Start by thinking about what you cook and how much you prepare: a hob for saucepans and frying pans, an oven for batch cooking, a microwave for reheating and suitable small portions, or a compact appliance for recipes that fit its basket. Wattage alone cannot predict how much electricity a meal will use. Compare like-for-like usage data, then check capacity, available space and the connection required. The annual consumption figures published by ADEME are based on specific usage patterns; they are not guaranteed savings for every household.
If you regularly cook pasta, vegetables, sauces or slow-cooked dishes, compare hob types, the cooking zones you’ll use and whether your pans are compatible. For a built-in hob, also check the connection specified in the instructions.
For gratins, baking or cooking several dishes one after another, oven capacity matters just as much as energy use per cycle. The European Commission lists capacity and kWh per cycle for each cooking mode, so compare the modes you’ll actually use.
If you often reheat leftovers, defrost food or cook a small amount, match the size of a microwave or compact appliance to the recipes you make. A compact basket is only practical if it means you don’t have to cook in multiple batches.
Start with the dishes you make most often and the quantities you prepare, then compare data for the same type of use. For hobs, ADEME’s annual reference figures don’t describe the consumption of a specific model. For ovens, kWh per cycle and the capacity for your chosen cooking mode are more useful than wattage alone.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Regular hob cooking | Compare induction and ceramic hobs based on your cookware, the zones you’ll use and the power supply required for a built-in hob. For 409 cycles a year, ADEME gives reference figures of 115 kWh/year for the most efficient new induction appliances and 200 kWh/year for a reference ceramic hob. | I cook several meals a week in a saucepan or frying pan, so my hob features in my routine. Around 36% of consumers would put hob cooking at the top of their list. |
| Capacity for batch cooking | Check the capacity in litres and compare the kWh per cycle for ovens using the same mode—conventional or fan-assisted—as well as their dimensions. | My gratins and bakes need plenty of room, but I don’t want a cavity that’s oversized for the dishes I usually cook. Oven capacity would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Small portions and reheating | Check the internal capacity, dimensions and functions you need for your recipes. ADEME gives a reference average of 40 kWh/year for microwaves, but its table doesn’t specify a number of cycles, so this figure doesn’t show energy use per meal. | I mainly reheat leftovers or defrost small portions, so I’m looking for an appliance suited to those tasks rather than a large batch. Around 21% of consumers would make this their main priority. |
| Compact cooking appliance | Check the usable capacity, the size of the food and how many batches you’ll need to cook. Consider cooking time alongside the stated wattage, but don’t mistake watts for the kWh used per recipe. | I’m considering an air fryer for recipes that suit its basket, but it’s less useful if I have to cook my meal in several batches. Around 14% of consumers would put this type of cooking first. |
Rated power doesn’t account for cooking time or the quantity being prepared. For ovens, the European Commission instead gives reference energy use per cycle, which varies by cooking mode.
Compare similar quantities and cooking modes, and consider preheating and how many batches you’ll need for your meals.
A large oven meets the need for capacity, while a compact basket may mean cooking several batches for a bigger meal. The stated capacity only matters when you compare it with the dishes you make.
Think about the meals you prepare most often and check that the oven cavity or basket can hold the quantity you need.
Promotelec says a built-in hob needs a dedicated circuit. Legrand also distinguishes these hobs from portable induction models when it comes to plugging into a standard socket.
Before you buy, check the model’s instructions against your existing installation. If you’re unsure, ask a qualified professional to inspect it.
ADEME’s reference figures are based on defined usage patterns. Your household’s cooking frequency, recipes and portion sizes may be different.
Use these figures to compare appliance categories, then look for comparable data for the models and cooking methods you’re considering.
These ranges let you explore different types of cooking appliance. A brand’s inclusion here doesn’t indicate a model’s energy use or mean it’s available from Joybuy.
Bosch offers ovens, microwaves and induction or electric hobs.
Electrolux’s cooking range includes ovens, induction hobs, cookers and microwaves.
Whirlpool offers induction hobs, ovens and microwaves.
Moulinex offers air fryers to consider for recipes that suit a basket-style appliance.
These models cover two of the uses discussed here: hob cooking and recipes suited to an air fryer. First compare their size and format with your meals, then check the energy data for the model you’re considering and how you’ll use it.
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Worth considering if your air-fryer-friendly recipes need a 10 L capacity. Check how much space it needs and compare energy use for the quantities and cooking times you expect to use.
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Its 2 L size is worth considering for small portions. Check that your food will fit without needing to cook in several batches. The 1150 W rating tells you its power, not how much energy a recipe uses.
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Worth considering if a 5 L basket suits the meals you prepare. Before you choose, check the usable capacity, dimensions and features you need for your recipes.
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The four zones are worth considering if you cook several dishes on the hob at once. Check the cut-out dimensions, connection requirements and energy data for this specific model.
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The four zones may suit you if you cook several dishes at once and your pans are induction-compatible. Before buying, check the cut-out size, the connection specified in the instructions and the energy use for the way you cook.
No. Also compare their capacity in litres and their kWh per cycle in the mode you’ll use. The European Commission distinguishes between conventional and fan-assisted cooking, among other modes. The energy rating alone won’t tell you whether the cavity is the right size for your dishes.
No. Wattage doesn’t take cooking time or the quantity prepared into account. To compare an air fryer with another appliance, use a similar recipe and quantity, then look at the cooking time and any available energy-use data.
Don’t assume you can. According to Promotelec, a built-in hob needs a dedicated circuit, and Legrand distinguishes this from portable induction hobs. Check the instructions, and if you’re unsure, ask a qualified professional to inspect your existing installation.
A microwave can be suitable for reheating, defrosting or cooking some small portions, but it won’t work for every recipe or produce the same results as an oven. Before considering a replacement, think about the dishes you make most often, check the internal capacity and read the appliance instructions.
Not necessarily. First check whether its capacity suits your meals and whether you can cook compatible dishes at the same time. Only preheat when the recipe or instructions call for it; these steps don’t guarantee a specific saving.