If you often cook gratins or cakes, start by looking at mini ovens with the settings your recipes need. A microwave with cooking functions may suit you better if reheating and defrosting are also priorities. A multicooker is ideal for slow-cooked or steamed dishes, while an air fryer is mainly designed for browning portions. In a small kitchen, check how much space the appliance takes up, the size of dishes it can accommodate and the clearance required in the instructions before you choose.
If you want to keep making oven-baked recipes without installing a full-size appliance, compare the settings available on mini ovens. A microwave with cooking functions can cover other needs too, but its settings must suit the dishes you make.
For small portions that you want to brown, take a look at air fryers. If your meals are more likely to include steamed vegetables, starchy foods or dishes in sauce, a multicooker’s settings may be more relevant to compare.
Measure the space you have in mind, the room needed to open the door or drawer, and the clearances specified in the instructions. The stated capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit.
Start with the dishes you make regularly, then check their size and the installation requirements of the appliance you’re considering.
Consider one: for gratins, baking and other recipes that specifically call for an oven setting.
Bear in mind: check that the oven, its open door and the required clearances will fit in the space available.
Consider one: if you want to combine reheating, defrosting and some cooking functions in a single appliance.
Keep in mind: a model with a grill doesn’t necessarily have a fan oven setting. Check the functions available on the specific model.
Consider one: for slow-cooked, steamed or pressure-cooked meals, depending on the model’s functions.
Limitation: a cooking pot isn’t a substitute for an oven cavity when you want to brown a large dish.
Consider one: for portions you want to brown using hot air.
Limitation: cooking results can vary depending on the load and model. UFC-Que Choisir, for example, found that chips were unevenly cooked in some appliances.
| Feature | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking functions | Check which settings are actually listed for the model: fan or conventional oven, grill, microwave, steam, pressure cooking or hot air. Make sure they suit the recipes you usually cook. | I often bake cakes or make gratins, so I need an appliance with settings and compatible dishes that cover those recipes, not just reheating. |
| Space and capacity | Compare the external dimensions, door or drawer opening, usable dimensions and the size of dishes the appliance can accommodate. The capacity in litres of a cooking pot and an oven cavity doesn’t describe the same cooking area. | My worktop is narrow, but I also need to make sure the appliance fits and has room for my usual portions or baking tins. |
| Energy use | To compare energy use, look at similar recipes and cooking conditions rather than relying on wattage alone. In tests published in 2026 by ADEME and the National Consumer Institute, the energy advantage of combination ovens over convection ovens varied by dish and model, with no clear overall winner. | If I cook the same dish often, I want to compare energy use for that specific task before relying on a claim that I’ll save energy. |
| Installation and cleaning | Check the instructions for the specific model for clearances, the plug, cleaning and, where applicable, how to open a pressure cooker. Whirlpool, for example, says not to block the vents on a freestanding microwave. | I need to keep the vents clear and clean the parts I’ve used after meals, without obstructing movement around the kitchen. |
A microwave with a grill, a mini oven and an air fryer don’t offer the same cooking functions or accommodate the same size of dish.
Make a note of a few recipes you cook often, then check the product details and instructions for the settings they require.
The stated capacity doesn’t always tell you how much room there is to spread out food or what size baking tin will fit.
Measure your dishes and the space you have in mind. Also check how much room is needed in front of the door or drawer.
Tests published in 2026 by ADEME and the National Consumer Institute found no clear energy advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens across all the dishes and models studied.
Compare equivalent cooking tasks and check the conditions behind any figures quoted, rather than trying to estimate energy use from the stated wattage alone.
Compact appliances still come with installation and care instructions. For example, Whirlpool says the vents on a freestanding microwave must be kept clear.
Read the instructions for the exact model before buying to check clearances, connection requirements, washable parts and any steam-related precautions if it cooks under pressure.
These range examples help you compare cooking functions; specifications vary from one model to another.
The Optimo, Cookeo and Easy Fry ranges illustrate the mini oven, multicooker and air fryer formats respectively.
Its freestanding microwaves let you explore combinations of reheating and cooking functions, depending on the model.
The TO 2067 and TO 2058 mini ovens show why it’s worth comparing the capacity and dimensions of the exact model.
These appliances are examples of multicookers and air fryers for preparing meals without a conventional oven. They don’t, by themselves, cover the options available with a mini oven or a microwave with cooking functions.
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For slow-cooked meals or hot pot dishes, check that the two cooking zones suit the quantities and dishes you have in mind. The stated power is 1 500 W, with an adjustable temperature range of 0 to 210 °C. These specifications don’t mean it can bake cakes like an oven. Check the instructions for installation and connection requirements.
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The listed Air Fry and Roast functions make this model suitable for browning or roasting portions. Compare the containers with the quantities you usually prepare, and check the instructions to see how much space to leave around the appliance.
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If you prepare several portions, compare the stated capacity with the space needed to spread out your food. Also check the external dimensions, compatible dishes and clearances before setting aside a spot for it on your worktop.
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Compare this stated capacity with your usual portion sizes, especially if you need to spread the food out. Before installing it, check the model’s instructions for dimensions and clearances.
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If you want to switch between pressure cooking and hot-air cooking, check which settings and accessories suit your recipes. The model name also indicates that it has built-in scales. Before you choose, check the usable capacity, overall size and care instructions in the manual.
Not for every recipe. A grill doesn’t mean the appliance has a fan oven setting. If you want to cook dishes you’d usually make in an oven, check the functions and usable dimensions of the model you’re considering.
A multicooker with the right settings is suitable for these dishes. The documentation for the Cookeo mentioned here lists slow cooking, steaming and pressure cooking. These functions don’t replace an oven cavity for browning a large dish.
No. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir found that chips could be overcooked at the top and still pale at the bottom in some models. Follow the loading and turning instructions for the model you’re using.
Make sure the surface is stable and keep the vents clear, as Whirlpool advises for freestanding microwaves. The instructions for the specific model explain the clearances and any other installation requirements.