If you often cook in a saucepan or frying pan, consider induction if your cookware has a magnetic base and is the right size for the cooking zones. For slow-cooked dishes and larger portions, look at pressure cooking. If you mainly reheat, defrost and cook smaller batches, a combination microwave may suit your needs better. None of these options is guaranteed to use less energy: compare the energy used for similar quantities, cooking modes and results.
If you often make stir-fries, pasta or sauces and are thinking of replacing your hob, start by checking your cookware and the size of the cooking zones. Fast heating is only useful in everyday cooking if your pans are suitable for the appliance you choose.
For pulses, casseroles and batch-cooked meals, look for a capacity that suits your portion sizes. With a traditional pressure cooker, also check that it’s compatible with your hob and consider the steps needed to release the pressure.
If you often reheat and defrost food but would also like to use a grill or convection cooking, compare the functions you’ll actually use. Capacity, available space and installation type are still key considerations.
Start with the kind of cooking you do most often: using a hob, pressure cooking, combining several cooking modes in one appliance or preparing food by hand.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Quick cooking on the hob | Check that your cookware has a magnetic base and that its diameter suits the induction zones. | When I often cook in a frying pan or saucepan, I want my usual cookware to work with my new hob. Around 31 % of consumers would put this kind of everyday cooking at the top of their list. |
| Slow-cooked dishes and batch cooking | Compare the capacity with the portions you prepare. For a traditional pressure cooker, also check that its base is compatible with your hob. | For pulses or casseroles made in larger quantities, I’m mainly looking for an appliance suited to pressure cooking and the amount of food I make. This would be the main priority for around 31 % of consumers. |
| Reheating and smaller batches | Check the capacity, available modes and dimensions, depending on whether the appliance is freestanding or built-in. | With limited space, I want to be able to reheat, defrost and cook without needing several appliances, while accepting the capacity limits of the model I choose. Around 23 % of consumers would prioritise this versatility. |
| Preparing food by hand | Choose a utensil based on the task you repeat, the quantity you need to prepare and the amount of manual effort you’re happy with. | For grating, whisking or finely slicing a small quantity, I sometimes prefer a hand-held utensil. It can’t, however, replace an appliance for heating food. Preparing food without a motor would be a priority for around 15 % of consumers. |
According to Bosch Home Appliances, induction requires cookware containing magnetic metal. So, even if the hob is compatible with your installation, that doesn’t mean your pans will work with it.
Check the base of every saucepan and frying pan you plan to keep, as well as its diameter in relation to the hob’s cooking zones.
You may need to replace some of your cookware.
A wattage rating describes the appliance’s power at a given moment, not the total energy used for cooking. The cooking time, mode and quantity also need to be considered.
For an oven with an energy label, check the kWh per cycle for the relevant mode. When comparing different appliances, look for figures based on similar dishes and quantities.
An appliance suited to quick cooking in a saucepan may not be the best choice for a long, slow simmer. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the benefits of a pressure cooker for dishes that are suited to pressure cooking.
For slow-cooked dishes, also compare pressure cookers with a capacity that suits your portions. If you’re considering a traditional model, make sure its base is compatible with your heat source.
Combining microwave, grill and convection functions doesn’t guarantee that the cavity will fit your dishes or let you cook several things at once. Installation requirements also vary between freestanding and built-in models.
Measure the available space and check the dimensions of your dishes, the capacity, the cooking modes and the installation instructions for the model you’re considering.
Bosch offers induction hobs, including models designed to accommodate cookware in different sizes.
Traditional SEB pressure cookers use a separate heat source. Capacity and base compatibility vary between models.
The Cookeo range includes programmable electric multi-cookers, with some models offering pressure cooking.
Whirlpool offers freestanding and built-in combination microwaves, with several cooking modes available depending on the model.
These Joybuy models cover electric pressure cooking, induction and combination microwaves. Start by choosing an appliance that suits the dishes you make, then check the dimensions and usage requirements of the model you’re considering.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you cook dishes under pressure or prepare several portions in an electric appliance. The product listing states a capacity of 8 L, a power rating of 1 200 W and 12 programmes. This wattage doesn’t measure the energy used per recipe. Follow the fill limits and pressure-release instructions in the manual.
Image unavailable
Worth a look if you want to cook in a frying pan or saucepan on a portable hob. The product listing states that it has eight power levels, a temperature range of 60 to 270 °C and is suitable for cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Check that your pans have a magnetic base; the maximum power rating doesn’t show how much energy a cooking session uses.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re looking for a 5.7 L multi-cooker for dishes suited to pressure cooking. Compare the capacity with your usual portion sizes and follow the model’s fill limits and pressure-release instructions.
Image unavailable
Worth comparing if you’re looking to replace your hob with a 60 cm induction model. Before choosing, check the available space, the power supply required for installation and whether your cookware has a magnetic base. The stated width doesn’t tell you how much energy the hob will use to cook your dishes.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want one appliance for reheating and other cooking modes. The product listing states a capacity of 42 L and a 3-in-1 configuration. Check the available space, the dishes you use and the instructions for each mode before considering it as a replacement for another appliance.
For domestic ovens with an energy label, compare the kWh per cycle in the same mode and take the oven’s capacity and the dishes you plan to cook into account. The maximum wattage alone doesn’t tell you how much energy will be used to cook your meal.
No. It doesn’t replace checking the modes you’ll use and the information specific to each model. Check the capacity, dimensions, functions and manual, and only compare energy use for similar types of use.
Yes, as long as their bases contain magnetic metal and their dimensions are suitable for the hob you choose. Bosch Home Appliances specifies this material requirement for induction, so check every pan you plan to use.
Wait until the pressure has been released, following the instructions for your model. For its SENSOR pressure cooker, SEB also says that the pressure indicator must be fully lowered before opening.
No. First, choose a capacity that suits the portions you actually prepare. To compare the energy use of two appliances, compare cooking sessions with similar quantities, modes and results, rather than looking only at their capacities.