People reheating small leftovers
If you mainly warm a bowl of gravy, sauce or leftovers, usable power and time controls matter more to that task than a grill. You will still need to stir the food and check that it is hot throughout.
Who this choice matters to
People with limited worktop space
A microwave for one person still needs to fit both your usual bowl and its planned worktop position. Compare external dimensions as well as cavity capacity.
People reheating a wider range of meals
If gravy is only one of the foods you prepare, timed increments or defrost functions may be worth considering. Check the functions on the particular model rather than assuming every compact microwave has them.
What to check before buying
Start with control over a small serving and room for your bowl, then decide whether functions for other meals would get regular use.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Small-portion control | Selectable power levels and a timer that permits short heating intervals. | If I am warming one bowl of gravy, I want time to stir it and check the centre rather than relying on a preset. Around 50% of consumers would put small-portion control first. |
| Space and simplicity | External dimensions and whether your usual bowl fits the cavity and turntable. | With little worktop room, I need an appliance that fits without complicating a routine reheating task. Compact, uncomplicated use would come first for roughly 33% of consumers. |
| Other cooking tasks | Whether defrost or quick-timer functions suit your meals, or whether you will use a grill. | If I also defrost meals or brown food, those functions matter beyond warming gravy. Broader cooking use would be the primary concern for about 17% of consumers. |
Buying pitfalls
-
Buying a grill microwave just for gravy
A grill browns food, but that function does not replace controlled reheating and checking that gravy is hot throughout.
Choose a solo microwave for the narrow reheating task unless you also expect to grill or brown other foods.
-
Relying on wattage instead of checking the gravy
A microwave's power rating does not tell you whether the whole serving has reheated thoroughly.
Use manageable heating intervals, stir the gravy and check that it is steaming hot throughout before serving, as GOV.UK advises in its food hygiene guidance for businesses.
-
Using an unsuitable bowl or leaving a utensil inside
Electrical Safety First warns that metal or unsuitable containers can interfere with heating, spark or melt.
Use a container marked microwave-safe and remove metal utensils and foil before heating.
-
Checking cavity size but not worktop fit
Capacity in litres does not tell you the microwave's external width or depth, or whether your bowl fits its turntable.
Measure the intended space and bowl, check the manufacturer's placement instructions, and confirm the appliance has a UK three-pin plug with a fuse, as Electrical Safety First advises for countertop microwaves.
Relevant brands to consider
Russell Hobbs
The RHM1725 is a compact solo example: the product information lists a 17-litre cavity, 700 W microwave output and a 245 mm turntable.
- Its dial controls and five power levels suit buyers who prefer direct settings for routine reheating.
- The RHM1725 has no digital display or grill; choose another model if those functions matter to you.
Panasonic
Panasonic UK & Ireland lists the NN-E27JW as a 20-litre solo microwave with 800 W output and a 255 mm turntable.
- The NN-E27JW's Quick 30 function may suit someone who regularly sets short heating intervals.
- Panasonic's separate NN-K18JM grill model adds browning capability, which is relevant to other foods rather than reheating gravy itself.
Sharp
Sharp Consumer UK lists 20-litre, 800 W solo models with different controls: the manual YC-MS01U and digital YC-MS02U.
- The YC-MS01U has five power levels and dial controls; the YC-MS02U has eleven power levels and a digital panel.
- Choose between the control types according to how you prefer to set reheating time, and confirm availability for the exact variant before ordering.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a grill microwave to reheat onion gravy?
No; a solo microwave is suited to reheating gravy. Consider a grill microwave if you will also brown, toast or grill other foods, since its grill function does not address the need to stir and check the gravy.
How should I reheat onion gravy in a microwave?
Stir it during reheating and check that it is steaming hot throughout, including at the centre. GOV.UK food hygiene guidance for businesses says food should be reheated until steaming hot all the way through and reheated only once.
What container should I use for gravy?
Use a bowl clearly marked microwave-safe and follow any limits on its label. Remove metal utensils and foil, and do not use foam trays or plastic bags unless they are specified as suitable for microwave use.
What should I check when buying a countertop microwave for use in the UK?
Check that the exact model fits your worktop and has a UK three-pin plug with a fuse. Electrical Safety First advises that countertop microwave ovens should have that plug and fuse; also follow the manufacturer's instructions for placement and use.