Tenant who mainly reheats food
You mainly prepare leftovers, ready meals or portions to defrost, and don’t plan to cook regularly as you would in an oven. A basic microwave suits this kind of use, as explained in the UFC-Que Choisir guide.
Who is each option for?
Student who occasionally wants to brown food
Reheating is still your main use, but you’d also like to brown a toasted sandwich or gratin from time to time. In that case, it’s worth comparing a microwave with a grill against a basic model, without assuming it offers all the functions of an oven.
Occupant without an oven who cooks regularly
You plan to prepare dishes that need oven-style cooking. Compare a combination microwave with fan-assisted heat and a mini oven, based on the space you have and how important microwave reheating is to you.
What should guide your choice?
If you’re in student accommodation without an oven, start by thinking about the meals you’ll prepare most often. A grill adds occasional browning to microwave cooking, while fan-assisted heat is better for more regular oven-style cooking. UFC-Que Choisir explains the difference between these functions in its buying guide.
| Need | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Compare the space the appliance takes up and the size of your plates with the dimensions of the turntable or cavity. | I mainly want to quickly prepare leftovers or defrost portions, without paying for cooking modes I’ll rarely use. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Occasional browning | Check that it has a grill and confirm which accessories are allowed in each mode. | I sometimes want to brown a dish while still being able to reheat food in the microwave. I’m looking for a browning function rather than full oven-style cooking. Around 14% of consumers put this need first. |
| Cooking in one appliance | Look specifically for fan-assisted heat, then check how much space is needed for installation. | Without a conventional oven, I plan to cook or roast regularly while keeping the option to reheat food in the microwave. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this combination of uses. |
| Prioritising oven-style cooking | For a mini oven, check its cooking modes, the size of your dishes and the surface area required. | If I mainly make quiches, gratins or baked goods, oven-style cooking matters more to me than microwave reheating. Around 21% of consumers make this their priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Buying a combination model just because your accommodation has no oven
A combination model adds cooking functions, but they offer little benefit if you only use it to reheat food. Fan-assisted heat is useful if you genuinely plan to cook dishes that need it.
Make a note of the meals you’ll prepare each week before deciding between a basic microwave, a grill model and a combination model.
-
Using the same container in every mode
What’s suitable can vary between microwave, grill and combination modes. Anses recommends checking that a container is suitable for microwave reheating. Whirlpool also advises against using aluminium foil, metal dishes and gold-trimmed crockery in this mode.
Check the manual for instructions on the mode you’re using, and don’t reuse single-use packaging to reheat food.
-
Choosing the capacity without measuring the space
Interior capacity alone won’t tell you whether the appliance, its door and your dishes will fit in a kitchenette.
Measure the worktop, door-opening space and the containers you use, then check the clearance and ventilation requirements in the model’s manual.
-
Confusing the legal guarantee with an extended warranty
In France, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention states that the legal guarantee of conformity applies for two years to new and second-hand goods bought from a professional seller. A commercial warranty is separate from this legal right.
Before choosing an extended warranty, compare its duration and exclusions, and check what additional cover it actually provides beyond the legal guarantee.
Brands to consider
Whirlpool
Whirlpool’s range includes freestanding microwaves and combination models, which are worth considering based on the functions you need.
- Whirlpool describes the MWF255B as a freestanding combination microwave and provides user manuals.
- Check the functions and installation requirements for the specific model you’re considering.
Panasonic
The NN-K10JW is an example of a microwave with a grill, designed for mainly reheating food with occasional browning.
- According to Panasonic, the NN-K10JW combines a 20 L capacity, 800 W microwave power and a 1,000 W quartz grill.
- A grill on its own doesn’t mean the appliance can cook using fan-assisted heat.
Moulinex
The Optimo 33 L mini oven is worth considering if oven-style cooking matters more to you than microwave functions.
- Moulinex describes the Optimo 33 L as a fan-assisted mini oven with six cooking modes.
- A mini oven cannot reheat food using microwaves, so you’ll need to be happy without that option.
Electrolux
The KVLBE08X is more suited to a fitted kitchen that can accommodate a built-in appliance.
- Electrolux’s product details for the KVLBE08X list microwave, grill and pulsed fan-assisted functions, among others.
- It needs a compatible housing for built-in installation, so it won’t necessarily suit a temporary kitchenette.
Microwaves for different needs
These Joybuy models cover reheating with a basic microwave, occasional browning with a grill, and more varied cooking with a combination model. First choose the functions that suit the meals you make, then check the dimensions and manual for your chosen model.
Image unavailable
Samsung MS23K3513 Solo Quick Defrost, 23 L
Worth considering if you mainly use a microwave to reheat and defrost food, rather than for oven-style cooking.
The product title lists a 23 L capacity and Quick Defrost function. Check the dimensions, the size of your dishes and the clearance required in the manual.
Image unavailable
COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK), 20 L
This basic microwave is for anyone who wants to reheat and defrost food without choosing an appliance for oven-style cooking.
The product title lists 700 W, six pre-set menus and eleven power levels. Check the installation requirements and electrical compatibility specified for this model.
Image unavailable
Beko MGC20100B1 with grill, 20 L
Compare it with basic models if you’d also like to brown a dish occasionally, but don’t expect the grill to handle every kind of oven-style cooking.
The product title lists 700 W microwave power. Check the manual for the accessories allowed in each mode and the installation requirements.
Image unavailable
LG MJ3965ACS combination microwave, 39 L
Consider this if you want to keep microwave reheating while regularly preparing dishes that need other cooking modes.
Its listed capacity is 39 L. Before choosing this size, measure the space, the door-opening area and the required clearances.
Image unavailable
SHARP YC-MC422AE-SB combination microwave, 42 L
This combination model is for anyone looking for several cooking options in one appliance, provided you have enough space.
The product title lists a 42 L capacity. Check which modes and accessories suit your recipes, as well as the space and installation requirements in the manual.
Frequently asked questions
Can a combination microwave replace an oven?
It can handle some oven-style cooking if it has a fan-assisted function suited to the dishes you prepare. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes this function from a basic grill. If you only reheat and defrost food, check that you’ll genuinely use the extra modes.
What containers can I use in a microwave with a grill?
Use a container that’s suitable for the selected mode, as instructions may differ between microwave, grill and combination cooking. Anses recommends checking that a container is suitable for microwave reheating. Also consult the manual before using a metal accessory or packaging.
What should I check before installing an appliance in a kitchenette?
Measure the appliance, the space needed to open its door and the clearances required in the manual. For a mini oven, also make sure the surface it will stand on meets the manufacturer’s instructions and is heat-resistant.
Should I choose an extended warranty in France?
Not automatically: first compare what the extension adds to your existing rights. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention states that the legal guarantee of conformity lasts for two years for new and second-hand goods bought from a professional seller. Then check the duration, exclusions and services included in the commercial warranty on offer.