Choose an appliance to suit the meals you make: a portable induction hob is for cooking in a saucepan or frying pan, a mini oven is for oven-baked dishes, a microwave is mainly for reheating, and a multi-cooker is for meals prepared in its cooking pot. In a small rented kitchen, also measure the space you’ll need to use the appliance, check its instructions and make sure you have a suitable socket, without planning any renovation work.
A countertop appliance can move with you when you relocate, without requiring built-in installation or a gas connection. You’ll still need to check that its plug is suitable for your existing electrical installation. If electrical modifications are needed, it’s no longer a straightforward countertop-appliance purchase.
Your choice depends as much on the space an appliance takes up as on the clearances specified in its instructions. A hob lets you cook with your own pans, while a mini oven, microwave or cooking-pot appliance is suited to different kinds of meals.
If you’ll be using the appliance for everyday meals, rather than just reheating food, start with the recipes you usually make: pan-fried dishes, oven-baked meals, food to reheat, or slow-cooked and steamed dishes.
First, decide which cooking methods you need, then compare each model’s dimensions and plug requirements with your kitchen.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking method | Compare the functions actually offered: pans and saucepans for a hob, oven-baked dishes for a mini oven, reheating for a microwave, and meals made in a cooking pot for a multi-cooker. Check the specific functions of the model. | I mainly make stir-fries or sauces: a hob could suit me. For gratins and baking, I’d look at a mini oven; for soups or steamed meals cooked in one pot, a multi-cooker. |
| Available space | Measure the external width, depth and height, then check the instructions for ventilation, opening the door or lid, and the clearances to leave around the appliance. The internal capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space it takes up. | My appliance needs to leave enough room for food preparation and be usable without blocking a door, socket or the clearances it needs. |
| Plug and power supply | Check the model’s power rating and plug-in instructions. Check the socket and whether you’ll be using other appliances at the same time. Promotelec warns that overloaded extension leads can overheat and cause short circuits. | I want to be able to use the appliance in my home as instructed, without relying on a chain of extension leads or modifying the electrical installation. |
| Pans and dishes | For induction, check that your pans are compatible and that they’re within the permitted size range. For a mini oven or microwave, compare your dishes with the internal dimensions and the containers allowed in the instructions. | If I’m keeping my current pans or dishes, I need to be able to use them with the appliance I choose. Its stated capacity in litres doesn’t guarantee that they’ll fit. |
| Electricity use | Don’t confuse maximum power in watts with annual electricity consumption. Compare like-for-like usage cycles where these are stated, and consider how often you expect to cook. | I’m looking for an appliance that suits the meals I actually make, rather than choosing based on a single power rating. The indicative annual consumption figures published by ADEME depend on the categories and usage cycles used. |
Internal capacity doesn’t tell you whether an appliance will fit on your worktop. The dimensions published by Severin for the TO 2067 and by Whirlpool for the MWF421SL also show why you need to consider external height and depth.
Measure the available space, the room needed to open the door or lid, and the clearances specified in the instructions before choosing a model.
Promotelec warns that an overloaded extension lead can overheat and cause a short circuit or even a fire. The fact that an appliance sits on a worktop doesn’t tell you how it should be powered.
Follow the plug-in instructions, check that a suitable socket is available and avoid connecting extension leads in a chain.
A multi-cooker prepares food in its cooking pot, while a microwave and a mini oven are suited to different uses. Extra functions don’t guarantee the results you want for every recipe.
Make a note of the meals you cook most often, then check that the model’s functions and containers are suitable for them.
The stated power doesn’t take cooking time or frequency into account. ADEME’s annual estimates are based on usage cycles specific to the categories studied.
To compare two appliances, look at comparable usage cycles where available and consider how many meals you’ll prepare with each one.
These models illustrate different cooking methods. Their specifications are no substitute for measuring your space and reading the instructions.
The Everyday Slim IH2108E1 portable induction hob is suited to meals cooked in a saucepan or frying pan.
The TO 2067 mini oven is aimed at people who regularly prepare dishes that need to be oven-baked.
The MWF421SL countertop microwave is mainly suited to reheating and defrosting, and also has a grill function.
The Cookeo Touch Mini is worth considering if your recipes are suited to cooking in a single pot.
This selection includes an induction hob and electric cooking-pot appliances for preparing meals in a small kitchen without renovation work. Compare their functions, footprint and plug requirements to suit your space and recipes.
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Designed for soups, noodles and small meals prepared in one pot, this model is presented as suitable for one or two people. It has a stainless-steel inner pot and two power settings: 300 W and 600 W. Check its dimensions, required clearances and plug-in instructions before deciding where to put it.
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This portable hob lets you cook with a saucepan or frying pan that’s compatible with induction. Its title lists eight power levels, seven preset functions and compatibility with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm; the description states a thickness of 44,5 mm. Also measure its width and depth, then check the socket and plug-in instructions.
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Its listed functions include pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, rice cooking and sautéing. The product details state 12 programmes and dimensions of 35,1 × 31,8 × 25,6 cm. Allow for the clearances specified in the instructions, too. The product details list two power ratings, 1,000 W and 700 W; confirm which applies to this model before checking the plug requirements.
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This model includes programmes for rice, soup and steaming, as well as a delayed start. The 2 L capacity is for uncooked rice; the product details list 400 W and dimensions of 220 × 245 × 215 mm. The instructions require at least 40 cm of clear space above and 10 cm at the sides. Check that you have enough room and a suitable socket.
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This cooking-pot appliance is described as suitable for preparing soups, noodles and eggs, among other dishes. It has a non-stick pot, a glass lid and two heat settings, LOW and HIGH. Check its dimensions, clearances and electrical specifications in the instructions before choosing where to put it and how to plug it in.
Not simply to put it on a worktop and use it with a suitable electrical installation, following the instructions. If using it requires a new socket, a dedicated circuit or another modification to the property, discuss the project with your landlord and a qualified professional rather than treating it as a no-renovation purchase.
Don’t assume an extension lead is suitable just because the appliance sits on a worktop. Promotelec warns that an overloaded extension lead can cause overheating and a short circuit. Follow the instructions, check the available power supply and don’t connect extension leads in a chain.
Only if they’re compatible with induction. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this requirement. Also check the hob’s accepted pan diameters before relying on your existing cookware.
Only if its functions are suitable for the recipes you want to make. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes combination microwaves, which may offer fan-assisted cooking, from microwaves used for reheating. The grill function on the Whirlpool MWF421SL alone doesn’t mean it can be treated as a fan oven.
No. The DGCCRF explains that the marking shows the manufacturer’s commitment to meeting the applicable European requirements, but it isn’t a certification mark. Also check the functions, dimensions and instructions, and make sure the plug requirements suit your kitchen.