Start by choosing an appliance to suit the meals you actually make: a compact oven for baking, a combination microwave if reheating matters as much as cooking, an air fryer for roasted or crispy portions, or a multicooker for steaming, slow cooking or pressure cooking. Before choosing a model, measure the space it needs with the door, drawer or lid open, and check the installation instructions in the manual. These appliances don’t all serve the same purpose.
An appliance needs to fit in its space and still be usable once its door, drawer or lid is open. Whirlpool’s dimensions for its freestanding microwaves, and the measurements Boulanger lists for the Moulinex mini oven, show why it’s important to measure the space rather than relying on the word ‘compact’.
If you’d like one appliance to handle several types of cooking, start with the meals you need it to prepare. The functions described by Whirlpool for its combination microwaves and by Moulinex for its air fryers and Cookeo multicookers serve different purposes, from reheating to slow cooking.
For simple everyday meals, the result you want matters just as much as ease of use. Reheating a meal, cooking a small crispy portion or preparing a moist dish all point to different appliances. Check how many steps your usual recipes involve rather than focusing only on the number of programmes.
First, decide which cooking methods you need, then check that the appliance and its opening mechanism will fit in your space. Information from Moulinex and Whirlpool about their ranges can help you understand what each type of appliance is designed for, but it doesn’t guarantee that every model has all the functions mentioned.
Consider one if: you regularly need to cook food in the oven, such as gratins or dishes in a suitable ovenproof tin.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for the appliance and to open its door; it won’t replace a microwave for reheating.
Consider one if: you often reheat or defrost food and would also like extra cooking modes in the same appliance.
Check: grill, convection and other modes vary by model, as does the size of the dishes it can accommodate.
Consider one if: you mainly cook roasted or crispy portions that fit in its basket or container.
Bear in mind: the shape of the container may limit the size of dishes you can cook; a model with multiple drawers will also need more space.
Consider one if: you mainly cook by steaming, slow cooking or pressure cooking, as with the modes Moulinex lists for its Cookeo range.
Bear in mind: you’ll need enough room above it to open the lid; for a crispy finish, you may need an accessory or another appliance.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and access | External dimensions, full opening and the clearances specified in the manual. | When every centimetre of worktop space matters, I want to be able to install and use the appliance without blocking the rest of the kitchen. Around 36% of consumers would put this space constraint first. |
| Meals it can prepare | The modes you need for your usual dishes and the dimensions of compatible containers. | If I can only keep one appliance, I want one that handles the meals I make most often without always needing a second appliance. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise this range of cooking options. |
| Time and convenience | Any preheating, batch size and how much attention the appliance needs while cooking. | For weekday cooking, I prefer a meal that suits the time and attention I have available. Around 21% of consumers would make convenience their priority. |
| Maintenance and lifespan | Cleaning removable parts, availability of spare parts and the repairability index, if displayed. | If I use an appliance every day, I want to know how to clean it and what repair options are available before I buy. Around 14% of consumers would put maintenance and lifespan first. |
The internal capacity doesn’t tell you how much space the appliance will take up or whether its door can open. For reference, Boulanger lists the dimensions of one 39 L Moulinex mini oven as 56,4 × 36,4 × 40,4 cm.
Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the space needed to open it, then check the clearances listed in the manual for the model you’re considering.
A multicooker designed for steaming or pressure cooking won’t necessarily give you the crispy results you’d expect from an air fryer. Likewise, you shouldn’t assume a combination microwave has certain functions just from its name.
Make a note of the meals you cook most often and check which modes and dish sizes you’ll need for each one.
If an appliance can’t handle a key cooking task, you may need to keep another appliance or buy a compatible accessory.
Promotelec warns of the risks of using extension leads incorrectly with electrical appliances. A lack of sockets isn’t solved by stacking adaptors to run several cooking appliances.
Check the appliance’s power rating and connection instructions, as well as the condition of the wall socket. Have the installation checked if necessary.
Moulinex explains that the air-fryer function on some Cookeo models requires the Extra Crisp accessory, which is sold separately.
Check exactly which accessories are included with your chosen model before relying on this function.
Worth considering if you’re comparing mini ovens, air fryers and Cookeo multicookers for everyday meals.
Consider a combination microwave if you want to combine reheating and defrosting with other cooking modes.
An alternative to consider if your kitchen already has a suitable built-in space, rather than if you need a worktop appliance you can move.
These Joybuy appliances illustrate three options for everyday meals: oven cooking, air frying and microwave cooking. Compare their size and functions with the meals you usually prepare before making space for one on your worktop.
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Consider this if you want your main appliance to be for oven cooking rather than reheating food in a microwave.
The product name lists a capacity of 23 L. Check that the door can open fully and that you have the clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook roasted or crispy portions and the containers are the right size for your meals.
Make sure you have a safe surface to place the hot containers on, and check the clearances in the manual.
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For smaller portions, compare the basket space with what you usually cook for one or two people.
The product name lists a capacity of 2 L and a power rating of 1150 W. Measure the space needed for the appliance itself before choosing.
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Consider this if you want to combine reheating with several cooking modes in a worktop appliance.
The product name lists a capacity of 42 L. Check its external dimensions, door opening and required clearances: internal capacity alone won’t tell you whether it will fit in a small kitchen.
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Consider this if reheating and defrosting are your priorities and you’d also like to check whether it has grill cooking options.
The product name lists a capacity of 25 L and a power rating of 1000 W. Don’t assume it has a convection function: check the modes on the version being sold, along with its installation instructions.
Yes. Follow the clearance and placement instructions in the manual for the exact model, as the same distances don’t apply to every type of appliance. Also allow enough room to open the door, drawer or lid fully. Qualitel also highlights the importance of good ventilation throughout the kitchen.
Don’t rely on an extension lead to make up for a lack of sockets when using cooking appliances. Promotelec warns of the risk of overloading when extension leads are used incorrectly. Check the connection instructions and have any installation that seems inadequate or damaged inspected.
It can work well if your main meals fit in its container and suit its cooking modes. If you use tins or dishes that are too large for the basket, check the internal dimensions and functions of a mini oven that’s suitable for what you want to cook.
Not necessarily. The pressure, steam and slow-cooking modes Moulinex lists for its Cookeo range don’t guarantee air frying. On some models, this function requires the Extra Crisp accessory, which is sold separately. Check exactly what’s included with the configuration you choose.
Compare cleaning and repair options for the model you’re considering, then check its repairability index if one is displayed. ADEME highlights factors such as spare-parts availability, ease of disassembly and documentation as useful considerations. The index alone doesn’t tell you how well the appliance will cook.