You’re short on worktop space
You want to be able to put your appliance away or keep the surface clear between meals. Measure the space, taking the cable, any door opening and the clearances specified in the instructions into account.
Who are these solutions for?
You mainly cook with a frying pan or saucepan
If searing, boiling or simmering with your cookware is essential, a portable induction hob is a direct fit for the job, provided your pans are compatible.
You prefer one-pot meals or food you can reheat
A cooking pot appliance is suited to the dishes covered by its cooking modes; a combination microwave pairs reheating with other functions, depending on the model. In either case, check that it can handle the dishes you usually prepare.
What should you look for in an everyday cooking appliance?
When choosing appliances for a kitchenette, start with the cooking task you can’t do without, then check how much space the appliance needs when in use. Capacity and extra modes won’t make up for an appliance that can’t be installed or used to prepare the meals you usually make.
Portable induction hob
Best for: meals you mainly prepare in a frying pan or saucepan.
Limitation: it won’t cook food in the oven, and you’ll need cookware that’s compatible with induction.
Worktop mini oven
Best for: cooking or browning food in the oven as your main requirement.
Limitation: you’ll need space for the door to open and must follow the ventilation and clearance instructions for the model.
Combination microwave
Best for: if you regularly reheat food and also want access to the extra modes listed for the model.
Limitation: the internal capacity won’t tell you whether the appliance, its door and the required clearances will fit in your chosen space.
Electric multicooker
Best for: meals that mainly use the cooking pot modes available on the model, such as steaming or slow cooking.
Limitation: one cooking pot won’t always replace a large frying pan or an oven.
| Factor | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Measure the external dimensions and the space needed to open the door. Check the model’s instructions for details about the surface, cable and clearances. | When I also use the worktop to prepare food, I need to be able to fit the appliance there without losing the space I need to make meals; around 29% of consumers put this constraint first. |
| Cooking method | Identify the cooking methods you use most often and check the model’s modes, as well as any cookware or accessories required. | If I usually cook in a frying pan, a reheating function doesn’t meet my main need; around 29% of consumers prioritise the type of cooking. |
| Meal preparation | Look at the programmes available, usable capacity and the steps involved during cooking and cleaning. | For regular meals, I’d rather keep handling to a minimum than have lots of modes I never use; this is a priority for around 24% of consumers. |
| Energy and frequency of use | Check the power rating is suitable for your electrical connection. To compare energy use, compare appliances and cycles that perform a similar task. Also check the stated repair terms. | If I use the appliance often, I want to understand how much energy it uses and be able to keep it for a long time; around 18% of consumers would put these questions first. |
What pitfalls should you avoid before buying?
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Choosing based on internal capacity alone
The capacity of a mini oven or combination microwave doesn’t include the space needed to open its door or the clearances required for installation.
Measure the whole space and check the instructions for the exact model before ordering.
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Confusing power rating with the energy used to cook a meal
The rated power is useful, among other things, for checking your electrical connection; on its own, it doesn’t tell you how much energy the appliance will use to prepare a dish. ADEME’s annual figures relate to defined appliance categories and usage patterns, not to a meal cooked in your kitchenette.
To assess energy use, compare similar tasks and take the duration and frequency of the cycles into account.
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Assuming a multi-function appliance replaces everything
The modes on a combination appliance or cooking pot won’t necessarily replicate the way you usually cook with a frying pan, saucepan or oven.
Make a note of the few dishes you prepare most often and check that you can make them with the appliance and accessories provided.
If it can’t handle your main cooking method, you may need to keep another appliance or buy suitable cookware.
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Confusing a retailer’s commercial guarantee with your legal guarantee
For eligible purchases in France, the legal guarantee of conformity is separate from a commercial guarantee. The DGCCRF states that some offers advertised as providing three years’ cover add only one year to the two-year legal guarantee of conformity.
Before taking out a commercial guarantee, read what it actually adds, along with its exclusions and claims process.
Brands and ranges to know
Severin
Severin’s KP 1071 portable induction hob is an example of a single-zone cooking solution. The brand lists its power as 2,000 W and its dimensions as 28.1 × 35 cm.
- These specifications help you work out how much space this particular model needs.
- Check that your cookware is compatible too; the KP 1071’s specifications don’t apply to every Severin hob.
Moulinex
The ranges mentioned here suit two different needs: the Optimo 39 L mini oven for oven cooking, and the Cookeo Wi-Fi 8-in-1 for meals prepared in a cooking pot.
- Moulinex lists convection cooking for this Optimo and pressure cooking, steaming and simmering modes with a 6 L cooking pot for this Cookeo.
- Choose according to the way you want to cook, and check the instructions for the model you select. The brand’s claims about speed or energy savings don’t guarantee the same results for every meal.
Samsung
Samsung describes the MC35R8058KC as a 35 L combination microwave with a 38 cm turntable and a convection function.
- The capacity and turntable diameter help you check whether your dishes will fit this model.
- To see whether it will fit in your kitchenette, check its external dimensions, door opening and the clearances specified in the instructions separately.
Worktop appliances available on Joybuy
These products offer two ways to cook in a kitchenette: portable induction hobs for using a frying pan or saucepan, and electric cooking pots for preparing meals in a pot. Before choosing, compare them with the way you usually cook.
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IAGREEA DF200-14V10 induction hob, 2,000 W
For cooking with a frying pan or saucepan, provided your cookware is induction-compatible and fits the 12 to 26 cm range stated in the product name.
Eight power levels, temperature adjustment from 60 to 270 °C, seven preset functions and a timer of up to 3 h are listed. Check the external dimensions, electrical connection and installation instructions before buying.
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WOOX MX0237 RapidTherm induction hob, 2,000 W
For cooking with a frying pan or saucepan using induction-compatible cookware.
The product name lists eight settings, four programmes and a 1.5 m cable. Check that the hob’s dimensions and the instructions supplied with it suit your chosen space.
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ochama portable induction hob, 2,000 W
For preparing meals in a frying pan or saucepan using induction-compatible cookware.
The product name lists ten power settings and six functions. Before setting aside space for it, check its external dimensions, electrical connection and installation instructions.
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IAGREEA MS‑AFX004 electric cooking pot, 1 L
For small one-pot dishes, including the soups, rice or pasta mentioned in the product name. Its 1 L capacity limits how much you can cook at once.
The product name lists a stainless steel inner pot and two power settings, 300 W and 600 W. Check the model’s dimensions, electrical connection and steam instructions.
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Plodon electric cooking pot, 5 L and 1,200 W
For one-pot dishes when you need a 5 L capacity rather than the 1 L size shown above.
The product name lists two power settings and a steam basket. Before placing it in your kitchenette, check the space it will take up, its electrical connection and the clearance and steam instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Will a portable induction hob work with every saucepan?
No. Your cookware must be compatible with induction. Check for an induction symbol or confirm compatibility before choosing a hob as your main cooking appliance.
Which legal guarantee applies to an appliance bought from a business in France?
The legal guarantee of conformity allows you to seek a remedy from the business seller if goods are affected by a lack of conformity; the French Ministry of the Economy states that you have two years to make a claim. An optional commercial guarantee is separate, so read its terms to find out what extra cover it provides.
Is the CE marking enough to choose an electric cooking appliance?
No. Where it applies to a product, the CE marking relates to the European requirements for its category, not whether it’s suitable for your kitchenette. Also check the model’s instructions, electrical connection, available space and any product recalls.