Start with the meals you make: a portable hob is suitable for frying or cooking in a saucepan, a multi-cooker for dishes prepared in a cooking pot, and an air fryer or mini oven for roasted portions. A combination microwave can handle reheating, defrosting and some types of cooking, but none of these appliances automatically replaces every use of a hob and oven. If your meals call for both types of cooking, compare the space and connections needed for two appliances that work well together.
When worktop and cupboard space is limited, look for an appliance that covers your usual meals without adding several devices with similar functions. Remember to measure the space needed to use it, not just to store it.
Compare the usable capacity with your portions and dishes. A small cooking pot or basket may suit everyday use, as long as it can hold the meals you make most often.
A portable hob or another mobile appliance can cover some cooking needs without any installation work. Still, check the available socket, the power rating of the model you choose, the stability of the surface and the instructions in its manual.
Start with the dishes you make most often, then check whether the appliance you need will really fit in your kitchen.
| Consideration | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Type of cooking | Frying pan and saucepan: portable hob. Moist dishes: multi-cooker. Roasted portions: air fryer or mini oven. Reheating and defrosting: microwave; check the cooking modes on a combination model. | Are most of my meals cooked in a saucepan, a cooking pot or an oven-style appliance? If I regularly use two cooking methods, two complementary appliances may be more practical than one multi-function appliance. |
| Available space | Measure the external dimensions, how far the door or lid opens and the clearances specified in the manual. Also allow for storage space if the appliance won’t stay out on the worktop. | I want to be able to prepare a meal without taking over the whole worktop, then put the appliance away if needed. |
| Portions and dishes | Compare the dimensions of the basket, cavity or dishes that fit, as well as the fill limits for a cooking pot. The stated capacity in litres doesn’t tell you everything that will fit. | A dish I use often needs to fit in the appliance. For meals for several people, I also need to check how much I can cook in one go. |
| Socket and heat | Check the rated power, socket requirements and recommended surface in the manual for your model. Follow its instructions on ventilation, handling hot surfaces and cooling. | The socket and location I have in mind need to be suitable for the appliance, even if it’s described as compact. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable and which are explicitly stated to be dishwasher-safe. Look at how easy it is to reach areas where crumbs or grease can collect. | If I cook often, I’d rather know what I’ll need to clean after each meal than base my decision on the number of programmes advertised. |
| Functions already covered | Compare the cooking methods you need with those offered by your current appliances, and check whether extra functions require additional accessories. | If my oven already handles the small roasted portions I make, another appliance needs to cover a use frequent enough to justify the space it will take up. |
A multi-cooker mainly cooks in a pot, while an air fryer uses a basket and a combination microwave brings together modes that vary by model. Their functions aren’t interchangeable for every dish.
Make a list of five meals you cook regularly and the cooking method each one needs. Then check the functions and accessories included with the exact model you’re considering.
The stated volume doesn’t guarantee that a tin will fit in the cavity or that the cooking pot can be filled to the brim. For example, UFC-Que Choisir notes that although a Cookeo cooking pot is listed as 6 L, it can hold a maximum of 4 L for cooking.
Measure your dishes, then check the usable dimensions, fill limit and clearance required around the appliance.
Tefal lists the Everyday Slim IH210801 portable hob as reaching up to 2 100 W. The manual for the Severin TO 2058 mini oven, meanwhile, warns that accessible surfaces can become very hot.
Check the power rating and connection instructions for your model. Use a suitable surface and don’t assume an extension lead is appropriate.
UFC-Que Choisir advises taking the risk of buying too many appliances into account when considering air fryers. If your existing oven already handles the small roasted portions you make, a new appliance may simply mean another item to store and clean.
Before making room for a second appliance, compare how often you cook those meals with the functions of the equipment you already own.
These examples highlight features and points to consider for specific models; they don’t describe every range from each brand.
Cookeo models are mainly designed for meals prepared in a cooking pot, with modes that vary by model.
The Everyday Slim IH210801 is an example of a portable induction hob for frying or cooking in a saucepan.
The MC28M6035CK is an example of a combination microwave for anyone who wants to keep reheating and defrosting functions while having access to other cooking modes.
The NA156/60 is an example of an air fryer with a basket that can be divided to cook two dishes separately.
The TO 2058 rotisserie mini oven is an example of a dedicated oven cavity designed for use on a worktop.
These Joybuy options cover cooking in a pot, induction cooking, microwave cooking with a grill and hot-air cooking. Compare them based on the meals they can help you prepare and the space you have, rather than assuming one appliance can handle every task.
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Worth considering for meals prepared in a cooking pot, such as rice or soup, rather than as a replacement for a frying pan or oven.
Check that the 2L capacity suits your portions and that there’s enough room to open the lid while maintaining the clearances specified in the manual.
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An option if you often reheat or defrost meals and would also like a grill.
Check how much space the appliance needs around it and which modes are listed in the manual if you plan to cook dishes that would usually go in the oven.
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For frying or cooking in a saucepan without a fixed hob, using flat-bottomed induction-compatible cookware measuring 12-26cm, according to the model description.
Before setting it up, check its full dimensions, the required clearances and whether your socket is suitable for its stated power rating.
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Worth considering for small roasted or crispy portions, if the 2L basket is big enough for your meals.
The product name describes a non-stick basket as dishwasher-safe; check which parts this applies to in the manual. Also measure the space needed to position and use the appliance.
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For simple meals prepared in a cooking pot, such as soup or noodles, if the 1.0L capacity suits your portions. This size won’t replace oven or hob cooking.
Check the dimensions, clearances and connection instructions for this model before deciding where to put it.
It can handle some small roasted or crispy portions if the basket is the right size, but it may not suit the dishes, tins and quantities you usually cook. Check the dimensions before deciding against a mini oven; UFC-Que Choisir also points out that an air fryer’s size is worth considering.
A multi-cooker can prepare dishes in a cooking pot, including slow-cooked or steamed meals depending on its modes, but it won’t cover every use of a frying pan or saucepan on a hob. If you regularly cook with these pans, consider a portable hob or using both appliances together.
Check the model’s power rating and connection instructions, then make sure the socket, surface and clearances are suitable for installation. Compact doesn’t necessarily mean low-powered; don’t assume an extension lead is suitable without checking.
Compare the removable parts, hard-to-reach areas and components explicitly stated to be dishwasher-safe. For the TO 2058 mini oven, Severin says to unplug the appliance and let it cool before cleaning; follow the instructions for any other model you choose.
France’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition says that electrical appliances can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre, a retailer, or a social and solidarity economy organisation. If the appliance is still usable, you could also consider having it repaired, depending on its condition and what you need it for.