For meals prepared regularly, a hob suited to your cookware and an oven sized to match your dishes often provide a sensible foundation. A microwave is mainly useful for reheating and defrosting, while a combination model may suit homes where space is limited. Always check the capacity, genuinely useful functions and available power supply before buying.
You often cook in a saucepan, frying pan and oven, and need to choose a well-matched combination of hob, oven capacity and energy use for each task, rather than selecting an appliance for an occasional function.
You want to minimise clutter without giving up reheating, defrosting and certain cooking methods. A combination microwave may be worth considering if its capacity, functions and installation genuinely suit the meals you prepare.
First check the dedicated circuits, type of power supply and available space before choosing a built-in or high-powered appliance: these factors determine whether it is compatible with your property.
Start with the dishes you prepare most often, then check the capacity, cookware and installation requirements before comparing appliances.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usual dishes | Compare the oven cavity capacity, cooking modes and microwave functions. Check whether you will genuinely use a grill or fan-assisted cooking. | I regularly prepare gratins, roasts or baked goods: an oven with a capacity that suits my dishes should be prioritised. If I mainly reheat leftovers or defrost food, a microwave may remain a useful addition. |
| Comparable energy use | For ovens, compare the kWh per cycle using the same cooking mode and the stated capacity. Do not directly compare an oven cycle with reheating food in a microwave. | I want to compare like-for-like uses rather than relying on the stated power alone. ADEME publishes separate references for hobs, ovens and microwaves, which must be considered according to their usage assumptions. |
| Cookware and cooking zones | With induction, check that your saucepans and frying pans have a ferromagnetic base. Also match the number of rings and the size of the zones to the cookware you use at the same time. | When several saucepans are heating at once, I look for zones suited to my cooking habits. I check my existing cookware before choosing an induction hob. |
| Installation and space | Check the cut-out, niche dimensions, required ventilation and power supply for the exact model. Confirm that the necessary dedicated circuit is available before ordering. | My appliance must fit into the existing unit and match the property's electrical installation. Promotelec reminds consumers that hobs, cookers and ovens must be supplied by suitable dedicated circuits. |
The references published by ADEME for a hob, oven and microwave are based on different assumptions and usage patterns. They do not describe the same functions or preparation capacities.
Compare models of the same type using the appropriate measurement: consumption per cycle and capacity for ovens, or the tasks actually carried out for a hob and microwave.
A saucepan without a ferromagnetic base will not work on an induction zone. UFC-Que Choisir explains that this technology uses a magnetic field and requires suitable cookware.
Test or check the compatibility of your saucepans and frying pans before choosing an induction hob.
In France, Bosch offers a range covering ovens, microwaves, induction and electric hobs, gas hobs, cookers and compact ovens with a microwave function.
Electrolux's cooking range in France includes ovens, steam ovens, induction hobs, cookers, cooker hoods and microwaves.
In France, Siemens offers ovens, steam ovens, hobs, microwaves and compact cooking appliances with a microwave function.
This Joybuy selection brings together a built-in oven and several induction hobs for households that frequently cook with saucepans, frying pans and an oven.
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Worth considering for meals that regularly include gratins, roasts or baked goods.
71 L capacity, 7 cooking modes, temperature range from 50 to 275 °C, and stated energy consumption of 0.94 kWh per cycle in conventional mode and 0.69 kWh per cycle with fan-assisted cooking.
Check the exact compartment configuration, the 58.5–59.5 × 56–56.8 × 55 cm niche and whether the dedicated circuit is compatible with the property.
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Suitable for frequent cooking using several saucepans or frying pans.
Four induction zones, individual controls, a Bridge function for combining two zones and a stated connected load of 7.36 kW.
Check the compatibility of your cookware, the 56–56.2 × 49 cm cut-out, ventilation and the required electrical circuit.
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Worth considering for cooking several dishes at the same time in saucepans or frying pans.
Four induction zones, TouchControl, Booster and pan detection; stated cut-out of 56 × 49 cm.
This model is not suitable for flush installation. Check compatible cookware and the 220–240 V or 400 V 2N power supply before ordering.
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This hob is aimed at kitchens where several pans need to be managed at the same time.
Four independent zones, nine power levels, automatic pan detection and an individual timer of up to 99 minutes.
Check the 560 × 490 mm cut-out, unit ventilation, compatible magnetic cookware and the electrical installation specified for a 32 A fuse.
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May suit households that use pans of different sizes throughout the day.
Three zones, including a double zone on the right, touch controls, PowerBoost and a stated total power output of 7,200 W.
This hob has three zones: check that this is sufficient for your simultaneous cooking needs, along with the 560 × 490 mm cut-out and dedicated 32 A circuit.
No. The European Commission states that energy labelling is compulsory for ovens and cooker hoods. For an oven, compare the capacity and kWh per cycle using the same cooking mode; this figure does not directly correspond to a microwave reheating scenario.
No. Induction works using a magnetic field and requires cookware with a ferromagnetic base, as UFC-Que Choisir explains. Check your saucepans and frying pans before buying to ensure that every zone works with your usual cookware.
It depends on the dishes you prepare. A microwave is suitable for reheating, defrosting and some quick cooking tasks; a combination model may also offer a grill and fan-assisted cooking. For dishes regularly cooked in the oven or for large quantities, check that its capacity and functions genuinely suit your usual meals before giving up a dedicated oven.
Yes. Promotelec states that a hob or cooker requires a dedicated circuit, with a 32 A connection box for single-phase power or a 20 A socket for three-phase power. An oven must also have a dedicated circuit: do not plan to run it from an extension lead alongside other appliances, and seek advice from a qualified professional if you are unsure about the installation.