Renters and students without a built-in oven
A countertop appliance can take care of everyday meals without the need to install a built-in oven. Compare its features and dimensions with the space you actually have available.
Who are these options for?
Anyone looking to avoid duplicate appliances
In a small kitchen, start with the type of cooking you’re missing: oven heat, saucepan cooking, one-pot meals or small portions to brown. The number of programmes alone won’t tell you whether an appliance can replace the ones you already use.
Households that enjoy simple, regular meals
If you often make soups, rice, slow-cooked dishes or food to reheat, prioritise the features that fit your routine. Also check that your containers and portions will fit inside the appliance.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the meals the appliance needs to handle, then check that it can be used and stored in your kitchen. These five types of appliance do not cover the same cooking methods.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Oven cooking | For a mini oven, compare the cooking modes and interior capacity with the size of your dishes. Check how much space you’ll need to open the door. | I mainly make gratins, roast vegetables or simple bakes, and don’t need a hob for these recipes. |
| Microwave and convection | Check whether the exact model has microwave, grill and convection functions. Compare the interior and turntable with the containers you usually use. | I often reheat and defrost food. If I also want to roast, I need to check for a convection function rather than relying on the word ‘grill’ alone. |
| Small portions to brown | For an air fryer, check the capacity and usable basket dimensions, as well as the clearance required around it according to the instructions. | I mainly cook small portions to brown; soups and saucy dishes aren’t what I’m choosing this appliance for. |
| Saucepans and frying pans | For a portable induction hob, check that your cookware is compatible and the right size, then check the model’s power rating and the space available. | Without a fixed hob, I want to be able to boil, simmer or fry food. If I choose induction, I’ll also need compatible cookware. |
| One-pot meals | For a multicooker, check the included modes, any separate accessories, its capacity and the space needed to open the lid. | Rice, steamed food and slow-cooked dishes feature regularly in my meals; I shouldn’t assume that a crisping function is included. |
| Space and storage | Measure the width, depth and height of the space where you’ll use and store the appliance. Check the instructions for clearance and access to the door or lid. | I need to be able to set up the appliance, use it and put it away without blocking the rest of the worktop. |
| Power rating and energy use | Check the model’s total power rating and which other appliances will be in use at the same time. To compare energy use, look at similar meals and cooking times rather than watts alone. | I want an appliance that suits my electrical setup, without estimating its annual energy use from its stated power rating. |
| Care and repair | Check the instructions, repair options and model reference on RappelConso. Check the applicable conditions before arranging a repair. | I want to be able to maintain the appliance and have it repaired if necessary. In a Gifam Insights study carried out for ADEME in August 2024 among 10,020 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over, covering 57 products, 77% said that manufacturers made repairs difficult and 80% cited repair costs as a factor in their choice. These responses relate to repair, not to choosing a compact cooking appliance. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Assuming ‘multifunction’ means it can handle every type of cooking
A microwave with a grill doesn’t necessarily have convection. Likewise, some multicookers need a separate accessory to air-fry food.
Make a note of the meals you cook most often, then compare the modes, accessories and usable capacity of each model.
For example, Moulinex says that the air-fryer function on the Cookeo+ shown requires the Extra Crisp accessory, sold separately.
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Choosing based on capacity alone
A stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that your dish, tin or plate will fit inside the cavity or basket.
Measure your largest container and compare it with the usable dimensions. For a microwave with a turntable, check its diameter too.
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Confusing watts with energy use
The stated power rating alone doesn’t tell you how much energy a recipe will use. In its study published in February 2026, ADEME and INC found no clear efficiency advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens. Results vary depending on the dishes, models and brands.
Use the power rating to check that the appliance suits your electrical setup, and compare energy use for genuinely comparable cooking tasks.
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Forgetting the instructions, repairs and product recalls
Installation and care instructions depend on the model. The official RappelConso database also publishes recalls for electrical appliances.
Keep a note of the full model reference, read the instructions and search for the model on RappelConso. Check the repair options before buying too.
Which brands illustrate these uses?
These examples show features to compare on a specific model; a feature mentioned for one product does not apply to the entire brand.
Tefal
The Everyday Slim IH2108E1 portable induction hob is an example of an option for saucepan cooking in a small space.
- Tefal lists a height of 45 mm, a power rating of 2 100 W and seven heat settings for this model.
