If you mainly want to reheat and defrost food, a solo microwave will do the job. A grill is useful for browning food from time to time, while a combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking is worth considering mainly if you also want to cook as you would in an oven and don’t already have one. A mini oven is another option for oven cooking, but it won’t replace a microwave for reheating. Before choosing, measure the available space, check that there’s room to open the door and follow the clearances specified in the model’s instructions.
In a studio flat or holiday home, if you mainly reheat and defrost food, a solo microwave means you don’t have to give up space for oven-cooking functions you’re unlikely to use. UFC-Que Choisir’s buying guide describes these uses.
If you don’t have an oven and also want to cook oven dishes, compare a combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking and a mini oven. UFC-Que Choisir’s buying guide distinguishes these functions from simple reheating.
If you regularly reheat food but sometimes want to brown a dish, a model with a grill could be a good choice. A grill doesn’t necessarily mean the microwave also has fan-assisted cooking, as the Severin MW 7762 example shows.
Choose this if : you mainly reheat and defrost food, or already have a suitable oven.
Bear in mind : it doesn’t have a grill or fan-assisted cooking.
Choose this if : you want to be able to brown or crisp certain dishes as well as reheat food.
Bear in mind : a grill alone doesn’t provide the fan-assisted cooking needed for some oven-style dishes.
Choose this if : you don’t have an oven and genuinely expect to cook oven dishes as well as reheat food.
Bear in mind : it may duplicate an oven you already own, and it needs to fit on your worktop.
Choose this if : you prioritise oven cooking over reheating food in a microwave.
Bear in mind : it doesn’t have a microwave function.
UFC-Que Choisir’s buying guide distinguishes between reheating, browning and oven-style cooking. The criteria below will help you match these uses to the space you have available.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this important for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the reheating and defrosting functions, as well as whether there’s enough room for the containers you normally use. | I mainly want to reheat or defrost portions, without giving up space for functions I’ll rarely use. Around 36 % of consumers prioritise these uses. |
| Size and installation | Compare the external dimensions and door opening space; check the instructions for ventilation and installation guidance. | When worktop space is limited, I want to check where the appliance will go and keep the vents clear. Around 29 % of consumers put saving space first. |
| Oven-style cooking | Check that fan-assisted cooking is explicitly listed and that the dimensions are suitable for your dishes. | If I don’t have an oven, I’m looking for an oven-cooking function without buying an appliance that duplicates equipment I already own. Around 21 % of consumers prioritise this use. |
| Occasional browning | Tell the difference between a grill and fan-assisted cooking, and check which accessories are suitable for each mode. | I sometimes want to brown a dish, without assuming that a grill can replace fan-assisted cooking. Around 14 % of consumers prioritise occasional browning. |
The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you the external dimensions or how much room you need to open the door and keep the vents clear.
Measure the space, check the dimensions of the exact model and follow the ventilation guidance in its instructions. Whirlpool advises keeping the ventilation openings clear.
The Severin MW 7762 is listed with a grill, but without fan-assisted cooking. These functions aren’t interchangeable.
If you need to cook as you would in an oven, check that fan-assisted cooking is explicitly listed or compare a mini oven.
The Severin TO 2068 is a mini oven with fan-assisted cooking, but it doesn’t have a microwave function.
Decide whether microwave reheating is essential before choosing an alternative worktop appliance.
The MS23K3513AK/EF is an example of a 23 L solo microwave for reheating and defrosting.
The MW 7762 and TO 2068 are examples of two different worktop appliances: a microwave with a grill and a mini oven with fan-assisted cooking.
The MWSC833W is an example of a combination microwave with forced-air cooking for a kitchen without an oven.
The NN-CD88 is an example of a combination microwave with microwave, grill and convection functions.
This selection brings together solo microwaves and models with a grill, so you can compare reheating options for different needs in a compact kitchen.
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For reheating and defrosting in a studio flat, this solo model is listed with a defrost function.
700 W, six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a 9.6-inch turntable.
Follow the specified ventilation clearances and don’t use metal containers in microwave mode.
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For reheating or defrosting, with the option to brown dishes, the product details describe a microwave with a grill.
25 L, 900 W and a 28,8 cm turntable.
Allow at least 10 cm of clearance on the sides and 20 cm above. Use containers suitable for the selected mode.
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For reheating, defrosting and browning, the product description combines microwave and grill functions.
25 L, 1 000 W and stated dimensions of 47 × 26 × 37 cm, in width × height × depth order.
Follow the ventilation clearances in the instructions. Avoid metal containers in microwave mode and take care when handling dishes after grilling.
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Designed for reheating meals or drinks in a small home, this microwave is described as having simple controls.
The product details list a “Type (230)” plug: check that it’s compatible with your electrical installation before buying.
Don’t run the appliance empty or use metal utensils.
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For reheating and defrosting portions, this worktop model is listed with a defrost function.
20 L, 700 W and six power levels.
Place it on a stable surface and allow 10 cm of clearance at the sides and rear, and 20 cm above, as specified in the guidance provided.
Measure the space and compare it with the external dimensions of the exact model, allowing for the door to open and access to the plug socket. Then check the instructions for the required clearances: Whirlpool’s general advice to keep the vents clear doesn’t set a universal clearance that applies to every appliance.
No. Check the information on the container and the model’s instructions separately for the microwave, grill or fan-assisted cooking mode you plan to use. The DGCCRF recommends following instructions for materials that come into contact with food, including whether they’re suitable for microwave use. An accessory supplied with a combination microwave isn’t necessarily suitable for all its modes.
Follow the instructions for your model. For appliances covered by its recommendations, Whirlpool advises cleaning the seals with a damp sponge and soapy water, then rinsing and drying them; the brand advises against using the abrasive side of the sponge.
When a professional seller sells goods to a private individual, the statutory guarantee of conformity is mandatory. According to the DGCCRF, a claim must be brought within two years of delivery, whether the goods are new or second-hand. This guarantee is separate from an optional commercial warranty and doesn’t tell you whether parts are available for a particular model.