In a small kitchen without an oven, choose a solo microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost food, a grill model if you’d also like to brown dishes occasionally, or a combi microwave if you plan to cook regularly using an oven function. If oven-style cooking matters more to you than quick reheating, consider a mini oven too. Whichever you choose, check the dimensions, door clearance and installation instructions for your chosen model.
In a studio flat, student accommodation or holiday home, you’re mainly looking to reheat meals and defrost food. UFC-Que Choisir lists student accommodation and holiday homes among the settings where microwaves are used.
You reheat most of your meals but occasionally prepare a dish that needs browning. A microwave with a grill is worth comparing with a solo model, but don’t assume it can handle everything an oven can.
If you’ll be without an oven for a while and want to cook oven-style dishes too, look at the functions offered by a combi microwave or mini oven. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes combi models by their additional cooking functions; remember to check how much space each model needs.
Start with the meals you’ll actually prepare: reheating, browning and oven cooking require different functions. The space available can then help you choose between appliances suited to the same purpose.
Choose this if: reheating and defrosting make up most of what you’ll use it for.
Bear in mind: it doesn’t have a grill for browning or an oven function for your recipes.
Choose this if: you reheat food often and would like to brown dishes now and then.
Bear in mind: having a grill doesn’t guarantee cooking performance comparable to an oven.
Choose this if: you plan to use an oven function regularly as well as the microwave.
Bear in mind: check its dimensions and specific functions rather than relying on the word ‘combi’ alone.
Consider this if: oven cooking is more important to you than quick reheating.
Bear in mind: it doesn’t have a microwave function, and you’ll need to consider where to put it and how hot its outer surfaces can get.
| What you need | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check that it has a defrost function and that the usable dimensions suit your dishes. | If you mainly prepare leftovers or meals to reheat, you’ll want to use them without paying for cooking functions you don’t need. Around 37% of consumers may prioritise this requirement. |
| Occasional browning | Look for a clearly listed grill function and check that the capacity suits your dishes. | You want to brown a dish from time to time, without planning to bake or cook in an oven regularly. Around 18% of consumers may prioritise this requirement. |
| Oven-style cooking | For a combi microwave, check whether it has a fan-assisted or fan cooking mode; compare the functions of a mini oven too. | If you’ll be without an oven for a long time, you may want to prepare recipes that regularly need an oven function. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise this type of cooking over reheating or browning alone. |
| Finding a place for the appliance | Measure the width, height and depth, and allow for the door to open. Follow the instructions for positioning, clearances and connection. | If your worktop or cabinet space limits your options, first find an appliance that can be installed in line with its instructions. Around 18% of consumers may prioritise whether the appliance will fit its intended space. |
Extra functions won’t be much use if you mainly need to reheat or defrost meals. UFC-Que Choisir describes combi models as more expensive than basic models.
Make a note of the meals you usually prepare before choosing between a solo, grill or combi model.
An alcove or enclosed cabinet may not be suitable for an appliance designed to stand freely. Bosch, for example, says that its FFL023M and FFL053M models are not intended to be installed or used in built-in cabinets.
Check the instructions for your model and choose an appliance designed for the type of installation you have in mind.
The internal capacity tells you neither how much worktop space the appliance will take up nor how much room you’ll need to open the door. For example, Whirlpool lists a depth of 49,4 cm for its 25 L MCP349WH combi microwave.
Measure the space, then allow for the clearances specified in the instructions.
In tests of mini ovens and rotisseries published in 2010, UFC-Que Choisir reported high temperatures on the sides, top and glass of appliances while in use.
If you’re considering this type of appliance, choose a position in line with the manufacturer’s instructions, taking into account the risk of accidental contact in a small kitchen.
Whirlpool offers freestanding combi microwaves that are worth considering if you want several cooking functions in one appliance.
Electrolux’s EMZ421MMK freestanding grill microwave is worth comparing if you want to brown dishes without going straight for a combi model with an oven function.
Samsung offers solo and combi models to compare, but their functions aren’t necessarily interchangeable.
These models are suited to reheating and defrosting, with a grill on some models for occasional browning. If you plan to cook regularly using an oven function, check the features of a combi microwave or compare a mini oven instead.
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Worth considering if you reheat meals and would also like to brown dishes occasionally. The title lists a capacity of 20 L and 700 W; check the instructions for the space needed for freestanding use and the connection requirements.
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Worth considering if you prioritise reheating and quick defrosting over browning. The title lists 1 150 W, while the model information distinguishes this rated input power from the microwave cooking power. Check both figures and the installation instructions before buying.
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Worth comparing if you want digital controls for reheating and defrosting. The title lists 700 W, 11 power levels and six preset menus; check the instructions for the clearances and connection requirements for your installation.
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Worth considering if you’d like a grill function alongside reheating and defrosting. The title lists 900 W; measure the space and check the instructions for this model’s installation and connection requirements.
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Worth comparing if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food using straightforward controls. The title lists six power levels and a 30-minute timer; check the dimensions and installation instructions before choosing a spot for it.
For the minimum list of equipment required in a furnished rental covered by the rules, Decree No. 2015-981, in force since 1 September 2015 and published on Légifrance, specifies an “oven or microwave oven”. This rule about the accommodation’s equipment doesn’t guarantee that a microwave will suit the way you cook, so choose its functions based on the meals you prepare.
Don’t assume that you can: installation depends on the model’s instructions. Bosch says that its FFL023M and FFL053M freestanding microwaves are not intended to be installed or used in built-in cabinets. Check the type of installation and the required clearances before choosing where to put it.
Check the voltage, current, total power and connection instructions for your chosen model, and don’t confuse power consumption with cooking power. For example, for the EMZ421MMK specifically, Electrolux France lists 230 V, 10 A and a total power of 1 270 W.
Look up the appliance’s exact model number before buying, then check that its instructions and support information answer your installation questions. Samsung France, for example, provides model-specific support pages for the solo MS32DG4504AG and combi MC32DG7646CK.