Who is this choice for?

The right size and set of controls depend on whether you reheat one bowl, larger portions or other meals as well.

Leftover dhal reheaters

If you batch-cook dhal or bring home leftovers, prioritise a bowl that leaves room to stir. NHS reheating advice calls for food to be steaming hot all the way through; extra cooking modes do not replace that check.

Quick single-portion users

If lunch or dinner usually means one bowl, straightforward controls, space for that bowl and a surface you can wipe clean are more relevant than oven-style functions. Which? assesses heating performance and ease of use when testing microwaves, so compare models rather than assuming all solo units behave alike.

Large-dish or multi-use cooks

If you reheat several servings or use wide plates, check usable cavity space rather than capacity alone. A flatbed layout may help with dish fit; grill or convection functions are worth considering only if you also plan to cook with them.

What matters when buying?

For consumers choosing a microwave mainly to reheat red lentil dhal, check bowl fit and usable controls before deciding whether larger dishes or other cooking call for more functions.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Thorough reheating Check that the bowl leaves room to stir and that time and power are easy to adjust. When reheating thick, chilled dhal, I want to stir it and serve it steaming hot throughout; around 42% of consumers put thorough reheating first.
Simple single-bowl use Compare the controls, your usual bowl dimensions and the space available on your worktop. For a regular one-bowl meal, I want controls I can use without navigating cooking modes I do not need. Roughly 33% of consumers prioritise straightforward daily reheating.
Space and other cooking Measure your widest dish against the usable cavity; consider grill or convection only if you will use it. If I heat larger servings or cook other dishes, I need space or functions beyond a basic reheating setup; about 25% of consumers put those needs first.

Buying pitfalls

  • Assuming an automatic programme removes the need to stir

    A sensor programme or higher power setting does not establish that thick dhal is hot throughout. NHS guidance says reheated food should be steaming hot all the way through.

    Pause to stir the dhal during reheating, then check it throughout before serving, including when you have used an automatic programme.

  • Choosing by cavity capacity alone

    A capacity figure does not tell you whether your widest bowl will fit a particular turntable or flatbed cavity. The appliance also needs to fit the available worktop space.

    Compare your dish measurements with the usable cavity or turntable dimensions, and check the microwave’s external width, height and depth.

  • Choosing cooking modes you will not use

    A combination microwave adds grill and convection functions, but neither is needed to reheat a bowl of dhal. Those modes also bring accessories and surfaces to consider when cleaning.

    Choose a solo model if reheating is your main task; consider a combination model if grilling or oven-style cooking is a recurring need.

  • Applying Great Britain marking guidance across the whole UK

    GOV.UK’s product-marking guidance for Great Britain covers England, Scotland and Wales and directs readers to a separate process for Northern Ireland.

    If the microwave will be supplied in Northern Ireland, check the applicable marking requirements and seller documentation for that location.

Brands to consider

These named models illustrate different microwave formats; their specifications do not establish how every model from the same brand reheats dhal.

Panasonic

Panasonic has named solo models relevant to buyers comparing flatbed space and automatic reheating.

  • Panasonic specifies a flatbed cavity for the NN-SF464MBPQ and a 32 L cavity, 1000 W microwave power and an automatic reheating programme for the NN-ST64QW.
  • Check the dimensions of the particular model against your dishes and worktop. An automatic programme does not remove the need to stir dhal and check that it is steaming hot throughout.

Samsung

Samsung’s MS23K3513AK/EU is a 23 L solo option to consider for routine single-portion reheating.

  • Samsung specifies Quick Defrost and describes this model’s ceramic-enamel interior as easy to clean.
  • Check the cavity and external dimensions against your bowl and worktop; the stated capacity alone cannot establish dish fit or how evenly dhal will heat.

Sharp

Sharp has named solo and combination models for buyers deciding whether reheating is their only microwave task.

  • Sharp specifies the YC-MS252AU-S as a 25 L, 900 W solo microwave with 11 power levels; the YC-PC254AU-S adds grill and convection functions.
  • The combination functions are unnecessary for dhal reheating alone. Compare each model’s dimensions and controls for your intended use.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How should I reheat red lentil dhal in a microwave?

Reheat it in a suitable bowl, stirring during heating, and make sure it is steaming hot throughout before serving. Stirring helps you check a thick dish for cooler areas; NHS guidance calls for reheated food to be steaming hot all the way through.

Do I need a combination microwave for dhal?

No: a solo microwave covers the reheating task. Consider a combination model if you will separately use its grill or convection functions; those modes do not replace stirring and checking the dhal before serving.

Which product marking should I check in Great Britain?

For products placed on the market in England, Scotland and Wales, GOV.UK guidance updated in August 2026 says CE marking continues to be recognised alongside or in place of UKCA marking where the applicable requirements are met. Northern Ireland has a separate process, so check the requirements for that location if it applies to your purchase.

What should I check if dhal often splashes inside the microwave?

Look for a cavity and controls you can clean conveniently, and wipe up spills after use. Samsung describes the ceramic-enamel interior of its MS23K3513AK/EU as easy to clean, but that description applies to the named model rather than every microwave with the same capacity.