Choose based on the meals you actually cook. A combination microwave with fan-assisted heat can reheat food and cook like an oven, while a mini oven is a better fit if you’re more interested in gratins, tarts and baking than microwave reheating. A portable hob is suited to frying pan and saucepan cooking, while an air fryer is best for portions that fit in its basket. Before choosing where to put an appliance, check its dimensions, door clearance and the clearances specified for that exact model.
If you reheat and defrost food but would also like to cook gratins or tarts, check the difference between a microwave with a grill and a combination microwave with fan-assisted heat. The right choice depends on the cooking modes listed for each model.
Measure the available space with the appliance door open. Its capacity in litres won’t tell you its external depth or the clearances required in the instructions.
A portable induction hob can be suitable for boiling, simmering or searing, as long as your cookware is compatible and you install the hob in accordance with the instructions.
Start with the meals you usually cook, then compare the functions you need with the space you have. These four types of appliance don’t all cook in the same way.
Consider this if: you want one appliance to reheat and defrost food, as well as handle some oven-style cooking.
Bear in mind: a grill alone won’t be enough. Check for fan-assisted heat and make sure there’s room to open the door.
Consider this if: gratins, tarts and baking feature heavily in your meals, and microwave reheating isn’t a priority.
Bear in mind: the internal capacity alone won’t tell you how much worktop space you’ll need.
Consider this if: your meals mainly involve boiling, simmering and frying.
Bear in mind: a single-zone hob limits how many things you can cook at once and doesn’t have an oven cavity for oven dishes.
Consider this for: roasting or browning food in portions that fit in the basket.
Bear in mind: the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee your dishes will fit, and it won’t let you cook in a saucepan.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking modes | Check for microwave, grill, fan-assisted heat, hob and basket cooking separately. Look at the modes for the exact model rather than relying on its name alone. | I want to reheat a meal and cook a quiche, so I need an appliance that lists an oven-style cooking mode, not just a grill. |
| Size | Compare the appliance’s external width, height and depth with your available space. Check how the door opens and what clearances the instructions specify. | My worktop is narrow, so I need to be able to position and use the appliance without the door being blocked. |
| Dishes and portions | Check the dimensions of dishes or tins that will fit, or the portion size suited to the basket. The capacity in litres alone won’t tell you what will fit inside. | I sometimes make a gratin in my own dish, so I need to check that it fits in the cavity rather than just looking at the capacity. |
| Cookware | For an induction hob, check that your saucepans and frying pans are compatible and the right size. A single-zone hob also means planning to cook things one after another. | I mainly cook in saucepans and want to keep using my existing cookware if its base is suitable for induction. |
| Power and maintenance | Compare the stated power with the model’s instructions and your electrical setup. Also check the information available on repairs and spare parts for the appliance. | I want to use the appliance regularly without mistaking its maximum power rating for the energy used to cook each of my recipes. |
A microwave with a grill can brown the top of a dish, but that doesn’t mean it can handle the oven-style cooking required for all your recipes.
If those recipes matter to you, check that the model’s product details explicitly mention fan-assisted heat.
The internal capacity doesn’t tell you the external dimensions, how much room you need to open the door or the clearance required for ventilation.
Measure your space, then check the dimensions and installation instructions in the manual before deciding where to put the appliance.
A basket may work well for some roasted dishes, but it won’t let you cook in a saucepan, and your oven dishes may not fit inside.
Compare your portions and dishes with the basket dimensions. If your meals also call for a frying pan or saucepan, plan to use another appliance.
The annual energy use figures published by ADEME are based on different usage assumptions for different appliances. They don’t directly compare these countertop models cooking the same recipe.
Use the stated power to check the model’s operating requirements, but don’t rely on it alone to work out energy use per dish or cooking speed.
These models illustrate different features; their specifications don’t automatically apply to other appliances from the same brand.
The freestanding MCP349WH combination microwave brings together microwave cooking and fan-assisted heat.
The Optimo 33 L CT is an example of a mini oven designed to sit on a worktop.
The Everyday Slim and Easy Fry Infrared models are designed for different uses: hob cooking and basket cooking.
The EMZ725MMK is an example of a freestanding microwave with a grill.
These Joybuy options cover cooking on an induction hob and in a hot-air basket. Choose based on your recipes: the hobs work with compatible frying pans and saucepans, while the air fryers are suited to portions that fit in their baskets.
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Cook in a saucepan or frying pan without a built-in hob. The product name lists eight power levels, seven preset functions and compatibility with cookware from 12 to 26 cm; check that your pans are suitable. The stated thickness alone isn’t enough to decide where to put it: check the full dimensions and the clearances in the instructions.
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This hob is suited to recipes cooked in a frying pan or saucepan, not dishes that need an oven cavity. The product name lists eight heat settings, four programmes and a 1,5 m cable. Check your cookware, the hob’s dimensions and the installation instructions before choosing a spot for it.
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Consider this for meals cooked in saucepans or frying pans that are compatible with induction. The product name lists ten power settings and six functions. Before use, check the model’s external dimensions, clearances and electrical specifications in its documentation.
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The basket is suited to dishes and portions that fit inside, but it won’t replace a frying pan or saucepan. The product name lists eight preset modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer; the stated external dimensions are 38 × 27,5 × 31,6 cm. Also check the required clearances and the space available around the appliance.
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Compare this 2 L basket with your usual portions and recipes rather than assuming your regular tins will fit. The product name lists a 60-minute timer. If you have a small worktop, check the external dimensions and clearances in the instructions; you’ll need another option for saucepan cooking.
A grill alone doesn’t guarantee oven-style cooking. Electrolux France lists microwave and grill modes for the EMZ725MMK, but no fan-assisted heat. If your recipes need that mode, look for it explicitly in the details of a combination microwave or consider a mini oven.
Measure the available width, height and depth, then check how the door opens and what clearances the model’s instructions require. The manufacturers list the Whirlpool MCP349WH as measuring 52 × 30,1 × 49,4 cm and the Electrolux EMZ725MMK as 280 × 469 × 348 mm, so check the external dimensions of each model individually.
It can handle recipes cooked in a saucepan or frying pan, provided your cookware is compatible, but not dishes that need an oven cavity. If gratins or baking are part of your meals, also consider an appliance with suitable cooking modes and enough internal space.