The Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B is a 23-litre freestanding microwave designed for everyday reheating, defrosting and simple cooking in smaller households. Its standout feature is the flatbed design, which ditches the usual turntable to give you more usable space for larger plates and awkwardly shaped dishes.
Sitting comfortably in the mid-range for a standard solo microwave, it focuses on simplicity rather than flashy smart features. With an 800W power output and straightforward push-button controls, it’s built to be easy to live with rather than intimidating.
Owner feedback is excellent: a 4.8 out of 5 rating from well over a thousand reviews suggests that, for most people, it delivers exactly what they need – reliable, hassle-free performance in a compact black box that fits neatly on the worktop.
The RHEM2301B is ideal for smaller households – singles, couples or small families – who mainly use a microwave for reheating leftovers, defrosting meat and veg, and the odd ready meal. The 23-litre capacity and flatbed layout give you enough internal room without the appliance dominating the kitchen.
It suits buyers who want a modern, unfussy microwave rather than something stuffed with auto-cook programmes they will never use. With only a couple of power levels and a clear electronic timer, it is especially friendly for those who value straightforward controls – including older users or anyone upgrading from an ageing basic model.
If you are working to a sensible budget and do not need combination grilling or built-in smart recipes, this mid-range Russell Hobbs makes a lot of sense. It’s also a good pick for renters, student houses and offices, as it arrives ready to plug in with no installation faff.
Those who regularly cook full meals in the microwave, or want convection and grill modes for browning and baking, will be better off looking at a more fully featured combi model.
The flatbed design is the star of the show. By doing away with the usual turntable, it gives a flatter, more flexible cooking surface, so larger dinner plates and square dishes fit more comfortably and there is no wobbly glass tray to wrestle with or break.
An 800W power output is plenty for day-to-day reheating and defrosting, so meals and drinks come up to temperature quickly without feeling underpowered. The dedicated defrost setting makes it easy to safely thaw food from frozen, helping you recover when you have forgotten to take something out of the freezer.
At 23 litres, the capacity is well judged for most smaller kitchens: compact enough to sit on a worktop without hogging space, yet spacious inside thanks to the flatbed layout. The electronic clock and minute minder make it simple to set and see cooking times at a glance.
Safety is covered too, with a control panel lock that stops curious fingers changing settings mid-cycle – reassuring in family homes. Add in the strong build reputation of Russell Hobbs and the very high customer rating, and it feels like a solid, dependable choice.
Despite being modern in layout, the feature set is quite basic. There are only two power levels and no auto-cook programmes, which means more manual tinkering with times and power for different foods compared with some rivals.
The microwave is a standard solo model with no grill or convection function. If you want to brown the top of dishes, crisp pizzas or bake, you will still be relying on a conventional oven.
The interior is painted rather than stainless steel, which is normal at this price but can show wear and tear sooner if not looked after. The manufacturer warranty is only one year, which feels on the short side when some brands in this category now offer longer cover.
Finally, if you only ever use small bowls and mugs, you may not fully benefit from the extra space afforded by the flatbed design, making a simpler, cheaper turntable microwave worth considering.
Day to day, the RHEM2301B is all about simplicity. The push-button controls and clear digital display make it quick to set time and start cooking, and the electronic minute minder gives a clear countdown so you can see at a glance how long is left.
The flatbed interior is easy to load because there is no turntable to line up. You can slide in larger, wide-rimmed plates without worrying about them catching on the sides, and rectangular dishes sit naturally without sticking over an edge. Cleaning is straightforward too – with no glass tray, it is mainly a case of wiping down the painted cavity.
Because it is a freestanding model with a standard plug, setup is essentially placing it on a stable surface and plugging it in. The footprint is modest for a 23-litre microwave, so it works well in smaller kitchens, student flats or office break rooms where worktop space is limited.
The child lock function is a useful touch in family homes, preventing accidental starts or changes to settings. Overall, it feels intuitive and unfussy – the sort of appliance most people can operate confidently within minutes of unboxing.
With an 800W maximum microwave power, the RHEM2301B delivers the kind of performance you would expect from a good mid-range solo microwave. Heating is fast enough for busy evenings, and defrosting frozen meat, bread or leftovers is noticeably quicker and more even than with lower-powered budget models.
The 23-litre capacity, combined with internal dimensions of roughly 20.2 x 32.5 x 35.2 cm, provides decent space for everyday dishes. The flatbed technology helps distribute microwave energy without needing a rotating plate, creating more usable flat area so you can heat multiple items side by side or use crockery that would overhang a standard turntable.
Feature-wise, it is deliberately pared back. You get two power levels, an electronic clock, a minute minder timer and a dedicated defrost function. There are no built-in cooking programmes, sensors or multi-stage sequences, so you will be setting most cooking times yourself. For many people this is a plus: fewer buttons to learn, fewer ways to get lost in the settings.
The painted interior is typical of this class and should be easy to keep clean with regular wiping, though it does not have the hard-wearing feel of enamel or stainless steel cavities found in some premium models. The inclusion of a control panel lock is welcome, especially as not all basic microwaves in this category offer one.
Overall, the performance matches expectations for an everyday solo microwave, and the flatbed design is a genuine functional upgrade over cheaper models, even if the rest of the feature list is on the conservative side.
At its current price, the Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B sits in the sensible middle ground for a standard microwave. It is not the absolute cheapest solo model you can buy, but you are paying for the more practical flatbed design and the reassurance of a well-known brand.
The specification is focused rather than flashy: no grill, no convection, no gimmicky smart features. What you do get is solid 800W performance, good internal space, a safety lock and a genuinely useful defrost function. For many homes, that is exactly the right balance of features versus cost.
Crucially, the value proposition is backed up by real-world feedback. A user score of 4.8 out of 5 from a large number of reviews suggests reliability and satisfaction are high, which goes a long way towards justifying the spend. If you want an uncomplicated, modern-looking microwave that will quietly get on with the job, this model offers strong value.
Those on a very tight budget who are happy with a smaller, turntable-based unit may find cheaper options, while anyone wanting grill or oven functions should expect to pay more for a combination model. Within its solo, flatbed niche, however, it is priced fairly for what it delivers.
The Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B is a well-judged solo microwave that prioritises practicality over flashy extras. The flatbed design genuinely improves everyday usability by giving you more space for plates and making loading and cleaning simpler, while the 800W power and dedicated defrost setting cover all the daily basics with ease.
It is not the most feature-packed option: there are only two power levels, no grill or convection mode and no auto-cook programmes. The painted interior and one-year warranty also sit firmly in the mid-range rather than premium camp. But for many households, that stripped-back approach is exactly the appeal.
If you want a reliable, easy-to-use microwave from a familiar brand, and you like the idea of a flatbed interior without paying premium money, this is an excellent choice. Heavy microwave cooks and those wanting an all-in-one oven replacement should look at combination models instead, but for straightforward reheating and defrosting, the RHEM2301B is hard to fault.
