Studio renters with a kitchenette
If worktop space is limited, measure the available area before choosing an appliance. Then base your decision on the dishes you cook and the connection and ventilation requirements in the appliance’s manual.
Who are these appliances for?
People who alternate between reheated meals and home cooking
If you often defrost food but also make gratins or cakes, a combination microwave is worth considering. Check its cooking modes, the size of dishes it can accommodate and the clearance space it needs.
People who mainly steam or slow-cook food
For steamed vegetables, soups and dishes with sauce, look at the modes available on a multicooker or food steamer. These appliances may not be suitable for oven cooking or browning dishes under a grill.
How do you choose based on how you cook?
Countertop mini oven
Consider it if: your meals mainly need oven-style cooking, for example gratins or cakes.
The trade-off: it does not offer microwave defrosting. Also check the space and clearance required in its manual.
Combination microwave
Consider it if: you want to reheat and defrost food, then cook certain dishes using an oven-style mode, all in one appliance.
The trade-off: modes and accessories vary by model. The advertised versatility does not confirm that the appliance can be installed in your space or guarantee the results for every recipe.
Solo microwave
Consider it if: you mainly plan to reheat and defrost food, with no need to bake cakes or brown gratins.
The trade-off: don’t choose a solo model for grilling or convection cooking unless these functions are explicitly confirmed.
Multicooker or food steamer
Consider it if: your meals mainly involve steaming, slow cooking or, if the model has this function, pressure cooking.
The trade-off: these appliances are not automatic substitutes for an oven. Check the modes and accessories included with the specific model.
Once you’ve chosen an appliance type, check that the model you’re considering suits your dishes, worktop and electrical installation.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking modes | Check for microwave, grill, convection, steam and pressure-cooking modes individually. Verify the functions and accessories included with the exact model. | Do I mainly reheat meals, or do I also want to make gratins and cakes? The recipes I usually cook will determine which modes to look for. |
| Space and cookware | Compare the appliance’s external width, depth and height with the space available, including clearance. For dishes, check the internal dimensions, turntable or tray: capacity in litres isn’t enough. | My appliance needs to fit on the worktop and accommodate the plates and dishes I actually use. |
| Electrical connection | Check the manual for ventilation, voltage and connection requirements. Promotelec advises that sockets must not be installed above hobs or the sink bowl. | Before choosing a model, I need to make sure I can position and connect it in line with its manual, away from water and cooking areas. |
What should you look out for before buying?
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Choosing a combination microwave based on the number of modes alone
More functions don’t guarantee the same results for every dish. The ADEME-INC summary published in February 2026 found that results varied by dish, model and brand. In the study in question, combination ovens had no clear advantage over convection ovens. The study covered built-in appliances, not countertop models.
Make a note of the meals you cook most often, then check that the model has the modes needed to prepare them.
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Comparing appliances by capacity in litres alone
Capacity tells you neither how much worktop space an appliance takes up nor how much room there is for a dish. Severin lists the TO 2056 mini oven as having a capacity of 30 L and external dimensions of 34,5 × 45,3 × 40 cm. These measurements answer different questions.
Measure the space, then check the dimensions of your dish or tray as well as the clearance required for the model you’ve chosen.
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Choosing a spot without reading the manual
Having enough free space doesn’t confirm that an appliance can be used there. The Severin TO 2056 manual, for example, requires a properly installed earthed socket and a voltage that matches the rating plate.
Check the connection and ventilation instructions for the exact model before deciding where to put it, especially near a sink or hob.
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Treating an energy-saving claim as a comparison between appliances
A manufacturer’s energy-saving comparison depends on how the appliance is used and what it’s compared with. It doesn’t show how much energy a multicooker, mini oven and combination microwave will use for your recipes.
To compare energy use, look for measurements based on similar dishes and portion sizes rather than drawing conclusions from the cooking mode alone.
Which brands should you compare?