- Check that your saucepans and frying pans are compatible with induction.
Electrolux
According to Electrolux, the EMZ421MMK countertop microwave combines microwave and grill functions.
- Electrolux lists 800 W for the microwave and 1 000 W for the grill on this model.
- A grill function alone doesn’t confirm that the appliance has convection.
Moulinex
The models shown illustrate two multicooker setups for one-pot meals.
- Moulinex lists six cooking modes on the Cookeo+ shown. The Multicook & Fry shown has a built-in air-fryer function and 12 programmes.
- The air-fryer function on the Cookeo+ shown requires the Extra Crisp accessory, sold separately. Check the setup of the model you choose.
SEB
The Actifry Genius FZ760800 is an example of an air fryer designed for browning food.
- SEB lists nine programmes for this model.
- These programmes don’t mean the appliance can handle saucepan cooking or dishes with lots of liquid.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool describes combination microwaves as combining microwave and convection cooking, with other functions available depending on the model.
- This setup is worth considering if you need both reheating and some oven-style cooking.
- Check the exact modes. The ADEME and INC study published in February 2026 found no clear efficiency advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens across all dishes.
Cooking options on Joybuy
These models suit three of the uses covered here: cooking with saucepans on a portable hob, preparing portions in an air fryer, or using a multicooker for one-pot meals. Mini ovens and combination microwaves should be assessed using the same cooking and space-saving criteria.
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IAGREEA DF200-14V10 induction hob, 2 000 W
A portable hob to consider if you mainly need a saucepan or frying pan for your meals and want to free up worktop space when you’re not using it. The product name lists eight power levels, seven preset functions, a 3 h timer and compatibility with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Check that your cookware is suitable for induction, along with the required positioning dimensions and clearances in the instructions.
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Midea 2 L air fryer, 1 150 W
With a stated capacity of 2 L, this model is intended for small portions; compare it with the amounts you usually cook. The product name lists a 60-minute timer. Measure the space where you plan to use it and check the instructions for the required clearances.
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Midea 4 L air fryer, 1 500 W
The stated 4 L capacity may be worth considering if 2 L isn’t enough for your portions. The product name lists eight pre-programmed modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Compare the basket’s usable dimensions with the food you plan to cook, and allow for the clearances specified in the instructions.
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Instant Pot Rio 3.8 L multicooker, black
Worth considering if your meals mainly feature rice, steamed food or one-pot dishes. The stated capacity is 3.8 L. Before placing it in a small kitchen, check its dimensions and how much room you’ll need to open the lid. Also ask the retailer to confirm the model’s electrical power rating.
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ochama portable induction hob, 2 000 W
This countertop hob is an option for saucepan or frying-pan cooking when you don’t have a fixed hob. The product name lists ten power settings and six functions. Before choosing where to place it, check that your cookware is compatible and the right size, the hob’s dimensions and its electrical specifications.
Frequently asked questions
Can a microwave with a grill replace a mini oven?
Not for every type of cooking: a grill doesn’t mean the microwave has a convection function. If you want to roast or cook food as you would in an oven, check explicitly for this function and measure the interior. In its study published in February 2026, ADEME and INC found no clear efficiency advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens; results vary depending on the dishes and models.
What should you measure before buying a countertop appliance?
Measure the width, depth and height of the space, then compare them with the appliance’s external dimensions. Also measure the dish or basket you need to fit inside, and allow room to open the door or lid. Check the instructions for the clearances and installation requirements specific to the appliance.
Are watts enough to compare energy use?
No. The power rating alone doesn’t tell you how much energy it takes to cook a dish; the cooking time and mode matter too. ADEME publishes separate average annual energy use figures for different categories of kitchen appliance, but these don’t describe the energy use of every compact model.
What should you check for the safety of a cooking appliance in France?
Identify the exact model, read its installation and operating instructions, then search for its reference on RappelConso, particularly if you’re buying second-hand. The DGCCRF explains that, where applicable, the CE marking indicates the manufacturer’s commitment to the relevant European requirements; it is not a certification mark.
Could a small cooking appliance be eligible for the Repair Bonus?
Some eligible electrical or household appliances may qualify, subject to conditions. ADEME says, among other things, that the item must have been bought in France and be out of warranty. Check whether the appliance is eligible and review the scheme’s conditions before arranging a repair.