To choose a practical countertop appliance when you don’t have a conventional oven, start with the dishes you make: an air fryer is best suited to small roasted or crispy portions, a mini oven to oven dishes and baking tins, and a combination microwave to households that also want to reheat and defrost. Before choosing, measure the space needed when the appliance is open, check the manual for ventilation requirements and make sure it won’t duplicate equipment you already own.
If you mostly make roasted vegetables, potatoes or small portions for one or two people, start by looking at the shape and usable surface area of the basket. UFC-Que Choisir notes that cooking results can vary between air fryers.
If quiches, pizzas, gratins or cakes are often on the menu, a mini oven is worth considering. Check the dimensions of its cavity and its cooking modes: the capacities and features of the Optimo models shown by Moulinex vary by product reference.
If you regularly reheat and defrost food, but also want to grill or cook certain dishes, look at the features of a combination microwave. UFC-Que Choisir says it offers the basic functions of a conventional oven; check which modes are available on the model you choose.
In a small kitchen, first choose an appliance to suit the dishes you usually make, then check it against the space available and the appliances you already own.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking in oven dishes and baking tins | Measure your usual dishes and the cavity; check the modes and accessories of the mini oven or combination appliance you’re considering. | To regularly cook a quiche, gratin or cake, you need to be able to fit the tin and use the right mode. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this type of oven cooking. |
| Combined features | Check that it has microwave, grill and convection functions, and find out how each mode should be used. | If you need to reheat, defrost and cook with a single appliance, keeping several appliances becomes less appealing. Combining these uses is the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Small portions | Compare the basket’s usable surface area with the portions you make and check whether you’ll need to cook in batches. | If your meals mostly consist of small roasted or crispy portions, a suitable basket matters more than a large cavity. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the appliance when open, check the manual for clearance requirements and find out which parts can be cleaned separately. | On an already busy worktop, the space needed to open the appliance and leave room around it can determine whether you use it every day. Around 20% of consumers put making room for it and keeping cleaning to a minimum first. |
The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you how deep the appliance is or how much room you’ll need in front of an open door or drawer.
Check how much worktop space it will take up, then compare the dimensions of the specific model with the clearances required in its manual.
UFC-Que Choisir reports that cooking results vary between models, particularly for some types of chips. A large stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how well your portions will fit in the basket.
Check the basket’s surface area and the cooking instructions for the foods you make often, especially if they need stirring or turning.
Combining functions only frees up space if the appliance can take over tasks currently handled by other appliances.
Review your reheating, defrosting and cooking needs, then check the specific modes available on the combination appliance you’re considering.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer’s fan can be a source of noise. Baskets, trays and racks also need to be cleaned in a way that suits their design.
Check reviews that cover noise, and for the specific model, find out which parts are removable or dishwasher-safe.
The 19 L and 39 L Moulinex Optimo mini ovens are worth considering if you want to cook in an oven-style cavity.
The brand offers combination microwaves designed to bring several cooking modes together.
The TO 2067 mini oven and MW 7774 combination microwave show two different ways to equip your worktop.
The brand’s air fryers come in a range of capacities, including models listed as 3,2 L and 6,2 L.
These models let you compare a combination microwave with several air fryer sizes for cooking without a practical conventional oven. Check that their capacity suits your dishes and measure the space required before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want one countertop appliance for reheating and cooking. Its stated capacity is 42 L; check that your dishes fit in the cavity and that the appliance will fit in the space available with the door open and the clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth considering if your meals mainly involve roasting portions rather than cooking in large tins. Check that the containers are the right size for your portions and consult the manual for the space needed around the appliance; this option doesn’t replace microwave functions.
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Its stated capacity of 7,6 L is worth comparing with the quantities you usually cook: it’s not an advantage if you mainly make very small portions and are short on space. Measure the available space and check the manual for the appliance’s dimensions and required clearances.
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The stated 2 L basket makes this model suitable for small portions; cooking several parts of a meal may mean preparing them in batches. Its listed power is 1150 W. Check the dimensions, electrical requirements and ventilation clearances for this model before setting it up.
It can handle some types of cooking for small portions, but it won’t automatically replace an oven for every dish or baking tin. UFC-Que Choisir says air fryers can cook, roast or grill, while noting that results vary between models. If you often use baking tins, check their dimensions and the cooking modes available on the appliance you’re considering.
A combination microwave is useful if its functions let you replace an appliance you use for reheating, defrosting or cooking. If you’re adding it to a microwave and an oven that you plan to keep, check what additional uses would justify the space it takes up.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then allow for the door or drawer to open and for the clearances specified in the manual. Also compare the dimensions of your dishes with the cavity or basket: the external dimensions published by Severin for its TO 2067 and MW 7774 models don’t, on their own, tell you how much space is needed to install them.
Take it to a suitable take-back, collection or reuse scheme, depending on its condition, rather than putting it in your household rubbish. France’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition classifies used electrical appliances as waste electrical and electronic equipment, a scheme that includes the recovery of materials.