Verdict: one of the best mid-range microwaves you can buy, if you have the counter space. The Kenwood MWM25.000BK is a 25 L microwave with a 1000 W grill and two combination modes, built for 220–240 V mains (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and similar markets, not the US). It costs about $115, which is AED 387–429 in the UAE, and it does what a basic reheater can’t: it browns cheese toast and chicken. I don’t give it a numeric score.
- Price: about $115 in my video; AED 387–429 in UAE shops on 30 September 2026 (roughly $105–117)
- Tested by: Jackie, The Smart Kitchen Guide. We bought it ourselves, with no brand sponsorship
- Best for: families of three to six who want a 25 L oven that grills and browns as well as reheats
- Skip it if: you have little counter depth, you live in a tiny studio or RV, or you need inverter-style precision for delicate sauces
- The one thing to know: the metal rack goes in for grill and combi cooking only, never in plain microwave mode
We bought this microwave ourselves. Kenwood did not send it, nobody paid for this review, and there are no affiliate links on this page. Below is what the MWM25.000BK does well, where it falls short, what my two videos got wrong and whether it is worth the money in 2026. It is not one of the UK Kenwood K25 microwaves or a South African MWZ model; it is a separate oven sold in the Gulf, Egypt, East Africa and parts of South Asia.
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What did my Kenwood MWM25.000BK videos get wrong?
Several things. I compared the videos with the rating label on the back of the oven and Kenwood’s manual (type MWM25, code 6125101800). Where they disagree with me, the label and the manual are right, and this page follows them. My tests are real; some button-by-button details I narrated were not.
| What I said in the videos | What is correct |
|---|---|
| Power levels P100, P80, P60, P40 and P20 | The five levels are P100, P80, P50, P30 and P10 (manual, page 8) |
| Three combi modes, C1 to C3, with C1 about 70 % microwave and 30 % grill | Only two combi modes, C-1 and C-2. The manual’s worked example gives C-1 as 55 % microwave and 45 % grill. There is no C3 |
| “No twisting dials”, a touch panel and “use the keypad” | There is a rotary dial for time, weight and auto menus, plus five function buttons. There is no number keypad |
| An auto-menu button, and in my second video a reversed list with a “reheat” menu | You pick one of eight auto menus by turning the dial, A-1 pizza to A-8 popcorn. There is no reheat menu |
| Clock in 12-hour or 24-hour format | The clock is 24-hour only (hours 0–23) |
| A delayed-start function | The manual describes only a kitchen timer. I never showed a delayed start on screen, so treat it as unconfirmed |
| 10 cm of clearance at the sides | 5 cm at the sides, 10 cm at the back, 20 cm above |
| P100 is perfect for boiling water for tea | The manual says never use the oven for boiling liquids; heat liquids in a wide-mouthed container and wait at least 20 seconds before lifting them out |
| 16.68 kg, a grill that needs 3–4 minutes, and “hundreds” of Amazon reviews | Those came from listings and buyer feedback, not from my own measurements. I never weighed it, I only timed the first glow (about 90 seconds), and Amazon.ae shows 137 ratings |
What are the Kenwood MWM25.000BK specifications?
The MWM25.000BK is a black-and-silver 25 L microwave oven with grill, a rotary dial, five printed function buttons and an LED display. It runs on 230–240 V, 50 Hz mains, so it is not a US appliance. Kenwood publishes no spec sheet for it on the regional sites I could reach, so the “Official” column comes from the rating label on the back, Kenwood’s sticker on the door and the instruction manual. The third column is what I found.
| Specification | Official | What I found |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Kenwood MWM25.000BK, type MWM25; made in China; Kenwood Limited, Havant, UK (label) | Black and silver, stainless-steel pull handle |
| Capacity | 25 L (door sticker) | Fits a full dinner plate and deep dishes |
| Microwave power | 800 W on the sticker; label: 750–800 W output at 2450 MHz, 1200–1250 W input | Some retailers list 900 W, which does not match the label |
| Grill power | 1000 W on the sticker; label: 950–1000 W | The element glowed bright orange after about 90 seconds |
| Supply | 230–240 V, 50 Hz, earthed socket | Not for 120 V countries |
| Power levels | 5: P100, P80, P50, P30, P10 | Some listings say 11 levels; the sticker and manual say 5 |
| Defrost | dEF1 by weight, 100–2000 g; dEF2 by time up to 95 minutes at a fixed P30 | Both tested on frozen chicken |
| Turntable and accessories | Glass turntable 27 cm (sticker), roller ring, metal grill rack | A normal dinner plate went in without trouble |
| Outside size | Not published; retailers list 30 × 40 × 42 cm, and one calls that the shipping size | A big, deep box: measure your counter first |
| Weight | Not published; listings say about 16.7 kg or about 7 kg | I didn’t weigh it; it is heavy to move |
| Warranty | The manual defers to the country of purchase | Shops mostly say 1 year; one Egyptian shop says none |
How many watts is the Kenwood MWM25.000BK?
