Students in studios or rooms with facilities
If you mainly reheat portions and defrost food, start by comparing freestanding solo models. Measure the space available before settling on a cavity capacity.
Which option is right for you?
UFC-Que Choisir lists student accommodation and second homes among the places where a microwave can come in handy. In these spaces, your meal plans and the room you have available will help you choose.
People staying in a second home
In a kitchen that’s only used occasionally, a solo model may be all you need for quick meals. Whether a grill or combination model is worthwhile depends on the dishes you actually plan to make there.
Small households without a convenient conventional oven
If you also need to brown food or cook with fan assistance, consider a combination model. Before relying on it for oven recipes, though, check its cooking modes, usable cavity dimensions and overall size.
What should you check before choosing?
Solo microwave
Choose this if: you mainly need to reheat and defrost food.
Limitation: it doesn’t offer a grill or fan-assisted cooking.
Grill microwave
Choose this if: you’d like to brown some dishes as well as reheat them.
Limitation: a grill alone doesn’t replace the fan-assisted cooking of a combination model.
Combination microwave
Choose this if: you’ll use convection to handle some of the cooking you’d usually do in an oven.
Limitation: its extra functions are only useful if the dishes, accessories and settings suit your recipes.
| Criterion | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Space available | Compare the external width, height and depth with your available space, then check the ventilation clearances required in the instructions. Don’t rely on the stated capacity in litres alone. | I want to leave room to prepare meals and install the appliance in line with its instructions. |
| Cooking modes | Check the exact model for microwave, grill and, if needed, convection or fan-assisted cooking. Make sure its settings suit the dishes you prepare. | Will reheating be enough, or do I also need to brown food and cook as I would in an oven? |
| Size of your dishes | Compare the interior dimensions and turntable with your plates or dishes. For a combination model, also check which accessories are included and its convection temperature range. | I’d like my usual dishes to fit inside, especially if I plan to use it for oven-style cooking. |
| After-sales support | Check the documentation and service options for your chosen model. In France, the Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between the legal guarantee of conformity and any additional commercial guarantee. | I want to be able to find the instructions and know who to contact if the appliance develops a fault. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on capacity in litres alone
Capacity doesn’t tell you the appliance’s external dimensions or how much space it needs around it. Nor does it confirm that your dishes will fit inside the cavity.
Measure the space available, check the clearances in the instructions and compare the turntable and interior dimensions with the dishes you usually use.
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Buying a combination model just to reheat food
Fan-assisted cooking and the grill serve different needs from simply reheating food. If you don’t plan to use them, these modes won’t help with your everyday meals.
Make a note of the dishes you actually prepare: reheating and defrosting, browning, or oven-style cooking. Choose the functions you need based on that list.
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Confusing a grill with fan-assisted cooking
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a grill microwave lets you brown food, while a combination model adds fan-assisted cooking. So the word “grill” on its own doesn’t confirm that it has an oven function.
If you want to cook with fan assistance, look specifically for “convection” or “fan-assisted cooking” in the specifications for the exact model.
A few examples from well-known brands
These models illustrate different functions and sizes; their features aren’t representative of every model from the same brand.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool France’s product pages let you compare a freestanding solo microwave with a grill model, both listed at 20 L.
- The MWP201W is listed at 700 W, with external dimensions of 45,2 × 26,2 × 35 cm.
- The MWP203SB adds a grill rated at 1 000 W; this feature doesn’t confirm that it has convection cooking.
Samsung
The MC28H5015AW is an example of a freestanding combination model for anyone who wants grill and convection functions alongside reheating.
- Samsung France lists a 28 L capacity and microwave, grill and convection modes for this model.
- Before considering it for a small kitchen, compare its installation dimensions and interior space with your available space and dishes.
Panasonic
The NN-CT57RM is an example of a combination model for anyone who wants to use several cooking modes in one appliance.
- Panasonic France lists a 27 L capacity, adjustable convection from 30 to 220 °C, a 1 300 W quartz grill and included accessories for this model.
- Check the installation dimensions and the size of dishes it can accommodate before relying on its cooking functions.
Microwaves to consider on Joybuy
These models suit two of the needs covered here: reheating with a solo microwave, or adding a grill for browning food. If you’re looking for fan-assisted cooking, check specifically that the model you’re considering has this function.
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Beko MGC20100B1, 20 L grill microwave, 700 W, black
Worth considering if you’d like to add browning to reheating in a small home. Allow for the 10 cm clearance specified at the sides and rear, then check the instructions for the space needed above. If you expect it to cook like an oven, check separately whether it has convection.
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Electrolux EMZ421MMTI, 21 L freestanding microwave, 800 W, Titanium
Consider this if you want to reheat, defrost and use a grill in a freestanding appliance. Compare the stated external dimensions of 55 × 42 × 34 cm and the ventilation clearances with the space you have available. To cook with fan assistance, check that this model has a convection function.
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COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK), 20 L digital microwave, 700 W, black
For reheating or defrosting with digital settings, this model lists 11 power levels, six pre-set programmes and a defrost function. Compare its external dimensions of 440 × 319 × 259 mm with the space available; also check the turntable, interior space and installation clearances required.
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Heinrich's, 20 L solo microwave, 700 W
An option to compare if you mainly need to reheat and defrost food, with two dials instead of digital controls. The model lists six power levels and a 30-minute timer. Check its interior dimensions and ventilation clearances before deciding where to put it.
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Whirlpool MWP 101 W, 20 L microwave, 700 W
Worth comparing if you want to reheat portions without needing a grill function. Before installing it, allow for the 10 cm ventilation clearance required on each side and check that the turntable suits your dishes. If you need a dedicated defrost function, check this for the exact model.
Frequently asked questions
Can a combination microwave replace an oven in a small home?
It can handle some oven functions if the model has convection cooking and your dishes and accessories fit inside. UFC-Que Choisir says combination models can grill and cook with fan assistance; however, check the temperature range and interior dimensions before planning your recipes.
Is a 20 L microwave suitable for one person?
It may be suitable for reheating, defrosting and preparing simple meals, but a 20 L capacity doesn’t guarantee that your plates or dishes will fit inside. Measure the space available and check the interior dimensions and turntable diameter of the model you choose.
What does a grill microwave offer compared with a solo model?
The grill lets you brown some dishes as well as reheat food using microwaves. If you also want to cook with fan assistance, look specifically for that function: a grill alone doesn’t confirm that it’s available.
What guarantee applies to a new microwave bought from a retailer in France?
According to the Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to a new product for two years. During this period, consumers don’t have to prove that the fault existed on the date of sale. Any commercial guarantee is in addition to the legal guarantees and doesn’t replace them.
What should you do with an old microwave in France?
The ministry responsible for the environment lists three options for electrical equipment at the end of its life: a collection point or recycling centre, a retailer, or a social and solidarity economy organisation. Find the right option before replacing your appliance.