For reheating individual portions
If you mainly reheat leftovers, soup or ready meals, and only defrost food occasionally, a solo microwave covers these needs without adding cooking modes you won’t use.
Which type is right for you?
For regular browning and crisping
If toast, pizza or gratins feature regularly in your meals, compare models with a grill. It adds browning to your reheating options, although results vary by model.
For cooking without a working oven
If you also want to roast food or bake, look for a combination microwave with convection cooking. First, measure the space available for the appliance and the clearances specified in its manual.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the meals you make, then check that the features you need suit the space available and the size of your dishes.
| Priority | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Space and dishes | Measure the width, depth and height of the space, then check the ventilation clearances in the manual. Also compare the turntable diameter, or the cavity size if there’s no turntable, with your dishes: capacity in litres isn’t the whole story. | My usual plate needs to fit inside without the appliance taking up all the space available. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the power settings and defrost mode for the exact model. To assess how evenly it heats, look for comparable tests: UFC-Que Choisir, for example, measures the temperature in several places on a plate and after defrosting. | I mainly reheat one portion and want to be able to defrost food before cooking it another way. The stated power alone doesn’t tell me whether the result will be even. |
| Cooking modes | A solo microwave covers everyday reheating and defrosting; a grill adds browning, while a combination microwave with convection cooking can also cook like an oven, according to UFC-Que Choisir. If you’re considering a mini oven or an air fryer instead, check separately how you’ll reheat and defrost your meals. | If I often make gratins, I’d look at a grill model. If I cook as I would in an oven and don’t have one I can use, convection cooking becomes a priority. Otherwise, these features may go unused. |
| Controls and cleaning | Check that the controls are easy to read, the settings are straightforward to programme and the cavity is easy to reach. Check the accessories and cleaning instructions for the exact model you’re considering. | For everyday use, I’d rather have settings I understand and a cavity that’s easy to clean than programmes I won’t use. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on capacity alone
Two important questions remain: will your dish fit inside, and will the appliance fit on your worktop? The turntable diameter and external dimensions matter just as much as the stated capacity.
Measure your largest plate and the space you have in mind, then leave the ventilation clearances specified in the manual.
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Choosing a combination microwave just for reheating
A combination microwave offers extra cooking modes, but its size and accessories need to suit a small kitchenette. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes its features from those of solo and grill models.
Think about the meals you usually make: choose convection cooking if you’ll genuinely cook as you would in an oven, or a grill if you regularly brown or crisp food.
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Confusing power with reheating performance
The wattage alone doesn’t tell you how evenly heat is distributed or how well the microwave defrosts. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these aspects separately in its testing process.
If even heating is particularly important to you, compare tests carried out using similar methods and check the settings on the exact model.
Brands to compare
H.Koenig
The VIO4 is an example of a 20 L solo microwave designed for reheating and defrosting.
- H.Koenig lists the VIO4 as having 700 W of power, five heat settings and a 30-minute timer.
- These specifications apply to the VIO4; they don’t tell you how evenly it reheats food.
Whirlpool
The French freestanding range includes grill and combination models.
- Whirlpool describes the MWF421SL as a 25 L grill model with no turntable.
- The features listed for the MWF421SL, including AutoClean, aren’t available across all Whirlpool models.
Panasonic
Two models show the difference between a grill and a combination microwave with convection cooking.
- According to Panasonic, the NN-GD35 combines microwave and grill functions; the NN-C69KSM specification also lists convection cooking.
- Panasonic lists the NN-C69KSM as measuring 520 × 520 × 327 mm and weighing 22,2 kg. Check your available space before considering this size.
Samsung
The brand offers solo, grill and combination models to compare according to the modes you’ll actually use.
- Samsung lists grill and defrost functions on the MG32DG4524CTE1, including a bread defrost setting.
- Check the features and accessories listed for the exact model rather than assuming they’re available across the whole range.
Solo and grill microwaves on Joybuy
These models cover the two uses featured here: reheating and defrosting with a solo microwave, or adding a grill for browning and crisping. For each one, check that the appliance and cavity size suit your kitchenette and your dishes.
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Beko MGC20100B1, 20 L grill microwave, 700 W, black
Worth considering if you want to brown or crisp food as well as reheat and defrost. Check that the turntable suits your dishes and leave the ventilation clearances required for installation.
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Whirlpool MWP 101 W, 20 L solo microwave, 700 W
A solo model to compare if you want to reheat and defrost without a grill. Before setting aside space for it, check that the turntable suits your plate and allow for the required ventilation clearances.
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COMFEE CMO‑MP012OC(WH), 19 L solo microwave, 700 W
This model has five power levels, a defrost function, a 30-minute timer and a 245 mm turntable. Its stated dimensions are 44,6 × 36,3 × 24,3 cm; check the manual to allow for ventilation too.
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COMFEE CM-E202CC(BK), 20 L solo microwave, 700 W
Its digital controls include six pre-set menus, eleven power levels and defrosting by weight or time. Check the turntable size against your dishes, and allow for the clearances specified in the manual.
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LG Electronics MH 6535 gih, 25 L grill microwave, white
The grill is useful if you want to brown or crisp food as well as reheat and defrost. The stated dimensions are 47,6 × 38,8 × 27,2 cm, so check the space and ventilation required. Confirm the grill’s power for the exact model before comparing this specification.
Frequently asked questions
Is a solo microwave enough for a student kitchenette?
Yes, if you mainly reheat and defrost individual portions and don’t need to brown or crisp food regularly. However, check the external dimensions and ventilation clearances, and make sure there’s room for your plate.
What does a grill microwave do?
It adds a heat source for browning or crisping certain dishes. Having a grill mode doesn’t guarantee even browning: UFC-Que Choisir assesses this separately in its testing process.
When should you consider a combination microwave instead of an oven?
Consider one if you don’t have a working oven and genuinely plan to use convection cooking for baking or roasting. Check the dimensions, accessories and clearances required: according to Panasonic, the NN-C69KSM measures 520 × 520 × 327 mm.
What should you do if the microwave delivered doesn’t match the contract?
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity requires professional sellers to provide private customers with goods that match the contract, whether new, second-hand or refurbished, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller, clearly describing the difference you’ve noticed.