Everyday reheating in a very tight space
In a studio flat or small kitchen, you mainly want to reheat and defrost food without giving up worktop space for oven functions you won’t use.
Which option is right for you?
Gratin dishes without an extra appliance
You reheat most of your meals, but would sometimes like to brown the top. A model with a grill suits this use without assuming you need fan-assisted cooking.
Simple meals in a home without an oven
You’re looking for one appliance to reheat, defrost, grill and cook some dishes using fan-assisted heat. The interior capacity and accessories should match the dishes you prepare.
What should you check before buying?
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between solo microwaves, models with a grill and combination microwaves with fan-assisted cooking. First decide which cooking functions you’ll actually use, then check that your chosen model can be installed and used in the space available.
Solo microwave
Best for: meals that mainly need reheating or defrosting.
Limitation: it has no grill for browning the top and no fan-assisted cooking function.
Microwave with grill
Best for: if you often reheat food and want to brown dishes from time to time.
Limitation: the grill browns the surface, but doesn’t by itself confirm that the appliance can cook by convection.
Combination microwave with fan-assisted cooking
Best for: if, without a conventional oven, you also plan to cook some dishes in your microwave.
Limitation: saving space by avoiding a separate appliance doesn’t mean the combination microwave itself will fit in your available space.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Size and installation | Compare the external dimensions, the space needed to open the door and the clearances specified in the manual for the exact model. Also check whether it can be installed in a cabinet. | In a kitchen where every centimetre of worktop space counts, I need to be able to install the appliance without blocking its vents; around 42% of consumers prioritise this constraint. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check that the cavity and turntable can accommodate your usual containers, then compare the controls and defrosting settings on your chosen model. | If my meals are already prepared, I’d rather have an appliance suited to everyday use than oven functions I rarely use; around 25% of consumers put this simplicity first. |
| Cooking without an oven | To cook beyond browning dishes, confirm that the appliance has fan-assisted or convection cooking. Compare the interior capacity and accessories with your dishes. | Without a conventional oven, I also want to cook and brown some meals in the same appliance; around 33% of consumers put this versatility first. |
Mistakes to avoid in a small kitchen
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Relying on capacity in litres alone
Interior capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up. Bosch lists the FEL023MS2 with grill as having a 20 L cavity and external dimensions of 260 × 442 × 345 mm.
Measure your space and the room needed in front of the door, then compare these measurements with the dimensions and installation instructions for your chosen model.
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Confusing a grill with fan-assisted cooking
A grill browns the surface of a dish; it doesn’t confirm that the appliance has the fan-assisted cooking function needed for certain oven-style cooking. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between these functions in its buying guide.
If you plan to cook dishes rather than just brown them, explicitly check for a convection or fan-assisted cooking function, and make sure the dishes you use will fit.
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Squeezing a freestanding model into an enclosed space
Whirlpool advises against blocking the ventilation grilles. A Bosch manual for one range of freestanding microwaves also states that these appliances aren’t intended to be installed or used in a built-in cabinet; this instruction doesn’t automatically apply to every model.
Check the manual for the exact appliance before choosing an alcove or tight space, and follow the clearances it specifies.
Brands to consider by model
These brands offer examples of different configurations. Compare the specifications and manual for the exact model rather than assuming that every product in a range has the same features.
Bosch
Worth comparing if you’re looking at solo or grill freestanding microwaves and published dimensions are an important factor.
- Bosch lists the FEL023MS2 as a 20 L microwave with grill, measuring 260 × 442 × 345 mm.
- A Bosch manual for a different freestanding range rules out use in a built-in cabinet: check the manual for the model you’re considering.
Whirlpool
A brand to explore if you’re looking for freestanding appliances with a grill or combination functions.
- Whirlpool lists a 25 L cavity and a grill function that works alongside the microwave on the MCP349WH.
- The brand advises against blocking the vents and refers you to the manual for model-specific installation instructions.
Samsung
Worth considering if you’re looking at a convection combination microwave to handle some of the cooking usually done in an oven.
- Samsung lists the MC35R8088CC/EF as a 35 L convection combination microwave.
- For a small kitchen, check the dimensions and installation instructions for this model against your available space before deciding its capacity is right for you.
Solo and grill microwaves on Joybuy
These models suit reheating and defrosting, with a grill function on some. If you want to cook using fan-assisted heat because you don’t have a conventional oven, check for this function separately: a model with a grill alone doesn’t confirm it.
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Beko MGC20100B1, microwave with grill, 20 L
For everyday reheating and defrosting, with the option to brown dishes from time to time. 20 L capacity and a stated power output of 700 W. Before deciding where to put it, check that the door can open fully and allow the clearances specified in the manual.
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COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK), digital microwave, 20 L
For prioritising reheating and defrosting without choosing an appliance for its oven functions. 20 L capacity and a stated power output of 700 W. Before installation, check the ventilation clearances, space needed with the door open and electrical compatibility.
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Hkoenig VIO7, freestanding microwave, 23 L
Worth considering if you want to reheat and defrost food, with a grill for browning dishes from time to time. 23 L capacity and a stated power output of 900 W. Check the ventilation instructions and the space needed to open the door in your chosen location.
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Samsung MS23K3513, solo microwave, 23 L
For reheating and defrosting when a grill isn’t a priority. 23 L capacity. Compare its overall dimensions, ventilation clearances and the space needed in front of the door with the room you have available.
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LG Electronics MH 6535 gih, microwave with grill, 25 L
Combines reheating, defrosting and occasional browning in one appliance. 25 L capacity. If power output is important to your decision, check the microwave and grill power ratings for this model. Also check the ventilation, door clearance and electrical compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
Can a combination microwave replace a conventional oven?
It can handle some oven-style cooking if the model genuinely has both a grill and a fan-assisted cooking function, and your dishes are suitable for its cavity and accessories. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between these functions, so consider the recipes you usually make rather than relying on the word ‘combination’ alone.
Can you install a freestanding microwave in an alcove?
Only if the manual for that exact model allows it and you follow its ventilation instructions. A Bosch manual for one range of freestanding models rules out installing or using them in a built-in cabinet; it doesn’t set the rules for every microwave.
How much space should you leave around a microwave?
Follow the clearances specified in the manual for your chosen appliance, rather than using measurements from another model. Whirlpool says the ventilation grilles must not be blocked; also allow enough room to open the door.
What rights apply in France if the appliance doesn’t match its description?
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a trader to a private individual when the goods don’t conform, including when they don’t match their description. This is separate from any commercial guarantee offered by the seller.