If you mainly want to reheat and defrost food, a solo microwave is usually enough. Choose one with a grill if you regularly brown dishes, or a combi model if you also need oven-style cooking. UFC-Que Choisir describes combi microwaves as more expensive, and their extra functions are only useful if you plan to use them. Before choosing, check the external dimensions, ventilation clearance and usable space inside the cavity.
If you mainly reheat portions and defrost food in a small kitchen, a solo model may suit your needs without adding functions you won’t use. UFC-Que Choisir lists student accommodation as one setting where microwaves are used.
If you also reheat dishes that you’d like to brown, consider a model with a grill. Having a grill does not, on its own, mean the appliance offers oven-style cooking.
If you also prepare oven-style recipes, a combi model may be worth considering, provided you have enough space and check the cooking modes listed for the exact model you’re looking at.
Choose this if: you mainly reheat, defrost and prepare simple meals, or already have access to an oven.
Bear in mind: the solo models mentioned don’t add a grill or fan-assisted cooking; check the space available for the appliance and your dishes.
Choose this if: you reheat food every day and brown dishes often enough to use this function.
Bear in mind: a grill doesn’t guarantee that a model has fan-assisted cooking; check the cooking modes for the exact model.
Choose this if: you don’t have a usable oven and regularly want to prepare recipes that need oven-style cooking.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir describes combi models as more expensive; check the space they’ll take up, the cooking modes and any accessories you’ll need.
For student accommodation or a small home, capacity in litres isn’t the only thing that matters. Compare the appliance and cavity dimensions with the space available and the dishes you use.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check that the model is a solo microwave and offers the functions you need; also look at the appliances already provided in your accommodation. | If I mainly reheat portions and defrost food, I’d rather not give up space for a grill I’ll rarely use. Around 33% of consumers prioritise straightforward reheating. |
| Overall size and usable dimensions | Measure the space and your usual dishes; compare the external dimensions, cavity, turntable and clearances specified in the manual. | In a small kitchen, I want to make sure the appliance, dishes and ventilation space will all fit. Around 27% of consumers put size at the top of their list. |
| Browning dishes | Check that the exact model has a grill mode and that its cooking modes suit the dishes you prepare. | If I want to brown some meals, I’ll look for a grill without assuming it will replace an oven. Around 20% of consumers prioritise browning. |
| Oven-style cooking | Confirm that it has fan-assisted or convection cooking, and check the appliance dimensions and any accessories needed. | Without a usable oven, I want to be able to prepare some oven-style recipes while keeping an appliance that suits my kitchen. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this use. |
Capacity alone won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop, whether its vents will remain clear or whether your usual dish will fit inside the cavity.
Measure the space and the dish you use most often. Compare the external and internal dimensions, along with the turntable dimensions if provided, then check the model’s manual for installation instructions.
An appliance that’s too large for its space or too narrow for your dishes may not suit your everyday needs.
The specifications for the Electrolux EMZ725MMK list microwave, grill and microwave + grill modes, while the Whirlpool MCP349WH lists fan-assisted cooking. Functions vary between models.
If you want to prepare oven-style recipes, check that the exact model you’ve chosen explicitly lists the relevant cooking mode.
For furnished accommodation covered by the French decree, the minimum list of required equipment includes an oven or microwave oven. Légifrance sets out this requirement in Decree No. 2015-981.
Check the inventory and choose an appliance based on the meals you can’t prepare with the equipment already provided.
The MCP341WH and MCP349WH are examples of a solo model and a freestanding combi model respectively.
The freestanding EMZ725MMK is an example of a microwave with a grill.
The MS2032GASW and MH6535GDR are examples of a solo model and a model with a grill respectively.
This selection includes solo microwaves for reheating and defrosting, as well as models with a grill for browning meals. Compare the listed dimensions with your available space and the dishes you use.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting in a small kitchen.
20 L capacity, 700 W power and six power levels.
9.6-inch turntable, 30-minute timer and defrost function.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat and defrost, with the option to brown dishes.
23 L capacity, 900 W power and a 27 cm turntable.
Microwave, grill and combination modes; listed dimensions: 48.2 × 28 × 32.1 cm.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting, with a grill function for browning dishes.
25 L capacity and 1000 W power.
This model is listed as having a quartz grill and automatic programmes with weight control.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting, with a grill for browning dishes.
25 L capacity and 1000 W power.
Listed dimensions: 47 × 26 × 37 cm; this model is listed with an EasyClean interior coating.
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Worth considering for reheating and defrosting if a countertop model suits your space.
20 L capacity, 700 W power and six power levels.
This model is listed with a Ready2Clean interior coating.
Not necessarily. For furnished accommodation covered by the French decree, the minimum list of required equipment includes an oven or microwave oven. Légifrance sets out this rule in Decree No. 2015-981; check the accommodation inventory before buying.
Measure the space you have in mind and check the manual for the exact model’s installation instructions. Whirlpool recommends keeping the ventilation grilles clear; this general guidance doesn’t specify a clearance that applies to every model.
In France, you can claim under the statutory guarantee of conformity from the professional seller if goods don’t match their description. The Ministry of the Economy states that this covers new, used and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual, and specifies a two-year period in which to make a claim.
The FAQ from the Ministry for Ecological Transition describes a “one-for-one” take-back when you buy an appliance of the same type. Take-back without a purchase depends, among other things, on the sales area of the shop. Check the take-back options available for your purchase.
Follow the model’s manual for cleaning and keep the ventilation grilles clear. Don’t assume that a cleaning function listed for one model is available on every model from the same brand.