Choose a basic microwave if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food; add a grill if you’d also like to brown or crisp dishes occasionally. A combination microwave with a fan oven function is better suited to regular oven-style cooking, as long as it fits your home and can be installed there. Whatever you choose, measure the space and check your dishes will fit inside before relying on the stated capacity.
You want to reheat and defrost food on a small worktop. Que Choisir includes student accommodation among the uses for a microwave. To compare models, measure their external dimensions and check how much room you’ll need to open the door.
You want to take care of everyday meals without necessarily installing a conventional oven. Que Choisir also mentions second homes: your choice will depend mainly on the space available and the types of cooking you actually plan to do there.
If you regularly need to cook dishes that require a fan oven, a basic microwave or one with a grill won’t meet the same needs. Check the functions of the combination microwave you’re considering, the dimensions of dishes it can accommodate and any installation requirements.
For student accommodation or a second home, start by thinking about the types of cooking you need before comparing capacity in litres and power in watts. Que Choisir distinguishes between basic microwaves, models with a grill and combination microwaves according to their uses and the space available.
Choose this: if reheating and defrosting cover most of your meals.
Bear in mind: you won’t have a grill for browning or crisping food, or a fan oven function for oven-style cooking.
Choose this: if you’d like to brown or crisp food occasionally, as well as reheat it.
Bear in mind: a grill on its own doesn’t offer the same cooking options as a fan oven.
Choose this: if you regularly need to cook dishes in an oven-style setting with a fan oven function.
Bear in mind: the appliance needs to fit in your home; a built-in model also requires a compatible housing unit.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Measure the space available and compare the external dimensions, then check the size of the turntable or cavity against your dishes. | In a studio flat, I want to reheat meals and defrost food without taking up the whole worktop; around 50 % of consumers would put this space-saving need first. |
| Occasional browning or crisping | Check that it has a grill, what modes it offers and which accessories are included. | If I mainly want to give some dishes a golden finish, a grill matters more to me than a fan oven function; around 30 % of consumers would prioritise this occasional use. |
| Oven-style cooking | Check for a fan oven function, its temperature range and any installation requirements, including the housing unit needed for a built-in appliance. | Without a usable oven, I need to be able to cook regularly in ways other than simply reheating food. This would be a priority for around 20 % of consumers. |
The internal capacity tells you neither the appliance’s external dimensions nor the size of the dishes it can hold. For example, Samsung France lists dimensions of 489 × 275 × 374 mm for the 23 L MS23K3614AW/EF, while Panasonic France gives dimensions of 520 × 327 × 520 mm for the 30 L NN-C69KSM combination microwave.
Measure the available width, height and depth. Also check the door clearance and the dimensions of the turntable or cavity.
These figures describe different things: Samsung France lists an output power of 800 W and a power consumption of 1 150 W for the MS23K3614AW/EF.
To compare the stated microwave power of two models, check the output power for each rather than comparing one model’s output power with the other’s power consumption.
A grill is mainly used to brown or crisp food. The Panasonic NN-C69KSM combination microwave also has a fan oven function; this is worth considering if you plan to cook oven-style dishes regularly.
If you want to bake or roast, check specifically that the model you’re considering has a fan oven function and look at its temperature range.
A model’s specifications alone don’t tell you the terms on which you can buy and install it.
Before ordering, check the full model number, included accessories, installation instructions and the terms offered by your chosen retailer.
These models show some of the features and formats you can compare; the specifications of one model don’t apply to every product from the same brand.
Worth considering if you want a basic microwave to sit on a worktop, mainly for reheating and defrosting.
Worth a look if you’re deciding between a microwave with a grill and a combination model with a fan oven function.
A model worth considering if you’re looking for a microwave with a grill and a flatbed cavity.
Worth considering mainly if your home already has a suitable space for a built-in combination microwave.
These appliances are suited to reheating and defrosting in a small home; some also have a grill for browning or crisping food. If you mainly want to cook using a fan oven function, check that the model you’re considering has one.
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For reheating and defrosting in a small home, without the need for a grill.
Stated capacity of 20 L, 700 W power, six power levels and a defrost function. Check that your dishes fit on the turntable.
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For reheating and defrosting, with the option to brown or crisp food occasionally.
The title states a capacity of 20 L and microwave power of 700 W. Leave at least 10 cm of clearance at the sides and rear, as specified in the product details.
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For reheating meals, with the added option of a grill.
The title states a capacity of 23 L and power of 900 W. Check the manual for the clearance needed around the appliance; if you want to cook using a fan oven function, confirm separately that it has one.
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For reheating and defrosting in a small space, with digital controls.
The title states 700 W, six pre-set programmes and eleven power levels. Check the turntable diameter if you use larger dishes.
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For reheating and defrosting, without adding a grill to your list of requirements.
The title states a capacity of 23 L and a quick defrost function. Before comparing its power with another model, confirm its microwave output power, which is different from its rated input power.
A basic model will do the job if you don’t need a grill or a fan oven function. Measure the space and check the size of the turntable or cavity: the capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether your dishes will fit.
A grill lets you brown or crisp food, but it doesn’t on its own provide the fan oven function needed for some oven-style cooking. If you plan to roast or bake regularly, look for a combination model that specifies a fan oven function and temperature range.
Only if the space and installation conditions are suitable for the model you choose. For example, Electrolux France specifies a housing unit measuring 450 × 560 × 550 mm for the KVLBE08X. Check the manual too, and if any alterations to the property are needed, get your landlord’s permission.
According to the DGCCRF, France’s statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual. If your microwave doesn’t match the retailer’s description or the use normally expected of it, contact the retailer and provide proof of purchase.