Choose the appliance that best suits the meals you prepare most often: a hob for cooking with saucepans or frying pans, an oven for dishes and batches of baking, a microwave for reheating or defrosting, or a small appliance for portions that fit its capacity. Before choosing a built-in appliance, check its power supply requirements and whether it will fit the space; for all appliances, allow for the space and ventilation specified in the instructions. To get a better idea of energy use, ADEME recommends looking at how an appliance is used rather than just its stated power rating.
If you regularly cook several dishes, distinguish between active cooking on the hob and dishes or batches that need an oven. The number of cooking zones or usable capacity matters most when it suits the portions you prepare.
If you don't have a built-in space or have limited worktop room, a freestanding appliance may be a better choice. You'll still need to set aside the space and ventilation clearances specified for the model.
If energy use and lifespan are important to you, compare the capacity with your usual meals, then check the available usage data, documentation and maintenance options for the model you're considering.
Start by thinking about the meals you prepare to work out which appliance will meet your main needs. The available space and installation requirements will then determine which models are suitable.
Consider it: if you often cook with saucepans or frying pans, sometimes using several at once.
Bear in mind: a built-in hob needs a compatible worktop and suitable power supply; Promotelec specifies a dedicated circuit for hobs and cookers.
Consider it: if gratins, roasts, baking or batch cooking are regular features of your meals.
Bear in mind: a built-in model must fit the housing and meet its electrical installation requirements; the stated capacity alone doesn't guarantee compatibility.
Consider it: if reheating or defrosting is its main purpose; a grill or combination model can handle other types of cooking, depending on its features.
Bear in mind: even a freestanding microwave needs a suitable surface and unobstructed ventilation openings, as Whirlpool points out.
Consider it: for portions that suit its capacity, without assuming it will replace all your hob or oven cooking.
Bear in mind: the appliance takes up worktop space, including when you open it and allow air to circulate.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking capacity | Compare the number of cooking zones or usable capacity with your portions and the dishes you use. | I prepare several parts of the same meal and want to avoid cooking each portion separately. Around 29% of shoppers would make this capacity their priority. |
| Space and installation | Measure the appliance and, if it's built in, the housing; check the circuit and clearances specified in the instructions. | In my kitchen, the appliance needs to fit without blocking the worktop or ventilation openings. Around 29% of shoppers would prioritise whether installation is feasible. |
| Reheating and versatility | For a microwave, choose between a standard, grill or combination model according to the features you'll use. | I often reheat or defrost food, so I want to meet that need before looking for more cooking modes. Around 21% of shoppers would share this priority. |
| Energy use and aftercare | Check energy-use data relevant to the way you'll use the appliance and, where applicable, its energy label; also check the instructions and availability of parts for the model. | I want to understand how much the appliance will use for my usual meals and be able to maintain it afterwards. Around 21% of shoppers would put this at the top of their list. |
A hob or oven may fit your kitchen dimensions but not be compatible with the existing electrical installation. Promotelec specifies dedicated circuits for these appliances.
Before choosing a model, have the available circuit and connection checked; if changes are planned, ask a qualified professional to assess them.
Adapting the installation may add an extra step to the project before the appliance can be fitted.
The appliance dimensions won't necessarily match the cut-out or housing dimensions. The information published by Electrolux and Bosch applies to specific models.
Measure the height, width and depth of the space, then compare them with the installation diagram for your chosen model, including the required clearances.
Whirlpool warns that blocking a microwave's ventilation openings can cause it to overheat.
Place the appliance on a surface that meets the instructions and keep its vents and specified clearances unobstructed.
The stated power rating doesn't tell you how much energy the appliance will use over time: how long and how often you use it also matter. Read ADEME's indicative data in the context of the usage conditions it describes.
Compare like-for-like usage, check the energy label where applicable, and look separately at the model's maintenance information.
These brands offer examples of different appliance types; the features and guidance mentioned apply to the ranges or models specified, not to all their products.
Worth considering for built-in induction hobs, particularly if the kitchen layout and extraction are part of your plans.
Worth considering for built-in ovens when cooking capacity and housing dimensions are key factors.
Worth considering for freestanding, grill or combination microwaves, depending on the space you have and the dishes you plan to prepare.
Worth considering for countertop air fryers if their capacity suits the portions you usually prepare.
These Joybuy products let you explore three of the uses covered here: cooking on a hob, reheating in a microwave and preparing food in an air fryer. Start by choosing the function you need, then check the model's installation requirements.
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With 4 zones and 9 power levels, this hob lets you cook with several pans at once. Check the worktop cut-out, electrical connection and instructions before planning its installation.
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For everyday reheating, this microwave has a stated capacity of 20 L and microwave power of 700 W. Before deciding where to put it, allow for its footprint and the ventilation clearances specified for the model.
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If you're looking for a combination microwave rather than an appliance for reheating alone, compare its cooking modes with the recipes you make. It has a stated capacity of 42 L; also measure the space and follow the ventilation clearances in the instructions.
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Compare its stated capacity of 7,6 L with the portions you prepare rather than choosing it based on the name “Compact Max” alone. Check how much worktop space it needs, including room to open the appliance and let air circulate.
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The 2 L basket may suit you if you usually make small portions; compare it with the food you typically prepare. The product name lists a 60-minute timer and a non-stick, dishwasher-safe basket. Check the dimensions and ventilation requirements in the instructions before placing it on a narrow worktop.
Don't assume a standard socket is suitable for a fixed hob. Promotelec specifies a dedicated circuit for hobs and cookers, so have the existing connection and the requirements of the model you're considering checked before you buy.
Measure the height, width and depth of the housing, then compare them with the installation diagram for your chosen oven. Also check its power supply and ventilation requirements: the 590 × 560 × 550 mm housing size stated by Electrolux for the EOF6P76X model does not apply to all ovens.
Yes, its vents must be kept clear. Whirlpool warns that obstructed ventilation can cause overheating; follow the distances and placement requirements in your model's instructions.
No, the power rating alone can't tell you how much energy the appliance will use for your meals. ADEME's energy-use guidance also depends on the usage being considered; compare expected usage time and frequency, as well as energy-use data and the energy label where applicable.
Check that you can find the instructions, identify the exact model and look up the relevant parts and support options. Electrolux, for example, offers searches by model or product code; check what is available for the appliance you choose.