Choose a solo microwave if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food. A model with a grill is worth considering if you’d also like to brown the top of a dish from time to time. A combination microwave could be the right choice if you also want to cook using convection without installing a separate oven. Whichever type you choose, measure the space available, allowing for the door to open and the clearances specified in the model’s instructions.
If these two tasks make up most of your meals in a studio flat or holiday home, a freestanding solo model keeps things simple, focusing on the functions you’ll actually use. Check that its controls and turntable also suit the dishes you use.
If you mostly reheat food but would sometimes like to brown the top of a dish, compare models with a grill. A grill doesn’t mean the appliance also has convection.
If your kitchen has limited equipment and you need more than just reheating, a combination microwave with an oven function can bring several uses together in one appliance. You’ll need to allow space for the appliance, its accessories and the clearances required for installation.
In a student kitchen or holiday home, start with the type of cooking you’ll actually do: a solo model covers reheating and defrosting, a grill adds browning, while a combination model with convection gives you more cooking options. Then compare how much space each appliance needs, not just the stated capacity of its cavity.
| Your needs | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Simple reheating and defrosting | Check the defrost settings, external dimensions and turntable size of a solo model. | I want to prepare everyday meals without having to learn how to use extra cooking modes. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this simplicity for reheating and defrosting. |
| Occasional browning | Check that it has a grill and see which accessories are included; don’t confuse this mode with convection. | When I reheat a dish, I’d sometimes like to brown the top without adding another appliance. Around 25% of consumers would put this browning function first. |
| Partly replacing an oven | Check the cooking modes, particularly convection, as well as the external dimensions and required clearances. | Without a conventional oven, I need to be able to cook more than just ready meals, and I’m happy to choose an appliance with more functions. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise these extra cooking options. |
A microwave’s dimensions don’t include the space needed around it for ventilation. A recess or wall unit could therefore prevent you from installing it as instructed, even if it fits on the worktop.
Measure the available space after allowing for the clearances required for your chosen model. Samsung gives general guidance of 10 cm at the back and sides and 20 cm above the appliance, while noting that requirements vary by model. Always follow the instructions for yours.
A grill can brown or crisp the top of a dish, but having one doesn’t provide the oven mode you need for other types of cooking.
If you’re looking to partly replace a conventional oven, make sure the model specifically has a convection function and check the cooking modes available on that exact model.
The cavity volume alone won’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up or what size dishes will fit inside.
Compare the width, height and depth, turntable diameter and the space needed to open the door before deciding where to put it.
A combination model brings several cooking modes together, but that doesn’t mean it will take up less space than a simpler model when installed.
Choose the functions you’ll genuinely need, then measure the appliance with its required clearances and make room to store any accessories you’ll use.
Samsung’s freestanding range includes solo, grill and combination microwaves, so compare the type of appliance you need rather than the brand alone.
Whirlpool’s freestanding range lets you compare grill models and combination microwaves according to the type of cooking you’re after.
Panasonic’s combination models are worth considering if you want microwave, grill and oven functions in one freestanding appliance.
An Electrolux model with a grill is worth comparing if you want to brown dishes but don’t necessarily need convection.
These models cover two uses: straightforward reheating and reheating with browning. If your priority is to partly replace an oven, check separately for a convection function. A grill alone won’t meet that need.
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Worth considering if you mainly want to reheat and defrost in a small kitchen.
The product name lists 700 W of power, six power levels and a 30-minute timer.
Before setting aside space for it, check the instructions for the ventilation clearances and electrical requirements for your installation.
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This model with a grill is suited to reheating and occasional browning.
The product name lists a 21 L capacity and 800 W of microwave power.
If you want to cook as you would in an oven, check the available modes rather than assuming the grill means it has convection. Also consult the instructions for installation and electrical requirements.
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This freestanding model is for anyone who wants to reheat food and brown dishes, with a stated cavity capacity of 25 L.
Its name lists 900 W of microwave power and Inverter technology.
The grill alone doesn’t confirm that it has convection. Check the exact modes, clearances and electrical requirements in the model’s documentation.
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Worth comparing for reheating and defrosting in a kitchen where space is limited.
The product name lists 700 W, six pre-set menus and eleven power levels.
Check that your dishes fit on the turntable, then consult the documentation for the clearances and electrical requirements for installation.
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This solo model is worth considering if you mainly reheat and defrost food.
The product name lists a 23 L capacity, quick defrost and an integrated display.
Measure the space and check the clearances in this model’s instructions. Samsung’s general guidance doesn’t replace its specific installation requirements.
Allow for the clearances specified in the model’s instructions, as well as its external dimensions. As general guidance, Samsung recommends at least 10 cm at the back and sides and 20 cm above the appliance, but notes that these distances can vary by model.
A grill can meet your needs for browning dishes, but it doesn’t on its own replace a convection oven mode. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes combination microwaves by their wider range of cooking functions. If you want to cook more than just reheat and brown food, check the modes available on the model you’re considering.
No. Capacity describes the cavity, not the total space you’ll need in a studio flat. Compare the external dimensions, turntable, door opening and ventilation clearances. For example, Electrolux lists dimensions of 262 × 442 × 345 mm for its 21 L EMZ421MMK, before allowing for the space needed around the appliance.