If you mainly need to reheat or defrost individual meals, choose a microwave. For cooking gratins or baking, consider a mini oven. If you regularly prepare dishes in a shared pot, look at multicookers. In a shared kitchen, your choice also depends on the space available, the socket you’ll use, cleaning after each use and the rules of the space.
If everyone eats at a different time, a microwave is a practical way to reheat or defrost an individual portion. To choose the right size, compare the turntable with your plates: Panasonic lists a 255 mm turntable for its 20 L NN-GT21Q.
If you make pizzas, gratins or baked goods, a mini oven is worth considering, provided you can give it a dedicated spot and organise how it will be cleaned. The Severin TO 2058 is an example, with a stated 42 L capacity.
A multicooker is better suited to making rice, soups or slow-cooked dishes together than to reheating plates one after another. Moulinex lists these uses for its MK705111, for example. The group will also need to agree how the pot is shared and cleaned.
Start by choosing the type of meal you want to prepare, then check that the appliance, its accessories and its operating requirements are suitable for your shared space.
Consider it: if you mainly need to reheat or defrost individual portions.
Bear in mind: reheating won’t replace dishes that need to be cooked in an oven.
Consider it: if pizzas, gratins or baked goods are regular menu choices.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to reserve a suitable spot, allowing for the clearance specified in the manual, and plan how it will be cleaned.
Consider it: if several people prepare dishes together that are suited to cooking in one pot.
Bear in mind: the pot and lid will be in use during cooking, then need to be cleaned before the next person uses them.
| Consideration | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual meals at different times | External dimensions and the space available for plates on the turntable; useful reheating and defrosting functions. | When everyone reheats their own portion at a different time, I want to use the appliance without occupying the shared space for long. Around 36% of consumers prioritise being able to reheat individual meals. |
| Oven cooking | The dimensions of the appliance and dishes, stated power and the clearance required by the manual. | If there’s no full-sized oven, or it’s difficult to share, I still want to be able to cook or brown my meals. Around 29% of consumers prioritise oven cooking. |
| Dishes prepared together | Whether the pot has enough capacity for the portions you plan to make, the functions you need and how you’ll organise its use. | When preparing soup or a slow-cooked dish together, I’d rather use a shared pot than make individual meals one after another. Around 21% of consumers put shared cooking first. |
| Cleaning and storage | Which parts are specifically listed as washable, where the appliance can be stored and what information is available about spare parts. | In a space that several people need to leave clean, I want to be able to put the appliance away and clean the parts I’ve used without having to discuss it after every meal. Cleaning and storage are the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your dishes will fit or whether the appliance will fit on your worktop with the required clearance. Panasonic, for example, lists a 255 mm turntable for its 20 L NN-GT21Q microwave.
Measure your plates or dishes and the space available, then check the manual for the installation requirements of the model you’re considering.
In a shared kitchen, several appliances may be drawing power at the same time. INRS notes that preventing electrical hazards depends in part on the safety of electrical installations and equipment; Severin lists a power rating of 1,800 W for its TO 2058 mini oven.
Compare the power rating of the appliance you’re considering with the available electrical supply and likely simultaneous use. Don’t assume that simply having a multi-socket adaptor is enough.
An office kitchen is a shared space managed collectively. The fact that an appliance is designed for home use doesn’t mean you can assume it may be installed or used there.
Before buying, ask the person responsible for the space about the rules for positioning, plugging in, using and cleaning the appliance you’re considering.
The availability of spare parts can affect how long an appliance used by several people can be kept in service. The DGCCRF states that sellers must tell consumers how long spare parts will be available if they have been given this information.
Check this information for the specific model you’re interested in, and agree from the outset how the group will look after its removable parts.
The NN-GT21Q gives you a useful benchmark for compact microwaves: Panasonic lists a capacity of 20 L, microwave power of 800 W and a grill function.
The TO 2058 mini oven is an example of an appliance for oven cooking. Severin lists a 42 L capacity, 1,800 W power, fan-assisted cooking and a grill for this model.
The MK705111 is an example of a multicooker with a pot for preparing dishes together. Moulinex lists 12 programmes and removable parts that are dishwasher-safe for this model.
These appliances cover individual reheating, oven cooking and several ways to prepare dishes in one pot. Choose based on the meal you have in mind, then check the space, connection and cleaning requirements for the specific model.
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For preparing dishes in a shared pot, if your group can organise how it will be used. The product title describes a 5.7 L 7-in-1 electric pressure multicooker, with slow-cook and steam functions. When pressure cooking, follow the model’s fill limits and pressure-release instructions. Also check the power requirements and space needed.
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For cooking in one pot when users can agree on shared time slots. The product title lists 1,200 W, two power settings and a steaming basket. Check the dimensions, installation requirements and cleaning instructions before allocating it a space in the shared kitchen.
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For reheating or defrosting individual portions. The product title lists 700 W microwave power, 11 power levels and six pre-set programmes. Measure your containers and check the power requirements for the socket, as well as the clearances specified in the manual.
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For reheating individual meals, if your plates and available space are suitable for this model. The product title lists a 23 L capacity and a Quick Defrost function. Check the dimensions of your containers and the ventilation clearances required by the manual.
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For meals that need to be cooked in an oven, provided you can reserve a suitable spot for it. Its stated capacity is 23 L: check this against the dimensions of your dishes and the clearances specified in the manual. Also allow the appliance to cool before cleaning it by hand.
Consider a microwave if your main need is to reheat or defrost an individual portion. Check that your plates fit on the turntable and that the appliance can be installed according to its manual. Panasonic lists a 255 mm turntable for its 20 L NN-GT21Q.
Yes, if people regularly want to cook or brown food and can reserve a spot that suits the model they choose. Check the dimensions, power connection and clearances specified in the manual, and agree how the oven will be cleaned after use.
Plan how it will be cleaned based on the parts listed as washable for the model, then agree who will empty the pot and put it back after each use. Moulinex lists the pot, accessories and steaming basket as dishwasher-safe for its MK705111; don’t assume this applies to all multicookers.
Don’t assume that a domestic appliance can be installed at work without permission. Ask the person responsible for the space about the rules for positioning, sockets, use and cleaning of the appliance you’re considering.
Check the care instructions and information about spare-parts availability for the specific model. The DGCCRF states that the seller must tell consumers how long parts will be available if they have been given this information; don’t assume the period is the same for every appliance.