Choose an appliance based on the meals you make most often: a mini oven or combination microwave for oven dishes, a hob for using a frying pan or saucepan, a multicooker for meals cooked in a pot, or an air fryer for food cooked in a basket. None of these appliances can replace an oven for every use. Before buying, check that your dishes will fit, then make sure you have enough room to use the appliance, that your cookware is compatible and that you can follow the model’s electrical requirements.
The recipes you want to keep making without an oven are a better guide to your choice than the appliance’s name.
For quiches, gratins, pizzas and tarts, start by comparing mini ovens and combination microwaves. Check the cooking modes, as well as the dimensions of the dishes they can accommodate. Moulinex lists compatible dishes for some of its mini ovens, while Whirlpool describes the functions of its MWP338SB combination microwave.
If your meals mainly consist of starchy foods, vegetables, soups, sauces or slow-cooked dishes, compare a compact hob with a multicooker. A hob lets you use your own saucepans and frying pans; the modes Moulinex lists for the Cookeo+ CE851A10 include steaming, slow cooking and pressure cooking.
If you plan to put the appliance away after each use, check its external dimensions and weight, and allow enough room to use it. The stated internal capacity in litres won’t tell you how much space it will take up in your kitchen.
In a kitchen without an oven, start with the meals you usually make before comparing capacities and dimensions. The appliances below suit different types of cooking, and their exact functions depend on the model.
Worth considering: for tarts, gratins and other dishes cooked in an oven dish, if you have room to leave a cavity-style appliance set up.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to make room for it and clean the cavity and accessories. Moulinex lists different modes and dish dimensions for its various mini ovens.
Worth considering: if you often reheat or defrost food and would also like some cavity-cooking modes.
Bear in mind: grill and fan-assisted cooking functions vary by model; Whirlpool lists a depth of 54 cm for the MWP338SB.
Worth considering: if you mainly prepare meals in a saucepan or frying pan.
Bear in mind: it can’t cook dishes in a cavity; if you choose an induction hob, check that your cookware is compatible.
Worth considering: if soups, steamed vegetables and slow-cooked dishes make up most of your meals.
Bear in mind: cooking in a pot won’t meet the same needs as making a flat tart or a gratin.
Worth considering: for food you want to roast or reheat in a basket.
Bear in mind: the capacity in litres doesn’t tell you the basket’s surface area or how much food you can cook in one batch.
| Criteria | What to check | What matters to shoppers? |
|---|---|---|
| Types of meals | Make a note of the meals you cook often and distinguish between cooking in a dish, in a pan, in a pot or in a basket. | To keep making my usual meals without an oven, I want an appliance that’s versatile enough to avoid buying several different ones; around 29% of shoppers would put this versatility first. |
| Size | Measure the appliance, the space needed to open its door or basket, and the clearances specified in the instructions. | If I need to keep the worktop clear, I want an appliance I can set up and put away without getting in the way in the kitchen; space would be the top priority for around 23% of shoppers. |
| Portions | Compare your usual dishes or quantities with the usable dimensions of the oven dish, basket or pot. | If I’m cooking for several people or preparing food in advance, I want to avoid cooking in successive batches; capacity would be the top priority for around 18% of shoppers. |
| Cleaning | Check how easy it is to reach the areas that need cleaning and read the care instructions for removable parts. | When I cook often, I want to spend less time cleaning the cavity or accessories; around 18% of shoppers would make ease of cleaning their priority. |
| Electrical installation | Check the rated power and follow the model’s instructions for connecting and installing it. | If I’m concerned about the available space and power supply, I want to be able to use the appliance in line with its instructions; this would be the main concern for around 12% of shoppers. |
A capacity in litres won’t tell you whether your dish will fit in a mini oven or how much usable basket space there is for a batch.
Measure the dishes you use regularly and look for the internal dimensions or the specific sizes the model is designed to accommodate.
You’ll also need room to open the door or basket, and to meet the installation and ventilation requirements. As a guide for this model only, Whirlpool lists dimensions of 49 × 37,3 × 54 cm and a weight of 25,95 kg for its MWP338SB.
Before ordering, measure the space needed to use the appliance and check the clearances specified in the instructions for that exact model.
An induction hob needs cookware with a compatible base; a slim appliance doesn’t remove this requirement.
Check the markings and bases on your saucepans and frying pans, and make sure their dimensions are suitable for the hob you’re considering.
You may need to replace your frying pan or saucepan if your current cookware isn’t suitable for induction.
Grilling, fan-assisted cooking, pressure cooking and cooking in a basket produce different results, and not all dishes are suitable for each method.
Before choosing an appliance, check that its modes and approved accessories suit the recipes you make most often.
These examples show the features and limitations of specific models, not characteristics shared by every appliance from a brand.
Mini ovens and multicookers to compare depending on whether you cook in a dish or a pot.
A useful point of comparison for freestanding combination microwaves.
A model to consider if you want to cook in a saucepan on a portable induction hob.
A useful example for checking an air fryer’s stated capacity and consulting the model’s instructions.
These models cover cooking in a frying pan or saucepan on a portable hob, preparing food in a basket and making meals in a pot. First choose the cooking method that suits your recipes, then check the dimensions and instructions for the model you’re considering.
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For meals cooked in a saucepan or frying pan rather than an oven dish.
The title lists eight power levels, seven preset functions, a temperature range of 60 to 270 °C, a 3 h timer and cookware sized from 12 to 26 cm. Check that your cookware is compatible, and make sure you have enough space and clearance as specified in the instructions.
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For cooking in a frying pan or saucepan when you want a portable hob.
The title lists ten power settings, six functions, touch controls and a lock. Check that your cookware is compatible and measure the space available before buying.
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For food you want to cook in a basket rather than an oven dish or saucepan.
The title mentions a digital display and cooking window. A 7 L capacity doesn’t tell you the basket’s usable surface area or how many portions it can cook; compare it with the food you plan to make and check the installation instructions.
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For roasting, grilling or reheating food in a basket, depending on the modes listed.
The title lists eight preset modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the basket’s usable size, the care instructions and the space needed to use the appliance.
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For one-pot meals, including boiled, slow-cooked or steamed dishes.
The title lists a steamer basket, a non-stick coating and two power settings. This pot won’t meet the same needs as a dish for making a gratin; also check how much space you’ll need to use it.
No. You shouldn’t assume that every model can handle every recipe. Check the cooking modes, cavity dimensions, approved dishes and accessories, and the instructions for the dishes you want to make.
Start with the dishes, oven trays and quantities you usually use, rather than looking at the capacity in litres alone. Compare the dish dimensions accepted by a mini oven, the portion sizes listed for pot-based recipes and the usable basket area of an air fryer.
No. Wattage alone won’t tell you what you can cook or whether your electrical setup is suitable. Check the rated power and follow the instructions for connecting, positioning and ventilating the model you choose.
No. According to the DGCCRF, the CE marking isn’t a comparative certification mark. When choosing and using an appliance, check its exact model reference, warnings and instructions.