Choose a solo microwave if you mainly reheat and defrost quick meals. According to UFC-Que Choisir, the grill adds browning and gratinating, while a combi microwave is suitable when you also need to cover some of the functions of an oven, provided you are happy with an appliance that is often bulkier.
A compact, freestanding and easy-to-move appliance is ideal for reheating, defrosting and preparing a few simple meals in a small space. E.Leclerc states that a capacity of 15 to 25 L may suit a studio flat or shared accommodation, provided you check the worktop and ventilation.
The right choice depends on how often you need additional cooking functions: a solo model covers everyday reheating and defrosting, a grill is useful for browning, and a combi microwave can add oven-like cooking functions.
Available depth is just as important as capacity. Combi microwaves offer more cooking modes, but the examples supplied by Whirlpool, Valberg and Panasonic are deeper and sometimes heavier than simple 20 L models.
Choose it if: you mainly reheat, defrost and prepare simple portions without needing browning.
Good to know: a power rating of around 700 W is suitable for everyday tasks, but larger dishes may take longer.
Choose it if: you also want to brown or gratinate dishes without adding a separate appliance.
Good to know: the grill alone does not replace a fan oven.
Choose it if: not having an oven means you regularly need to cook as well as reheat and gratinate.
Good to know: additional functions can mean a deeper, heavier appliance that is more complex to set up.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Useful functions | Identify the modes you genuinely need: reheating and defrosting for a solo model, browning for a grill, and oven-style cooking for a combi microwave. Check the modes listed for the exact model. | I want to avoid paying for functions I will rarely use, while still having the option to cook or gratinate if the property has no oven. |
| Size | Measure the width, height and especially the depth, including the door. Also check the turntable diameter and the ventilation clearances specified in the manual. | My appliance must fit on the available worktop without blocking the ventilation openings or making my usual dishes unusable. |
| Power and controls | Distinguish between the microwave power and the grill or oven power. Compare power levels, defrost programmes and the type of controls. | For frequent meals or larger portions, I am looking for settings suited to my routine rather than simply choosing the highest power rating. |
| Installation and service | Check the manual for the plug, voltage, ventilation and permitted accessories. Keep your receipt and the model details. | I want to install the appliance correctly in a rented property and know who to contact if there is a fault. |
A combi microwave can take up considerably more space and weigh more than a solo model with a similar capacity. The Whirlpool MCP349WH, for example, is 49.4 cm deep and weighs 18.6 kg, compared with 35 cm and 12 kg for the Whirlpool MWP201SB, according to Whirlpool France.
Measure the space, door opening and required clearances, then compare the unpackaged dimensions and weight of the model you are considering.
The grill is used for browning or gratinating. A combi microwave can add oven-style cooking functions, such as fan-assisted cooking or convection, depending on the model.
If you only gratinate occasionally, a grill may be enough. To cook pizzas, cakes or other dishes regularly without an oven, check the modes, temperatures and accessories available with the combi microwave you are considering.
Two appliances with a similar capacity can differ in depth, turntable diameter, weight and external dimensions, affecting which dishes can be used and how much space is required.
At a minimum, compare the capacity, turntable diameter, external dimensions, depth and door-opening direction.
A commercial warranty is separate from the statutory guarantee of conformity. In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that this guarantee can be claimed for two years on a new or second-hand product bought from a professional seller.
Keep your receipt and model details, then read the terms of any paid extension before deciding whether it offers useful additional protection.
The freestanding microwave range includes solo, grill and combi models, making it possible to compare all three types of use in capacities from 20 to 25 L.
This brand offers freestanding grill and combi microwaves with specifications that can be compared for smaller homes.
Panasonic offers combi microwaves with fan-assisted cooking and a grill for people looking for a multifunction appliance rather than simple reheating.
These Joybuy options include solo and grill microwaves suited to quick meals, reheating, defrosting and, depending on the model, occasional gratinating in a small home.
Image unavailable
For reheating, defrosting and occasional gratinating without adding a separate appliance.
20 L, 700 W microwave, 800 W grill, nine levels, mechanical timer and 24.5 cm turntable. External dimensions: 45.2 × 35.3 × 26.2 cm.
The grill is designed for browning and gratinating; no fan-assisted cooking is specified. Allow at least 10 cm of clearance at the sides and rear.
Image unavailable
For more frequent reheating and defrosting in a home with a sufficiently deep worktop.
25 L, 900 W, 11 power levels, 28.8 cm turntable, touch controls and defrosting by weight or time. Dimensions: 485 × 293 × 410 mm.
The 410 mm depth and specified clearances require a suitable position. No fan-assisted cooking is advertised.
Image unavailable
For reheating, defrosting and gratinating in a 23 L appliance without adding extra equipment.
900 W microwave, 1,000 W grill, combination cooking, nine programmes, 27 cm turntable and dimensions of 48.2 × 28 × 32.1 cm.
Check the ventilation clearances in the manual before choosing where to place it. The grill provides browning, but no fan-assisted cooking function is specified.
Image unavailable
A practical choice focused on reheating and defrosting when worktop space is very limited.
20 L, 700 W, 11 power levels, six preset menus, express cooking, memory and defrosting by time or weight. Dimensions: 440 × 319 × 259 mm.
No grill or fan-assisted cooking function is specified. Consult the manual for ventilation clearances and electrical compatibility.
Image unavailable
For everyday portions that need reheating or defrosting in student accommodation or a second home.
20 L, 700 W, five power levels, six modes, 24.5 cm turntable and 30-minute timer. Dimensions: 45 × 35 × 26.5 cm.
No grill or fan-assisted cooking function is specified. Check the manual and the available socket before installation.
For a studio flat or shared accommodation, E.Leclerc states that a 15 to 25 L microwave may be sufficient. Also check the turntable diameter and internal dimensions if you use large plates or ready meals.
Not necessarily. The grill is used for browning or gratinating, while a combi microwave can add oven-style cooking functions, such as fan-assisted cooking or convection, depending on the model. If you regularly cook without an oven, check the available modes, temperatures and accessories carefully.
Measure the model’s width, height and especially its depth, then place it on a flat surface without obstructing the ventilation openings. Whirlpool France specifies an ambient temperature of 5 to 35 °C in its installation guidance; then consult the model’s manual for the precise clearances and electrical compatibility.
For a purchase from a professional seller, the statutory guarantee of conformity can be claimed for two years for new and second-hand goods, according to the Ministry of the Economy. A commercial warranty or paid extension may be added, but it does not replace it.
A microwave comes under the electrical and electronic equipment recycling scheme. The Ministry for Ecological Transition highlights the “one-for-one” take-back arrangements when buying a product of the same type and, depending on the shop’s terms, “one-for-zero” take-back without a purchase.