The microwave puts out 750–800 W and the grill is rated 950–1000 W, according to the rating label; the door sticker rounds these to 800 W and 1000 W. The label gives 1200–1250 W as the electrical input in microwave mode, which is the figure to check if you run the oven from a generator or inverter. The label’s layout is cramped, and this is how I read it. In my verdict video I quoted 800 W and 1000 W without ever showing the label.
How do the controls on the Kenwood MWM25.000BK work?
You use five printed buttons and one rotary dial. The dial, marked Time, Weight and Auto Menu, sets the cooking time, the defrost weight and the auto menu. The panel is flat with no raised keys, and in my experience it needs clean, dry fingertips.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Micro/Grill/Combo | Picks microwave power (P100 to P10), grill (G) or combi (C-1, C-2); the manual says the dial can select them too |
| W T/Time Defrost | Once for defrost by weight (dEF1), twice for defrost by time (dEF2) |
| Kitchen Timer/Clock | A countdown timer that beeps five times, and the clock setting |
| Stop/Clear | Stops or resets; hold for 3 seconds for the child lock |
| Start/+30 sec. | Starts cooking; from idle, one press runs 30 seconds at full power and each further press adds 30 seconds |
| Rotary dial | Sets time and defrost weight, and picks the auto menu (A-1 to A-8) |
How do you set the clock on the Kenwood MWM25.000BK?
Use the Kitchen Timer/Clock button and the dial, in 24-hour format. In my video I pressed the clock button, turned the dial to the hour, pressed again, turned the dial to the minutes and pressed once more to confirm. The oven forgets the time whenever it is unplugged and will not run until the clock is set again, so if yours seems dead after a power cut, check that first.
What are the power levels and auto menus?
P100 is full power, and the four lower steps are P80, P50, P30 and P10. My rules of thumb, which Kenwood does not print and I did not test on every step: P100 for soups and steaming vegetables, P80 for gentle cooking of chicken and sauces, P50 for stews and pasta bakes, P30 for melting chocolate and softening butter (it is also the fixed level of defrost by time), and P10 for keeping plates warm and softening ice cream.
The eight auto menus are chosen by turning the dial while the oven is idle, then setting the portion: A-1 pizza, A-2 meat, A-3 vegetables, A-4 pasta, A-5 potatoes, A-6 fish, A-7 beverages, A-8 popcorn. I only clicked through them and cooked nothing with them, so I can’t rate the results.
How well does the Kenwood MWM25.000BK grill?
It grills well enough to make proper cheese toast. I put a cheese toastie directly on the metal rack, chose the grill mode (G) and ran it for 5 minutes. After about 90 seconds the element in the roof glowed bright orange. The bread came out toasted and the cheese bubbly, with no soggy microwave bread. That is exactly the job a plain microwave cannot do.
To use the grill, stand the metal rack on the glass turntable, put the food on it, press Micro/Grill/Combo until the display shows G, set the time with the dial and press Start. In the videos I called this mode “G1” and the element “quartz”; Kenwood’s manual calls the mode G and never mentions quartz. The grill is a browning element, not a replacement for a full oven broiler.
How does combination cooking (C-1) work on the Kenwood MWM25.000BK?
Combi mode alternates microwave energy and the grill, so the inside cooks while the outside browns. The MWM25.000BK has two combination settings, C-1 and C-2. I tested C-1 on seasoned chicken pieces on the metal rack for 12 minutes, flipping them halfway, and the display switched between microwave and grill cycles by itself. The chicken came out golden brown with a slightly crisp skin, which a standard microwave cannot do.
I told you C-1 was about 70 % microwave and 30 % grill, with a grill-heavy C3 on top. That was wrong: the manual’s worked example gives C-1 as 55 % microwave and 45 % grill, there is no C3, and I have no published ratio for C-2. I only tested C-1, so I won’t rank the two settings.
How do you defrost chicken in the Kenwood MWM25.000BK?
Use defrost by weight if you have a scale, and defrost by time if you don’t. I tested both on frozen chicken pieces. Defrost by weight worked, but I had no scale and guessed 400 g, and it needed a bit longer than the time the oven suggested (so “flawless”, as I called it in the verdict video, was too generous). Defrost by time, set to 6 minutes, thawed the chicken completely with zero cooked edges once I turned it over at the mid-cycle beep.
- Put the frozen food on a microwave-safe plate (never metal) on the glass turntable and close the door.
- Press W T/Time Defrost once for defrost by weight (the display shows dEF1). Turn the dial to the weight in grams (100–2000 g) and press Start. The oven works out the time itself.
- Or press the button twice for defrost by time (dEF2), turn the dial to the minutes and press Start. It runs at a fixed P30 and suits bread and pastry.
