You have a hob but no oven
If you have access to an approved hob, a countertop mini oven lets you bake or grill dishes without trying to replace your hob for saucepan cooking.
Who are these options for?
The equipment already in your kitchenette matters just as much as the meals you’re planning to make.
You have space for just one appliance
If you often reheat meals but would also like to grill or bake occasionally, compare the functions and external dimensions of combination microwaves before choosing a model.
You don’t have an oven or usable hob
A compact oven with built-in hotplates is worth considering if you need both types of cooking. First, check your accommodation’s rules and the requirements for installing the appliance.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the cooking tasks you need the appliance to handle, then check which options suit the space and conditions in your accommodation.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Oven cooking | Check whether the specific model has a grill and fan-assisted cooking, and whether there’s enough room for your dishes. Moulinex lists these functions for the Optimo 19 L OX444810. | I regularly want to make gratins or roast dishes, and I already have a way to cook in a saucepan. A countertop mini oven meets this combination of needs. |
| Reheating and cooking | Know the difference between a solo microwave and a combination microwave. According to Whirlpool France, a combination microwave brings together microwave functions and convection oven cooking. Check the modes on your chosen model. | I need one space to reheat meals and prepare the occasional cooked or grilled dish, so I’m comparing combination microwaves rather than solo models. |
| Reheating only | Check whether the model actually has a grill or oven function. Severin says the MW 7885 solo microwave has neither a grill nor fan-assisted cooking. | If I mainly need to reheat meals and can cook elsewhere, I don’t need to choose an appliance for oven recipes. |
| Hob cooking | Make sure you already have a usable hob. For an oven with built-in hotplates, check the installation instructions, socket requirements and permission to use it separately. Severin describes the TO 2074 as an oven with two hotplates. | I also need to boil or fry food but don’t have a hob. A combination microwave or mini oven on its own won’t cover this. |
| Installation | Measure the external dimensions, door clearance and available surface. Check the manual for clearance and electrical requirements, as well as the rules for your accommodation. The Crous Network explains that its regulations may be supplemented by local rules. | The appliance needs to fit on my worktop and be suitable for use there in line with its manual and my accommodation’s rules. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
-
Ordering before checking your accommodation’s rules
The Crous Network says its residence regulations may be supplemented by local measures. So the type of appliance alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s allowed in a particular residence.
Check the rules that apply to your accommodation and ask the manager to confirm if they don’t clearly explain whether heating appliances can be used.
-
Confusing solo and combination microwaves
For example, the Severin MW 7885 has neither a grill nor fan-assisted cooking. It won’t meet the same needs as a combination microwave with oven-cooking functions.
Make a note of the meals you want to prepare: reheating, grilling, oven cooking or using a hob. Rule out appliances that don’t have the functions you need.
-
Choosing based on capacity alone
The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you whether the appliance will fit on your worktop with the door open and the clearances specified in the manual.
Compare the model’s external dimensions with the space you have, then check the ventilation and installation instructions.
-
Treating built-in hotplates as just another cooking mode
An oven with hotplates, such as the TO 2074 described by Severin, adds a cooking surface that needs to be used and monitored. It won’t necessarily suit every kitchenette.
Choose this type only if you need a hob, have a suitable surface and can follow the manual and your accommodation’s rules.
What can you learn from the brands?
These models show how different the available functions can be. The brand name is no substitute for checking the product details and manual for the model you’re considering.
Moulinex
The Optimo range includes countertop mini ovens in 19 L, 33 L and 39 L sizes.
- Moulinex lists six cooking modes, including fan-assisted cooking and a grill, for the Optimo 19 L OX444810.
- Choose a capacity that suits your dishes, and check the model’s size and installation instructions.
Whirlpool
The brand offers countertop combination microwaves that bring together reheating and other cooking modes. The MCP349WH is listed with a 25 L cavity.
- According to Whirlpool France, combination microwaves pair microwave cooking with convection.
- A combination microwave doesn’t provide a hob for cooking in a saucepan or frying pan.
Severin
The MW 7885 and TO 2074 illustrate two different uses: a solo microwave on the one hand, and a compact oven with hotplates on the other.
- Severin says the TO 2074 combines an oven with two hotplates.
- The MW 7885 is listed without a grill or fan-assisted cooking. For the TO 2074, check you have enough space and can use the hotplates safely.
Samsung
Samsung France presents the MC28H5015AW as a 28 L combination microwave.
- The Samsung France product details list microwave, grill and convection functions.
- These functions don’t confirm that the appliance will fit your space or that it’s allowed in your residence.
Which appliances should you look at on Joybuy?
These options include two portable hobs for saucepan or frying-pan cooking, and a compact microwave for reheating. Check the functions of each appliance: none of them should be mistaken for a mini oven or an oven with built-in hotplates.
Image unavailable
IAGREEA DF200-DTL2520, 2000 W portable ceramic hob
This single-ring hob lets you cook on your worktop if your accommodation allows it; it doesn’t replace an oven. The product title lists eight temperature settings, eight power settings and a 180-minute timer. Before use, check the socket requirements, available space and installation instructions.
Image unavailable
Galanz P4, compact 20 L microwave
Worth considering if reheating matters more to you than hob or oven cooking. The product title describes it as a 20 L microwave. Before choosing where to put it, check its exact modes, external dimensions, power supply and ventilation instructions. Don’t assume it has induction hob functions.
Image unavailable
WOOX MX0237 RapidTherm, 2000 W portable induction hob
This portable hob is for cooking with induction-compatible cookware, not for baking dishes in the oven. The product title lists eight settings, four programmes, pan detection and a 1.5 m cable. Check its dimensions, the surface it will stand on, the socket and whether its use is allowed in your accommodation.
Frequently asked questions
Are heating appliances always allowed in Crous accommodation?
Don’t assume an appliance is allowed just because of its type. The Crous Network explains that its residence regulations may be supplemented by local measures. Check the rules for your residence and ask the manager to confirm if they don’t mention your appliance specifically.
What should you measure before installing a mini oven or combination microwave?
Measure the available width, depth and height, remembering to leave enough room to open the door. Compare these measurements with the appliance’s external dimensions and follow the clearances and installation requirements in its manual. Also check the power supply specified for the model.
Can a combination microwave replace a mini oven?
It can handle some oven-cooking tasks as well as reheating, provided your chosen model has the right functions. Whirlpool France describes combination microwaves as bringing together microwave cooking and convection. Still, compare the modes, the capacity you need for your dishes and the dimensions of the specific model. Neither a combination microwave nor a mini oven provides a hob on its own.