In a studio flat kitchenette, separate your food-storage needs from your meal-preparation needs: a compact fridge takes care of the former, while a basic microwave is best for reheating and defrosting. If you also want to grill or bake, compare a combination microwave with a mini oven, taking into account the dishes you usually make, the appliances’ external dimensions and each model’s installation instructions.
If you need to store food and reheat meals in a small space, consider the space for your fridge and cooking appliance separately. Que Choisir recommends a table-top format for studio flats and a microwave for student accommodation.
If you mainly prepare simple meals there, choose reheating functions to suit how you actually cook, and size your fridge according to the food you need to store. Que Choisir lists second homes among the settings where a microwave can be useful.
If grilling or baking matters more to you than simply reheating, compare the functions of a combination microwave and a mini oven. Their cooking modes are not the same, so check which ones suit the dishes you make.
First, decide what food you need to store and what meals you want to prepare. Then measure each space before choosing an appliance size.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Compare the appliance’s width, depth and height with the available space. Allow room to open the door and follow the clearances specified in the model’s instructions. | I want to be able to open and use the appliance without losing worktop space or blocking its ventilation. |
| Food storage | Choose a usable capacity that suits your shopping habits and the food you store. Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 L as a general guide for one person; Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge. | I shop for several days at a time, so I need enough space without overfilling the fridge, and I need to be able to check its temperature. |
| Meal preparation | Distinguish between reheating and defrosting, grilling and baking. Que Choisir describes a combination microwave as combining microwave cooking with functions such as a grill and fan-assisted heat; check the modes available on the specific model. | If I mainly reheat leftovers, a basic microwave will do the job. For dishes that need grilling or baking, I’ll compare a combination microwave with a mini oven. |
| How long you’ll use it | Check the model’s care requirements and repair commitments, and don’t confuse them with your statutory rights. In France, the ministry responsible for the economy says the statutory conformity guarantee can be claimed for two years on new or second-hand goods bought from a professional seller. | I want to know how to look after the appliance and who to contact if a fault develops after purchase. |
An appliance may fit between two cabinets but still not have enough room for the door to open or for its ventilation requirements to be met.
Measure the depth and height too, then check the space against the external dimensions and instructions for the exact model.
A basic microwave covers reheating and defrosting, while a combination model adds options such as grilling and baking, depending on the model.
Start with the meals you usually make. If you won’t use the extra modes, first compare basic microwaves that meet your needs.
Anses advises against overfilling the fridge and recommends keeping it between 0 and +4 °C at its coldest point.
Choose a capacity that suits your shopping, leave space for air to circulate around the food and check the temperature.
A brand’s own repair promise does not replace the statutory conformity guarantee that applies to purchases from a professional seller in France.
Keep your proof of purchase. If a fault develops, distinguish the terms of any commercial commitment from the rights set out by the ministry responsible for the economy under the statutory conformity guarantee.
The TSE1504FN is a useful example for checking the installation requirements of a freestanding table-top fridge.
The NN-E20JW and NN-CD565B are examples of a solo microwave and a multifunctional appliance respectively.
The Optimo 19 L OX444810 is an example of a compact freestanding oven to consider if baking is more important to you than microwave reheating.
This selection includes microwaves for reheating meals, two models with a grill and a compact fridge for food storage. Compare them according to the need each one meets: a fridge cannot replace a cooking appliance.
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For reheating meals with the added option of grilling. The product title lists a capacity of 20 L and a power rating of 700 W. If you plan to put it in a tight space, check all the installation clearances in its instructions.
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Worth considering if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food. The title lists a power rating of 700 W, 11 power levels and a defrost function. Check the instructions for the clearances and electrical connection required for your chosen space.
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The grill may appeal if you want to make more than just reheated meals, but it doesn’t confirm that the appliance has fan-assisted heat. The title lists 1 000 W but doesn’t specify which function this refers to. Check the model’s electrical and installation instructions.
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An option to consider for reheating in a kitchenette. The title lists a power rating of 700 W and a capacity of 20 L. Before placing it under a cabinet, check all the ventilation instructions in the manual.
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This size meets your need for chilled storage, not for reheating meals. With 45 L listed in the title, compare its capacity with your shopping needs. Before storing perishable food in it, check that it can maintain the temperature recommended by Anses: between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point.
Anses recommends keeping the temperature between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point. Check the temperature and avoid overfilling the appliance so that cold air can circulate.
Yes, if you mainly want to reheat and defrost food. If you also prepare dishes that need grilling or baking, compare the functions of a combination microwave and a mini oven; Que Choisir treats these as different uses from simply reheating food.
Only use containers labelled as suitable for microwave use and for the cooking mode you’ve chosen. Don’t use metal utensils with the microwave function, and check the label on plastic containers.
For a purchase from a professional seller in France, the ministry responsible for the economy says the statutory conformity guarantee can be claimed for two years on new or second-hand goods. For a new item, during those two years you don’t have to prove that the fault existed at the time of sale; a commercial repair commitment is separate from this right.