For reheating and defrosting meals in a studio flat or holiday home, a solo microwave is all you need. Choose one with a grill if you also want to brown or crisp food from time to time. A combination microwave is worth considering if you plan to cook dishes using oven-style heat and have enough room for it. Whatever you choose, measure the available space and allow for the clearances specified in the model’s instructions.
In a small home, the meals you plan to make and the space you actually have matter more than the number of features listed.
If you have limited worktop space and mostly prepare single portions, start by measuring the spot where you plan to put your microwave. Then check how much room you need for ventilation, opening the door and fitting your usual plates inside.
If you only visit occasionally and mainly need to reheat and defrost food, a solo model may do the job without adding extra cooking modes you won’t use. UFC-Que Choisir lists holiday homes as one of the settings where a microwave can be used.
If you also want to cook using fan-assisted heat, look for combination models that explicitly offer this mode. Compare their size and installation requirements before relying on one for this type of cooking.
First decide what you’ll actually cook, then check that a suitable appliance can be installed in your space and fit your dishes.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Compare the microwave’s external width, height and depth with the available space. Allow for the clearances specified in the instructions for the exact model, and keep its ventilation openings clear. | I have limited worktop space, so the door needs to open and the appliance must be properly ventilated. It’s not enough for it simply to fit in the measured space. |
| Cooking modes | A solo model is suitable for reheating and defrosting; a grill helps brown or crisp food. For oven-style cooking, look for a combination model that explicitly offers a fan-assisted mode. | Will I mainly reheat ready meals, or do I also want to brown or crisp food? If I don’t have an oven, I need to be clear about what I expect my microwave to cook. |
| Space for dishes | Compare the capacity in litres with the cavity dimensions and, if the appliance has a turntable, its diameter. Also check which dishes are suitable for each mode you plan to use. | My usual plates and dishes need to fit, without me having to choose a large cavity I don’t need. |
The cavity capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the microwave will take up or how much room you need to leave around it.
Measure the available width, height and depth, then check the clearance requirements in the instructions for the model you’re considering.
Fan-assisted heat won’t add anything if you only plan to reheat or defrost meals, while you’ll still need to allow for the combination microwave’s size.
Make a list of a few meals you’ll actually cook. Compare a solo model if reheating is your main priority, one with a grill if you want to brown food, and a combination model if you’ll use it for oven-style cooking.
Whirlpool France advises against blocking the ventilation openings. The clearance needed around an appliance depends on the model: the instructions for the Schneider SCMWN20SMG/SCMWN20SMW specify 30 cm above the appliance and 20 cm between the oven and each wall.
Don’t apply these distances to another model. Follow its own installation instructions and keep objects away from its ventilation openings.
These examples can help you compare different types of appliance; they don’t indicate which models are available from any particular retailer.
The range mentioned includes the 20 L solo MWP201SB and the 25 L combination MCP349WH, according to Whirlpool France’s product specifications.
The FEL023MS2 is listed in Bosch France’s range of freestanding microwaves with a grill.
Samsung France separates its freestanding microwaves into solo, grill and combination ranges.
These freestanding models are suited to reheating and defrosting in a small home; some also offer the option of grilling. Check the modes available on each model before choosing.
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Worth considering if you’d like to brown or crisp food occasionally, as well as reheat and defrost. The turntable is listed as 245 mm across, so check it against your dishes and refer to the instructions for all installation clearances.
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For reheating or defrosting meals without needing a grill. The model is listed with 6 power levels and a 30-minute timer; check its instructions to see how much space you’ll need for installation.
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An option for reheating and defrosting if you’re looking for a 23 L cavity. The product details list a 28.8 cm turntable; check the size of your dishes and the clearances specified in the instructions.
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Worth a closer look if you’d like to brown food occasionally as well as reheat and defrost: check which modes are available and what dishes can be used with each one. Before measuring the space, confirm the order in which the listed width, height and depth are given.
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For reheating or defrosting, with a listed cavity capacity of 25 L. If you also want a grill, check that it’s included on the model being offered: the product name describes this as a solo model. Check the order of the dimensions and the clearances in the instructions before installing it.
Follow the instructions for the model you’ve bought: there isn’t one clearance that applies to every appliance. For example, the instructions for the Schneider SCMWN20SMG/SCMWN20SMW specify 30 cm above the appliance and 20 cm between the oven and each wall.
A grill can brown or crisp food, but having one doesn’t mean the appliance can cook like an oven. If that’s what you need, look specifically for a combination model with fan-assisted or convection cooking, and check the modes available on the model you’re considering.
Don’t assume a freestanding model is suitable for a closed cupboard. Check the permitted installation method and the clearances in its instructions. Whirlpool France, for example, gives separate installation guidance for freestanding and built-in appliances.