would put browning or oven-style cooking at the top of their list. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based only on capacity in litres
Capacity alone won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop or whether your dishes will fit on its turntable.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then compare them with the external dimensions and turntable size of your chosen model.
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Putting a freestanding model in an enclosed space
Whirlpool advises that the ventilation openings on a freestanding microwave must not be blocked. The required clearances depend on the model.
Read the installation instructions before you buy and make sure the space leaves the openings and specified clearances unobstructed.
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Choosing a combination model for features you’ll rarely use
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a combination model adds oven-style cooking options, among other features. If you already have an oven and mainly reheat food, these functions may make little difference to your everyday use.
Think about the meals you usually prepare: first compare a solo model for reheating and defrosting, a grill model for browning, then a combination model if you genuinely need its other modes.
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Using an unsuitable container
Metal containers or some plastics can make reheating unsafe. Instructions also vary depending on the container and the cooking mode you’re using.
Check the container’s instructions and the appliance manual before use. The Moulinex MO20MGBL manual, for example, says to monitor food when heating it in plastic or paper.
Brands to compare
Whirlpool
Its freestanding range lets you compare sizes designed for reheating individual portions with appliances that include a grill.
- Whirlpool recommends considering smaller models if reheating individual portions is your main use.
- For installation, the brand advises you not to block the ventilation; the exact clearances are those specified in the instructions for your chosen model.
Samsung
Its solo, grill and combination ranges let you compare straightforward reheating with a wider range of cooking uses.
- Samsung’s guide recommends comparing capacity, power and turntable dimensions.
- Check that the extra modes and programmes suit the meals you usually make, rather than choosing a model simply because it has more of them.
Panasonic
Its solo, grill and combination models offer different features to consider on a model-by-model basis.
- Panasonic product details distinguish between features such as defrosting and grilling, and, on some combination models, convection cooking.
- A mode or accessory included with one model isn’t necessarily available on the brand’s other models.
Electrolux
Its freestanding microwaves with grills are worth considering if you want to compare the space they take up with the features needed for browning.
- An Electrolux product listing gives the dimensions and microwave and grill power ratings separately, which is useful when assessing that particular model.
- Check the specifications of the model you’re considering: one model’s dimensions and features don’t represent the whole range.
Microwaves to consider on Joybuy
These solo and grill models suit reheating, defrosting or browning food in a small home. To decide between them, compare their dimensions, controls and features with the meals you prepare. If you want to replace an oven, check the cooking modes of a combination model separately.
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Beko MGC20100B1, 20 L black grill microwave
Worth considering if you want to reheat portions and regularly use a grill to brown dishes.
Stated capacity: 20 L; stated microwave power: 700 W. Check the space needed for the appliance, its ventilation and your dishes before choosing it.
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Heinrich's, 20 L solo microwave
An option for reheating and defrosting without adding a grill function.
The model title states 700 W, six power levels, a defrost function and a 30-minute timer. Check the installation clearances and the space available for your dishes.
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Electrolux EMZ421MMTI, 21 L titanium microwave
Worth a look if you’re after a freestanding model for reheating and browning, provided its modes and size suit your kitchen.
Stated capacity: 21 L; stated microwave power: 800 W. Measure the space and check the instructions for the required clearances.
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COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK), 20 L black microwave
Worth considering if you prefer digital controls for reheating and defrosting.
The title states 700 W, 11 power levels and six pre-set menus. Check that your plates will fit and compare the clearances specified in the instructions.
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Whirlpool MWP 101 W, 20 L microwave
A solo option with mechanical controls if your main need is reheating simple meals.
Stated power: 700 W. The Joybuy listing for this model specifies six power levels and a 30-minute mechanical timer. If you need a dedicated defrost function, check for one before buying, as well as ensuring there’s room for your dishes and adequate ventilation.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a freestanding microwave in an enclosed space?
Only if the installation follows the instructions for that exact model and leaves its ventilation openings clear. Whirlpool warns that they must not be blocked, so a space designed for a built-in appliance won’t automatically be suitable for a freestanding one. For the Moulinex MO20MGBL specifically, its manual requires at least 30 cm of clear space above the appliance; don’t apply this measurement to every model.
Which containers should you avoid using in a microwave?
Avoid metal containers in a standard microwave, and don’t assume that all plastic is suitable for heating. Check the container and appliance instructions for the mode you’re using; the Moulinex MO20MGBL manual says to monitor the appliance when heating food in plastic or paper.
What statutory guarantee applies to a microwave bought in France?
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to a new, second-hand or refurbished microwave sold by a business to a consumer in France. It covers cases where the product does not conform, including when it doesn’t match its description; it is separate from any commercial guarantee offered by the seller or manufacturer.
What should you do with your old microwave when replacing it?
You can ask for it to be taken back when you buy an appliance of the same kind. Information from the French ministries responsible for ecological transition explains that this “one-for-one” take-back scheme covers electrical and electronic equipment, including household appliances; ask the seller how to hand it over.