To equip your kitchenette, first choose a fridge that suits your shopping habits, then pick a cooking option to match the meals you usually make. A mini oven with hotplates combines oven cooking with hob cooking. A combination microwave is better suited to reheating, defrosting and convection cooking, but you’ll need a separate hob for frying. Before you buy, check each appliance’s dimensions, how its doors open and the installation requirements in its manual against the space and sockets available.
If you use both an oven and saucepans, a mini oven with built-in hotplates can combine these functions without the need for a full-size cooker. Check that you have enough worktop space and meet the installation requirements, though. The Severin TO 2074 is an example of this type of appliance.
Start by working out how much fridge space you need and whether you need to store frozen food. An under-counter model may suit a small kitchen, as long as you check its dimensions and the cooling specifications of the model you choose.
A combination microwave can handle these tasks while also offering convection cooking. As Whirlpool explains, it combines the functions of a microwave and a convection oven. It won’t replace a hob, though, if your meals need to be cooked in a frying pan or saucepan.
Plan for refrigeration in every case, then choose your cooking appliances to suit the meals you make. Having several functions in one appliance doesn’t mean you can skip checking how much space it needs.
Consider this if: you regularly make oven-baked dishes and cook in a saucepan, and want one appliance for both.
Allow for: a suitable surface for a heat-producing appliance and the clearance required for the model you choose.
Consider this if: reheating and defrosting are your main needs, but you still want to cook in a frying pan.
Allow for: space for the hob as well as the microwave, without blocking the microwave’s ventilation.
| What to consider | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Measure the available space, door clearance and the gaps specified in each appliance’s manual. Also check that you can reach the sockets. | If my worktop is narrow, I need to be able to use and ventilate each appliance without blocking the way. Around 33% of shoppers rank this as their top priority. |
| Cooking functions | Check which functions are included and whether you’ll need a separate hob for your recipes. | If I want to make both oven-baked dishes and meals in a saucepan, I want to keep the number of cooking appliances to a minimum. This is the top priority for around 27% of shoppers. |
| Food storage | Compare the fridge capacity with your shopping needs, and check the freezer capacity separately if you need one. | If I store several days’ worth of food or frozen items, refrigeration needs to suit my habits before I choose my cooking appliances. Around 27% of shoppers prioritise food storage. |
| Energy information | Compare energy consumption figures for appliances in the same category: annual consumption for a fridge, and per-cycle consumption for a labelled oven. | When comparing my options, I want energy figures for the same type of appliance. Around 13% of shoppers prioritise clear energy information. |
An appliance may fit on your worktop but not have enough room for its door to open or for ventilation. For example, the manual for the Brandt FC405 mini oven requires at least 10 cm of clearance on each side. This doesn’t apply to every model.
Measure the usable space and follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the exact model you’re considering.
Usable capacity matters just as much as the appliance’s external size. Candy lists a capacity of 135 L for its CMLS59EW under-counter fridge, but that figure doesn’t tell you what you need or describe other compact models.
Think about what you usually buy, then check the space for fresh food and, if needed, frozen food separately.
A fridge’s energy rating and an oven’s per-cycle consumption figure don’t measure the same thing. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, new fridges and ovens are among the appliances covered by energy labels.
Compare models in the same category and check the relevant energy consumption indicator.
The Severin TO 2074 combines two hotplates with a 30 L oven. These functions are useful if you also cook on a hob, but they don’t meet your food storage needs.
Make a list of the meals you usually prepare, then check the space, power supply and installation requirements for the appliance you choose.
Worth considering for an under-counter fridge when refrigeration is the first thing you need to sort out.
Worth considering if you want to combine oven cooking with cooking on hotplates.
Worth considering for a combination microwave if reheating and convection cooking suit the meals you make.
Worth considering for a separate mini oven, especially if you already have a hob for cooking.
No, not if you cook in a frying pan or saucepan. You’ll need a hob for that. Whirlpool describes a combination microwave as an appliance that brings together microwave and convection oven functions, not as a hob.
No. You’ll also need to consider door clearance, access to the socket and ventilation gaps. Check the manual for the exact model rather than using the clearances specified for a different appliance.
No. The information to compare depends on the appliance category. The French Ministry of the Economy covers energy labels for new fridges and ovens, among other appliances. To make a choice, compare appliances in the same category and the relevant energy consumption figures.
Make a note of the full model number and check the repair and spare parts information for that specific model. For example, Severin offers a repair service for its TO 2067 mini oven. This doesn’t tell you what’s available for other models.