Start by thinking about the meals you make each week: choose a microwave for reheating and defrosting, a mini oven for oven dishes and baking tins, a multicooker for wetter dishes, or an air fryer for small batches of dry foods. Some models combine several of these functions, but they won’t necessarily replace all your other appliances. Before making space on your worktop, check the exact functions, how much room the appliance needs when opened, the instructions in the manual and the cleaning requirements.
If you defrost or reheat food more often than you cook in an oven, compare microwave functions first. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between combination appliances, which add cooking functions to the microwave, depending on the model.
For gratins, pizzas and cakes, you’ll need a cavity that fits your dishes. The dimensions of a mini oven, its racks and the worktop space available matter just as much as its stated capacity.
Soups, steamed vegetables, grains and slow-cooked dishes point towards a multicooker. Moulinex lists steaming, slow cooking and pressure cooking among the modes on its Cookeo+ CE85B510; check the modes available on the model you’re considering.
For everyday meals in a small kitchen, rank the dishes you make according to what matters most to you, then compare that with the space you actually have available.
| Need | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and occasional cooking in other ways | Check which modes are actually available, such as microwave, grill or fan oven; also check how much room is needed with the door open. | If I often reheat leftovers, I want to add a few useful cooking options without keeping two appliances. Around 33% of consumers prioritise combining these functions. |
| Cooking in dishes and baking tins | Check which dishes and racks will fit, the appliance’s external dimensions and the clearances specified. | For my gratins, pizzas or cakes, I need a cavity that fits my dishes, not just a stated capacity in litres. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Preparing one-pot meals | Check which steaming, slow-cooking or pressure-cooking modes are available, as well as the pot’s capacity and the accessories included. | When I make soups, grains or dishes with a sauce, I prefer cooking in one pot with less supervision. Around 25% of consumers prioritise these types of dishes. |
| Cooking small batches of dry foods | Check the usable surface area of the basket or trays, and how much room is needed to open the drawer or door. | If I mainly cook small portions that need browning, I don’t want to give up more worktop space than necessary. This is the main need for around 17% of consumers. |
Capacity doesn’t tell you whether your dish will fit inside or whether the door can open. Severin’s TO 2056 mini oven has a stated capacity of 30 L and measures 45,3 cm wide and 40 cm deep.
Measure the appliance, the dishes you use regularly and the space needed to open it, then check the clearances required in the manual.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that some large-capacity models take up a lot of room. Models with two drawers may also need more space when opened.
Only choose this capacity if your portions or simultaneous cooking needs justify it; compare the appliance’s external dimensions with the worktop space available.
A function described for a product range may require separate equipment. For the Cookeo+ CE85B510, Moulinex’s air fryer function requires the Extra Crisp accessory, which is sold separately.
Check what’s in the box and make sure the accessory is compatible with the full model reference.
A separate accessory also means another item to store and clean.
Accessible surfaces on a mini oven can get very hot, as noted in the Severin TO 2052 manual. The surface it sits on, ventilation around the appliance and access to a suitable socket all need to be considered.
Before using it, follow the instructions in the manual for the exact model and choose a spot away from water and other cooking areas.
Freestanding microwaves with functions that vary by model.
The Cookeo range includes multicookers designed, among other things, for cooking in a pot.
Countertop mini ovens to consider if dishes and baking tins are a priority.
These models are mainly for air frying on the worktop, with a microwave for reheating. Compare them with the meals you usually make: this list doesn’t make an air fryer a substitute for a mini oven or multicooker.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook dry foods and want a worktop appliance for that purpose. Before choosing it for a small kitchen, check the space needed for the appliance and its containers, as well as the specified clearances.
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Compare its stated 2 L capacity with your usual portion sizes; it may be too small if you regularly cook larger meals. Check the external dimensions, the space needed to open the basket and the clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth comparing if a stated 4 L capacity suits your meals better than a smaller model. The title lists eight programmes; check which ones you’ll actually use, then measure the space needed for the appliance and to open it.
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Its stated capacity of 7,6 L is worth considering if you cook several portions, but it doesn’t mean the appliance takes up little space. Measure the space available and check the clearances in the manual, especially if you usually cook small quantities.
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Worth considering if reheating and defrosting are your main needs. The title lists a 20 L capacity, 700 W and a grill: confirm these details for the exact model before relying on that function, and check the dimensions and space needed to open it.
It can combine reheating with some oven cooking, provided the model has the modes you need and can fit your dishes. ADEME and the National Consumer Institute have found that combination ovens vary in how well they perform, depending on the dishes, models and brands. Don’t assume one will replace a mini oven for all your recipes.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then check how much room you’ll need to open the door or pull out the drawer. Also compare your dishes with the usable dimensions inside the appliance, and follow the clearances specified in the manual for the model you choose.
Yes. Cooking can produce water vapour. ADEME says kitchen ventilation can have a high-flow setting for these occasions. Don’t block your home’s ventilation openings, and make sure you also follow the clearance requirements for the appliance.
Check what’s included in the box and whether the accessory is compatible with the full model reference, rather than relying on features listed for an entire product range. For example, Moulinex says that the Cookeo+ CE85B510’s air fryer function requires the Extra Crisp accessory, which is sold separately.