- When the oven beeps mid-cycle, open the door, turn the food over, close the door and press Start again.
- If it is still icy in the middle, add a minute or two.
How much room does the Kenwood MWM25.000BK need, and what are the safety rules?
It needs 5 cm free at each side, 10 cm at the back and 20 cm above, on a surface that can take at least 90 °C. Those are the manual’s figures; in my video I said 10 cm at the sides. Don’t push it into a tight, unvented cabinet, and follow these rules.
- Metal rack in grill and combi only. In plain microwave mode, metal causes sparking that can ruin the cavity and start a fire; the manual also forbids metal containers.
- Never run it empty. With no food to absorb the energy, the oven can be damaged.
- Keep the roof clear. In grill mode the top gets very hot; nothing plastic or paper goes on it.
- Avoid thermal shock. Never put a frozen dish on a hot turntable, and never put a hot turntable in cold water.
- Handle liquids carefully. Use a wide-mouthed container, wait at least 20 seconds before lifting it out, and don’t use the oven for boiling liquids.
- Nothing sealed. Sealed containers can explode.
Kenwood MWM25.000BK not working? Quick fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Won’t start after a power cut, or ignores your presses | The clock was lost, or the child lock is on | Set the 24-hour clock again; hold Stop/Clear for 3 seconds to release the lock |
| Sparks or arcing | Metal in microwave mode, or the rack used without grill or combi | Stop, take the metal out and keep the rack for grill and combi only |
| Smoke or a burning smell | Fat residue in the cavity | Keep the door closed, switch off, unplug, and clean once cool |
| Noisy turntable | Dirty roller ring or cavity floor | Wash the ring and turntable and wipe the floor |
The manual has no error codes, and I found no model-specific fault list online.
How do you clean the Kenwood MWM25.000BK?
Unplug it, let everything cool, then wash the glass turntable and roller ring in warm soapy water. Wipe the inside walls with a damp microfibre cloth and mild soap. Never use steel wool, scouring pads or harsh sprays, and keep water out of the vent openings. The manual warns that grease left in the cavity can smoke or catch fire.
For grease and smells I steam-clean: a bowl with 200 ml of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice, full power for 4 minutes, door shut for 2 more minutes, then a soft damp cloth. Kenwood’s own odour tip is water with lemon juice and peel for 5 minutes.
What do other owners say about the Kenwood MWM25.000BK?
Mostly good things, from a small number of ratings: Amazon.ae shows 4.1 out of 5 from 137 ratings (53% five-star, 12% one-star; read 30 September 2026) and noon UAE shows 4.5 out of 5 from 40. The written Amazon.ae reviews I could read were short: “works well”, trust in the Kenwood name. Two of the twelve describe a problem: one buyer said it broke after two to three weeks and couldn’t get the warranty through the seller, and an Egyptian buyer said it arrived broken.
In my verdict video I said I had analysed “hundreds of verified buyer reviews” and listed praise and complaints (11-inch plates, the handle, the touch panel, the beeps). I can’t match those themes to any review I can read, so treat that list as my own impressions. The beeps are real: the manual describes five beeps at the end and no way to mute them. No independent lab or magazine has tested this model.
Kenwood MWM25.000BK pros and cons
Pros
- 25 L family size. Family platters and deep lasagne dishes go in without scraping the walls.
- A real grill and combi mode. Cheese toast in 5 minutes on the grill, golden chicken in 12 minutes on C-1.
- Two defrost modes. By weight (100–2000 g) or by time; by time thawed my chicken with no cooked edges.
- Simple to run. One press of Start/+30 sec. gives 30 seconds at full power; the dial does the rest.
- Trusted name, mid-range price. About $115, or AED 387–429 in the UAE.
Cons
- Big and heavy to move. A large, deep footprint; even cleaning under it takes effort.
- The flat panel needs dry hands. With wet or greasy fingers I had to press again.
- The grill takes patience. The element glowed after about 90 seconds, and it is a browning element, not a full broiler.
- Weight defrost needs a scale. My guessed 400 g needed extra time.
- The clock resets after unplugging, and the oven won’t run until you set it.
- Warranty varies by shop. Check who backs it where you buy.
Is the Kenwood MWM25.000BK worth the price?
