Student who mainly reheats meals
If your accommodation already has facilities for other types of cooking, start by comparing solo microwaves for reheating and defrosting. Que Choisir describes these as the two main everyday uses for a microwave.
Which option is right for you?
The right appliance depends above all on which cooking facilities your studio flat already has.
Student who wants to cook without an oven
If you’re planning to use a grill or fan-assisted cooking, look at combination microwaves rather than an appliance limited to reheating. Check how much space the appliance needs, including room for ventilation.
Tenant in a furnished studio flat
Before adding an appliance, check the property inventory and see which cooking appliances are provided and working. You can then choose based on the needs that are still to be covered.
What should you check before choosing?
First, work out which cooking functions you’re missing. Then check that the appliance you’re considering suits the available space and the conditions in your studio flat.
Solo microwave
Consider it: for reheating and defrosting if your other appliances cover the cooking you need to do.
Limitation: it doesn’t add a grill or fan-assisted cooking, two functions that Que Choisir distinguishes.
Microwave with grill
Consider it: if you’d also like to brown or crisp some dishes, as well as reheat food.
Limitation: according to Que Choisir, a grill on its own doesn’t provide the fan-assisted cooking offered by a combination microwave.
Combination microwave
Consider it: if you’ll genuinely use the grill and fan-assisted cooking to cover some of the functions of an oven you don’t have.
Limitation: these functions don’t remove the need to check the appliance’s size, accessories and installation requirements.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Existing appliances | Check which cooking appliances are provided, whether they’re in working order and which functions you’ll actually use. | I’d rather avoid adding another appliance if the accommodation already lets me cook the meals I usually make. |
| Space and cookware | Compare the external dimensions, door opening and clearance needed for ventilation. Make sure your dishes fit inside the cavity: capacity in litres alone won’t tell you this. | I still need enough worktop space to prepare meals, while keeping room for the plates and dishes I use. |
| Installation | Check the manual for ventilation clearances and connection requirements, then make sure the space and socket are suitable. Whirlpool recommends placing its appliances on a flat surface and keeping the vents unobstructed. | I need to be able to position and connect the appliance in my studio flat in line with its instructions. |
| Containers | Check that containers and accessories are suitable for each mode you use. For packaging designed for microwave use, follow the power and timing instructions: Anses warns that more intensive reheating can increase the risk of substances migrating from packaging. | I want to use my containers safely, without confusing the instructions for microwave mode with those for the grill. |
| Controls and cleaning | Check the settings for the modes you plan to use and how easy it is to reach inside the cavity for cleaning. Que Choisir assesses ease of use separately from cooking functions. | Easy-to-understand controls and straightforward cleaning matter more to me than modes I’ll rarely use. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a combination microwave before checking what your studio flat already has
An existing oven may already cover the cooking you were considering fan-assisted cooking for.
Check the inventory, make sure the supplied appliances work, and note down what you cook during a typical week.
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Relying on capacity in litres alone
Two appliances with similar stated capacities can differ in their external dimensions and the layout of their cavities. For example, Whirlpool lists its MWF259SG as measuring 49 × 32,5 × 46,8 cm and weighing 19,6 kg.
Measure the space, check how far the door can open and measure your dishes, then compare these measurements with the product details and manual for the model you’re considering.
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Assuming a grill is the same as fan-assisted oven cooking
Que Choisir distinguishes the browning provided by a grill from the fan-assisted cooking available on combination models.
Choose a grill function if you want to brown or crisp food. If you’re planning oven-style cooking, make sure the model specifically offers fan-assisted cooking.
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Using the same container in every mode
Instructions can differ between microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking modes. Anses says that heating packaging more intensively than intended increases the risk of substances migrating into food.
Check the container’s markings, the packaging instructions and the manual for the mode, power and cooking time you plan to use.
Brands and models to know
These examples show some configurations worth comparing. Their features don’t apply to every appliance from the same brand.
Bosch
The French range includes freestanding solo microwaves and models with a grill.
- Bosch’s product details for the FEL023MS2 list a 20 L cavity, eight automatic programmes and dimensions of 44,2 × 26 × 34,5 cm.
- These dimensions and programmes apply to the FEL023MS2. Check the exact model number if space is a deciding factor.
Whirlpool
The French range includes models with a grill, as well as combination microwaves.
- Whirlpool lists the MWF259SG as having a 25 L cavity with no turntable, and both microwave and grill functions.
- Whirlpool gives this model’s dimensions as 49 × 32,5 × 46,8 cm. The lack of a turntable and these dimensions aren’t features of the entire range.
Panasonic
The French range includes multifunction models combining different cooking modes, depending on the model.
- Panasonic says the NN-CD88 combines microwave, quartz grill and convection functions.
- The NN-CD575M, meanwhile, is listed as having a 27 L capacity and a quartz grill. Check the functions and dimensions of the exact model rather than assuming they apply to all Panasonic combination microwaves.
Microwaves for these needs on Joybuy
This selection includes a model with a grill and solo microwaves for reheating or defrosting in a studio flat. If you need fan-assisted cooking for oven-style dishes, check that the appliance you’re considering has this function.
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Beko MGC20100B1, 20 L microwave with grill, 700 W
Worth comparing if you want to reheat and defrost, as well as brown or crisp some dishes. The grill function isn’t a substitute for fan-assisted cooking, so check the manual if you’re planning oven-style cooking. Also check the clearance needed for installation.
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Heinrich's, 20 L solo microwave, 700 W
An option to consider if reheating and defrosting are your priorities and you don’t need a grill function. The product name lists six power levels and a 30-minute timer. Check the manual for ventilation clearances and connection requirements.
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Hkoenig VIO8, 20 L freestanding microwave, 700 W
Worth considering for reheating and defrosting if you don’t need a grill. Before making room for it in your studio flat, compare its dimensions and the clearances specified in the manual with the space available on your worktop.
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Cecotec, 20 L microwave, 700 W, Ready2Clean
Another option for reheating and defrosting when these uses matter more than extra cooking functions. The product name lists six power levels and a Ready2Clean coating. Check the external dimensions and turntable size against the dishes you use.
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COMFEE CMO‑MP012OC(BK), 19 L Inverter microwave, 700 W
Worth comparing for reheating and defrosting if you’re looking for a straightforward microwave. The product name lists five power levels and a 245 mm turntable. Also measure the available space and check the installation requirements in the manual.
Frequently asked questions
Should you buy a microwave if your studio flat is furnished?
Not until you’ve checked which appliances are provided and whether they work. Look at the inventory, then decide if you still need facilities for reheating, defrosting or cooking.
Can a combination microwave replace some oven functions?
Yes, if the model has fan-assisted cooking and you’ll genuinely use it. Que Choisir distinguishes these combination models from solo microwaves and models with a grill. Check the modes, accessories and space needed before choosing.
How much ventilation space does a freestanding microwave need?
Follow the clearances in the manual for your chosen model and keep its ventilation openings unobstructed. Whirlpool recommends placing the appliance on a flat surface and warns that blocked ventilation can cause overheating.
Can you heat a ready meal tray directly in the microwave?
Only if its markings and instructions say it’s suitable. Follow the power and timing instructions on the packaging: according to Anses, more intensive reheating increases the risk of substances migrating from the packaging into the food.