For a studio flat or second home, choose a solo microwave if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food. A grill model is a good option if you occasionally want to brown or grill dishes, while a combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking makes sense if you genuinely plan to cook oven-style meals. Before choosing a model, check its dimensions, how much room the door needs to open, its total electrical power and the clearances specified in the manual against your available space.
You want to reheat and defrost food, and perhaps cook occasionally, without cluttering a small worktop with several appliances. UFC-Que Choisir highlights student accommodation as one situation where you might need to choose between a basic microwave and a combination model.
Your main needs are reheating and defrosting, with the option to brown or cook food during occasional stays.
You plan to make dishes that need a grill or fan-assisted cooking, and have room for the appliance as well as time to get to grips with these settings.
Start with the dishes you’ll actually make. Extra features are no substitute for checking that the appliance will fit and that the specific model delivers the results you want. If you already have a usable oven, factor that in before choosing a combination microwave.
Consider it: if you want to reheat and defrost food, without needing to brown or grill it.
The trade-off: it doesn’t offer a grill or fan-assisted cooking.
Consider it: if you occasionally want to brown or grill food as well as use the microwave functions.
The trade-off: a grill alone doesn’t offer fan-assisted cooking.
Consider it: if you don’t have a usable oven and regularly cook oven-style meals.
The trade-off: you’ll need to check how much space it requires and get to grips with more settings.
| Criteria | What to check | What consumers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Size and installation | Measure the appliance and the space it needs with the door open, then check the ventilation clearances and total electrical power in the manual. | When my worktop also doubles as food-prep space, I want to be able to position the appliance and open the door without losing all that room. Around 36% of consumers would make size and installation their top priority. |
| Oven-style cooking | Check whether it has fan-assisted cooking, the available temperature settings and the accessories supplied. A grill alone is a different feature. | Without a usable oven, I expect to regularly cook dishes that need fan-assisted cooking. Around 29% of consumers would make this their main requirement. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the power levels and defrost controls. To compare results, look for tests of the specific model. UFC-Que Choisir assesses defrosting separately, among other things. | I want controls suited to these everyday tasks for my ready meals and frozen portions. Around 21% of consumers would put them ahead of other features. |
| Occasional browning or grilling | Check for a grill function, the available combination modes and any instructions for using the grill rack. | I’d like to brown a dish now and then, without planning to cook regularly with fan assistance. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise browning or grilling. |
The internal capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up, especially when the door is open.
Measure the space and check the dimensions and ventilation clearances specified for the model you’re considering.
A grill and fan-assisted cooking add little to an appliance used only for reheating and defrosting, while giving you more settings to manage.
Think about the dishes you usually make: a solo model may be enough, while a grill can suit the occasional need to brown or grill food.
Defrosting, even reheating and browning are different results. UFC-Que Choisir assesses them separately in its testing process.
If one of these results matters particularly to you, look for an independent test of the exact model.
An accessory suited to grill mode may not be suitable for microwave mode. Whether you can use it depends on the instructions for your appliance.
Check the manual to see which containers and accessories are allowed for each mode.
The freestanding range includes basic models and combination microwaves to consider depending on your space and cooking needs.
Some combination models in the range combine microwave, grill and convection functions.
The freestanding range includes solo microwaves as well as multifunction models.
These models are mainly suited to reheating and defrosting, with a grill option for occasional browning or grilling. Before choosing the Hisense H25MOBS7H for browning or grilling, confirm the modes available on the exact model.
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Worth considering if reheating and defrosting matter more to you than browning or grilling.
A 23 L solo model. Check how much room it needs with the door open and the clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth considering if you want to brown or grill food occasionally without choosing a combination model with fan-assisted cooking.
The product title lists a capacity of 20 L and microwave power of 700 W. If browning is important to you, compare tests of this model.
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Worth considering for reheating. If you also plan to brown or grill food, confirm the cooking modes available on the exact model.
The product title lists 25 L and 900 W, but describes it as “Solo” while the description mentions a grill. Also check the space needed to open the door and the installation clearances.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting, with dial controls.
The product title lists six power levels and a 30-minute timer. Before choosing where to put it, check the total electrical power and ventilation clearances in the manual.
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Worth considering for straightforward reheating. If you defrost food often, check the settings available on this model.
The product title lists 20 L and 700 W. Also measure the space needed to open the door.
It can handle some oven-style cooking if it has fan-assisted cooking and is large enough for your dishes. A grill alone is for browning or grilling food. If you mainly reheat and defrost, you may not need these extra features.
Measure the width, depth and height of the space, as well as the room needed to open the door. Then compare these measurements with the dimensions and ventilation clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model.
No. Whether you can use a rack depends on the selected mode and the manufacturer’s instructions. Before using a metal accessory, check the manual to make sure it’s allowed in that specific mode.
Wipe up splashes after use and follow the cleaning instructions in the manual. If you want a built-in cleaning programme, check that it’s available on the specific model rather than assuming it’s included because of the brand.