For a student studio, a standard microwave is a straightforward choice for reheating and defrosting. Choose one with a grill if you also want to brown some dishes, or consider a combination model with a fan oven if you cook regularly but don’t have an oven. Whichever type you choose, measure the space available and check the model’s manual for its dimensions, electrical requirements and ventilation clearances before buying.
If you mainly use your microwave to reheat and defrost food and prepare simple meals, start by comparing freestanding standard models. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes these from models with a grill or combination functions. The extra features are most useful if they suit the meals you make.
If you sometimes make gratins or toasted sandwiches that you’d like to finish until golden, a model with a grill meets a need that’s different from reheating. Check which modes the appliance offers: having a grill doesn’t necessarily mean it also has a fan oven.
If your studio doesn’t have an oven, a combination model is worth considering if your recipes regularly call for other cooking modes. Check that the model you’re considering has a fan oven, then make sure its size and installation requirements suit your kitchen.
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between standard microwaves, models with a grill and combination models. Whichever option you choose, you’ll still need to check that you have enough space.
Choose this if: you mainly need to reheat and defrost food and cook simple meals.
Bear in mind: this option doesn’t include a grill for browning dishes or oven-style cooking modes.
Choose this if: you’d also like to give some dishes a golden finish.
Bear in mind: a grill on its own doesn’t replace the cooking modes of a fan oven.
Consider this if: you don’t have an oven and regularly plan to make recipes that involve more than reheating.
Bear in mind: the exact functions vary by model, and it will need to fit on your worktop.
| Consideration | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with the space available, allowing for the door to open. Check the model’s manual for ventilation and electrical requirements. | When worktop space is limited, I need to be able to open the door and install the appliance as instructed in its manual; around 36% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the available modes and compare the cavity dimensions with the dishes you usually use. | If I mainly need to reheat or defrost food, I’d rather choose based on these everyday needs; around 36% of consumers would put them first. |
| Occasional browning | Check that it has a grill, which modes use it and which accessories are permitted according to the manual. | To give a gratin or toasted sandwich a golden finish, I need a function that goes beyond simple reheating; around 21% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Cooking without an oven | Check specifically for a fan oven or convection mode, the available settings and the space required to install the model. | Without an oven, I want to regularly make recipes that require other cooking modes; this would be a priority for around 7% of consumers. |
The cavity capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up. Electrolux and Whirlpool product pages show that external dimensions differ between freestanding models.
Measure the available width, depth and height. Also check the door clearance, socket position and the clearances specified in the exact model’s manual.
As UFC-Que Choisir explains, a grill and combination functions add different uses to those of a standard microwave. If you don’t brown your food or use oven-style cooking modes, these functions may not meet a need you actually have.
Start with the meals you usually prepare: reheating and defrosting, finishing dishes under the grill or regularly cooking with a combination model’s modes.
An appliance’s dimensions alone don’t tell you how much ventilation clearance it needs. A space under a cupboard or against a wall must meet the requirements for the specific model you choose.
Read the manual before deciding where to put it, and check the clearances and electrical requirements listed there.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between the statutory guarantee of conformity, which applies to goods sold by a business to a private individual, and an optional commercial guarantee.
If you’re offered a commercial guarantee, compare what it covers with the statutory rights that apply to your purchase.
These examples of product ranges give you useful features to compare for a studio, without assuming that any particular model will be suitable for your home.
Electrolux offers freestanding microwaves with a grill, including the EMZ421MMK and Y4ZM25MMK featured on its French product pages.
The MWF259SG is an example of a freestanding combination microwave listed by Whirlpool France, with a stated capacity of 25 L.
These freestanding models are mainly for reheating and defrosting; some also have a grill for browning dishes. Compare their functions with the meals you usually make, then check that you have enough space and that the chosen model’s installation requirements suit your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food. Before choosing a spot for it, check the manual for the required clearances and the space needed to open the door.
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Consider this if you’d like to brown some dishes as well as reheat food. The model name specifies a grill; check the manual for the modes, permitted accessories and installation clearances.
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Worth comparing for simple meals and defrosting. Measure your worktop and check the VIO8 manual for ventilation and electrical requirements.
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Worth considering if you’d like digital controls for preparing simple meals. The product name lists six pre-set menus and eleven power levels; check the dimensions and installation instructions too.
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Worth considering if you want to compare the cooking modes available for browning some dishes. Check the model’s product page for its functions and microwave power, then check the manual for the required clearances.
Yes, if you mainly plan to reheat and defrost food and prepare simple meals. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes standard models from those with a grill or combination functions, so choose extra features based on the dishes you actually plan to make.
No. Capacity describes the cavity, not the external dimensions or the space needed to open the door. Measure your available space, then check the product page and manual for the model’s dimensions and ventilation clearances.
Clean accessible surfaces regularly, following the instructions for your appliance. Samsung advises against using abrasive products and solvents on its microwaves, and recommends keeping the door and its seals clean without allowing liquid to enter the ventilation openings.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and reconditioned goods sold by a business to a private individual. If the goods do not conform, contact the business that sold them to you; any commercial guarantee is separate from this statutory right.