Yes, at about $115, if you have the counter space and want a microwave that also grills and browns. That was my verdict in the video and I stand by it. If you only reheat leftovers, a cheaper plain microwave will do; if you need inverter-style power control, look higher. Prices below were read in local shops on 30 September 2026; dollar values use the dirham peg of 3.6725.
| Market | Retailer | Price (30 Sep 2026) | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Amazon.ae | AED 395.99 (list AED 499) | In stock |
| UAE | Carrefour UAE | AED 387 (was AED 429) | Delivery 5–6 October |
| UAE | noon UAE | AED 429 | Only 1 left |
| Saudi Arabia | Microless KSA | SAR 480.30 (other offers from SAR 442.42) | Last 2 left |
| Kenya | Al-Yassin Appliances | KSh 28,995 | Out of stock |
| Uganda | Abanista | UGX 655,000 | In stock |
| Egypt | Raneen | EGP 8,938 (regular EGP 9,999) | In stock, listed without warranty |
| Egypt | B.TECH (third-party seller) | EGP 8,999 | 30-day seller warranty |
Jashanmal (AED 449) and Sharaf DG (AED 499) also list it but were sold out. The model is also sold in Iraq, Pakistan and Bangladesh. I found no price in the UK or South Africa, and Amazon.com shows it only as an unavailable 220 V import that is not for US use. Prices change often, and there are no shopping links on this page.
Who should buy the Kenwood MWM25.000BK, and who should skip it?
Buy it if
- You have a family of three to six who need bigger portions
- You want a trusted brand name with a real grill
- You want an appliance that browns and cooks food, not just reheats soggy leftovers
Skip it if
- You live in a tiny studio apartment or RV with almost no counter depth
- You want fully mechanical controls: the dial is real, but the buttons sit on a flat panel that likes dry fingers
- You are a high-end cook who needs inverter precision for delicate sauces
My bottom line, in the words of my video: if you have the counter space and want a dependable family-size microwave that can actually brown, grill and cook, this Kenwood is one of the best mid-range investments on the market right now.
What are the alternatives to the Kenwood MWM25.000BK?
Look at other 25 L grill microwaves if you want inverter power, a longer warranty or a lower price. I have not tested any of these; prices are from Amazon.ae on 30 September 2026 and the specs are from listing titles, unchecked against a rating label.
| Microwave | Price (Amazon.ae) | Power / features | Compared with the Kenwood MWM25.000BK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toshiba MW3-EG25PEI(MG) | AED 407 | 25 L grill, 900 W, inverter, 11 power levels; 4.4 stars from 5 ratings | Inverter and finer power steps, but very few ratings |
| BLACK+DECKER 28 L grill | AED 339 | 5 power levels, 8 auto menus; 4.4 stars from 75 ratings | Cheaper, bigger, 2-year warranty, better rated |
| Nikai NMO250MDG | AED 328.57 | 25 L grill, 900 W, 10 auto menus; 3.9 stars from 12 ratings | Cheaper, 2-year warranty, lower rating |
| Kenwood MWM30.000BK | AED 528 | 30 L grill; 4.1 stars from 75 ratings | Bigger and dearer; its listings quote conflicting wattages |
| LG MH6535NBS | AED 773.54 plus delivery (import) | 25 L grill, Smart Inverter, 32 programmes; 4.4 stars from 189 ratings | Inverter and a large review base, at about twice the price |
Kenwood MWM25.000BK FAQ
Is a 25 L microwave too small?
No, 25 L suits a family of three to six. Family platters and deep lasagne dishes fit in the Kenwood MWM25.000BK without touching the walls, which cramped 20 L models can’t manage. The glass turntable is 27 cm across, so check your biggest plate before buying.
Is Kenwood a good microwave brand?
For this model, mostly yes. It has 4.1 out of 5 from 137 ratings on Amazon.ae and 4.5 from 40 on noon UAE. Kenwood is a UK brand in the De’Longhi group, though the label says this oven is made in China. There is no independent lab test, and a couple of buyers reported early failures.
Does the Kenwood MWM25.000BK have a delayed start?
I can’t confirm it. Some retailer listings advertise a delayed start, but Kenwood’s manual describes only a kitchen timer, a countdown that beeps five times. Don’t buy this oven for that feature.
Where can I find the Kenwood MWM25.000BK manual?
The instruction manual (type MWM25, code 6125101800) is on De’Longhi group’s server: Kenwood MWM25 instruction manual (PDF). It covers English, French, Turkish and Arabic. The MWM20, MWM22 and MWM30 have their own manuals.
Can I use the Kenwood MWM25.000BK in the US or the UK?
Not in the US: the label says 230–240 V, 50 Hz, and Amazon.com lists it as a 220 V import that is not for US use. Voltage-wise it suits UK 230 V mains, but I have not seen it sold there, so check the plug.
Watch the real tests: grill, defrost and combi cooking
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How this review was made
I am Jackie, the reviewer behind The Smart Kitchen Guide. We bought the Kenwood MWM25.000BK ourselves, with no brand sponsorship. The tests and photos are mine, taken from my two videos. The specifications come from the rating label on the back of the oven, Kenwood’s door sticker and Kenwood’s instruction manual; ratings and prices were read from local retailers on 30 September 2026. Where my videos disagreed with those sources, I have said so above. This page contains no affiliate links and no sponsored content. Last updated 30 September 2026.
