Someone who cooks one or two portions
If you need to keep your worktop clear, think about the meals you usually make: a pot for rice and soups, a hob for stir-fries, or a dry-cooking appliance for roasting all serve different needs.
Who are these options for?
In a small rented kitchen, start with the meal you want to make, rather than the promise that one appliance can do everything.
A tenant without a built-in oven
A portable hob lets you cook with a saucepan or frying pan without changing the existing kitchen installation. If gratins and roasts are regulars on your menu, consider a mini oven or air fryer instead, and check how much space they need.
Someone who wants to avoid doubling up
Work out which function your kitchen is genuinely missing before adding another appliance. ADEME recommends buying only the equipment you need and keeping what you already own for as long as possible.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the recipes you make regularly, then check whether the appliance can be placed and used where you intend.
| Priority | What to check | How it applies to me |
|---|---|---|
| Type of meal | Reheating and defrosting: microwave. Saucepan or frying pan: portable hob. Moist dishes: multicooker. Roasting: mini oven or air fryer. | I mainly cook meals in a frying pan; replacing my hob with a dry-cooking appliance wouldn’t cover that use. |
| Available space | Measure the footprint and height. Also allow room to open the door, drawer or lid, and leave the clearances specified for the model. | My worktop is narrow, so the space needed while cooking matters just as much as the space needed to store the appliance. |
| Positioning and power supply | Check the manual for the exact model for the socket, required power and ventilation. The Bosch manual for the FFL023M/FFL053M freestanding microwaves says they must not be installed or used in a built-in unit. | In my rented kitchen, I want to use the existing installation without enclosing a freestanding appliance in a space that isn’t suitable for it. |
| Cookware and portion sizes | For an induction hob, check that your pans are compatible and that their diameter is accepted. For a cooking pot or oven, make sure your portions and dishes fit the usable dimensions. | I already own pans that I want to keep, so whether they’re compatible may determine if an induction hob is a practical choice. |
| Cleaning | Check the cleaning instructions for the cooking pot, basket or accessories of the model you’re considering. Find out which parts can be removed and how they should be washed. | I cook often, so being able to clean the parts I use after each meal matters as much as the programmes on offer. |
What pitfalls should you avoid?
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Assuming ‘compact’ means ‘easy to put anywhere’
An appliance may fit on your worktop without leaving enough room to open its door or meet its ventilation requirements. The Bosch manual for the FFL023M/FFL053M freestanding microwaves says they are not intended to be installed or used in a built-in unit.
Measure the space, including room for the door to open, then compare it with the instructions in the manual for the model you’re considering.
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Replacing a hob with a dry-cooking appliance
An air fryer or mini oven won’t naturally suit the same recipes as a saucepan of soup, pasta or sauce. On the other hand, a hob won’t give you oven cooking for gratins.
Make a note of the meals you cook regularly and start by choosing the appliance that covers the cooking methods you use most.
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Forgetting about your pans when buying an induction hob
The pan detection feature advertised for the Tefal Everyday Slim portable hob doesn’t make cookware that isn’t suitable for induction compatible.
Check your frying pans and saucepans, as well as the base diameter accepted by the hob you choose.
You’ll need to replace incompatible cookware or use the hob with other suitable pans.
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Buying an appliance for a function you rarely use
An extra appliance takes up space even when you don’t use it much. ADEME recommends limiting purchases to equipment you genuinely need.
If you only need to cook something occasionally, first check what’s already available in your accommodation or whether you can borrow a suitable appliance.
Which brands are useful reference points?
These examples highlight details to check on specific models; they don’t describe every feature offered by a brand.
Bosch
The manual for the FFL023M/FFL053M freestanding microwaves gives you a practical reference when checking where an appliance can be placed.
- Bosch says these appliances are not intended to be installed or used in a built-in unit.
- This instruction applies to this particular model range and doesn’t tell you the clearances required for another microwave.
Tefal
The Everyday Slim and Easy Fry XL Surface&Pizza models illustrate two distinct uses: hob cooking and hot-air cooking.
- Tefal lists the Everyday Slim hob at 2 100 W, with seven settings from 300 to 2 100 W. The Easy Fry XL Surface&Pizza product details mention a 27 cm pizza.
- These specifications apply to these particular models, so check the dimensions and instructions for the model you’re considering.
Moulinex
The Cookeo Mini is an example of a multicooker for preparing a range of dishes in a cooking pot.
- For this model, Moulinex specifies a 3 L cooking pot and six modes, including steaming, slow cooking and pressure cooking.
- These modes alone won’t meet your needs if you want to roast food in an oven or achieve a very crispy result.
Beko
The BMOF30B mini oven is an example of a freestanding oven to consider for oven-cooked dishes.
- Beko lists a usable capacity of 30 L for this model.
- Capacity alone won’t tell you whether the oven, your dishes and the required clearances will fit on your worktop.
Appliances available on Joybuy
These options cover hot-air cooking, a portable hob, a multicooker and a microwave. Compare them based on the meals you actually make: their functions aren’t interchangeable.
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Midea 2 L air fryer, 1 150 W
Worth considering if you mainly cook small portions using hot air rather than making dishes in a saucepan. The product name lists a 2 L capacity, 1 150 W power, a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket. Check the manual for the space and ventilation requirements before choosing a spot for it.
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IAGREEA DF200-14V10 induction hob, 2 000 W
This portable hob is designed for cooking with a saucepan or frying pan, provided you use induction-compatible cookware. The product name lists eight power settings, a temperature range of 60 to 270 °C and compatibility with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Check the hob’s dimensions, clearance requirements and your cookware before buying.
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KitchenCook Kyoto white multicooker, 2 L
Worth considering if you make soups, rice and steamed dishes more often than roasts. This model is listed with a 2 L cooking pot. Its instructions say to leave at least 40 cm of clearance above and 10 cm at the sides to keep the steam outlet unobstructed. Measure this space, not just the footprint of the base.
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Ninja Crispi FN101EUGY air fryer
This option is for hot-air cooking, not for soups or dishes that need to be boiled on a hob. Its listed dimensions are approximately 30 × 34,5 × 34 cm: compare them with your worktop and check the manual for the required clearances.
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COMFEE CMO‑MP012OC(BK) microwave, 19 L, 700 W
Worth considering if you reheat or defrost food more often than you roast it. The product name lists five power levels, a 30-minute timer and a 245 mm turntable. Check the external dimensions, power supply and installation instructions for this model; don’t assume it can be fitted inside a unit.
Frequently asked questions
Which appliance can help you avoid buying several in a small kitchen?
Choose one that covers the meals you make most often, without expecting it to replace every cooking method. A portable hob is for saucepans and frying pans; a multicooker brings together different dishes in one pot; a mini oven or air fryer is better suited to dry cooking. If you mainly reheat portions, consider a microwave instead.
Can you put a freestanding microwave in a recess?
Only if you’ve checked that the instructions for that specific model explicitly allow it. Bosch says its FFL023M/FFL053M freestanding models are not intended to be installed or used in a built-in unit. Also check the clearances required for the model you choose.
Will a portable induction hob work with any saucepan?
No: your cookware must be induction-compatible and within the dimensions accepted by the hob. The pan detection feature advertised for the Tefal Everyday Slim doesn’t make an incompatible saucepan suitable for induction.
Can a compact multicooker replace a mini oven?
Not for every dish. The Cookeo Mini featured by Moulinex offers modes including steaming, slow cooking and pressure cooking, while a mini oven is designed for oven-baked recipes. Choose based on what you usually cook, rather than the number of programmes alone.