People who prepare meals in a cooking pot
If you portion out soups, pulses, grains or slow-cooked dishes for several meals, look at the pot’s usable capacity and how easy it is to clean. A crispy finish matters less for these types of food.
Who are these appliances for?
Small kitchens where oven-cooked dishes are on the menu
For gratins, roasted vegetables, quiches or pizzas, check how much room the oven needs, including space for the door to open. Then measure the dishes you usually use: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether they’ll fit.
People looking to combine different uses
If you want one appliance for both reheating and cooking, compare the functions of the specific model, whether that’s grilling, steaming or cooking in a pot. Check which accessories you’ll need, too: the advertised modes aren’t interchangeable.
Which factors should you prioritise?
Start with the meals you prepare most often, then check that the appliance and the space you need to use it will actually fit on your worktop. ADEME recommends planning menus and food stocks; if you prepare meals in advance, this can also help you decide how much you want to cook in each batch.
Pressure multicooker
Consider it if: you mainly cook soups, grains, slow-cooked dishes or steamed food.
Bear in mind: pressure cooking and slow cooking won’t give you the same results as baking a gratin in the oven. Moulinex notes, for example, that the Extra Crisp accessory for the Cookeo Wi-Fi 10-en-1 is sold separately.
Countertop mini oven
Consider it if: gratins, quiches, pizzas or roasted vegetables make up most of your meals.
Bear in mind: it takes up a permanent spot. The external dimensions and capacity in litres alone won’t tell you which dishes will fit or what clearances are needed.
Combination microwave
Consider it if: you want to reheat portions and also have the cooking functions listed for your chosen model.
Bear in mind: not all models include a grill, steam or fan-assisted cooking; you’ll also need to measure the depth and space in front of the door.
Open-pot multi-cooker
Consider it if: you want to stir-fry, braise or cook rice and pasta in a pot, without making pressure cooking a priority.
Bear in mind: having several cooking modes in one pot doesn’t guarantee the space or results you need for dishes prepared on an oven tray.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the door or lid opening. Check the manual for the required clearances. | If I need to keep my worktop usable, I must be able to install and open the appliance without getting in the way of meal preparation; around 33% of consumers would make size their top priority. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the portions you usually make with the usable capacity of a cooking pot or the internal dimensions of an oven cavity. | When I cook several meals at once, I need enough room for my food, not just a big capacity figure in litres; around 27% of consumers would prioritise capacity. |
| Cooking methods | Check that the appliance has the functions your recipes need, and find out which accessories are required, particularly for grilling, steaming or fan-assisted cooking. | If I often make gratins or roast vegetables, cooking in a pot won’t meet my main need; around 20% of consumers would put a range of cooking methods first. |
| Regular cleaning | Identify the removable parts and check the cleaning instructions for each one in the manual. | If I cook several times a week, I want to know how many parts I’ll need to wash after each meal; around 20% of consumers would put ease of maintenance first. |
Mistakes to avoid before you buy
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Choosing based only on the capacity in litres
A pot for soup and an oven cavity for a gratin are used in different ways. The stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that your dishes will fit or tell you how many portions you can cook at once.
Measure the containers you use most and compare their shape with the appliance’s usable dimensions.
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Confusing a standard microwave with a combination model
Grilling, steaming and fan-assisted cooking depend on the model. A microwave that only reheats food may not be suitable for a recipe that needs browning or oven cooking.
Check the functions listed for the exact model, as well as any accessories needed to use them.
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Forgetting about door clearance and ventilation space
An appliance may fit on your worktop without leaving enough room to open the door or meet its installation requirements. Severin lists the TO 2056 as 40 cm deep, while Whirlpool lists the MWF259SG as 46,8 cm deep: these measurements alone don’t include the extra space you’ll need to use the appliance.
Before choosing, compare the space available with the model’s dimensions and the instructions in its manual, with the door or lid open.
Brands to consider by appliance type
Moulinex
The Cookeo range includes multicookers designed for cooking in a pot, including pressure cooking, steaming and slow cooking.
