Choose an appliance based on the cooking function you’re missing most: a microwave for reheating and defrosting, a mini oven for oven-cooked dishes, a portable hob for using saucepans and frying pans, or a pot-style appliance for the recipes it supports. In a small kitchen, also compare the space it actually needs, compatible cookware and the exact model’s installation and ventilation instructions before you buy.
If you reheat or defrost food more often than you cook in a frying pan, start by looking at freestanding microwaves. Additional cooking functions depend on the model, and you’ll need to place it according to the ventilation instructions. Whirlpool explains these requirements for its microwaves.
For boiling, simmering or frying, a portable hob is a more direct solution. If you choose induction, check that your saucepans are compatible with the hob you select; the specifications published by Tefal for the Everyday Slim apply to that particular model.
If you want to prepare dishes such as rice, soups or stews in a pot, compare the programmes you’ll actually use, your usual portion sizes and the space needed to open the lid. Tefal’s Fast & Delicious multicooker instructions, for example, require you to observe the maximum fill line.
In a kitchen with limited equipment, start with the task your current appliances can’t handle, then check the space required and the instructions for the model you’re considering. A quoted power rating alone isn’t enough to compare the energy use of meals prepared in different ways.
| Need | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | External dimensions and ventilation clearances; functions available on the microwave you choose. | When I mainly reheat ready-made meals, I want to warm them up without setting up a hob. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Oven cooking or grilling | Dimensions of dishes the oven can accommodate and cooking modes; space to leave around the mini oven, as set out in its instructions. | To cook oven-ready dishes, I need to be able to use my oven dishes and have the cooking modes I need. This would be the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Using saucepans and frying pans | For induction, cookware compatibility and diameter; installation and connection requirements for the model. | Without a hob, I need to be able to boil food or fry using my own cookware. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise this type of cooking. |
| Preparing a meal in a pot | Capacity to suit your portions and space to open the lid; useful programmes and fill limits. | If my meals are suited to cooking in a pot, I’d rather bring these steps together in one appliance than use lots of different utensils. For around 20% of consumers, this would come first. |
An appliance that sits on your worktop can still take up a lot of space: Whirlpool lists a depth of 54 cm for its MWSC933SB microwave.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then allow for the door or lid to open and the clearances specified in the instructions.
An induction hob’s pan detection doesn’t mean it can heat every piece of cookware already in your kitchen.
Check that each saucepan or frying pan you want to keep is compatible, and confirm the accepted diameters for the model you choose.
You may need to replace incompatible cookware.
A wide range of programmes won’t make up for a pot that’s the wrong size for your portions or a lid that’s difficult to open in the space you have.
Compare the meals you usually cook with the capacity, clearance above the appliance and filling instructions in the manual, especially for foods that expand.
Whirlpool advises you not to block the ventilation grilles or place anything on top of its microwaves.
Choose a stable surface and check the instructions for the exact model to find out where to place it and what clearances it needs.
Worth comparing if you’re looking for a freestanding microwave, particularly if reheating is your priority and you’re interested in additional features, depending on the model.
Worth considering if you need a countertop mini oven for meals that require oven cooking or grilling.
Worth comparing for a portable induction hob or a multicooker, depending on whether you need a hob or a pot-style appliance.
These appliances cover three of the needs discussed here: reheating in a microwave, cooking on a portable induction hob or preparing certain recipes in a pot. Start by choosing the task you need the appliance for, then check the dimensions and instructions for the model you select.
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Worth considering if reheating and defrosting are your main uses.
Listed capacity: 20 L; stated power: 700 W. Check the available space, clearances, plug and instructions before installation.
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Worth considering for small-pot cooking, such as soups or noodles, rather than as a replacement for a frying pan or oven.
Stainless-steel inner pot and two stated settings: 300 W and 600 W. Check the dimensions, plug and operating instructions for the model.
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Worth looking at if you need a portable hob for cooking with a saucepan or frying pan.
The title lists eight power levels, a 3-hour timer and compatibility with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Check that your pans are compatible, along with the full dimensions and electrical requirements in the instructions.
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Worth comparing if you want to reheat or defrost meals without adding a hob.
Stated power: 700 W; the title mentions eleven power levels and six pre-set menus. Measure the space and check the ventilation clearances and connection instructions in the manual.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook rice or porridge and want a keep-warm function.
The title mentions a steam basket and rice spoon. Before buying, check the dimensions, plug and programmes to suit your recipes; when using it, don’t block the steam vent and observe the water limit.
Not if you regularly cook with a saucepan or frying pan: a portable hob is designed for that, while a microwave is mainly for reheating, defrosting and cooking in ways supported by its model. Grill or combination functions are only available on some appliances.
Allow for the appliance’s dimensions, the door opening and the clearances specified in its instructions. Whirlpool advises you not to block the ventilation grilles or place anything on top of its microwaves; check the instructions for your chosen model to find the right position.
Only if the cookware you want to use isn’t compatible with the hob you choose. Check the markings on your pans and the range of diameters accepted in the instructions: Tefal’s Everyday Slim pan detection feature doesn’t guarantee that every saucepan you already own will work.