For reheating and defrosting in a small kitchen, choose a solo microwave; add a grill if you’d also like to brown or crisp food. A combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking is better suited to cooking without a full-sized oven, provided you have enough room for it. In every case, check the appliance’s external dimensions, the clearances specified in the manual and its power consumption.
You mainly prepare meals for one or two people and want a straightforward appliance for reheating food or defrosting. A solo model suits these needs, as long as its dimensions and ventilation requirements work for the space you have in mind.
Reheating is still your main use, but you’d also like to brown some dishes. A model with a grill gives you this option, but doesn’t offer fan-assisted cooking.
You want to switch between microwave, grill and convection cooking. A combination model can handle some of the jobs you’d usually use an oven for, provided its size and installation requirements suit your kitchen.
Que Choisir distinguishes between solo microwaves, models with a grill and combination models that can cook using fan-assisted heat. Start with the meals you actually prepare, then check that your chosen appliance can be installed in the space you have in mind.
Choose this if: you mainly want to reheat and defrost food.
Bear in mind: microwave-only cooking can’t brown or crisp food or cook using fan-assisted heat.
Choose this if: you’d sometimes like to brown or crisp a dish as well as reheat it.
Bear in mind: a grill on its own doesn’t replace a convection function.
Choose this if: not having an oven means you also need to cook dishes using convection.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to set aside enough room for the appliance and its ventilation.
| Feature | What to check before buying | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Space and everyday use | Measure the available width, depth and height; compare the appliance’s external dimensions, door opening and the clearances specified in the manual. | If I reheat and defrost food every day, I want an appliance that fits without making these everyday tasks more difficult. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Occasional browning or crisping | Check that it has a grill and whether the required rack is included; don’t assume that the word ‘grill’ means it has convection cooking. | I want a grill as well as a microwave so I can brown some dishes without needing to cook them in an oven. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Cooking without a full-sized oven | Look for an explicit reference to ‘convection’ or ‘fan-assisted cooking’, then check the appliance’s power consumption, electrical supply and installation instructions. | Without a full-sized oven, I also want to cook dishes using convection and need to be able to install the appliance correctly. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this use. |
The internal capacity won’t tell you whether the microwave will fit on your worktop, whether you’ll be able to open the door or whether air can circulate around it.
Measure the space, compare the external dimensions and follow the clearances specified in the appliance’s manual.
A grill is for browning or crisping food; it doesn’t, on its own, mean that the appliance can cook using convection.
If you plan to use it for some of the jobs you’d usually use an oven for, look specifically for ‘convection’ or ‘fan-assisted cooking’ in the model’s functions.
The microwave output in watts isn’t necessarily the same as the appliance’s power consumption. For example, Samsung’s product information for the MC28H5015CK/EF lists 900 W of microwave output and a power consumption of 1 400 W in microwave mode.
Check the product information or manual for the appliance you’re considering to confirm its electrical supply and power consumption before choosing where to put it.
The NN-E20JW is an example of a solo microwave to consider if reheating, defrosting and a compact size are your priorities.
The Samsung models featured here show the difference between a microwave with a grill and a combination model with several cooking modes.
The MWF259SG is another option if you’d like a grill and a cavity without a turntable.
These Joybuy models cover everyday reheating, grilling and, in the case of the combination model, convection cooking. Compare their features with the meals you usually prepare, then check how much space you’ll need to install your chosen appliance.
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Worth considering if you’d like to brown or crisp food occasionally and want to keep to a 20 L appliance. The model name indicates a power rating of 700 W; check its power consumption and the clearances required in the manual separately.
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Designed for anyone who prioritises reheating and defrosting over browning or crisping. It has a stated capacity of 23 L; check its external dimensions and the required clearances before deciding where to put it.
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Worth a look if you want digital settings for reheating and defrosting. The model name indicates 700 W, six pre-set menus and 11 power levels; check the electrical supply, power consumption and ventilation instructions before installation.
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An option to consider if you’d also like to brown or crisp some dishes. This model with a grill has a capacity of 25 L. If you’re looking to cook as you would in an oven, check that it has a convection function before buying.
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Worth considering if you need convection and a grill as well as microwave cooking. Its 42 L capacity means you’ll need to think carefully about the space available. Also check the manual for the defrost function, electrical supply and installation clearances.
Only if the space meets the requirements in the manual for your chosen model. Whirlpool France specifically advises against blocking the ventilation grilles or putting anything on top of the appliance. Measure the alcove and check the specified clearances before buying.
No. Check the electrical supply and power consumption, which are different from the microwave output. For example, Samsung France’s product information for the MC28H5015CK/EF lists 900 W of output, a power consumption of 1 400 W in microwave mode and an electrical supply of 230 V / 50 Hz.
A grill can be used to brown or crisp food, but that alone doesn’t mean the appliance can cook using convection. To cover some of the jobs you’d usually use an oven for, look for a combination model that explicitly lists a ‘fan-assisted’ or ‘convection’ function, as Que Choisir points out.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a private individual. This includes an appliance that doesn’t match its description. Don’t confuse this protection with requesting a return simply because you’ve changed your mind.