Choose according to the meals you prepare most often and the space available while the appliance is in use, including clearance around it. A portable hob is suited to cooking in a saucepan or frying pan; a mini oven is ideal for dishes you want to brown or bake; and a combination microwave can bring together reheating, grilling and oven cooking, provided the model you choose offers all these functions. Before you decide, check the size of your cookware, the installation instructions and the electrical supply required.
If you need to keep your worktop clear, a portable hob is worth considering for cooking in a saucepan or frying pan. Measure its full footprint and make sure you have somewhere to store it; its low profile alone doesn’t guarantee that it will fit in your space.
For gratins, pizzas, bakes or small portions of roast food, compare the size of your dishes with the cooking space inside a mini oven. The models from Moulinex and Severin illustrate the differences in capacity and functions: the number of litres alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
If you often reheat meals but also want to grill or bake, take a close look at the functions of a specific combination microwave. The Panasonic NN-DF38PBEPG is one example of this combination, but you’ll still need to check the space it requires and which dishes are suitable.
Worth considering: if you mainly cook meals in a saucepan or frying pan and need to clear your worktop afterwards.
Limitation: it won’t bake; an induction hob also requires compatible cookware.
Worth considering: if gratins, bakes or roast dishes are a regular part of your meals.
Limitation: a very compact model only fits small portions, while a larger capacity takes up more space.
Worth considering: if you often reheat food and also want to grill or bake with one appliance.
Limitation: the available functions and dimensions vary by model; the word ‘combination’ alone doesn’t tell you what it can do.
| Criteria | What to check | Relevant consumer priorities |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Measure the appliance, the space needed with its door open and the clearances specified in its instructions. Also check the location of the socket and where you’ll store it. | I need to be able to prepare a meal without taking over my worktop, then put the appliance away if necessary. Around 34% of consumers say the space it takes up is their main concern. |
| Dishes and cooking functions | Compare the size of your dishes with the cooking cavity and check for the functions your recipes need, such as a grill or fan-assisted cooking. | I often make dishes that need browning or baking, so the space available for my dish matters more than the stated capacity alone. For around 33% of consumers, oven-cooking capacity is the priority. |
| Reheating and combined functions | With a combination microwave, check the microwave, grill and oven functions, as well as the temperature range, individually. | I reheat food often, but I’d also like to bake or grill without having several appliances. This combination of functions comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and regular use | Check how easy it is to reach surfaces for cleaning, whether accessories are washable and whether the model can be repaired. | An appliance used every day should be easy to clean and maintain over time. Around 13% of consumers prioritise this aspect of everyday use. |
A small dish, baking tin or pizza won’t necessarily fit inside the cavity as you might expect. The appliance’s external dimensions and the space needed to open the door matter too.
Measure your usual dishes and the space where you plan to put the oven, then allow for the clearances specified in the model’s instructions.
Grilling, convection and the temperature range vary by model; you can’t tell what’s included from the category name alone.
Check the functions, temperature range, accessories and cavity dimensions against the recipes you plan to make.
The instructions for the Brandt FC405 mini oven say to allow air to circulate around the appliance and warn of the risks of having flammable materials nearby. Its specified clearances aren’t a universal rule for other models.
Place the appliance on a stable, heat-resistant surface, keep its vents uncovered and follow the instructions supplied with your particular model.
Promotelec distinguishes between the power supply for installed hobs and ovens and that for a portable appliance. An extension lead doesn’t replace a circuit suitable for a permanent installation.
Before buying a built-in hob or oven, ask a qualified professional to check the space and available circuit if you’re unsure.
According to Moulinex, the 19 L Optimo OX444810 countertop mini oven offers six functions, including fan-assisted cooking, grilling and defrosting.
The range includes the 9 L TO 2052 and the 20 L TO 2067, which is listed with four cooking levels.
According to Panasonic, the NN-DF38PBEPG combination microwave pairs a 1 000 W microwave with a 900 W grill and an oven adjustable from 30 to 200 °C.
The Everyday Slim IH2108E1 portable induction hob is listed as 45 mm high, with a power range of 300 to 2 100 W.
These models cover cooking on a portable hob, in a mini oven and in a combination microwave. Compare their footprint and functions with the meals you prepare, and don’t assume that a larger capacity will save space.
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For cooking in a saucepan or frying pan on a single hob, without setting aside space for an oven.
Listed thickness of 44.5 mm, eight power levels, a temperature range of 60 to 270 °C and a timer of up to 3 hours. Requires cookware with a magnetic base measuring 12 to 26 cm; check the full footprint and electrical instructions in the manual.
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For cooking dishes in the oven without installing a built-in model.
Listed external dimensions of 46 × 27 × 39,4 cm; top, bottom or combined heating, from 40 to 230 °C. Check that your dishes fit in the cavity and allow for the clearances specified in the instructions. Cleaning is manual.
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For switching between reheating and cooking, with the grill, convection and steam functions listed for this model.
Listed temperature range of 40 to 200 °C and a 36 cm turntable. With external dimensions of 54,4 × 52,5 × 32,7 cm, measure your worktop and the required clearances carefully.
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For meals cooked on a single hob in a saucepan or frying pan, rather than dishes prepared in the oven.
Ten heat settings and six functions are listed. The hob requires ferromagnetic cookware; check its full dimensions and electrical instructions before choosing a spot for it.
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For combining reheating, grilling and convection cooking if these functions suit the meals you usually prepare.
Listed temperature range of 140 to 230 °C; external dimensions of 553 × 326 × 505 mm and a weight of 20 kg. Check that the surface and space where you plan to place it are suitable, along with the clearances and power supply specified in the instructions.
Only if the space meets the requirements in the instructions for your chosen model. The Brandt FC405 mini oven’s instructions specify a flat, dry, heat-resistant surface and at least 10 cm on each side to allow air to circulate; this clearance doesn’t automatically apply to other appliances.
No, you need to consider their installation requirements separately. Promotelec specifies a dedicated circuit for installed hobs and for ovens. For a portable hob, check its power rating, plug type and instructions rather than assuming that the requirements for a built-in appliance apply.
Yes, if the model offers the functions you need for your recipes and can fit your dishes. For example, the Panasonic NN-DF38PBEPG combines microwave, grill and oven functions, with the oven adjustable from 30 to 200 °C. Before replacing your mini oven, also compare the cavity, accessories and installation space.
Compare appliances of a similar size and the way you’ll use them, rather than looking only at their stated power ratings. ADEME’s annual figures for an electric hob, a 63 L oven and a microwave are based on different usage patterns, so they don’t show how much a specific mini oven or combination microwave will use.
Check how easy it is to reach surfaces for cleaning, whether accessories are washable and whether your chosen model can be repaired. Moulinex states that the Optimo 19 L can be repaired for 15 years at a fair price; this commitment applies to that model and not to other appliances.