Reheaters short on worktop space
You usually warm one portion or a small casserole dish and need to check both the microwave’s outside dimensions and the space available around it.
Who this choice affects
Cooks focused on a hot centre
You want enough control to reheat a creamy dish without relying on the timer alone. Selectable power levels are useful to compare, while stirring and checking the food remain part of reheating.
Cooks who want a browned topping
You want to heat the cauliflower cheese and brown its topping in the same appliance, so a grill function matters more to you than it would for reheating alone.
What matters when buying
Check the worktop and your dish first, then decide how much control you want over reheating and whether you will use a grill for the topping.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Worktop and dish fit | Measure the available width and depth, allowing for the model’s ventilation instructions. Compare your dish’s widest measurement, including handles, with the turntable and cavity dimensions. | I need my casserole dish to rotate without putting a microwave too large for my worktop in the kitchen; around 42% of consumers put physical fit first. |
| Reheating control | Compare selectable power levels and timer controls. Check and stir the food where practical rather than treating a preset programme as proof that the centre is hot. | When reheating a creamy portion, I want to adjust the cycle and check its centre before eating; controllable reheating comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Topping browning | Look for an actual grill function and check the instructions for suitable cookware and any supplied rack. | If I want the cheese browned as well as the dish heated, a solo microwave will not provide that grill function; around 25% of consumers make browning their primary concern. |
Buying pitfalls
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Choosing by capacity alone
A 17L or 20L label does not tell you whether your casserole dish, including its handles, can rotate or whether the appliance will fit its intended position.
Measure the dish and worktop, then compare them with the model’s external dimensions, turntable, cavity and placement instructions.
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Adding a grill for reheating alone
Electrical Safety First distinguishes solo microwaves for heating and reheating from grill microwaves, which add an element for grilling and toasting.
Choose a grill model if you expect to brown the topping; otherwise, prioritise dish fit and the reheating controls you will use.
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Overlooking the socket and placement
A microwave needs a suitable position as well as enough worktop space. An awkward socket location is not a reason to overlook the appliance’s electrical and ventilation instructions.
Plan its position near an appropriate mains socket and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for connection and clearance.
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Trusting a programme instead of checking the food
A completed cycle does not establish that a cauliflower-cheese portion is hot throughout. NHS guidance for food prepared for children specifically calls for thorough reheating, stirring microwave-heated food and checking its temperature.
Use microwave-safe cookware, stir where practical and check the centre before serving, taking particular care with food for young children.
Brands to consider
Panasonic
Its range includes compact solo models and separate inverter models.
- Panasonic specifies a 20L cavity, 255mm turntable and 440 × 324 × 258mm external dimensions for the NN-ST22QBBPQ.
- Do not assume that the compact NN-ST22QBBPQ has the inverter features Panasonic describes for other models.
Russell Hobbs
Its RHM1725B is a compact solo option for straightforward reheating.
- The product information lists the RHM1725B with a 17L cavity, 700W maximum microwave power and a 245mm turntable.
- Measure a handled casserole dish before relying on that turntable size.
Bosch
Its FFL020MS2B is a freestanding 20L solo microwave.
- Bosch specifies 800W maximum microwave power and external dimensions of 260 × 442 × 345mm.
- Check the full model specifications and manual for the turntable and cavity measurements needed to assess your dish.
Midea
Its MMOP01MZ-BK is a 20L, 700W solo model marketed with MET Inverter technology.
- The Joybuy product listing identifies inverter technology for lower-power operation.
- Claims about more even heating should not replace checking that the reheated food is hot throughout.
Joybuy microwave choices
These models cover solo reheating, inverter-equipped solo microwaves and a combination model with a grill. For a small kitchen, compare each one with your available worktop space and the dish you intend to use.
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Russell Hobbs RHM2063-AH 20L Digital Microwave, Black
A solo option for reheating when you want selectable settings. The product name specifies 800W maximum power and five power levels; measure your dish, including handles, and check the model’s placement instructions before choosing its worktop position.
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Midea MMOP01MZ-BK 20L MET Inverter Solo Microwave, Black
Consider this 700W solo model if lower-power settings matter more than browning a topping. MET Inverter technology is identified in its product name; check the turntable size against your dish and confirm the controls you prefer before ordering. Inverter claims do not replace checking the food’s centre.
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Hisense H23MOBS5HUK 23L Solo Microwave, Black
This 800W solo model is worth comparing if your dish needs more room than a smaller turntable offers. Check the dish against its cavity and turntable measurements, and measure the worktop and required ventilation space before committing to a 23L appliance.
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Toshiba MW3-SAC23SF(MB) 23L Air Fry Combination Microwave, Mirror Black
Consider this model if you want to reheat cauliflower cheese and also use a grill to brown its topping. Its product name specifies 900W microwave power and a 1000W grill; check its external dimensions, ventilation requirements and cookware instructions for the mode you intend to use.
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Midea SDA 20L 700W Inverter Solo Microwave, White
This solo model suits a comparison focused on reheating controls rather than a browned topping. Its product name specifies digital controls and a 245mm turntable; measure your dish including handles, and confirm external dimensions and ventilation space before placing it on a small worktop.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 17L microwave large enough for cauliflower cheese?
It can be if your dish fits and rotates freely. The product information lists a 245mm turntable for the 17L Russell Hobbs RHM1725B, while Panasonic specifies 255mm for its compact 20L NN-ST22QBBPQ; measure the dish at its widest point, including handles, rather than choosing by litres alone.
Do I need a grill microwave for cauliflower cheese?
You do not need a grill just to reheat the dish. Electrical Safety First describes solo microwaves as suitable for heating and reheating; a grill microwave adds an element for browning or toasting, which matters if you want that finish on the cheese topping.
How do I check that a reheated portion is ready to serve?
Check that the cauliflower cheese is hot through to its centre, stirring where practical so heat can distribute through the dish. For food prepared for children, NHS guidance specifically calls for reheating until steaming hot throughout, stirring microwave-heated food and checking its temperature.
What if the nearest socket is awkward to reach?
Plan a suitable worktop position near an appropriate mains socket rather than assuming an extension lead will suit the appliance. Follow the microwave manufacturer’s connection, placement and ventilation instructions before deciding where it will stand.