For a student room or holiday home, choose a solo microwave if you’ll mainly be reheating and defrosting, and already have another way to cook. A grill model is useful if you occasionally want to brown food; a combination microwave is worth considering if you’d also like to cook some dishes in an oven-style way, provided you have enough space. Before buying, check the dimensions, the model’s installation instructions and, if you live in managed accommodation, whether personal appliances are allowed.
In a small home, the meals you plan to make and the other cooking appliances you have matter more than the stated capacity in litres alone.
If you mainly heat up simple meals and have access to a hob or shared kitchen, a basic freestanding model may be all you need. Before buying one for a room in managed accommodation, check with the manager whether personal appliances are allowed.
If you only use the kitchen occasionally, choose the functions to suit the meals you’ll prepare there. A combination microwave is only worthwhile if you also plan to use it for some oven-style cooking; if so, measure the available space carefully.
If you usually reheat meals but would sometimes like to brown or crisp them, a model with a grill can do the job. According to Que Choisir, the grill is used to brown food, while combination models offer additional oven-style cooking options.
First decide what you’ll need the appliance to cook, then check each model against the space available, the dishes you usually use and the instructions in its manual.
Choose this: for reheating and defrosting if you already have another appliance for other types of cooking.
Limitation: according to Que Choisir, a solo model won’t brown food or offer the fan-assisted cooking of a combination microwave.
Choose this: if you’d like to brown or crisp food occasionally, as well as reheat it.
Limitation: according to Que Choisir, a grill alone doesn’t provide the fan-assisted cooking of a combination microwave.
Choose this: if you don’t have an oven and regularly plan to cook dishes that need more than reheating or browning.
Trade-off: check the space and weight: the Whirlpool MCP349WH combination microwave measures 52 × 30,1 × 49,4 cm and weighs 18,6 kg, according to Whirlpool France.
| Consideration | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Functions | Check which modes are actually available: microwave, grill and, on some combination models, fan-assisted cooking. Que Choisir distinguishes browning with a grill from fan-assisted cooking. | I mainly reheat leftovers, or I’d also like to brown food and cook dishes that need oven-style cooking. |
| Location | Compare the appliance’s external width, height and depth with the space available. Check the model’s manual for clearance and connection requirements; Whirlpool France recommends a flat surface and unobstructed vents for a freestanding model. | My worktop or shelf needs to fit the appliance without blocking its ventilation. |
| Dishes and containers | Check the turntable diameter and the space inside the cavity, then check which utensils are suitable for each mode. The Electrolux manual says that packaging for a ready meal must be microwave-safe before it is placed inside. | My usual plates and dishes need to fit inside and be suitable for the mode I’ll use. |
| Cleaning and end of use | Check how easy it is to access the cavity and read the model’s cleaning instructions. If you no longer need the appliance, ADEME suggests options including donating it, reselling it, returning it to a shop or taking it to a recycling centre, depending on the circumstances. | I want to be able to clean the appliance after meals and know what to do with it when I leave the property. |
Capacity tells you neither the external dimensions nor the size of the turntable. For example, Whirlpool France lists the 20 L MWP201SB as 35 cm deep and the 25 L MCP349WH combination model as 49,4 cm deep.
Measure the space and your usual dishes, then check the dimensions, turntable and clearance requirements in the product details and manual for the model you’re considering.
Extra cooking functions won’t be useful if you only use the microwave for reheating and defrosting. Whirlpool France’s examples also show that the MCP349WH combination model takes up more depth than the basic MWP201SB.
Think about the meals you’ll actually make: choose a solo model for reheating and defrosting, a grill model for browning food, or a combination model if you’ll use its additional cooking modes.
Whirlpool France advises keeping the ventilation openings on a freestanding microwave clear. Just because an appliance fits inside a cupboard doesn’t mean it has the clearance required for safe installation.
Place it on a flat surface and follow the ventilation and connection instructions in the exact model’s manual before installing it.
In a student room or managed accommodation, the rules on using personal appliances may vary from one property to another.
Check with your landlord, accommodation provider or local CROUS before buying, especially if your room doesn’t have its own kitchenette.
These examples can help you compare specific configurations; the features of one model don’t necessarily apply to an entire brand.
Whirlpool France provides details of basic freestanding, grill and combination models.
Beko France offers freestanding microwaves without a grill, with a grill and with combination functions, in a range of capacities.
Samsung France offers freestanding models, including some with a grill.
Brandt provides details of freestanding grill microwaves, with dimensions you can compare against your available space.
These options include models described as suitable for reheating and defrosting, as well as models with a grill. To choose between the two, check the exact modes available on each model, especially if its name and description don’t match.
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Worth considering if you’d like to reheat meals and brown them occasionally. Check the manual to see which containers and accessories are suitable for grill mode, and read the installation instructions.
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If you’re considering this model for more than reheating, check the manual: its name describes it as a ‘solo’ model, but its description also mentions a grill. Confirm which modes and utensils are suitable before relying on it to brown food.
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Worth considering if you mainly need to reheat and defrost rather than brown food. Check the manual for the ventilation clearance and connection requirements.
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For reheating and defrosting without a stated grill function, this model offers 6 power levels and a 30-minute timer. Check the manual for connection and clearance requirements before deciding where to put it.
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This model has a defrost function and may suit you if you’d like digital controls: its title lists 11 power levels and 6 pre-set programmes. Check the turntable size and installation instructions against your dishes and the space you have in mind.
Yes, if you mainly plan to reheat and defrost food and have access to another appliance for additional cooking. Also check that the room’s rules allow you to use a personal appliance.
Choose a grill if you occasionally want to brown or crisp food; consider a combination model if you’d also like to cook dishes in an oven-style way and the model has the mode you need. Que Choisir distinguishes between these uses: a grill alone doesn’t offer fan-assisted cooking.
Measure the width, height and depth of the space, then compare these with the appliance’s external dimensions and the clearance specified in its manual. Also check that your dishes fit inside the cavity and on the turntable.
No: your container must be suitable for the mode you’re using. Que Choisir points out that not all plastics are microwave-safe; check the utensils table in the manual for grill and combination modes. The Electrolux manual also says that packaging for a ready meal must be microwave-safe before it is placed inside.
According to ADEME, electrical appliances can be donated, resold, returned to a shop or taken to a recycling centre. Choose the option that suits its condition and the local collection services available, rather than putting it in your household rubbish.