If you mainly reheat meals, start by considering a microwave. If you regularly cook in a frying pan or saucepan, a portable hob meets a different need. A mini oven, air fryer and multicooker are suited to different types of cooking. Choose based on the meals you usually make, then check the available space, power supply and installation instructions for the model you have in mind.
If you often eat leftovers, soup or portions that need defrosting, reheating matters more than oven-style cooking. UFC-Que Choisir describes a microwave as an appliance used, among other things, to reheat and defrost food. Its extra functions are only worthwhile if you plan to use them.
If you regularly prepare meals in a saucepan or frying pan, a portable hob meets a need that a microwave cannot. If you choose induction, check your cookware first: UFC-Que Choisir reminds users that it needs to be compatible.
An air fryer may suit small roasted portions, while a multicooker is better for meals prepared in a cooking pot. These appliances serve different purposes, so compare the recipes you make most often with the usable capacity, footprint and cleaning requirements of the appliance you are considering. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the space taken up by air fryers and the different cooking modes offered by multicookers.
Start with the meal you make most often, then check whether the appliance will fit and can be used in line with its instructions. An appliance with several modes will not necessarily replace the one that meets your main need.
| Need | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Reheat and defrost functions; space needed to open the microwave door and allow ventilation. | When leftovers and frozen portions make up a regular part of my meals, I mainly want to reheat them easily. Around 28% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Cooking in a frying pan or saucepan | Number of cooking zones needed; cookware compatibility if the portable hob uses induction. | Without a fixed hob, I want to be able to regularly cook a stir-fry, pasta or soup. Cooking on a hob is the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Roasting and baking | Mini oven dimensions and internal capacity; cooking modes that are useful for the meals you usually make. | If I make gratins or tarts and don’t have a usable oven, oven-style cooking takes priority over simply reheating food. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this use. |
| Making crispy portions | Air fryer capacity for your portions; space needed when the drawer is open. | For small roasted or crispy portions, I’m looking for an appliance I’ll use often enough to justify making room for it. This is the top priority for around 9% of consumers. |
| Cooking in a single pot | Usable capacity of the multicooker or electric cooking pot; programmes suited to your recipes. | When I mainly cook rice, soups or slow-cooked meals, I want to prepare everything in one pot. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this need. |
You may end up using two appliances for the same dishes, even though one already meets your main need. ADEME advises buying only the appliances you really need. Depending on your recipes, an air fryer may also duplicate what an oven can do.
Make a note of the meals you usually prepare and start by choosing the appliance that covers your most frequent use. Only add another if it offers a separate function that you’ll use regularly.
Even if you rarely use it, an extra appliance takes up space on your worktop or in your cupboards.
The combined power demand could overload an extension lead and cause it to overheat. Promotelec advises against plugging appliances into an extension lead, while the French National Consumer Institute recommends observing the maximum power rating shown.
Use a suitable wall socket, avoid plugging extension leads into one another, and check the appliances’ power ratings and the condition of their cables before using several at once.
An induction hob requires compatible cookware, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. Without it, you won’t be able to prepare the dishes you had planned to cook on the hob.
Check the markings on your frying pans and saucepans, or test their bases with a magnet before choosing induction.
If you choose this option, you’ll need to replace any incompatible cookware.
The space required around an appliance depends on the model. Whirlpool points out, for example, that a microwave’s ventilation grilles must not be blocked. This guidance does not tell you how much clearance to leave around a mini oven, air fryer or multicooker.
Read the instructions for the exact model before buying, and measure the space needed around, above and behind the appliance, as well as the room required to open its door or drawer.
These appliances cover four of the uses discussed here: cooking on a portable hob, making small portions in an air fryer, reheating in a microwave or cooking small meals in an electric cooking pot. Start by choosing the appliance that fills a gap in your kitchenette.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook in a frying pan or saucepan but don’t have a fixed hob. The title lists eight power levels, a temperature range of 60 to 270 °C and compatibility with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Also check that your cookware is compatible, along with the power supply and the clearances required for installation.
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Worth considering if you often make small roasted or crispy portions. The title lists a non-stick basket, dishwasher-safe parts and a 60-minute timer. Check that the capacity suits your portions and that there’s enough room to open the drawer where you plan to use it.
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For reheating meals and defrosting food, this model has a quick defrost function. The title mentions 1150 W without specifying that this is the microwave cooking power, so don’t confuse this figure with the output power. Check the model’s instructions for the space needed to open the door and allow ventilation.
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This solo microwave suits a need focused on reheating. If you mainly use a microwave to defrost food, check the model’s functions before choosing. Also allow space to open the door and leave the clearances specified in the instructions.
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Worth considering for small one-pot meals such as soup, rice or pasta, rather than as a replacement for an oven. The title lists a stainless steel inner pot and two power settings, 300 W and 600 W. Check that 1 L is enough for your portions, and make sure you have the space and power supply it needs.
For a furnished rental in France used as your main home, Decree No. 2015-981 of 31 July 2015 lists a hob and an oven or microwave among the minimum required equipment. Check your tenancy agreement and inventory before buying. For an unfurnished property, Decree No. 2002-120 of 30 January 2002 requires, among other things, a fitted kitchen area suitable for installing a cooking appliance. This does not mean that a specific appliance is provided.
Don’t rely on an extension lead to increase the available power. Promotelec advises against plugging appliances into one, and the French National Consumer Institute reminds users to observe the stated maximum power rating. Use a suitable wall socket and avoid plugging extension leads into one another.
Not necessarily: it depends on the meals you prepare and the appliances you already have. A microwave is useful for reheating and defrosting, while a hob lets you cook in a frying pan or saucepan, as described by UFC-Que Choisir. Only add a second appliance if you regularly need that other function.
No. Compare the dishes you plan to make, usable capacity and available space before choosing between the two. UFC-Que Choisir notes that air fryer results vary between models and that these appliances can take up a lot of space. For gratins, tarts or larger batches, check which appliance can actually fit your dishes.
Read the instructions for the exact model, then measure the space, allowing for the door or drawer to open and the specified clearances. The instructions for a microwave don’t automatically apply to a mini oven or air fryer. Whirlpool, for example, states that the ventilation grilles on its microwaves must not be blocked.