Start with the cooking methods you need for your meals. Make room for a hob if you regularly use saucepans and frying pans, then consider an oven if your dishes need one. Before adding an appliance, check the space available, its usable dimensions and whether your home’s electrical supply is suitable. A microwave with a grill or a small specialist appliance won’t automatically replace either of these functions.
If your kitchen is almost empty, start by identifying the meals that need a saucepan, frying pan or oven before adding specialist appliances. In its study of households in mainland France in 2023, ADEME and EDF R&D found that hobs were among the most commonly owned appliances. However, that doesn’t determine what your home needs.
A freestanding appliance needs enough room for you to use it, open its door and provide the ventilation specified in its instructions. Moulinex’s Optimo 19 L and Severin’s approximately 20 L TO 2067 mini ovens are examples of compact formats to compare by their external dimensions and the size of dishes they can accommodate.
Having a socket available doesn’t mean it’s suitable for a hob or built-in oven. Enedis points out that the power ratings of appliances used at the same time add up. Promotelec also describes dedicated circuits for installed cooking appliances. Ask someone qualified to confirm the connection before choosing a fixed appliance.
If your home has limited equipment, start with the meals you want to prepare, then compare the appliances you’re considering with the space and power supply available. A microwave with a grill, an oven and a hob all serve different purposes. The specific functions matter more than the number of appliances.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday cooking | List the meals that need a saucepan or frying pan, then those that need an oven. | If I often cook in a saucepan, I want to be able to do so without relying on a specialist appliance; around 33% of consumers would prioritise these cooking essentials. |
| Electrical supply | Check the power rating of each appliance, which ones might be used at the same time and the existing connection. Ask someone qualified to confirm that a fixed appliance is compatible. | If several appliances might be used together, I need to know whether my home can power them; electrical compatibility would be a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Available space | Measure the space, the clearances specified in the instructions and the size of your dishes, not just the capacity in litres. | In a small kitchen, I want an appliance that’s easy to use without blocking the worktop or a door; around 20% of consumers would put its footprint first. |
| Combined functions | Know the difference between microwave, grill and convection functions, then compare them with the recipes you plan to make. | If I often reheat and defrost food, I’d prefer to limit the number of appliances without giving up the cooking methods I need; around 20% of consumers would prioritise this versatility. |
The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop or accommodate your dishes. Severin’s TO 2067 product details show that external dimensions and the size of dishes it can take are two separate measurements.
Measure the space and your dishes, then check that the door can open and that you can leave the clearances specified in the model’s instructions.
Enedis points out that power ratings add up when appliances are used at the same time. Promotelec also describes dedicated circuits for installed cooking appliances.
Check what connection is available and ask someone qualified to confirm it’s compatible with the appliance you’re considering before you buy.
If the connection needs adapting, work may be required before the appliance can be used.
A grill and a convection function aren’t interchangeable. In the comparison of combination ovens shared by ADEME and carried out with the French National Consumer Institute, results varied by dish and showed no clear overall advantage over convection ovens.
Check the functions of the specific model and compare them with the dishes you actually plan to make.
An appliance designed for a handful of dishes can take up worktop space without providing the saucepan, frying pan or oven cooking you need.
Choose your main equipment based on the meals you make regularly, then add a specialist appliance if you’ll use it often for a specific purpose.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding mini oven rather than a built-in model. The Optimo 19 L is one example of this format.
The TO 2067 mini oven is a useful example for checking how much worktop space you’ll need and what size dishes it can accommodate.
Only consider this if your kitchen has a suitable built-in space. The CMG7241B1 combines oven and microwave functions in a compact built-in appliance.
These models show three different ways to equip a kitchen over time: a hob for cooking in a saucepan or frying pan, microwaves with grills for reheating and some types of cooking, and a small appliance for specific dishes. Check the functions and installation requirements for each model before using them together.
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For cooking in a saucepan or frying pan when you need a hob. The product title lists a power rating of up to 2,000 W, eight power levels, seven programmes and compatibility with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Check that your cookware has a magnetic base, that the dimensions and clearances are suitable, and that your home’s power supply can support it.
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Consider it for reheating, defrosting and using the grill without a built-in appliance. The product title lists a 25 L capacity and 1,000 W; check which function this power rating applies to. If your recipes need oven cooking, check the available modes rather than assuming the grill will be enough. Also check the ventilation clearances required.
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For combining reheating and grilling in a freestanding appliance. The product title lists a 25 L capacity and 900 W. If you plan to cook dishes in it that you’d normally make in an oven, check the exact modes available. You’ll also need a suitable surface and the specified ventilation clearances.
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For reheating, defrosting and grilling alongside your main cooking appliances. The product title lists a 20 L capacity and 700 W. Check that the functions suit your recipes and that the space allows for the clearances specified for this model, particularly at the sides and rear.
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Worth considering for specific dishes alongside your main cooking appliance, rather than as a replacement for cooking in a saucepan or frying pan. The product title lists eight preset modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check the space, ventilation clearances and power supply you’ll need before setting it up.
Check the electrical installation before choosing a model, particularly if it’s a fixed appliance. Compare its power rating, along with those of appliances used at the same time, with the available connection. Enedis points out that these power ratings add up, while Promotelec describes dedicated circuits for installed cooking appliances.
It can handle some types of cooking if its modes suit your recipes, but it isn’t automatically a replacement. A comparison by the French National Consumer Institute, shared by ADEME, found that results varied by dish and showed no clear overall advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens. In particular, distinguish between a model with a grill and one with a convection function.
Measure the width, depth and height of the space, then allow room to open the door and provide the ventilation specified in the instructions. Also check that your dishes will fit in the usable cavity. According to Severin, its approximately 20 L TO 2067 can take dishes up to 30 cm; this specification applies to that model only.
Find out about spare parts, repair options and the terms that apply to the model you’re considering. In its list of product categories that must display a repairability index, published in August 2026, the French Ministry of the Economy doesn’t include ovens, microwaves or hobs. So don’t rely on this index as your only way to compare them.