If you mainly cook in a saucepan or frying pan, consider a compact hob; for one-pot meals, look at a multi-cooker instead. A mini oven is suited to dishes that need baking, an air fryer to roasted or crispy portions, and a microwave mainly to reheating and defrosting. In a studio flat, weigh up each option against the meals you usually make, the space it needs while in use, and the model’s connection and ventilation requirements.
If you regularly cook vegetables, starchy foods or slow-cooked dishes, start by comparing a compact hob with a multi-cooker. The hob lets you choose your own saucepans and frying pans; the multi-cooker handles dishes suited to its programmes in a single bowl.
You need enough room to position the appliance, open its door or remove its basket, and handle the dish without losing all your food preparation space. Also measure where the appliance will stay or be stored once it has cooled down.
If you often reheat or defrost food, a microwave is designed for exactly those tasks. For roasted or crispy food, consider an air fryer instead, but don’t assume it will replace boiling or frying in a pan.
Start with the dishes you actually make, then check whether the appliance can be used and cleaned in the space available. These five types of appliance are suited to different cooking tasks.
Consider it: for boiling or frying with suitable cookware.
Bear in mind: the space taken up by a saucepan and its handle while cooking; a hob on its own can’t bake food.
Consider it: for dishes suited to cooking in a bowl, including steaming or slow cooking, depending on the programmes.
Bear in mind: the space needed for the bowl and lid; the programmes won’t replicate every type of oven cooking.
Consider it: if reheating and defrosting make up most of your meals.
Bear in mind: you’ll need room for the door to open fully, and it offers fewer cooking options than a hob or oven.
Consider it: for oven-baked dishes such as gratins, pizzas, pastries or vegetables.
Bear in mind: the space in front of the door to remove a hot dish, as well as the clearance specified in the instructions.
Consider it: for portions that fit in the basket and for roasted or crispy results.
Bear in mind: you’ll need room to remove the basket; the appliance won’t replace a saucepan for boiling pasta or cooking dishes with sauce.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing everyday meals | List the dishes you usually make and check the cooking methods you’ll need, as well as whether your cookware is compatible. | If I often cook starchy foods, vegetables and slow-cooked dishes, I want to be able to make more than just reheated portions. Around 36% of consumers would put being able to prepare their everyday meals at the top of their needs. |
| Saving space | Measure the available space, the room needed to open the door or remove the basket, and the clearances specified for the model. | With a narrow worktop, I still need room to prepare ingredients and take out the dish once it’s cooked. Around 29% of consumers would put making the most of this space first. |
| Reheating with fewer steps | Check the defrost function, settings and capacity to make sure it suits your containers. | On a busy day, I mainly want to heat a portion or defrost it with as little effort as possible. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this ease of use. |
| Roasting and easy cleaning | Check the usable basket size and which parts the manufacturer says are dishwasher-safe. | For roasted vegetables or crispy portions, I prefer an appliance with parts that are easy to clean after use. Around 14% of consumers would put this need first. |
A wattage rating alone isn’t enough to compare how much electricity two models use to cook a meal. You should also consider the cooking method and how long you typically use it for. Check the instructions before deciding where to put the appliance or how to connect it.
An air fryer, a hob and a microwave don’t prepare the same dishes. If you choose an appliance based on its name alone, it may not suit the meals you make most often.
Write down five meals you cook regularly and check which ones each appliance can prepare with the cookware you have.
The external dimensions don’t include the space needed to open a door, remove a basket or take out a hot dish. Ventilation clearances vary by model.
Measure the space in width, depth and height, then check the instructions to see how much room to leave around the appliance.
Legrand provides electrical guidance for installing built-in hobs. This guidance alone doesn’t determine how a portable hob should be connected.
Check the model’s power rating and instructions, as well as the specifications of your existing electrical installation. If you’re unsure, ask a qualified professional to inspect it rather than modifying it yourself.
The test of combination ovens by the Institut national de la consommation and ADEME covers built-in models. It doesn’t provide a direct comparison of the microwave, mini oven and air fryer you might be considering for a studio flat.
Compare like-for-like uses and the information for the specific models you’re considering before drawing conclusions about their energy consumption.
Portable induction hobs and air fryers from the brand illustrate two different ways to cook in a compact space.
The Cookeo+ CE851A10 is an example of a guided multi-cooker for preparing dishes in a single bowl.
The freestanding EMZ421MMK microwave gives you a useful point of reference when considering where to put an appliance mainly intended for reheating and defrosting.
This selection includes a portable hob, a compact multi-cooker, two air fryers and a microwave for the everyday uses discussed here. Start by choosing the type of cooking that suits your meals, then check the requirements for the specific model.
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Worth considering if you want to cook in a saucepan or frying pan in a small space. The product title lists eight power levels, seven preset functions and compatibility with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Check that your pans are suitable for induction. Before setting aside a space for it, also check its full dimensions and the clearances specified in the instructions.
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Consider it for portions suited to air frying, especially if you’re looking for roasted or crispy results. It won’t replace a hob for boiling pasta or cooking dishes with sauce. Check how much room you’ll need to use the appliance and follow the clearances in its instructions.
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Worth considering for dishes cooked in a bowl, such as rice, soup or steamed vegetables, rather than as a guaranteed replacement for all your cooking methods. The instructions for this model require at least 40 cm of clear space above it and 10 cm at the sides. Measure the space before setting it up.
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Consider whether its 2 L basket suits the portions you usually prepare for roasted or crispy results. The product is listed with a 60-minute timer and a basket described as dishwasher-safe. Check its dimensions and the required clearances before deciding where to put it.
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Consider it if you reheat and defrost more often than you cook on the hob or in the oven. The title lists six power levels, a defrost function and a 30-minute timer. Before setting it up, check that the door can open fully and that you can leave the clearances specified in the instructions.
Don’t assume a portable hob connects in the same way as a built-in one. Check the power rating, plug and instructions for the appliance you choose, as well as your existing electrical installation. If you’re unsure whether they’re compatible, ask a qualified professional.
You can’t reach that conclusion for every meal and every model based on the power rating alone. The test by the Institut national de la consommation and ADEME cited for combination ovens covers built-in appliances, not the countertop models in this selection. Compare the cooking method you need and how long it takes on the appliances you’re considering.
Check which parts the manufacturer says are dishwasher-safe and follow the model’s cooling instructions. Tefal lists dishwasher-safe parts for its Easy Fry Deluxe EY401D15; its mini rice cooker instructions say to unplug the appliance and let it cool completely before cleaning. These details don’t replace the instructions for the appliance you buy.
Don’t expect to find one rating that covers all five types of appliance. The list of categories for the repairability rating published by the ministry responsible for ecological transition doesn’t include these compact cooking appliances. For a specific model, check its instructions, repair options and the availability of spare parts instead.