Choose a solo microwave if you mainly reheat, defrost and prepare a few simple foods: it is the most straightforward option for a small kitchen. A grill model is suitable for occasional browning, while a combi microwave is worth considering if you do not have a usable oven and genuinely plan to cook using fan-assisted heat. In that case, check the dimensions, ventilation, usable capacity and included accessories.
You mainly want to reheat meals, defrost food and quickly prepare a few items, using a freestanding appliance that is easy to install and move. A solo model is usually sufficient as long as you do not need a full-size oven.
You use the kitchen occasionally and want to avoid equipping the property with several appliances. The right choice mainly depends on whether you genuinely need to brown or oven-cook food between visits.
You need to do more than reheat food in a limited space. A combi microwave is worth considering if you plan to cook using fan-assisted heat and have room for its footprint and the required ventilation clearances.
Choose this if: you reheat, defrost and prepare simple foods, and already have an oven or another cooking solution.
Bear in mind: it does not cover browning or fan-assisted cooking.
Choose this if: you want to brown or grill food occasionally without adding a separate appliance.
Bear in mind: a grill should not be confused with a fan oven.
Choose this if: the appliance also needs to handle cooking, grilling and fan-assisted heat because you do not have a working oven.
Bear in mind: it may be deeper or heavier; check the available space before buying.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint and installation | Compare the width, height and depth with your worktop. Check the ventilation clearances specified in the manual and the door opening. | I want to position the appliance without reducing preparation space or blocking airflow. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the power levels, timer, defrost programme and internal dimensions or turntable diameter. | For everyday meals, I prioritise controls suited to reheating and my usual dishes over a long list of programmes. |
| Cooking functions | The grill is used for browning and grilling. Fan-assisted heat or convection must be explicitly stated if the appliance is to replace some of the functions of an oven. | I choose an additional function only if it matches the meals I actually prepare. |
| Safety and care | Follow the guidance on suitable materials, installation and cleaning. Check which accessories are actually supplied with the model. | I want an appliance that is easy to use in a small home, without making avoidable mistakes with containers or installation. |
A 20 L appliance can already take up around 44.2 cm in width and 34.5 cm in depth, like the Bosch FFL020MS2. Some combi models are even deeper.
Measure the width, depth, height, door opening and required clearances before buying. Also check that your plates and dishes genuinely fit inside the cavity.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, combi models add a grill and fan-assisted cooking compared with solo microwaves. These functions are mainly worthwhile if they match the meals you plan to prepare.
Track how you use your microwave over one or two weeks: reheating and defrosting, occasional grilled dishes or genuine oven-style cooking. Then choose the category that suits you.
The necessary clearances vary by model. Samsung gives average guidelines of 10 cm at the back and on the sides, and 20 cm above, while stressing that the model’s manual takes precedence.
Always follow the manual for the appliance you choose first. Use these measurements only as general guidance where no more precise instructions are provided.
A commercial warranty does not replace the statutory legal guarantee of conformity that applies to goods sold by a professional to a private individual in France.
Keep your receipt and the product description, check the delivery and after-sales service arrangements, then request take-back of your old appliance if you are replacing it with an equivalent microwave.
French range of freestanding microwaves, including solo and grill models, making it useful for comparing two levels of functionality.
Freestanding range including grill and combi microwaves, worth considering when your needs go beyond simple reheating.
An option to consider for multifunction combi models when you want to combine microwave, grill and oven cooking in a single appliance.
A brand offering guidance for choosing between solo, grill and combi models, along with practical information for freestanding installation.
These Joybuy options include solo and grill microwaves for reheating, defrosting and preparing simple meals in a studio or holiday home.
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For reheating, defrosting and occasional browning in a freestanding appliance.
25 L, 1 000 W, quartz grill, rapid defrosting, automatic programmes and stated dimensions of 47.6 × 38.8 × 27.2 cm.
No fan-assisted function is specified: check the manual if the appliance needs to replace an oven.
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A practical choice for everyday reheating and defrosting, with the option to brown or grill food occasionally.
20 L, 700 W, 800 W grill, nine power levels, mechanical timer and stated dimensions of 45.2 × 35.3 × 26.2 cm.
The product sheet specifies 10 cm clearance at the sides and rear; check the manual for the final requirements.
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Suitable for simple meals and grilled dishes, with a 25 L capacity for larger plates and dishes.
25 L, 900 W, 1 150 W quartz grill, defrosting by weight or time, eight programmes and a 28.8 cm turntable.
Its stated dimensions of 53.6 × 43.6 × 33 cm require a sufficiently deep worktop. No fan-assisted cooking is specified.
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A straightforward option for everyday reheating and defrosting on a small worktop.
20 L, 700 W, 11 power levels, six pre-set menus, express cooking and defrosting by time or weight. Stated dimensions: 440 × 319 × 259 mm.
The grill, fan-assisted cooking and model-specific ventilation clearances should be confirmed in the manual.
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A simple model with mechanical controls for everyday reheating in a temporary or compact kitchen.
20 L, 700 W, six power levels, 30-minute timer, 245 mm turntable and stated dimensions of 45.2 × 36.2 × 26.2 cm.
The product sheet specifies 10 cm of free space on all sides. Check the manual if a dedicated defrost function is important to you.
Yes, if you mainly need to reheat and defrost food and prepare a few simple dishes. UFC-Que Choisir states that a basic model can cook certain foods; a grill and combi model become useful for browning or fan-assisted cooking.
Do not choose based on litres alone. Measure your usual plates and dishes, check the turntable diameter or internal dimensions, then compare the external dimensions with the available space.
Only if you comply with the clearances specified in the model’s manual. Samsung gives average guidance of 10 cm at the back and on the sides, plus 20 cm above, but requirements vary by appliance.
No. UFC-Que Choisir states that metal containers and utensils must not be placed inside the cavity, as they can damage the appliance.
When buying an equivalent new appliance, the retailer must offer free take-back on a “one-for-one” basis, including for distance sales, according to ecosystem. Then take the old appliance to a suitable waste stream for electrical and electronic equipment.