Choose an appliance based on the meals you cook most often: a portable hob for frying pans and saucepans, a countertop oven for oven cooking, a combi microwave for reheating and certain cooking functions, or a multicooker for slow-cooked dishes. Before buying, check the dimensions, the space needed to use and store it, and the connection requirements in the instructions for the specific model. None of these appliances automatically covers all the uses of the others.
If you want to prepare pasta, vegetables, sauces or stir-fries without a built-in hob, a portable hob gives you a cooking surface. With an induction model, also check that your cookware is compatible and follow the instructions in its manual.
Oven dishes, pizzas and bakes need an oven cavity. A countertop oven provides one, as long as you leave enough space for the appliance and set it up in accordance with the instructions.
Combining several functions in one appliance can be useful, but “multifunction” does not always mean the same types of cooking. Compare the available settings, dimensions and weight: a combi microwave and a multicooker with a cooking pot do not prepare the same kinds of meals.
Start with the cooking function you would miss most in your day-to-day life, then check the appliance against the space available and the requirements in its instructions.
| Your needs | What to check before buying | Who this suits |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking with a frying pan or saucepan | Number of cooking zones and compatible cookware; connection and set-up requirements for the hob you choose. | If I mainly cook pasta or stir-fries, I want a cooking surface without installing a built-in hob. Around 28% of consumers make this their priority. |
| Cooking in an oven | Usable capacity, dimensions and the clearance needed around the oven according to its instructions. | For my oven dishes or cakes, an oven cavity matters more than an extra cooking zone. This is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Combining reheating and cooking | Whether it has a grill or convection function; dimensions, cavity and accessories. | With limited space, I’d rather combine reheating and some types of cooking in one appliance than have several. This is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Preparing meals in one pot | Pot capacity and settings suited to the recipes you have in mind; instructions for use. | If I mainly cook soups or slow-cooked dishes, a cooking pot is more useful to me than a large cooking surface. Around 18% of consumers prioritise these meals. |
The Panasonic NN-CT56RB combines microwave, grill and convection functions, while the Moulinex Cookeo+ is designed for cooking in a pot. These functions suit different recipes.
Make a list of the meals you usually cook, then check the settings, capacity and accessories of the model you’re considering.
A single appliance can still be difficult to place or store. Panasonic gives the NN-CT56RB’s dimensions as 52 × 39,1 × 31 cm and its weight as 16,3 kg; Severin lists a footprint of 44,5 × 38,5 cm for the TO 2067 mini oven.
Measure your worktop, the space needed to open the appliance and your storage area before choosing.
The stated power rating alone is not enough to confirm that an appliance is suitable for your home’s electrical installation. INRS notes that electrical hazards include electric shock and fire.
Check the connection and set-up requirements in the instructions for the specific model. If the installation seems unsuitable, ask your landlord or a qualified professional for advice rather than modifying it yourself.
The annual figures published by ADEME relate to categories and standard usage patterns, not the measured energy consumption of each mini oven, portable hob or combi microwave.
To assess this factor, consider the type of appliance you’re looking at and how often you’ll use its different functions.
The range includes single-zone portable induction hobs, worth considering for cooking with frying pans and saucepans.
Its countertop mini ovens are designed for people who need an oven cavity.
Some of its combi microwaves bring reheating, grilling and other cooking functions together in one appliance.
Cookeo multicookers are designed for cooking in a pot, including slow cooking, steaming and pressure cooking.
These appliances offer several ways to cook without built-in equipment: a portable hob, a microwave with grill, a countertop oven and a multicooker. First decide what kind of meals you want to prepare, then check the set-up and connection requirements for the model you choose.
Image unavailable
For cooking with a frying pan or saucepan using a portable cooking zone. Check that your cookware is compatible and follow the set-up and connection instructions in the manual.
Image unavailable
Combines microwave reheating and grilling in one countertop appliance. The proposed model’s name lists a power rating of 900 W; don’t assume this is the electrical power consumption, and check that it has the functions you need for your recipes.
Image unavailable
For meals that need an oven cavity, such as oven dishes or bakes. Choose a suitable surface for it and check the manual to see how much space to leave around the oven.
Image unavailable
For preparing meals in a cooking pot rather than using an oven or several cooking zones. The product name lists a power rating of 1 500 W and a temperature range of 0 to 210 °C; check that it has the functions you need for your recipes and follow the set-up instructions before buying.
Image unavailable
For small portions prepared in a single pot. The product name lists a power rating of 1 000 W and a detachable EU plug; check that the capacity suits your meals and consult the manual for connection and set-up instructions.
Article 7 of French law dated 6 July 1989, published by Légifrance, requires the landlord’s written consent to alter rented premises or equipment; on its own, it does not impose a general ban on portable appliances. Check the rules that apply to your home before using any appliance that would require modifications or a fixed connection.
No: this figure does not confirm that the connection or set-up requirements are suitable. Tefal states that the Everyday Slim IH210801 has a power range of 300 to 2 100 W; check the instructions for the model you choose and have the installation assessed if it seems unsuitable.
Not for every recipe: compare its functions, cavity and accessories with the dishes you want to prepare. For example, Panasonic lists a 27 L capacity for the NN-CT56RB, but having several functions does not guarantee it will suit the same dishes as a countertop oven.
These averages provide a guide by category, not the energy consumption of a particular model in your home. ADEME lists, for example, 130 kWh/year for a 63 L electric oven and 40 kWh/year for the microwave oven category; these figures cannot be used to work out the consumption of a mini oven or combi microwave used with different functions.