For student accommodation or a second home, choose a solo microwave if you’ll mainly be reheating and defrosting; a grill model is useful for browning food now and then. Consider a combination microwave with a fan oven if you also want to cook regularly without a separate oven. In every case, check the space available, the size of your dishes and which modes are suitable for your cookware.
You mainly use your microwave to reheat and defrost food in student accommodation or a home you only occupy occasionally. A solo model may suit your needs, as long as its dimensions and interior fit your space and the dishes you use.
You prepare simple meals but sometimes want to brown the top without installing a separate oven. A grill model gives you this option, but that doesn’t mean it also offers fan-assisted cooking.
You want to cook more regularly in a second home or small property. Look for the cooking functions listed for the combination model you’re considering, and bear in mind its size and controls.
Start with the meals you actually make: reheating, browning and oven-style cooking call for different functions.
| What you need | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Reheat food without taking up too much space | Compare the external dimensions and interior size with your available space and dishes; allow for the clearances specified in the instruction manual. | If you mainly reheat meals and defrost food in a studio flat, a model that fits easily matters more than extra cooking modes. Around 50% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Brown food occasionally | Check that it has a grill and consult the manual to see which dishes or accessories are suitable for each mode. | If you want to brown a dish from time to time, you may want to keep the functionality of a solo microwave while adding a grill. This would be the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Cook without a separate oven | Confirm that it has a fan oven or convection function, then check the model’s dimensions and electrical specifications. | If your second home has no oven or you rarely use it, you may want to rely on your microwave for regular cooking, not just reheating or browning. Around 20% of consumers would put this option first. |
The interior capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance needs. For example, LG France lists dimensions of 454 × 261 × 328 mm for its 20 L MS2032GASW solo model.
Measure the width, height and depth, then check the door clearance and ventilation gaps required in the instruction manual for your chosen model.
A grill can brown food, but its presence doesn’t mean the appliance has the fan-assisted function needed for recipes that require this cooking mode.
If you regularly make meals that need oven-style cooking, check that the combination model explicitly lists a fan oven or convection function.
Anses recommends checking that containers used in a microwave are suitable and in good condition, and advises against reusing single-use packaging.
Use a container in good condition that the manufacturer says is suitable. Also follow the food packaging guidance on time and power, as well as the appliance manual.
LG France lists solo, grill and combination models, making it useful for comparing different sizes and functions.
Whirlpool France distinguishes between solo, grill and combination microwave uses, and lists models designed to sit on a worktop.
Samsung France’s guide distinguishes between solo, grill and combination appliances to help you choose the right functions.
These models are suited to reheating and defrosting in a small home; some also have a grill for browning food occasionally. Measure the available space before choosing, even if the interior capacity is modest.
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For reheating and defrosting, with the option to brown a dish now and then. The product title lists a 20 L capacity and 700 W microwave power; check the manual to see which containers are suitable for grill mode.
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A solo model to consider if reheating and defrosting matter more to you than browning. The product title lists 700 W, 6 preset menus and 11 power levels; check that your dish fits inside.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat, defrost and use a grill. The product title lists a freestanding 21 L appliance with 800 W of power; measure your available space carefully and check the manual for suitable modes and containers.
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For reheating or defrosting meals, with the option to brown some dishes too. Its stated 25 L capacity makes it worth checking the space available; consult the model’s manual for its electrical specifications and grill use.
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A straightforward option for reheating and defrosting without choosing a grill. The product title lists a 23 L capacity and quick defrost function; check the size of the dish you use, the plug and the installation clearances required.
Yes, if those are your main uses. Still, check that the interior can fit your dishes and that the external dimensions suit the space you have in mind.
Not for every type of cooking: the grill is for browning food. If your recipes need fan-assisted cooking, look for this function specifically on a combination model.
Choose a container in good condition that its manufacturer says is suitable. For grill and combination modes, follow the appliance manual too: a dish that’s suitable for microwave mode won’t necessarily be suitable for every other mode.
Anses advises against reusing this type of packaging as a microwave container. When reheating food, follow the time and power guidance on its packaging, as well as the appliance manual.
Check the voltage, frequency, plug type and electrical power listed for your chosen model, then follow the installation instructions in its manual. You can’t work these out from the capacity in litres alone.