A student who mainly reheats meals
For plates of food, leftovers and items to defrost, a solo model covers the basics. If you also use a hob or another oven, consider how often you would actually use a grill.
Who are these options for?
Your choice mainly depends on what you plan to cook and what other cooking appliances you have.
Someone with a small kitchen and no working oven
If you want to make dishes that need grilling or oven cooking, compare the functions offered by combination models. Also measure the space needed for the appliance and its ventilation.
An occasional user of a holiday home
A solo microwave may be suitable for stays when you mainly need to reheat food. Extra functions are only useful if you plan to cook there regularly.
How do the models compare?
First decide whether you need to brown food or cook as you would in an oven, then check that the appliance and your dishes will fit in the space available.
Solo microwave
Consider it if: you mainly reheat and defrost portions and have another way to cook.
The trade-off: it doesn’t have a grill for browning food or a fan oven function.
Grill microwave
Consider it if: reheating is still your priority, but you’d also like to brown some dishes.
The trade-off: a grill on its own doesn’t offer the oven functions of a combination model.
Combination microwave
Consider it if: you don’t have a working oven and plan to cook dishes that need grilling and fan-assisted heat.
The trade-off: its functions and size are only worthwhile if they suit the meals you make and the space you have.
| Consideration | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Look for power and defrost settings. Make sure the controls seem easy to understand for the tasks you do most often. | I mainly reheat leftovers and want to defrost food without lots of extra steps. |
| Browning food | Check that it has a grill, how it works and which accessories are approved. Compare the turntable size with your dishes. | I’d like to brown a few dishes, but don’t plan to cook in the same way as a conventional oven on a regular basis. |
| Oven cooking | For a combination model, check which oven or fan-assisted cooking modes it actually offers and which accessories you’ll need. | I don’t have a working oven at home and would also like to cook dishes that need this type of heat. |
| Size | Compare the external width, height and depth with the space available. Check that the door can open, your dishes will fit and you can leave the clearances specified in the manual for the exact model. | My worktop is small, so the appliance needs to fit there and take my usual plates. |
What should you avoid before buying?
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Choosing a combination model just to reheat food
Oven functions and their accessories take up space. They’re not worth it if you won’t actually use them for cooking.
Think about the meals you usually make: a solo model covers reheating and defrosting, while a grill model is worth considering if you’d also like to brown food.
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Relying on the capacity in litres alone
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your plate will fit, whether your dish can turn or whether the appliance will fit on your worktop.
Measure the space and your dishes, then compare the external dimensions, cavity or turntable size, and the clearances required in the manual for the exact model.
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Heating a ready-meal tray without checking its instructions
The Anses says that overheating food can increase the migration of substances from certain food packaging.
Follow the time and power instructions on the packaging and use a container suitable for the selected mode. Don’t put metal items in the microwave mode unless the manual explicitly allows a specific accessory.
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Confusing a commercial guarantee with your statutory rights
In France, if you buy a new microwave from a professional seller, that seller is responsible for the statutory guarantee of conformity, which can be claimed for two years, according to the Ministry of the Economy. A commercial guarantee is separate.
Keep your proof of purchase and check the duration, exclusions and terms of any commercial guarantee offered.
A few brands to consider
These examples illustrate functions and dimensions worth comparing; they don’t determine which model is right for your home.
Samsung
The French range includes solo and grill models, which are useful for comparing reheating with browning.
- According to Samsung France, both the solo MS23T5018AK and the grill MG23K3614AW have a stated capacity of 23 L and a 28.8 cm turntable.
- The dimensions of 27.5 × 48.9 × 39.2 cm (H × W × D), published by Castorama, are for the MG23K3614AW only; they don’t apply to other Samsung models.
Whirlpool
The MCP349WH is an example of a freestanding combination microwave with microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking functions, according to Whirlpool France.
- Whirlpool France lists a capacity of 25 L and external dimensions of 30.1 × 52 × 49.4 cm (H × W × D) for this model.
- These specifications apply to the MCP349WH; they don’t tell you the dimensions or cooking results of another combination model.
Panasonic
According to Panasonic France, the NN-DF37 combines microwave, grill and oven cooking, while the NN-DS59N also offers a steam function.
- Panasonic France lists a capacity of 27 L and dimensions of 514 × 456 × 347 mm for the NN-DS59N. Check these against the space you have available.
- Panasonic’s claimed time and energy savings for the NN-DF37 are based on its own tests of four dishes using a particular mode; they don’t apply to every recipe.
Microwaves to explore on Joybuy
This selection includes solo models and options for anyone who’d also like to consider a grill. If you’re looking to replace an oven, check separately that the model offers the oven functions you need for your recipes.
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Beko MGC20100B1, black grill microwave, 20 L
Worth considering if you reheat meals and would sometimes like to use a grill. The product title states 700 W for the microwave function; check the manual for installation dimensions, clearances and the space available for your dishes.
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LG Electronics MH 6535 gih, white grill microwave, 25 L
This model is worth considering if you’d like to brown dishes as well as reheat them. The product title states 1,000 W, but the product information gives conflicting figures for the grill’s power. Check this on the label or in the manual for the exact model.
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LG MH6535GIS, black microwave, 25 L
If you’d like to alternate between reheating and browning dishes, check the modes and accessories intended for each use. The product title states 1,000 W; the word ‘combo’ alone doesn’t confirm that it has a fan oven function.
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Heinrich's, solo microwave, 20 L
If you want to reheat and defrost without a grill function, this model lists six power levels, a 30-minute timer, a defrost function and 700 W. Check the dimensions and clearances in the manual before deciding where to put it.
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Electrolux EMZ421MMTI, freestanding microwave, 21 L
For everyday meals in a small home, compare its modes with the types of cooking you genuinely plan to do. The product title lists 800 W and a titanium finish. If browning food is important to you, check how the grill works and which accessories are compatible in the manual for the exact model.
Frequently asked questions
Is a solo microwave enough for student accommodation?
Yes, if you mainly reheat and defrost meals and have another way to cook dishes that need it. Choose a grill model if you’d like to brown food, or consider a combination model if you genuinely need oven functions.
How can I check it will fit on my worktop?
Compare the external dimensions with the space available, allowing for the door to open. Also check that your dishes will fit inside the cavity and that you can leave the ventilation clearances required in the manual for the exact model.
Can I heat any plastic ready-meal tray?
No. Follow the packaging instructions and only use a container suitable for the selected mode. The Anses says that overheating food can increase the migration of substances from food packaging, so stick to the stated power and heating time.
Which guarantee applies to a new microwave bought in France?
According to the Ministry of the Economy, you can claim the statutory guarantee of conformity for two years on a new item bought from a professional seller; that seller is responsible for it. It’s separate from any commercial guarantee, so check its terms separately.