For everyday reheating and defrosting in a small kitchen, start by comparing basic microwaves. The appliance needs to fit the space you have in mind and accommodate your dishes. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a model with a grill adds browning, while a combi microwave also offers oven-style cooking. Choose these features if you expect to use them, and bear the extra space they need in mind. If you already have enough room and regularly cook in an oven, keeping a separate oven is also worth considering.
In a studio flat, student accommodation or holiday home, you mainly want to reheat and defrost food without taking up all your worktop space. A compact basic microwave is a good starting point, as long as your dishes fit inside.
If you want to brown a gratin or a slice of toast now and then, but don’t regularly cook as you would in an oven, consider models with a grill. A grill meets this specific need; it doesn’t mean the appliance has a fan-assisted cooking mode.
If your kitchen can’t accommodate two appliances, a combi microwave is worth considering if you’ll regularly use its grill and fan-assisted cooking modes. Check its depth and the space needed for installation, too.
Start with the types of cooking you actually do, then check whether the appliance you’ve chosen fits the available space. A separate oven is still a good option if you already have room for one and use it regularly. A combi microwave is better suited to bringing several cooking modes together in one appliance.
Choose this if: reheating and defrosting make up most of your use.
Bear in mind: it doesn’t offer grill browning or fan-assisted cooking.
Choose this if: you also want to brown some dishes, without replacing your oven.
Bear in mind: having a grill doesn’t guarantee a fan-assisted cooking mode.
Choose this if: you’ll regularly use oven-style cooking modes and don’t have room for a second appliance.
Bear in mind: check the appliance’s dimensions and the cooking modes available on the specific model.
Keep this if: you cook in the oven frequently and have room for two appliances.
Bear in mind: it won’t meet the need to combine reheating and oven cooking in one compact appliance.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Measure the width, depth and height, and check how the door opens. For a built-in model, compare the cabinet niche dimensions with the installation instructions; for a freestanding model, leave the specified clearance. | If my worktop is narrow, I want the appliance to fit without getting in the way when I open the door. Around 36% of consumers might put size and installation at the top of their list. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the power levels and defrost function, and make sure there’s enough room for your plates. | For everyday meals, I mainly want to reheat and defrost without choosing oven modes I’m unlikely to use. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Occasional browning | Check that it has a grill and see which accessories are approved for each mode in the manual. | If I sometimes make a gratin, I want to brown the top without needing fan-assisted cooking. Around 14% of consumers might prioritise this feature. |
| Oven-style cooking | Check that it has fan-assisted cooking, which modes it offers and the size of dishes it can accommodate. | Without room for a separate oven, I want to regularly prepare dishes that need more than reheating. This would be the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
Capacity doesn’t tell you how much space the appliance will take up or whether your dishes will fit. The dimensions published by Panasonic for a basic microwave and a combi microwave in its range show, in particular, that they have different depths.
Measure the space, check the door opening and your dishes, then look at the model’s external and usable dimensions.
A combi microwave offers more functions, but that’s of little help if you almost always just need to reheat food.
Make a note of the dishes you regularly cook using the grill or fan-assisted mode before choosing between a basic model, one with a grill or a combi microwave.
According to Anses, you should follow the preparation instructions for food intended for microwave cooking. A container suitable for one cooking mode may not be suitable for every mode on a combi microwave.
Follow the packaging and appliance instructions for the container, accessories and mode you select.
A built-in model needs to fit the cabinet niche and meet the installation instructions. For a freestanding model, Whirlpool specifies that it should sit on a flat surface with its ventilation openings unobstructed.
Before you order, check that the installation type specified for your chosen model is suitable for your kitchen unit.
The range featured by Panasonic France includes both basic microwaves and combi models with fan-assisted cooking.
Whirlpool France features models with a grill and combi microwaves; compare the modes available on each one.
Consider built-in models from Bosch Électroménager France if your kitchen already has a suitable cabinet niche.
These basic models and microwaves with a grill suit the reheating, defrosting and occasional browning needs discussed here. Compare their size and features before choosing; this selection of products doesn’t, on its own, settle the question of whether to buy a combi microwave or a separate oven.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat and brown some dishes using the same appliance. The model name indicates a capacity of 20 L and microwave power of 700 W. Check the manual for the space needed for installation and which accessories are approved for use with the grill.
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This basic model is worth considering for reheating and defrosting. Its product name lists 700 W, 11 power levels, six pre-set menus and a defrost function. Check that the turntable is large enough for your dishes and that the installation suits the space you have in mind.
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Worth comparing if you want to reheat food and have a defrost function. The product name mentions Quick Defrost and an LED display. Check the dimensions in the correct orientation and allow for the specified clearances before choosing a spot for it.
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This model is worth considering if you want to add occasional browning to your reheating. The product name lists a grill and a capacity of 25 L. Check the grill power in the model documentation before comparing this feature.
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Worth considering for a microwave used mainly for reheating. The product name specifies 20 L and 700 W. If defrosting is important to you, check the controls and relevant instructions in the manual.
Use containers marked as suitable for microwave cooking and follow the appliance instructions. Anses also recommends following the preparation instructions for food intended for microwave cooking. For an appliance with a grill or fan-assisted cooking, check which accessories are approved for the mode you’ve selected.
Don’t assume a freestanding model will fit in a cabinet niche: check the manual for the clearance it needs. Whirlpool specifies that a freestanding appliance must sit on a flat surface with its ventilation openings unobstructed.
A combi microwave is worth considering if you’ll regularly use its fan-assisted cooking and other modes, and need to limit the number of appliances in your kitchen. Check that its cavity is large enough for your dishes and that its dimensions, door and ventilation are suitable for your kitchen.
An old microwave should go to a collection or recycling scheme for electrical and electronic equipment, rather than in your general household waste. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition describes, among other options, a take-back service when you buy a similar appliance. Check what arrangements are available for your appliance.