These brand examples illustrate features you can compare. They are not the products featured in the Joybuy selection below.
Whirlpool
The brand offers countertop combination microwaves, including the MCP349WH, which bring several cooking modes together in one appliance.
- Whirlpool describes the MCP349WH as having a fan-assisted heat function.
- Check which modes are actually available, the dimensions and the installation instructions for the model you choose.
Panasonic
The documented range includes solo microwaves and models that combine several cooking modes.
- Panasonic lists microwave, convection, grill and air fryer functions for the NN-CD58RS.
- These functions alone don’t tell you how much space the appliance needs or what its installation requirements are.
Severin
Its range includes both countertop mini ovens and combination microwaves.
- Severin lists a capacity of 30 L, a power rating of 1 600 W and dimensions of 34,5 × 45,3 × 40 cm for the TO 2056 mini oven. The MW 7774 combines microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking.
- Compare appliances based on the dishes you prepare, and check the manual for each model’s installation requirements.
Moulinex
The Cookeo+ is another option for steamed, slow-cooked or pressure-cooked meals.
- Moulinex describes six modes on the Cookeo+, including steam, slow cook, brown and reheat.
- The function that uses the Extra Crisp accessory requires you to have the accessory, which Moulinex says is sold separately.
Appliances to consider on Joybuy
This selection includes combination microwaves, microwaves designed mainly for reheating and a food steamer. First choose the type of cooking you need, then check the features and installation requirements for each model.
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LG MJ3965ACS combination microwave, 39 L, stainless steel and black
If you want to switch between different types of cooking, check that the modes on the LG MJ3965ACS combination microwave suit your recipes. The product name lists its capacity as 39 L. Also measure the space it will take up and check the manual for clearance and connection requirements.
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SHARP YC-MC422AE-SB 3-in-1 combination microwave, 42 L
If you’re looking for a combination microwave for different meals, check which modes are included under the “3-in-1” description for this model. Its stated capacity is 42 L. Also compare its external dimensions, the dishes it can accommodate and the installation instructions with the space in your kitchenette.
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COMFEE CMO‑MP012OC(WH) microwave, 19 L, white
Worth considering if reheating and defrosting matter more to you than oven-style cooking. The product name lists a power rating of 700 W, five power levels and a 245 mm turntable. Check that your plates will fit and that the installation follows the manual.
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Hisense H25MOBS7H solo microwave, 25 L, 900 W, black
This solo model is suited to those who mainly want microwave functions. If a grill is important to you, check that the version being sold includes one: the product name describes it as a solo model. Also check that it fits your space and follow the instructions in the manual.
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KitchenCook Multi Steam 9 electric food steamer, stainless steel
Worth considering if you mainly steam food rather than prepare dishes with a browned topping. Before choosing it for your worktop, check its dimensions, the space it needs while in use and the instructions for handling hot parts.
Frequently asked questions
Can a solo microwave replace an oven in a kitchenette?
Not for every recipe: reheating and defrosting don’t meet the same needs as cooking with oven heat. If you make gratins, tarts or cakes, look specifically for a mini oven or a combination microwave with the cooking mode you need.
Does a combination microwave always use less energy than a mini oven?
You can’t tell from the number of modes alone. The ADEME-INC summary published in February 2026 found that efficiency varied by dish, model and brand, with no clear advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens in its study. The study covered built-in ovens, so it doesn’t compare the countertop appliances in your kitchenette.
Can you install the appliance near the sink or hob?
Don’t choose a location based only on the available space. Promotelec advises that sockets must not be installed above hobs or the sink bowl. Also check the appliance manual for positioning, ventilation and connection requirements.
Can a multicooker replace an oven for crispy dishes?
Not necessarily: steaming, slow cooking and pressure cooking are not oven-cooking modes. For the Cookeo+ mentioned by Moulinex, the brand says the Extra Crisp accessory is sold separately. Check the modes and accessories for the model you’re considering before relying on it for this type of cooking.