If you mainly want to reheat and defrost food, choose a basic microwave. A model with a grill is a good option if you also want to brown food occasionally. If you need one appliance that can also cook like an oven, compare combination microwaves with mini ovens. An air fryer is better suited to a different need: cooking smaller batches with hot air. In every case, check the space required, cleaning needs and installation instructions for the model you choose.
In a studio flat, student accommodation or second home, you may use your appliance mainly to reheat portions or defrost food. A basic microwave is well suited to these tasks, without offering the cooking functions of an oven.
If you need one appliance for both reheating and cooking, compare a combination microwave with a mini oven, based on the functions you genuinely need. Check what each model can cook and how much space it needs for installation.
An air fryer may be a good choice if this is the cooking method you mainly want. Before making space for one, consider what your current oven can do, the portions you need to prepare, and the noise and cleaning involved. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the size and noise of this appliance category.
In a small kitchen, start with what you need the appliance to do most, rather than the number of functions it offers. A microwave grill is useful if you want to brown food from time to time, while regular oven-style or hot-air cooking calls for a different kind of appliance.
| Your needs | What to check | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Check the defrost settings and make sure the turntable can fit the dishes you usually use. Use containers suitable for microwave cooking. | For meals in a small home, I mainly want to reheat a portion or defrost food, rather than cook it in an oven. Around 37% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Combining several functions | Check the modes actually available, including the grill and fan-assisted cooking, as well as the required installation space. | Without an oven, I need one appliance that can cook as well as reheat. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Cooking with hot air | Compare the recommended amount for your portions, the parts that need cleaning and the space the appliance will take up. | If I cook in small batches, I want hot-air cooking that doesn't simply duplicate what my oven can do. Around 18% of consumers would put this use first. |
| Using an oven-style cavity | Check which dish or tray sizes are compatible, how much space is needed with the door open, and the ventilation instructions. | I want to cook in a dish or on a tray, rather than in a basket, without installing a full-size oven. Around 18% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
UFC-Que Choisir says an air fryer can perform some of the same functions as an oven, while taking up space and making noise. In a small kitchen, the key question is what extra use you would get from it.
Make a note of what your current appliances can already do, then identify the specific cooking function you are missing before adding another countertop appliance.
The Bosch instructions for models FFL023M/FFL053M state that these freestanding microwaves are not designed to be installed or used in a built-in cabinet. This instruction applies to these models, not to all microwaves.
Check whether the model you are considering is freestanding or built-in, and choose a location in line with its own installation instructions.
Capacity alone won't tell you whether your dish will fit in the cavity or whether a basket can hold your usual portion. UFC-Que Choisir's air fryer testing protocol distinguishes between recommended and maximum quantities.
Compare the usable dimensions, compatible dish or basket sizes, and quantities stated in the instructions with what you actually prepare.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that air fryers can be bulky and a little noisy. These drawbacks matter more when the appliance has to stay on a small worktop.
Measure the space you have in mind, check which parts can be removed for cleaning and make sure you have somewhere to store the appliance.
Its instructions set out the installation requirements for freestanding and built-in microwaves, depending on the model.
The brand offers air fryers, with support documentation linked to specific models.
UFC-Que Choisir lists Moulinex among the air fryer manufacturers available in France.
Ninja is among the air fryer manufacturers named by UFC-Que Choisir.
These appliances show four ways to equip a small kitchen: reheat food with a basic microwave, add a grill, cook with hot air or use a mini oven. Start by choosing the function your current appliances are missing.
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Worth considering if you mainly need to reheat and defrost food. The listing specifies 700 W of power, six preset programmes and eleven power levels. Check the instructions for the space and electrical connection required before choosing a location.
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Consider this if you want a grill function as well as a microwave, without assuming it can handle every type of oven cooking. The stated microwave power is 700 W. Check the instructions for this model to allow for all the required clearances.
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Compare this if hot-air cooking is more important to you than reheating food in a microwave. Check that the size suits your portions, that it offers something different from your oven, and that its instructions allow it to be installed in your chosen spot.
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Worth considering if you want an oven-style cooking cavity rather than an air fryer basket or a microwave. Compare the size of your dishes with the usable space, and check the instructions before deciding where to put the oven, allowing for the door to open.
Only if the instructions for that specific model confirm that it is safe to do so. Bosch states that its FFL023M/FFL053M freestanding microwaves are not designed to be installed or used in a built-in cabinet. Check the instructions for the model you are considering.
No. Some uses overlap, but the right choice depends on what you cook and the size of your batches. UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying more appliances than you need. Also compare the space they take up and how easy they are to clean before keeping both.
Follow the monitoring instructions for your appliance. The Bosch instructions for the FFL023M/FFL053M say to use the microwave under supervision, with constant supervision for short cooking times. Check the instructions for your own model.