A microwave is one of the most useful things to give someone leaving for university or moving into a first flat, provided it fits their space and the way they cook. Here you can work out what to ask before you buy and whether a small solo model or a large combination microwave suits them, with picks that are simple to use on the first evening.
What to look for
01What should you find out before buying a microwave as a gift?
Find out where the microwave will sit and what they will cook in it, because those two answers rule most models in or out. Measure the worktop or shelf, including the height under any wall cupboard, and compare it with the dimensions in the listing. The Hisense 20L lists its size as H24.1 x W43.4 x D32.9cm, which makes that check easy. Ask whether their flat or house already has a microwave, since many rented and shared kitchens come with one. Then ask what they cook. Reheating leftovers, heating ready meals and defrosting need nothing more than a solo microwave, which heats with microwaves only. Someone who wants crisp tops on pasta bakes needs a grill. A person living without a proper oven may want a combination model with convection, which can bake and roast as well.
02What is a good microwave for students?
A 20 litre solo microwave with simple controls suits most students, because it reheats, defrosts and cooks ready meals without taking up much space. The Belaco is a compact 800W model with manual control, so there is usually no clock to set and no menu to learn. The Toshiba MM-MM20P is a 20 litre, 800W manual model with 5 power levels, and its listing says it takes a 9-inch pizza. For a student who cooks from scratch now and then, the Toshiba MW3-AG20PF keeps the 20 litre size and adds a 1000W grill and a combination mode. The grill browns cheese and crisps reheated food in a way microwaves alone can't. In a house shared with several others, a solo model that anyone can work without instructions tends to get the most use.
03When is a large microwave the better gift for a first home?
A large combination microwave suits a first home shared by two or more people, or a kitchen with no proper oven. Many combination models add both a grill and a convection fan to the microwave, so they can bake and roast as well as reheat. Check the listing for convection, as not every combination model names it. The Rediffusion REDCMW30B is a 30 litre model with a 900W microwave, 1200W grill and 2200W convection, and it is a large black microwave that sits well in a dark kitchen. The Panasonic NN-CD88 goes up to 34 litres and adds an air fryer mode to grill and convection. The Haden Combination is a smaller step up, at 25 litres and 900W with 8 auto cook programmes. Check the depth of any large microwave against their worktop before you buy. Built-in models such as the Cookology 25L need fitting into a housing unit, so they only suit a kitchen planned for one.
04What makes a microwave easy to use from day one?
Few buttons and clear labels help someone new to cooking more than a long list of programmes. Manual controls, as on the Belaco and the Toshiba MM-MM20P, are the quickest to learn, and they usually mean one dial for power and one for time. Digital models make repeat jobs faster once the person knows them. The Russell Hobbs RHM2076B has 8 auto cook menus, and the Toshiba MM-EM20P has a one-touch express cook button with 6 preset recipes. Inverter power, which the Hisense lists, supplies a steady lower power instead of switching full power on and off, which helps with even defrosting and gentle reheating. An easy-clean interior matters in a shared kitchen, and the Hisense and both Russell Hobbs models list one.
05Which finish will look right in their kitchen?
Pick a colour that matches their kitchen if you know it, because a microwave sits on show every day. For a cream or country-style kitchen, the Haden 20L comes in a shade called Cotswold Putty, with 800W and 5 power levels. The Russell Hobbs RHM2076 is the same 20 litre, 800W microwave in black as the RHM2076B or in silver as the RHM2076S, so you can match it to their kettle and toaster. The Toshiba MW3-AG20PF has a black mirror door, and the Toshiba MM-MM20P and MM-EM20P both come in white. If you don't know the kitchen, black or silver goes with most worktops and appliances. A flatmate or partner can send a photo of the kitchen if you want to be sure.
Our top picks
Best for a student who wants nothing to set upBelaco 800W Microwave Compact Size Microwave
The Belaco is a compact 800W microwave with manual control, so there is no clock or menu to set before the first meal. It suits halls, a shared house or anyone who mostly reheats.
Best for a tight shelf in a studio flatHisense 700 Watts 20 Litre Inverter
Hisense gives the exact size of this 20 litre model in its listing, H24.1 x W43.4 x D32.9cm, so you can check it fits before wrapping it. It uses 700W inverter power with 5 levels, automatic defrost and an easy-clean interior. A sensible choice for a first flat where every shelf counts.
Best for a student who cooks more than ready mealsToshiba Black Microwave 20 Liter Digital
This Toshiba pairs an 800W microwave with a 1000W grill and combination cooking in a compact 20 litre body. There are 8 auto menus, 5 power levels and a digital clock, and the black mirror door looks smart in a new kitchen.
Best large microwave for a first home without an ovenRediffusion 30L Digital Combination Microwave
Rediffusion's 30 litre combination model has a 900W microwave, a 1200W grill and 2200W convection, so it can bake and roast as well as reheat. It has 8 auto menus, a stainless steel cavity and a grill rack. For a couple or a young family with only a hob, it covers a lot of cooking.
Best for matching a cream or country kitchenHaden Microwave 20L 800W 5 Power
Give this to a parent or a new homeowner who cares how the worktop looks. Haden's 20 litre microwave comes in Cotswold Putty, a soft neutral that suits cream units, and it has 800W and 5 power levels.
Frequently asked
Can students take a microwave to university halls?
It depends on the halls. Many provide microwaves in shared kitchens, and some ban students from bringing their own appliances, especially for use in bedrooms. Check the accommodation's list of allowed items before buying, and if a microwave is not allowed, save the gift for a shared house the following year.
Can you put metal containers in a microwave?
Not when it is heating with microwaves, because metal can spark and damage the oven. Grill and combination modes have their own rules, so follow the manual for those. For a new student, it is worth pairing the microwave with a few microwave-safe bowls and a plate so they never need to guess.
What goes well with a microwave as a gift?
Microwave-safe dishes are the obvious partner. The Waterside 36-piece dinner set is listed as dishwasher and microwave safe, and a pair of heat resistant oven gloves such as the SACALA makes lifting hot bowls safer. For a first home with a baby, the Vital Baby Nurture steriliser works in the microwave or with cold water.
Is automatic defrost worth having on a student microwave?
Yes, for anyone who buys meat or bread in bulk and freezes it. Automatic defrost sets the time for them, which avoids cooked edges on still-frozen food. Food defrosted in a microwave should be cooked straight away, since parts of it may have started to warm. The Russell Hobbs RHM2076B and the Hisense both list automatic defrost.
Where should a microwave go in a small flat?
On a stable, heat-resistant surface with space around the vents, following the clearances in the manual. Keep it away from the sink and do not stand it directly above a hob, where steam and heat reach it. If it has to go under a wall cupboard, measure the gap first, since many models need clearance above them, especially those with a grill.