- Moulinex says the Cookeo Wi-Fi 10-en-1 has a 6 L cooking pot and a dishwasher-safe steam basket.
- The Extra Crisp accessory is sold separately for this model, so check before buying if you’re relying on this function.
Tefal
The Fast & Delicious and Versalio Deluxe models illustrate two distinct uses: pressure cooking and open-pot multi-function cooking.
- Tefal describes the 6 L Fast & Delicious as suitable for 4 to 6 people and says that removable parts of the Versalio Deluxe are dishwasher-safe.
- Choose between these two types of cooking pot based on your recipes; their cooking modes don’t mean you can assume they’ll replace a mini oven.
Severin
The TO 2056 is a countertop mini oven, while the MW 7773 combines microwave, grill and fan-assisted cooking.
- Severin lists the TO 2056 as having a 30 L capacity and four shelf positions; the MW 7773 offers different cooking functions in a cavity listed as 20 L.
- For either model, check that your dishes will fit and follow the installation clearance instructions in the manual.
Whirlpool
According to Whirlpool, the MWF259SG is a combination microwave offering microwave, grill, steam and Crisp functions.
- Whirlpool lists a 25 L cavity with no turntable, making it easier to compare the shape of your dishes with the interior space.
- Its listed depth of 46,8 cm means you’ll need to check the available space, door clearance and ventilation requirements.
Cooking pot appliances and microwaves with grills on Joybuy
These models are mainly for preparing portions in a cooking pot; a microwave with a grill adds an option for reheating and certain types of cooking. First, choose the cooking method that suits your meals, then check the space and operating instructions for the model you have in mind.
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Bear DHG-B60R6 Dual-Zone, 6 L
Worth considering if you want to prepare several portions in a two-zone cooking pot. The model name indicates a 6 L capacity, 1 500 W and a temperature range of 0 to 210 °C; check the space required and cleaning instructions before finding a place for it.
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Bear DHG-P50F1, 5 L cooking pot appliance
Worth a look if you want to prepare meals in a cooking pot and portion them out. Its stated capacity is 5 L; compare this with the amounts you usually cook and check the manual for installation and maintenance instructions.
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Electrolux EMZ725MMTI Inverter, 25 L microwave with grill, Titanium
Worth considering if you want to reheat portions and use a grill in the same appliance. The model name indicates a 25 L capacity and 900 W; check the usable dimensions for your dishes and whether it has fan-assisted cooking if your recipes need it.
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Plodon, 5 L cooking pot appliance with steam basket, 1 200 W
Worth a look if you prepare meals in a cooking pot and would also like to use a steam basket. The product name indicates a non-stick pot and two power settings; check its footprint and the washing instructions for the basket and pot.
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Cecotec Model D, 6 L programmable multicooker
Worth a look for pressure-cooked meals prepared in a pot. The model name lists a 6 L pot, nine menus and two pressure settings; check that the usable capacity suits your portions and read the installation and maintenance instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 6 L multicooker big enough to prepare several meals?
It may suit meals cooked in a pot and portioned out afterwards: Tefal describes its 6 L Fast & Delicious as suitable for 4 to 6 people. However, compare the usable capacity with the amounts you usually cook. For pizzas or gratins, the shape of your dishes and the internal dimensions of an oven-style appliance are more important.
Can a combination microwave replace a mini oven?
It can handle some oven recipes if the model has the required functions, but having a microwave mode alone isn’t enough to tell. Severin lists a grill and fan-assisted cooking for the MW 7773. Before choosing a combination model, check its functions, the size of your dishes and the space needed to install it.
Which parts should I check to keep cleaning to a minimum?
Check the pot, basket, lid and accessories separately for your chosen model. Moulinex says the pot and steam basket for the Cookeo Wi-Fi 10-en-1 are dishwasher-safe, while Tefal gives this information for some removable parts of the Versalio Deluxe. This doesn’t mean that every part of these appliances can be cleaned in the same way.
Does a commercial warranty replace the statutory warranty in France?
No. According to the DGCCRF, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity in France applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer. A commercial warranty is separate: before choosing one, check what additional cover it offers, its exclusions and how long it lasts.