If you mainly reheat and defrost food, start with a basic microwave; choose a grill model if you also want to brown dishes. A combination microwave is worth considering for regular oven-style cooking, while a compact air fryer only makes sense as an extra if you often cook small roasted or crispy portions and have enough space.
If you mainly need to reheat and defrost meals, a basic microwave will cover these tasks without adding a cooking function you may never use. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide distinguishes this use from that of grill and combination models.
If you want to make cakes, pizzas or roasts, look for an appliance that explicitly states it has an oven-style cooking mode. The presence of a grill alone does not mean it has fan-assisted cooking.
If you already have a microwave for reheating, an air fryer can offer a different way to cook with hot air. Do check how much room the appliance and its open drawer will take up: UFC-Que Choisir points out that sizes vary considerably.
If your kitchenette has no conventional oven, start with the meals you actually cook, then check that your chosen appliance will fit and can be used in the space available.
Choose this: if reheating and defrosting make up most of what you need it for.
Bear in mind: it won’t meet your needs for browning dishes or cooking with fan-assisted heat.
Choose this: if you also want to brown pizzas, toasted sandwiches or gratins.
Bear in mind: having a grill does not automatically mean the appliance has fan-assisted cooking.
Choose this: if you regularly plan to cook dishes as you would in an oven and want microwave functions in the same appliance.
Bear in mind: check the exact model’s footprint, weight and cooking modes carefully.
Choose this: if you often cook small portions that you want to roast or crisp up.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for it and will have another appliance to clean. If your microwave does everything you need, you can skip this extra.
| What you need | What to check | Consumers with this need |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with the usable space for your dishes; check its defrost functions. | When my meals mainly need a quick reheat, I want to be able to position and use the appliance without taking up too much room. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Browning and gratinating | Check that a grill is explicitly listed and find out which accessories are suitable for this mode. | For the occasional toasted sandwich or gratin, I’m looking for browning rather than a full range of oven-style cooking modes. This would be the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Cooking without a conventional oven | Look for an explicitly stated fan-assisted cooking mode and measure the space needed for installation. | Without an oven at home, I want to be able to make pizzas, cakes or roasts regularly. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Adding hot-air cooking | Check the basket capacity for your portions and allow enough room to open the drawer. | My microwave already takes care of reheating, but I’d also like to roast small portions regularly. Around 14% of consumers would make this extra cooking function their priority. |
The capacity in litres won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop, whether the door can open or whether your dish will fit inside.
Measure the appliance and the space it needs when open, then check the manual for the exact model’s ventilation clearances. Also compare the usable cavity dimensions with the dishes you usually use.
A grill is useful for browning, but its presence doesn’t confirm that the appliance has the fan-assisted heat you’ll need for the cooking you have in mind.
If you plan to cook cakes or roasts, check the model specifications for a fan-assisted mode rather than relying on the word ‘combination’ alone.
Air fryers vary in size and ease of use. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir looks at cooking performance, cleaning and storage, among other things.
Only add one if you’ll genuinely use it for small hot-air cooking tasks. Then compare the basket, drawer opening and parts that need cleaning.
A second appliance also takes up space when it’s not in use and means more cleaning after meals.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. An extended warranty offered by a retailer is separate from this right.
Before taking out an extended warranty, compare its cover, exclusions and claims process carefully with the rights that already apply to your purchase.
The range includes freestanding combination microwaves, which may be worth considering if you want several cooking modes in one appliance.
LG grill microwaves are worth considering if browning matters more to you than having oven-style cooking modes.
Samsung offers a range of combination models, which are worth comparing if you want several cooking modes in one appliance.
Philips air fryers can be compared as an extra hot-air cooking appliance for smaller portions.
These models are designed for reheating and defrosting in a kitchenette; some are also listed with a grill. If you’re looking for oven-style cooking or considering adding an air fryer, check for those functions separately rather than assuming they’re included in this selection.
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Worth considering if your main needs in a kitchenette are reheating and defrosting.
The product title lists 700 W, 6 preset menus and 11 power levels. Before installation, check the manual for the required clearances and make sure your dishes will fit inside the cavity.
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Worth considering if reheating and defrosting matter more to you than browning.
The product title mentions quick defrost, an LED display and 1150 W, but doesn’t say what this power rating refers to. Measure the available space and check the manual before installation.
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The grill is useful if you want to brown dishes as well as reheat food.
The product title lists 1000 W without specifying which function this refers to. If you also want to cook oven-style dishes, check separately whether it has a fan-assisted mode and consult the manual for installation requirements.
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Worth considering if you want to gratinate dishes occasionally while keeping the functions of a microwave.
The product title lists 700 W but doesn’t specify which mode this applies to. Check the manual for the clearances around the appliance, and make sure it has a fan-assisted mode if you plan to use it like an oven.
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First worth considering for reheating in a kitchenette.
The product title describes it as a ‘solo’ model and lists 900 W, while the feature details also mention a grill. Confirm the cooking modes for the exact model before choosing it for gratinating, and check the clearances required for installation.
The container must be suitable for the cooking mode you’re using: one that’s safe for microwave mode may not be suitable for the grill. Don’t use metal in microwave mode, and check that plastic containers are explicitly labelled as suitable. Consult the manual for the accessories allowed in each mode.
Follow the clearance instructions in the manual for the exact model, and allow room to open its door or drawer. Don’t automatically apply the guidance for one freestanding microwave to another microwave or an air fryer.
If you mainly need to reheat and defrost food, a microwave is still the most suitable choice. An air fryer is better suited to the separate task of cooking small portions with hot air. Consider one as an extra if you’ll use this function regularly and have room for it.
An extended warranty offered by a retailer should be considered separately from the legal guarantee of conformity. In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that this legal guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual. Compare the cover and exclusions of any extended warranty with the rights that already apply to your purchase.