For reheating and defrosting in a kitchenette, start by considering a standard microwave. Choose a grill model if you’d also like to brown food. A combination microwave is a better option if you need to cook without a conventional oven, provided its dimensions and the clearances specified in the manual suit the space available.
If you already have a hob or access to a shared kitchen, a standard microwave may be all you need for reheating and defrosting, without adding oven functions. UFC-Que Choisir identifies these as the main everyday uses for a microwave.
If you sometimes cook dishes that need browning, a model with a grill gives you that option as well as reheating. This doesn’t mean it has a fan oven function, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If you occasionally need to cook dishes that require oven-style heat, check that the combination model has a fan or convection cooking mode. You’ll also need to be able to install it with the clearances specified in the manual: the cavity size alone won’t tell you how much space you need.
For a student kitchenette or a holiday home, first decide what kind of cooking you expect from the appliance. Then check that the exact model can be installed in your chosen spot.
Choose this if: you mainly want to reheat and defrost, rather than replace an oven.
Bear in mind: it won’t brown food like a grill model or offer fan oven cooking.
Choose this if: you’d occasionally like to brown the top of a dish as well as reheat it.
Bear in mind: the grill alone doesn’t provide fan oven cooking.
Choose this if: you don’t have an oven and plan to use one of the oven-style cooking modes on your chosen model.
Bear in mind: some models need more depth and a sturdier surface than a small worktop can provide.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | External dimensions, door clearance and the clearances specified in the manual for the model. | If your worktop is narrow, you’ll need enough room to position the appliance and open the door without compromising its installation. Around 36% of consumers put space constraints first. |
| Reheating and defrosting | A defrost function and controls suited to how you plan to use it. | If you mostly heat ready-made meals or defrost food, you’ll want easy-to-use everyday functions first and foremost. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this over extra oven modes. |
| Occasional browning | A grill mode and guidance in the manual on using accessories. | If you sometimes want to brown a gratin, a grill matters more to you than fan oven cooking. Around 21% of consumers put this need first. |
| Cooking without an oven | Confirmation that it has a fan or convection mode, followed by the appliance’s overall dimensions. | If you don’t have a conventional oven at home, you’ll want to cook from time to time using more than just microwave power. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this option. |
The capacity in litres tells you neither the external depth nor the clearances required. According to Whirlpool France, its MCP349WH combination microwave is 49,4 cm deep and weighs 18,6 kg, despite having a 25 L cavity.
Measure the space, allow room to open the door and check the clearances required in the manual for the exact model.
A combination microwave adds cooking modes, but they’re of little use if you only reheat and defrost. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes these functions from those found on grill and combination models.
Before paying for extra functions, consider whether you’ll really use the grill or an oven-style cooking mode.
A container that’s suitable for microwave use isn’t necessarily suitable for the grill or fan oven. Anses also warns that reheating at too high a power can increase the transfer of substances from some packaging into food.
Follow the packaging instructions and the appliance manual for the mode you’re using.
Whirlpool France’s range includes freestanding grill models and combination microwaves. Specifications vary by model.
The EMZ421MMK is an example of a freestanding grill microwave in Electrolux France’s range.
The SCMWN20SMW manual gives a specific example of the installation requirements to check for a freestanding microwave.
These models are suited to reheating in a small kitchen: two standard microwaves and a grill model for the occasional gratin. Check the installation clearances in the manual for the one you’re interested in.
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A standard microwave to consider if you mainly want to reheat meals without adding a grill function. It has a listed capacity of 20 L and microwave power of 700 W.
Before putting it in your kitchenette, check the manual for the required clearances and the space needed to open the door.
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This grill model suits anyone who’d sometimes like to brown food as well as reheat it. Its name indicates a capacity of 20 L and microwave power of 700 W.
Don’t confuse the grill with a fan oven function. Check the manual for the required clearances, particularly above the appliance.
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This standard digital microwave is for anyone who wants to reheat and defrost without a grill function. Its name indicates 700 W, six pre-set menus and eleven power levels.
Check the ventilation clearances in the manual before setting aside space for it in your kitchenette.
Allow the clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model, as they vary from one appliance to another. For the Schneider SCMWN20SMW, Schneider Consumer requires 30 cm of clearance above the appliance and 20 cm between it and each wall. Also allow enough room to open the door.
It can meet some cooking needs if the model has an oven-style mode, such as convection cooking, and you can install it correctly. Whirlpool France lists this function on the MCP349WH. Check its modes, dimensions and required clearances before choosing it.
Follow the packaging instructions for power and cooking time, as well as the microwave manual. Anses says that reheating at too high a power increases the risk of substances from some packaging transferring into food.
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. If the product doesn’t conform, keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller. This statutory guarantee is separate from any commercial warranty.