For a studio flat or holiday home, choose a solo microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost food, a grill model if you also want to brown dishes, or a combination microwave with convection if you genuinely plan to cook as you would in an oven. Before choosing, check how much room the appliance needs, including space for ventilation and opening the door. The power rating alone doesn’t tell you how evenly it heats.
In a bedroom or studio flat with limited kitchen space, a solo microwave can handle reheating and defrosting without adding cooking functions you won’t use. Just make sure your dishes will fit inside, and that you have another way to brown them if needed.
If you regularly want to brown toast or finish off a gratin, a grill offers something different from reheating. According to the UFC-Que Choisir buying guide, this function should not be confused with convection cooking.
A combination microwave with convection is worth considering if you want to cook oven-style dishes in the same appliance. Check that its size, temperature settings and accessories suit your temporary kitchen and the dishes you prepare.
For a small home, start with what you’ll mainly use it for — reheating, browning or cooking as you would in an oven — then check that the appliance’s dimensions work with your available space and the dishes you use.
| Need | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Measure the space, including with the door open, and check the turntable against the size of your plates. Also look at the defrost settings. | If I mainly need to reheat or defrost meals, I’d choose an appliance that fits my containers without taking over the kitchenette. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Browning food | Check that it has a grill, and which accessories are approved for grill or combination modes. | If I regularly want to finish off a gratin or toast without using another appliance, I’d look for a browning function rather than a full oven mode. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Cooking as you would in an oven | Look specifically for convection or fan-assisted cooking, and check the preheating requirements and external dimensions. | If I don’t have a usable oven, I need to cook more than just portions for reheating, and I can set aside more space for a combination model. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise this use. |
The internal capacity doesn’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop, whether the door will open easily or whether your dish will turn. For example, the Samsung MG23K3515AK/EF product specifications list a capacity of 23 L and external dimensions of 489 × 275 × 392 mm. These are two different measurements to check against your available space.
Measure the available width, height and depth, then check the turntable, door clearance and ventilation gaps in the manual for the model you’re considering.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a grill is for browning food, while a combination microwave with convection adds oven-style cooking options. So a product described as having a “grill” won’t meet your needs for baking or oven cooking.
If those types of cooking matter to you, look for a clearly stated convection or fan-assisted mode, and check the available temperatures and preheating requirements.
UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes measuring the temperature at different points on a plate. The power rating on a product listing doesn’t tell you this on its own.
If even heating or cooking is important to you, look for test results that specifically assess these factors.
Tin cans and metal utensils aren’t suitable for microwave mode. UFC-Que Choisir also points out that not all plastic containers are suitable for this use.
Choose containers that are explicitly marked as compatible with the mode you’re using, and follow the manual for accessories permitted with the grill or combination functions.
Panasonic offers solo, grill and multifunction microwaves. Which features are worth comparing depends on the specific model.
The MG23K3515AK/EF is an example of a freestanding grill microwave worth considering if you want to brown food without needing convection cooking.
Whirlpool France product pages feature grill and combination models with different cooking modes. Check the functions of the exact model before choosing.
These models cover three different needs: reheating and defrosting with a solo microwave, adding a grill to brown food, or considering a combination model for more cooking options. Before ordering, compare the dimensions and modes of the model that suits your needs.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat and defrost food, as well as having a grill for browning some dishes.
The model name indicates a 20 L capacity and 700 W. Check the dimensions, ventilation clearances and cooking modes if you also want to use it as an oven.
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Worth considering if you mainly need to reheat and defrost food in a small kitchen.
The model name indicates 700 W, six preset menus and eleven power levels. Check that the turntable and door opening suit your dishes and the space available.
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The grill is useful for browning food as well as reheating. If you want to cook as you would in an oven, check the available modes separately.
The model name indicates 900 W and a 25 L capacity. Measure the space available, allowing for the door and ventilation.
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Worth considering if you prioritise reheating and defrosting over browning food.
The model name mentions quick defrost and a 23 L capacity. Check the dimensions of your dishes and the space needed around the appliance.
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Worth considering if you want to cook more than just portions for reheating, provided the model’s functions suit the recipes you have in mind.
The model name indicates a 39 L capacity, so measure your available space carefully before choosing this combination microwave for a small kitchen. Check the modes, preheating requirements and necessary accessories in the manual.
Not in microwave mode: UFC-Que Choisir says that tin cans and metal utensils aren’t suitable for this use. For a grill or combination appliance, follow the manual for the accessories permitted in each mode.
No. UFC-Que Choisir points out that not all plastic containers are suitable. Use a container that is explicitly marked as microwave-safe.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a private individual in France. This covers, among other things, an appliance that doesn’t match its description or isn’t fit for its usual purpose.
Yes. Check the manual for the exact model to find out its ventilation and installation requirements, rather than relying on a general clearance distance. Also allow enough room to open the door and use your dishes.