Single-portion lunch reheaters
If you usually heat one bowl or meal-prep container, a compact solo microwave is a sensible starting point. Check that your usual dish fits rather than relying on the litre capacity alone.
Who is this for?
People sharing the clean-up
When several people use the same microwave, controls that are easy to understand and surfaces that are straightforward to wipe make regular use less awkward, especially after sauce splashes.
Users of broad containers
If your microwave-safe dish is wide or awkwardly shaped, compare its footprint with a turntable before buying. A flatbed layout may give you a more practical place to set it.
What matters when buying?
Start with a microwave that accommodates the usual dish and allows heating to be paused for stirring. Then consider cleaning and controls; extra cooking functions need only matter if the kitchen will use them.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Thorough reheating | Look for timed controls that let you pause to stir, and use a microwave-safe dish you can handle safely. | When reheating thick curry, I need to stir it and check the centre rather than trust a preset cycle. Around 36% of consumers put thorough reheating first. |
| Cleaning and shared use | Check whether the cavity is easy to wipe and, on a turntable model, whether the plate can be removed for cleaning. | With several people using the appliance, I want sauce splashes dealt with promptly and controls everyone can follow. For around 29% of consumers, easy upkeep is the main concern. |
| Dish and worktop fit | Compare your widest container with the turntable or cavity layout, and check the appliance’s external dimensions against the available space. | If my usual dish is broad or the worktop is tight, both the container and the appliance have to fit. Around 21% of consumers put fit ahead of the other concerns. |
| Other cooking functions | Decide whether anyone will use defrosting programmes or a grill beyond reheating curry. | If the kitchen also needs to thaw ingredients or brown other food, I may want more than a basic solo model. Extra functions come first for around 14% of consumers. |
Buying pitfalls
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Assuming a preset proves the curry is hot throughout
Neither a power rating nor an automatic programme checks the centre of a particular portion. GOV.UK’s food-hygiene guidance says reheated food should be steaming hot all the way through.
Heat the curry in stages and stir it regularly, as advised by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. Check that it is steaming hot throughout before eating; GOV.UK also advises reheating food only once.
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Choosing by litre capacity alone
Capacity does not tell you whether a wide container will sit securely on a turntable or whether the microwave will fit the worktop.
Measure the container you use most often and compare it with the turntable diameter or cavity layout. Check the appliance’s external width, depth and height separately.
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Buying a grill for a reheating-only task
A grill adds another cooking function, but it is not needed to heat a bowl of curry. A combination appliance also needs to fit the space available.
Start with a solo microwave if reheating is the main task. Consider a grill-equipped model when people will use that function for other food.
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Leaving sauce spills for the next user
Spills make a shared appliance harder to keep clean. GOV.UK explains that bacteria can spread between food, surfaces and equipment.
Wipe spills promptly and clean a removable turntable where fitted. When choosing a model, consider whether its cavity and controls will be straightforward for everyone to maintain.
Brands to consider
Beko
The Beko MOC20100BFB is an example of a compact solo microwave for individual portions. The product information lists a 20-litre capacity, 700 W maximum microwave power and a 245 mm turntable.
- A straightforward turntable format to consider when the usual dish fits.
- Check the bowl’s footprint against the 245 mm turntable before choosing this model.
Hamilton Beach
The HB70H20C is a 20-litre solo model with an enamel interior and automatic programmes.
- The enamel cavity is worth considering where several users need to wipe away sauce splashes.
- Automatic programmes do not replace stirring and checking that curry is steaming hot throughout.
Caso
The Caso MG 20 Ecostyle is a flatbed microwave with a grill. The product information describes the turntable-free layout as providing more space for large dishes.
- The flatbed is worth comparing with a turntable if people regularly use broad microwave-safe containers.
- Check its external dimensions and whether anyone needs the grill, rather than choosing it solely for curry reheating.
Russell Hobbs
The RHM1731G is a smaller solo-microwave example. The product information lists a 17-litre capacity, 700 W maximum microwave power and a 245 mm turntable.
- It offers a compact-capacity route for someone usually reheating one dish at a time.
- Compare the usual bowl or container with its turntable and cavity before buying.
Solo microwaves for shared kitchens
These Joybuy solo microwaves offer different capacities and controls for reheating individual portions. Choose by the dish and worktop space available, then consider which controls the people sharing the kitchen will use.
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Russell Hobbs RHM2063-AH 20L digital solo microwave
Consider this model for individual portions when you want to set and interrupt a timed reheating cycle. Its listed features include 800 W microwave power and five power levels; check that your usual container and the appliance fit the available space.
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Hisense H25MOBS7HUK 25L digital solo microwave
Consider the larger stated capacity if your usual curry dish needs more room, but confirm the dish’s fit rather than relying on litres alone. The product name specifies 900 W microwave power and auto defrost; also check the worktop space needed.
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Midea MMOP01MZ-WH 20L manual solo microwave
This is a manual-control option for a shared kitchen where people prefer to set their own reheating time. The product name specifies 700 W microwave power and MET Inverter Technology; confirm that your regular dish fits before buying.
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Hisense H23MOBS5HUK 23L solo microwave
Consider this 23-litre option if the container you share the microwave with calls for more space than a smaller model offers. The product name specifies 800 W microwave power and touch controls; check both container fit and the appliance’s external dimensions.
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Midea MMOP01MZ-BK 20L manual solo microwave
This is another manual-control choice for timed reheating of individual portions. Its product name specifies 700 W microwave power and MET Inverter Technology; check the fit of your usual dish and the available worktop space.
Common questions
How should I reheat vegetable curry in a microwave?
Heat it until it is steaming hot throughout, not merely warm. GOV.UK’s food-hygiene guidance advises reheating food only once, and the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk advises stirring regularly during microwave reheating so the centre heats thoroughly.
Do I need a grill just to reheat curry?
No: a solo microwave can handle the reheating task if your dish fits and you can pause to stir and check the food. Consider a grill-equipped model if people also intend to use its additional cooking function.
Will any 20-litre microwave fit my lunch container?
Not necessarily. The litre rating describes capacity, not the precise space available for your dish. Compare the container with the cavity or turntable dimensions and measure the worktop for the appliance itself.
What should we do when curry splashes inside a shared microwave?
Wipe up the spill promptly and clean any removable turntable as appropriate for the appliance. GOV.UK explains that bacteria can spread between food, surfaces and equipment, making regular cleaning important when several people use the same microwave.