Students in studio flats with kitchenettes
If you mainly reheat meals and defrost food, start by looking at a solo model. A combi microwave is worth considering if you also plan to cook oven-style dishes regularly and have a suitable space for it.
Which option is right for you?
In a small home, how often you cook in an oven matters just as much as the space the appliance takes up.
Owners of holiday homes
If you only stay there occasionally, start with the dishes you prepare: reheating and defrosting may be enough, while a grill or convection function covers different types of cooking. UFC-Que Choisir lists holiday homes among the settings where microwaves are used.
People with small kitchens and no practical oven
If you’d like to cook dishes that would usually go in the oven, consider a combi microwave with convection. Make sure your worktop, supporting surface and available ventilation space can accommodate your chosen model.
What should you check before choosing?
Solo microwave
Consider this if: you want to reheat and defrost food, but don’t plan to brown dishes.
The trade-off: it won’t do the job of a grill or a convection oven.
Microwave with grill
Consider this if: you’d also like to brown pizzas or gratins.
The trade-off: a grill doesn’t mean the appliance has a convection function.
Combi microwave with convection
Consider this if: you want the appliance to handle some dishes that would usually be cooked in an oven.
The trade-off: check its overall size and weight carefully before deciding where to put it.
Once you’ve chosen the cooking function, compare models with the dishes you usually make and the space you actually have.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday use | Check the reheating and defrosting modes, then compare the capacity and turntable size with your plates. Make sure the controls suit the tasks you’ll do most often. | I mainly reheat portions, and I want my usual dishes to fit inside. |
| Space | Measure the width, height and depth, allowing for the door to open and the clearances specified in the manual. Samsung gives 10 cm at the back and sides, and 20 cm above, as a general guide, but notes that requirements vary by model. | I need to be able to use my worktop while still leaving space for ventilation. |
| Cooking needs | Look for a grill if you want to brown dishes. For oven-style cooking, check that the model specifically has convection, and check its stated temperatures and included accessories. | Sometimes I want to brown a dish, or I genuinely plan to make recipes that need an oven. These are different needs. |
| Installation and follow-up | Check the exact model number against its manual, confirm the electrical requirements and keep the serial number so you can check for any recalls on RappelConso. | Before installing the appliance, I want to make sure it’s suitable for the space and be able to identify my exact model. |
Which mistakes should you avoid?
-
Choosing by capacity alone
Internal capacity doesn’t tell you how deep the appliance is or how much space it needs for ventilation. For example, Panasonic lists its 30 L NN-C69KSM combi microwave as 520 mm deep and weighing 22,2 kg.
Measure the space and check the model’s manual before you buy. Don’t block its ventilation openings to squeeze it into a recess.
-
Choosing a combi microwave just to reheat food
Extra functions won’t add much if you don’t make gratins or dishes that need oven-style cooking.
Make a list of the meals you usually prepare, then distinguish between reheating and defrosting, browning, and oven cooking.
-
Confusing a grill with convection
According to UFC-Que Choisir, microwaves with a grill can brown dishes, while combi models can also handle some tasks you’d normally use a conventional oven for.
For browning a dish, look for a grill. For recipes that need oven-style cooking, check separately that the exact model has a convection function.
-
Overlooking the exact model number and recalls
A recall applies to the appliances listed in its notice, not every product made by a brand. In September 2025, for example, RappelConso published a notice for certain Brandt built-in microwaves due to a fire risk.
Keep the model number and serial number, check RappelConso notices and follow the instructions that apply to your exact appliance.
A few models from well-known brands
These models are examples of the features and dimensions you can compare; their specifications don’t apply to every model from the same brand.
Samsung
The MS23K3513AS/EF is an example of a freestanding solo microwave for reheating and defrosting.
- Samsung lists a 23 L capacity and external dimensions of 489 × 275 × 374 mm for this model.
- Ventilation clearances depend on the model number, so check its manual rather than relying on a general guide.
Whirlpool
The MWP203SB is an example of a freestanding model with both microwave and grill functions.
- Whirlpool lists a 20 L cavity and dimensions of 45,2 × 26,2 × 36,3 cm for this model.
- Whirlpool says the MWP203SB is no longer in its catalogue. Check the specifications of any other model you’re considering.
Panasonic
The NN-C69KSM shows how much space to allow for a combi microwave with convection.
- Panasonic lists a quartz grill, convection from 40 °C and from 100 to 220 °C, and a 30 L capacity for this model.
- With dimensions of 520 × 327 × 520 mm and a stated weight of 22,2 kg, this model needs a suitable space and supporting surface.
Microwaves to explore on Joybuy
These solo and grill models suit the reheating, defrosting and browning needs covered here. If you also want convection cooking, check that the model you’re considering specifically includes this function.
Image unavailable
Beko MGC20100B1 with grill, 20 L, 700 W
Worth considering if you want a grill as well as a microwave. The stated capacity is 20 L. Check the ventilation clearances in the manual, and confirm it has convection if your recipes need it.
Image unavailable
COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK), 20 L, 700 W
For reheating and defrosting with digital controls. The product name lists six pre-set menus and 11 power levels. Check the turntable size, ventilation and electrical requirements before deciding where to put it.
Image unavailable
Electrolux EMZ725MMTI with grill, 25 L, 900 W
The grill is useful if you want to brown dishes as well as reheat food. This freestanding model is listed with a 25 L capacity. Measure the space you have and check separately for convection if you want to cook oven-style dishes.
Image unavailable
Samsung MS23K3513 solo, 23 L
One to consider for reheating and defrosting if you don’t need a grill. Check the dimensions and ventilation clearances in the manual for this exact model before choosing where to put it.
Image unavailable
Heinrich’s solo, 20 L, 700 W
For reheating and defrosting, with a stated 30-minute timer and six power levels. Before installation, check the clearances specified in the manual and the electrical requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Which microwave should I choose if I only want to reheat and defrost food?
A freestanding solo model is suitable for these tasks if you don’t need to brown dishes or cook them as you would in an oven. Then check that your plates fit inside and that the space you’ve chosen meets the instructions in the manual.
When is a model with a grill useful?
A grill is useful if you also want to brown or grill certain dishes. It doesn’t replace convection on its own, so check the cooking modes on the model you’re considering.
Can a combi microwave with convection replace an oven in a studio flat?
It can handle some oven-style cooking if its modes and temperatures suit your recipes. Before making it your main cooking appliance, also check its dimensions and weight, the stability of the surface it’ll stand on and the ventilation clearances.
How much space should I leave around a freestanding microwave?
Follow the clearance instructions in the manual for the model you’ve bought. Samsung gives 10 cm at the back and sides and 20 cm above as a general guide, but notes that requirements vary between appliances.
How can I check whether my microwave has been recalled?
Compare its model number and serial number with the appliances listed in the RappelConso notice, then follow the instructions given for those products. A recall covering specific models doesn’t automatically apply to every model from that brand.