After moving in, start by choosing the appliance that fills the gap in your kitchen: a portable hob for cooking in a saucepan or frying pan, a microwave for frequent reheating, a mini oven for oven cooking, or a multi-cooker for meals prepared in one pot. These appliances don’t all serve the same purpose. Before setting aside space on your worktop, check the dimensions, clearance requirements and connection instructions for the model you choose.
If most of your meals call for a saucepan or frying pan, a portable hob can fill the gap. If you choose an induction hob, also check that your cookware is compatible and that you have enough space to use it while cooking.
A microwave with a grill can handle reheating, defrosting and the occasional browning. If you also want to cook using convection, check that the model includes this mode: having a grill alone isn’t enough.
A multi-cooker can be a good choice for soups, slow-cooked dishes or steaming, provided its programmes suit your recipes. Compare its capacity with the portions you prepare, and check the exact model’s functions, especially if you want pressure cooking.
Start with the recipes you can’t make using your existing equipment, then measure how much space the new appliance will take up when in use.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking use | Identify the modes actually available: a hob for a saucepan or frying pan, a microwave for reheating, oven heat or one-pot cooking programmes. A grill doesn’t guarantee convection. | I mainly boil or fry food: a portable hob fills this gap better than an appliance designed mainly for reheating. |
| Space available | Compare the external dimensions with the available surface, then allow room to open the door or lid and leave the clearances specified in the instructions. Capacity in litres doesn’t tell you how much space the appliance takes up. | My worktop is narrow: I want to use the appliance without blocking food preparation or overlooking the space needed around it. |
| Power supply | Check the voltage, power rating and connection instructions for the model you choose. The stated power rating alone isn’t enough to confirm that it’s compatible with your existing installation. | Before plugging in a new appliance, I need to be sure I can follow its instructions in my kitchenette, without assuming that any socket or extension lead will be suitable. |
| Cookware and portions | For induction, check which saucepans and frying pans are suitable. For a multi-cooker, compare its capacity and programmes with your usual portions and recipes. | I often cook in one pot: its capacity matters more to me than the number of programmes I won’t use. |
| Energy use | Compare the same recipe, quantity and similar cooking modes, rather than looking at watts alone. The study by the Institut national de la consommation, published by ADEME in 2026, found no clear advantage for combination ovens over the convection ovens tested; results varied by dish and model. | I don’t want to estimate how much energy my meals will use based only on the appliance’s name or maximum power rating. |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Check how easy it is to reach the pot or cavity, which accessories are needed and what information is available about parts for the model you’re considering. | If storage space is limited, I’d rather check what needs cleaning and storing before adding an appliance and its accessories. |
Internal capacity and height don’t tell you everything about the space an appliance needs. According to Whirlpool, its MCP349WH combination microwave is 49.4 cm deep, despite having a 25 L cavity.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then check the instructions for the chosen model’s door clearance, ventilation and spacing requirements.
In the study by the Institut national de la consommation, published by ADEME in 2026, the performance of combination ovens varied by dish, model and brand, with no clear advantage over the convection ovens tested.
Choose based on how you’ll use it most: a combination microwave for frequent reheating and some cooking, or a mini oven mainly for oven-style cooking. Check the modes and dimensions of the specific model.
Maximum power doesn’t tell you the connection requirements or how much energy a particular recipe will use; the cooking mode and duration matter too.
Read the instructions for the exact model to check its electrical specifications, and compare appliances using the same recipe and quantity.
Instant Pot says its 3.8 L Classic Mini makes up to four portions, while Moulinex describes its 6 L Cookeo Simplicity as suitable for up to six people. These figures apply to these models, not all multi-cookers.
Start with the portions you usually prepare, then check that you have enough storage space and that the cooking modes suit your recipes.
These ranges and models give you an idea of the different uses available; they don’t represent the features of every appliance made by each brand.
The Everyday Slim IH210801 portable induction hob is an example of a solution for cooking in a saucepan or frying pan when you don’t have a hob.
The MCP349WH is an example of a freestanding combination microwave for reheating and using some cooking functions in one appliance.
Its freestanding mini ovens are worth considering if your recipes mainly call for oven-style cooking.
The Classic Mini is designed for meals prepared in one pot, rather than cooking across several frying pans.
The Cookeo Simplicity CE8211F0 is an example of a multi-cooker to compare with the portions you prepare and the space you have available.
These Joybuy options cover five ways to equip a kitchenette: add a portable hob, reheat food in a microwave, cook in a mini oven or prepare meals in a small pot-style appliance. Choose according to what’s missing, then check the instructions and available space for the model you have in mind.
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Worth considering if your kitchenette lacks a hob for recipes made in a saucepan or frying pan. The product listing specifies eight power levels and suitable cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm across. Check compatibility, as well as the space and connection requirements for the model.
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A microwave is first and foremost for reheating food in a kitchenette. If you also plan to use the grill or cook oven-style dishes, check the VIO7’s modes in the instructions: a grill doesn’t guarantee convection. Remember to allow enough space around the appliance too.
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Consider this countertop oven if baking and browning dishes matter more to you than microwave reheating. Measure the space available and check the Horizon23 instructions for clearance and power supply requirements before installing it.
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This small pot could suit dishes that work with a 1.0 L capacity, rather than replacing all the cooking you’d do on a hob or in an oven. The model name lists two settings, 300 W and 600 W; check its dimensions and instructions before setting aside a space for it.
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A multi-cooker is worth considering if you regularly prepare meals in one pot. For the Kyoto, compare the stated 2 L capacity with your portions, then check its programmes and the space needed around the steam outlet. Don’t assume it offers pressure cooking.
It can handle recipes made in a saucepan or frying pan, provided its settings and your cookware are suitable. It won’t replace oven-style cooking or reheating a plate of food directly in a microwave, so choose one if the main thing you’re missing is a hob.
No. The grill is for browning, while a combination microwave may also offer convection cooking alongside microwave cooking, depending on the model. Check the list of modes before relying on it for fan-assisted oven cooking.
It can handle some recipes in one pot if its programmes suit your needs, but it won’t automatically cover cooking in several pans or every roasted or crispy dish. Compare your usual recipes with the functions on the exact model.
Read the installation and safety instructions for the model you choose, then check its voltage, power rating, connection requirements and required clearances. Don’t assume it’s compatible with your installation based only on the power rating shown.
In France, end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment must be handled through a dedicated collection and treatment scheme, as outlined by the Ministry for Ecological Transition. Look into local repair, donation, take-back or drop-off options instead of putting it in your household rubbish.