The Russell Hobbs RHEM2301S is a 23-litre freestanding microwave designed for homes that want simple, reliable heating without a bulky footprint. With its flatbed design and 800W power, it prioritises usable space and fuss-free cooking over flashy extras.
Russell Hobbs is well known in the UK for practical, good-value small appliances, and this model follows that formula. It sits comfortably in the mid-range for a standard microwave: not the cheapest basic box, but far from premium pricing.
A user rating of 4.8 out of 5 from well over a thousand reviews is a strong signal that owners are very happy with it, particularly around ease of use and day-to-day performance.
The RHEM2301S is ideal for smaller households or couples who mainly use a microwave for reheating leftovers, cooking ready meals and defrosting ingredients. The 23-litre capacity is big enough for family plates and medium-sized dishes without taking over your worktop.
Its straightforward push-button controls and minute minder timer make it well suited to anyone who wants something intuitive – great for first-time buyers, students, or older users who don’t want to scroll through endless menus.
If your kitchen is compact, the relatively low 30.4 cm height and flatbed interior help you maximise both counter space and cooking space. The flatbed means you are not restricted by a turntable size, so wide plates and awkwardly shaped dishes fit more easily.
It’s less suited to keen cooks who rely on grilling, combination cooking or a bank of auto-cook programmes. This is a standard microwave focused on core tasks, not an all-in-one oven replacement.
The 23-litre capacity hits a sweet spot for day-to-day use, giving you enough room for typical dinner plates, ready-meal trays and reheating batches of food without dominating the kitchen.
Flatbed technology is a real advantage at this price. With no turntable, there’s more usable space inside and fewer parts to remove and clean. It also makes loading and unloading bulkier dishes noticeably easier.
An 800W maximum power output is perfectly adequate for standard reheating and cooking tasks, so you won’t be waiting around for meals to warm through.
The inclusion of a dedicated defrost function is very handy if you often forget to take items out of the freezer. It speeds up thawing while keeping it more controlled than blasting away on full power.
A child lock on the control panel is a thoughtful safety touch for families, helping prevent accidental starts or setting changes.
Finally, the very strong owner rating and high number of reviews suggest this microwave has proved reliable and straightforward for a wide range of households.
There are only two power levels listed, which is quite limited compared with many modern microwaves that offer a broader range of settings for more precise control.
Despite the mention of auto cook in the marketing description, the spec sheet shows no preset programmes. If you like one-touch options for specific foods, you may find this a bit too basic.
The interior is painted rather than stainless steel, which is common at this level but can be more prone to cosmetic wear and staining over time if not wiped down regularly.
A one-year manufacturer’s warranty is on the short side. Some rival brands offer longer cover on certain models, which may matter if you want extra peace of mind.
There’s no grill or combination cooking, so it won’t replace an oven or grill for browning and crisping – you’ll still need other appliances for that.
Living with the RHEM2301S should be refreshingly straightforward. It arrives ready to go with a standard plug, so you can simply place it on the worktop, plug it in and start cooking – no installation worries.
The push-button interface and electronic clock/minute minder are simple to get to grips with. Setting cooking times is quick, and the clear countdown makes it easy to see how long is left. There’s no complex menu system to wade through.
Inside, the flatbed design comes into its own. With no turntable, the 32.5 x 35.2 cm internal footprint is easy to load, and there’s less chance of dishes catching on the sides as they rotate – because they don’t. Cleaning is also more straightforward: you just wipe the flat interior base without having to remove a glass plate and ring.
At 30.4 cm high, it tucks neatly under most wall cupboards and doesn’t feel too imposing on a standard worktop. Being a freestanding model, you can also move it around fairly easily if you’re rearranging your kitchen or need to clean behind it.
The control panel lock adds confidence if you have curious children in the house, while the dedicated defrost setting helps take the guesswork out of thawing meat, bread or leftovers.
In performance terms, the 800W power rating puts this Russell Hobbs microwave in the mainstream. It’s strong enough for reheating family portions and cooking most microwave meals without undue waiting, though not as rapid as higher-wattage premium models.
The 23-litre cavity is well judged for everyday use. The internal dimensions of around 20.2 cm high by 32.5 cm wide and 35.2 cm deep are generous enough for most plates and bowls, while still keeping the exterior footprint manageable. The flatbed design ensures you’re using virtually the full floor space of the cavity.
Flatbed technology is the standout feature here. By doing away with a traditional turntable, it increases usable capacity, reduces the number of moving parts and makes cleaning simpler. Performance-wise, flatbeds are designed to distribute microwaves more evenly across the cavity, helping avoid the cold spots you can sometimes get when food is not centred on a plate.
The feature set is otherwise deliberately simple. You get a standard microwave-only cavity, an electronic timer, a child lock and a defrost function. There is no grill, convection or combination cooking, and the specs list no built-in cooking programmes. That keeps the interface uncluttered but means you’ll be manually setting times and power for most dishes.
From a build and finish perspective, the silver exterior should blend in with most modern kitchens, and the painted interior is typical of this price point. With one year of warranty cover and a very strong user rating, it appears to deliver reliably on the basics, even if it doesn’t chase advanced connected features or smart controls.
At its current price, this Russell Hobbs model represents solid mid-range value for a standard microwave. You’re paying a little more than for the most basic turntable units, but you gain flatbed technology, a practical capacity and a proven track record with owners.
The absence of a grill or combination cooking keeps the spec sheet simple, but for many households that primarily reheat and defrost, those omissions won’t be an issue – and they help keep the price below more feature-heavy models.
The 4.8 out of 5 rating from over 1,200 reviews is a strong endorsement. When that level of satisfaction is combined with everyday-friendly features like the flatbed design, child lock and easy controls, it stacks up well as a sensible, good-value choice.
The only real value niggle is the short one-year warranty, which slightly dulls the long-term proposition. Even so, for most buyers looking for a reliable, space-efficient microwave from a familiar brand, it offers very good bang for your buck.
The Russell Hobbs RHEM2301S is a well-thought-out microwave for people who want everyday convenience rather than an all-singing, all-dancing cooking centre. Its 23-litre flatbed design makes excellent use of space, and the 800W power is more than capable for reheating, cooking simple meals and defrosting.
It’s not trying to compete with combination ovens or smart microwaves, and the limited power levels and lack of auto programmes underline that. If you enjoy experimenting with advanced settings or want a built-in grill, you’ll be better served by a more fully featured model.
For everyone else – especially couples, small families and anyone with a compact kitchen – this is a highly rated, easy-to-live-with microwave that does the basics very well. If you value practicality, simple controls and a flatbed interior at a sensible price, it’s an excellent option to shortlist.
