For everyday reheating and defrosting in a studio flat, choose a freestanding standard microwave if the appliance, your dishes and the ventilation clearances it needs will all fit in the available space. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a model with a grill can also brown food. If you want to cook using fan-assisted heat without a separate oven, consider a combination microwave instead, and check its overall dimensions.
If you mainly want to reheat and defrost food, measure the space for the freestanding appliance and make sure there’s room for your dishes too. A model’s external dimensions, such as those published by Panasonic France, don’t tell you on their own whether your plate will fit inside.
You reheat meals every day, but would also like to brown a gratin or some toast now and then. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes microwaves with a grill from standard models for this purpose.
If you also want to cook using fan-assisted heat, check that a combination microwave offers this mode. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes it from a grill-only function; also measure how much space this versatile appliance will take up.
First decide whether you only need to reheat food, want to brown it too, or need to cook using fan-assisted heat. Then check that your chosen model suits both your dishes and the space where you plan to put it.
Choose this: for reheating and defrosting, when you don’t need oven-style cooking.
Bear in mind: it won’t brown food or cook using fan-assisted heat.
Choose this: if you’d like to brown a dish now and then, as well as reheat food.
Bear in mind: a grill on its own doesn’t replace a fan-assisted cooking function, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Choose this: if you don’t have a conventional oven and also plan to use fan-assisted heat.
Bear in mind: this function may need more room, so check the dimensions of the specific model.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and dish size | Measure the space and the clearance needed for the door; compare your dishes with the external dimensions, cavity size and turntable diameter. | In a small kitchen, I want the appliance to fit on the worktop without stopping me from using my usual dishes. Around 40% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the controls and defrost function; the stated power rating alone doesn’t tell you how evenly food will heat. | For my everyday meals, I prefer easy-to-use controls and the option to defrost food. Around 30% of consumers would make this simplicity their priority. |
| Cooking without a separate oven | Look for a grill if you want to brown food, but check for an explicit fan-assisted cooking mode if you want to cook as you would in an oven; also check the overall dimensions. | Without a conventional oven, I’d like to be able to prepare more than just reheated meals in the same appliance. Around 30% of consumers would put this versatility first. |
The stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that the microwave will fit in its space or that your dish will fit inside the cavity. External dimensions, internal dimensions and turntable size each tell you something different.
Measure the space and your largest dish, then compare these measurements with the dimensions of the model you’re considering.
Whirlpool France says the ventilation openings must not be blocked, as poor ventilation can cause the appliance to overheat.
Keep the openings clear and follow the clearance guidance in the instructions for your chosen model, as well as measuring its casing.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a microwave with a grill can brown food, while a combination model may also offer fan-assisted cooking.
If you plan to cook oven-style dishes, check that the fan-assisted mode is explicitly listed rather than relying on the word ‘grill’ alone.
These manufacturers’ examples are useful for comparing specific sizes and functions, but shouldn’t be taken as representative of every model they make.
Panasonic France features standard, grill and combination microwaves, making it useful for comparing all three types.
Whirlpool France features freestanding models with grills, as well as combination microwaves with fan-assisted heat.
Samsung France lists the MS23K3614AW as a standard 23 L microwave.
Electrolux France features the freestanding EMZ421MMK microwave with grill, among other models.
These models are suited to reheating and defrosting in a small kitchen; some can also brown food. If you need to cook using fan-assisted heat, check that the model you’re considering has this function rather than assuming a grill will do the same job.
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This model with a grill suits everyday reheating and defrosting, with the option to brown food from time to time.
The product title lists a capacity of 20 L and a power rating of 700 W. Compare your dishes with the cavity size and check the instructions to make sure the appliance can be installed with its ventilation unobstructed; a grill alone doesn’t confirm that it can cook using fan-assisted heat.
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If you mainly want to reheat and defrost food, this freestanding model suits your needs without making browning a deciding factor.
The product title lists a capacity of 20 L and a power rating of 700 W. Check that your dishes will fit inside the cavity and that the space meets the ventilation guidance in the instructions.
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If you want to switch between reheating, defrosting and browning food now and then, consider this grill model in light of the space you have available.
The product title lists a capacity of 25 L and a power rating of 1000 W. Check the usable dimensions and installation guidance; a grill doesn’t confirm that the microwave has a fan-assisted cooking mode.
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For reheating and defrosting portions in a small kitchen, compare this standard model with the size of your dishes and the space you have available.
The product title lists a power rating of 700 W, five power levels, a defrost function, a 30-minute timer and a 245 mm turntable. Also check the external dimensions and the clearances specified in the instructions.
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If reheating and defrosting matter more to you than browning food, this standard model is one to consider.
The product title lists a capacity of 23 L and a power rating of 1150 W, but doesn’t specify here what that power figure refers to. Compare your dishes with the usable dimensions and check the required clearances before installation.
Compare your largest dish with the cavity dimensions and, if the appliance has a turntable, its diameter too. Capacity in litres doesn’t replace these measurements: for example, Electrolux France lists a cavity measuring 303 × 316 × 218 mm for its EMZ421MMK model.
Only if the model’s instructions allow it and you can leave the required ventilation clearances. Whirlpool France recommends keeping the ventilation openings unobstructed; remember to leave enough room to open the door, too.
A grill can brown food, but it isn’t enough to provide fan-assisted cooking. If you want to make oven-style recipes without a separate appliance, look for an explicitly stated fan-assisted mode on a combination microwave, in line with the distinction made by UFC-Que Choisir.