If you mainly reheat and defrost portions, a solo microwave does the job without adding unnecessary cooking functions. Choose a grill model if you’d also like to brown dishes. A combination microwave adds fan-assisted cooking for a more oven-like experience, provided you have room to install it and expect to use it regularly. Before you buy, measure the space and check your accommodation’s rules.
For portions, leftovers or frozen meals in a studio flat, start with a freestanding solo microwave. Then check its external dimensions and the space needed to open the door, rather than relying on the capacity alone.
If you also make toasted sandwiches or dishes you’d like to brown, a microwave with a grill adds this option to everyday reheating. However, according to UFC-Que Choisir’s buying guide, the grill does not provide the fan-assisted cooking of a combination microwave.
A combination microwave is worth considering if you expect to use its fan-assisted cooking regularly. Check its depth, the clearances specified in the manual and the rules for your accommodation before making room for it in your kitchenette.
Start with the meals you actually make, then check that the appliance and its installation requirements suit your kitchenette.
Consider this: if you want to reheat and defrost food without needing to brown dishes.
Trade-off: it has neither a grill nor fan-assisted cooking.
Consider this: if you’d sometimes like to brown dishes as well as reheat food.
Trade-off: a grill alone does not replace the fan-assisted cooking of a combination microwave, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Consider this: if you’ll use fan-assisted cooking regularly and have enough space.
Trade-off: check the dimensions of each model individually. ADEME and the Institut national de la consommation have found no clear efficiency advantage for combination microwaves over convection ovens across all dishes.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Compare the external width, height and depth with your worktop. Allow for the door to open and the clearances specified in the manual; capacity in litres isn’t enough to go on. | I want to keep space for preparing meals and install the appliance in line with its manual. |
| Functions | Look for microwave and defrost settings, then decide whether you’ll actually use the grill or fan-assisted cooking. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between a grill, which browns food, and a combination microwave, which adds fan-assisted cooking. | Will reheating leftovers be enough, or will I also brown dishes or cook regularly using fan-assisted heat? |
| Accommodation rules | Check the rules that apply to your accommodation. The Réseau des Crous guidelines allow microwaves in its residences, but prohibit hobs and other cooking appliances that are not provided. They also say not to use an extension block. | If I live in a residence, I want to know which appliance I can install and how to connect it before buying. |
| Containers and cleaning | Check which containers are suitable for each setting and the model’s cleaning instructions. UFC-Que Choisir explains that plastic suitable for microwave use should not automatically be used with the grill or convection setting. | I want to use my dishes with the setting I choose and clean the appliance after meals. |
The internal capacity won’t tell you whether the casing will fit on your worktop. For example, Electrolux France and Whirlpool France list dimensions of 442 × 262 × 345 mm for the 21 L Electrolux EMZ421MMK grill microwave, compared with 52 × 30,1 × 49,4 cm for the 25 L Whirlpool MCP349WH combination microwave.
Measure the space and allow for the clearances required in the manual for the model you’re considering.
Fan-assisted cooking is only a useful feature if you expect to use it. ADEME and the Institut national de la consommation highlight that the efficiency of combination microwaves varies by dish and model, with no clear advantage over convection ovens in every case.
Decide how you’ll use it first: a solo microwave for reheating and defrosting, a grill for browning, or a combination model if fan-assisted cooking meets a regular need.
The Réseau des Crous guidelines for its residences allow microwaves, but prohibit hobs and other cooking appliances that are not provided. The rules for your accommodation determine what you can install there.
Read your residence’s rules before considering a hob or another heating appliance. If it’s not clear whether they apply to your appliance, ask the accommodation manager to confirm.
According to UFC-Que Choisir’s advice, a plastic container suitable for microwave use may not be suitable for the heat of the grill or convection setting. You should not use a sealed container either.
Follow the instructions for the appliance and container for the setting you’re using, rather than assuming the same container is suitable for every function.
These manufacturer specifications offer practical examples of features and dimensions, but don’t represent the full range from each brand.
Electrolux France’s product specifications let you compare two freestanding grill microwaves in different sizes.
The MG23K3515AK/EF is an example of a grill microwave that lets you compare reheating, defrosting and browning features.
The MCP349WH is an example of a freestanding combination microwave for anyone planning to use fan-assisted cooking.
This selection includes solo microwaves for reheating and defrosting, as well as grill models for occasional browning. Compare their features with the meals you usually make and check they’ll fit in your kitchenette.
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For reheating and defrosting portions without the need for a grill. The product name lists six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a turntable. Check the ventilation clearances in the manual before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering if you’d like to brown dishes as well as reheat food. Measure the space around the appliance and read the manual before installing it, especially for guidance on clearances and which containers are suitable for each setting.
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Consider this if you want to reheat food and use a grill, provided it fits your worktop. If you want to cook as you would in an oven, check for a convection function: a combination cooking setting alone doesn’t confirm that it has one.
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For reheating and browning food, if there’s room for it in your kitchenette. Check the clearances required in the manual. If you need oven-style cooking, check separately for a fan-assisted function.
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An option for reheating and defrosting when these are more important than browning. Before buying, compare its dimensions with your worktop and check the manual for the space needed around the appliance.
Yes. The Réseau des Crous guidelines for its residences allow microwaves, while prohibiting hobs and other cooking appliances that are not provided. Check the rules for your residence before installing one.
Choose a capacity that suits the dishes you use, then check the external dimensions and required clearances. For example, Electrolux France lists freestanding models with capacities of 21 L and 25 L that have different dimensions. Capacity alone won’t tell you whether an appliance will fit on your worktop.
The grill lets you brown or crisp dishes, but it doesn’t provide the fan-assisted cooking of a combination oven, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. If you want to cook using this setting, check that the model you’re considering has it and that you have enough room to install it.
Not necessarily. According to UFC-Que Choisir, plastic suitable for microwave use may not be suitable for the grill or convection setting. Check the instructions for both the container and appliance for each setting, and don’t use a sealed container.