If you mainly reheat and defrost individual portions, start by considering a solo microwave. A grill is useful for the occasional browned topping, while a combination microwave with fan oven is worth considering if you genuinely plan to cook dishes as you would in an oven. In a small kitchen, check the space needed for each option, the ventilation clearances specified in its instructions and the dishes you plan to use.
If you mainly need to reheat and defrost meals, a solo model may be all you need. If you don’t have an oven, consider a combination model only if you plan to cook dishes as you would in an oven and have enough space for it.
A grill is handy when you want to brown a dish occasionally; a fan oven is better suited to a wider range of cooking. Compare these functions with the appliance’s overall size and the space needed for ventilation.
Choose according to the meals you actually prepare there. Extra cooking functions are less useful if you mainly use the appliance to reheat food.
First decide what you plan to cook, then check that the appliance’s functions suit your available space and the dishes you use most often.
Worth considering: for reheating and defrosting, if you don’t need to brown food or cook dishes as you would in an oven.
The trade-off: this option won’t meet your needs if you want to brown food or use a fan oven.
Worth considering: if reheating is your main use, with the occasional browned topping.
The trade-off: a grill doesn’t mean the appliance also has a fan oven.
Worth considering: if you plan to use it for some of the cooking you’d normally do in an oven.
Bear in mind: check the appliance’s size and weight, as well as the installation requirements for your chosen model.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday use | Check for a defrost function, easy-to-read controls and enough space inside for your plates. | I mainly want to reheat portions and defrost food, without choosing cooking modes I’m unlikely to use. |
| Browning and cooking | Check the listed modes for grill and fan oven functions separately. If you want to cook dishes as you would in an oven, also check the temperature range and compatible accessories. | With no oven in my kitchen, I need to decide whether I just want to brown food occasionally or regularly cook dishes using the fan oven. |
| Space and installation | Measure the width, height, depth and door clearance; check the weight and the clearances specified in the exact model’s instructions. Bosch instructions for some freestanding models state that they are not designed to be built into a cabinet. | My worktop needs to accommodate the appliance, its ventilation clearances and enough room to open the door. |
| Cleaning | Check how easy it is to reach inside the cavity and remove the turntable, then read the model’s cleaning instructions. Make sure your dishes are suitable for the modes you plan to use. | If I use my microwave often, I want to be able to clean up splashes easily. |
A grill is for browning food, but having one alone won’t cover cooking that requires a fan oven mode.
If you want to cook as you would in a small oven, look specifically for a fan oven function, its temperature range and the accessories designed for that model.
Depth, door clearance, weight and ventilation space can all make a spot unsuitable, even if the appliance fits on the worktop.
Measure the entire space and check the installation instructions for the exact model. Don’t put a freestanding model in a built-in cabinet unless the instructions say that this is permitted.
Extra programmes won’t make much difference to your choice if you mainly reheat meals.
Make a note of a few dishes you’ll prepare regularly. If browning food is the only feature you’re missing, compare grill models with combination microwaves with a fan oven first.
The range includes freestanding microwaves with a grill, worth considering for the occasional browned topping.
The freestanding models mentioned here offer different configurations, so compare their functions with the space you have available.
A brand to consider if a fan oven function is one of the features you’re looking for.
The range includes a combination model designed to accommodate dishes in different shapes.
These models give you options to consider for reheating in a small kitchen and, where a grill is confirmed, for browning food occasionally. This selection doesn’t compare combination microwaves with a fan oven.
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Worth considering if you want to reheat food and have a grill as well. Check the dimensions and installation clearances in the instructions before deciding where to put it.
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For reheating and defrosting. The model name indicates six power levels and a 30-minute timer; check the required clearances and electrical connection before installation.
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For reheating in a kitchen where the appliance can sit on a suitable surface. If you also want to brown food, check the modes for the EMZ421MMTI on its product page and in the instructions. Also check the required ventilation space.
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For reheating and defrosting with digital controls. The model is listed as having 11 power levels, six preset programmes and express cooking. Check the instructions for installation and electrical connection requirements.
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Its 25 L capacity is worth comparing with the space you have and the size of your dishes. If browning food is important to you, check the H25MOBS7H product page and instructions to confirm whether it has a grill before buying.
Yes, if you mainly reheat and defrost your meals. Check that your plates fit inside the cavity and that the appliance’s external dimensions, plus the clearances specified in the instructions, suit the space available.
Choose this function if you want to brown food occasionally as well as reheat it. A grill doesn’t mean the appliance has a fan oven, so check the exact functions of the model you’re considering.
It can handle some oven-style cooking if a fan oven function is included in its modes. Before relying on it for your usual dishes, check the available temperatures, cavity space, accessories and installation requirements.
Follow the clearances specified in the instructions for your exact model rather than relying on one measurement for every appliance. The installation instructions also matter for the type of fitting: Bosch states that some freestanding models are not designed to be built into a cabinet.
For the microwave models covered by its support information, Whirlpool France says the fan may continue running for 1 to 5 minutes after the appliance is switched off. Check the instructions for your own model if it behaves differently.