If you regularly cook in a saucepan or frying pan, a portable hob is a good place to start. Add a mini oven for dishes that need baking, or a microwave if reheating and defrosting are your priorities. Before pairing two appliances, check the space and clearance they need, whether your pans are induction-compatible, and whether your electrical supply can handle them.
If you want to cook pasta, vegetables, sauces or pan-fried dishes without a fixed installation, a portable hob covers the main cooking task. In France, if you rent a furnished property covered by the decree of 31 July 2015, the minimum equipment must include a hob and either an oven or a microwave. Speak to your landlord if any of these are missing.
A single-zone portable hob may be enough for cooking in a saucepan, but it won’t make a gratin. Compare the space it needs with that required by a mini oven or microwave, allowing for the door to open and the clearances specified for the model.
A hob and an appliance for baking or reheating serve different purposes. However, if you plan to use them at the same time, check their power ratings, the socket and the electrical circuit. Examples published by Tefal and Severin include hobs rated at 2 000 to 2 100 W and a mini oven rated at 2 200 W.
Start with the meals you actually make: these four appliances don’t all do the same things. Once you’ve chosen the functions you need, check the space, cookware and power supply before deciding whether a second appliance would be useful.
Best for: boiling, simmering or frying when you want to keep using pans that aren’t suitable for induction.
Bear in mind: the surface may stay hot after the hob is switched off, and it can’t bake dishes that need an oven.
Best for: cooking on a portable hob if your pans are induction-compatible.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace any incompatible cookware, and a single-zone model won’t let you cook on two hob zones at once.
Best for: baking, roasting or grilling dishes, rather than simply reheating them.
Bear in mind: you’ll need a spot with the specified clearances, as well as another way to cook if you also use a saucepan.
Best for: reheating portions and defrosting, if those are your main uses.
Bear in mind: a solo model won’t replace frying or every oven recipe. Check the functions of a combination model individually.
| Need | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking complete meals | Make a note of the meals you usually cook: a hob is for saucepans and frying pans, while a mini oven is for dishes that need baking. Check the exact functions of a microwave. | If I want to make both slow-cooked dishes and gratins, a solo microwave won’t cover all my meals. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise having this range of cooking options. |
| Saving worktop space | Measure the width, depth and height, then check whether the door needs to open and what clearances the manual specifies. | In a studio, I need to be able to fit the appliance without losing all my preparation space. Around 25% of consumers would put its footprint first. |
| Using the cookware and electricity available | Check whether your pans are induction-compatible, and compare the combined power of appliances used at the same time with your electrical supply’s limits. | I’d rather keep my pans and avoid putting an uncertain electrical installation under strain. This compatibility would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Reheating food and keeping an eye on energy use | First choose the functions you need, then compare the power rating, usage time and capacity. Watts alone don’t tell you how much energy is used per meal. | If I mainly need to reheat or defrost meals, I want an appliance suited to the job, without estimating my energy use from its power rating alone. Around 19% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
A solo microwave is useful for reheating and defrosting, but it can’t cook food in a saucepan or frying pan.
Think of a few meals you’d make in a typical week. If these cooking methods are essential, plan to get a hob rather than relying on a microwave alone.
Otherwise, you’ll need to add a second appliance for these dishes.
According to Bosch Electroménager France, induction requires magnetic cookware. So some pans you already own may not be suitable.
Check the base of each pan and the sizes accepted by the hob you’re considering. If you want to keep using incompatible cookware, look at a portable electric hob that doesn’t use induction.
You may also need to buy compatible saucepans or frying pans.
An extension lead has a maximum power rating. Legrand advises against plugging extension leads into one another because of the risk of fire.
Compare the combined power of appliances that may run at the same time with the limits shown on the equipment, and check that the socket and circuit are suitable. If you’re unsure about the electrical installation, ask a qualified electrician for advice.
The capacity in litres of a mini oven or microwave doesn’t tell you how much space it takes up on the outside. You’ll also need room for the door to open and for ventilation clearances.
Before ordering, check the external dimensions, door opening and installation instructions for your chosen model against the space available.
The portable induction hob range includes the Everyday Slim IH210801, designed for cooking on a single portable zone.
The range reviewed includes a portable induction hob, mini ovens and freestanding microwaves, so you can choose the functions to suit the meals you plan to make.
The range of countertop mini ovens is suited to dishes that need to be baked.
The brand’s freestanding microwaves may suit people who mainly reheat or defrost their meals.
The brand offers freestanding microwaves as well as models with additional functions.
These appliances cover two of the uses discussed here: cooking on a portable hob and reheating with a freestanding microwave. If your meals need to be baked, also check the features of a mini oven before choosing your appliances.
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Cook on a portable hob with induction-compatible cookware.
The title lists eight power settings, a 3 h timer and compatible cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Check the manual for the space and clearances required for installation.
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A portable electric hob to consider if you want to cook without switching to induction; still, check which cookware this model accepts.
The title lists eight power settings, eight temperature settings and a 180-minute timer. Set it up as instructed and avoid touching the hot surface.
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For reheating and defrosting, with a grill function to consider if you also want to brown some dishes. You’ll still need a hob for frying.
The title lists a 900 W microwave power rating. Measure the space and check the door can open, then follow the specified clearances for this model.
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For meals that are mainly reheated or defrosted. If you also want to cook in a saucepan, you’ll need a separate hob.
The title lists a microwave power rating of 800 W. Check the functions you need, the door opening and installation clearances before choosing a spot for it.
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Another single-zone cooking option for boiling or simmering if you’re not looking for an induction hob.
The title mentions an adjustable temperature control. Check the dimensions, power requirements and installation instructions for this model; its surface may get hot during use.
In France, for a furnished rental covered by the decree of 31 July 2015 published on Légifrance, the minimum equipment includes a hob and either an oven or a microwave. If any of these are missing, note this in the inventory and contact the landlord or letting agent before buying an appliance to make up for the shortfall long term.
Yes, if they’re induction-compatible. Bosch Electroménager France explains that this technology requires magnetic cookware. Check for the induction symbol or test the base of the pan with a magnet, then check the accepted diameters in the manual for your chosen hob.
Don’t assume they can be used at the same time: add their power ratings together and compare the total with the limit shown on the extension lead, while also checking the socket and circuit. Legrand advises against plugging extension leads into one another because of the risk of fire. If you’re unsure about the installation, consult a qualified electrician.
Follow the clearances and ventilation instructions for your chosen model rather than assuming the same spacing applies to every appliance. Also measure the door opening, and don’t put an appliance in an enclosed cabinet unless the manual says it’s suitable for this type of installation.
No. The rated power alone isn’t enough to work out the energy used to cook a meal. ADEME publishes average annual energy consumption by appliance category, but when choosing, also consider the model, the quantities you prepare, how often you use it and for how long.