Start by choosing the cooking methods you need for your meals, then check the available space and your home’s existing electrical setup. A combination microwave or multicooker can bring several functions together in one freestanding appliance, but won’t automatically replace cooking on the hob or in the oven. If you’re considering a hob and oven, check the existing circuits and, if you’re renting, get written permission before making any alterations.
In a kitchenette or a rental with limited equipment, you may want to start cooking using freestanding appliances. Check the existing sockets and circuits before choosing; as ANIL points out, alterations to a rented property require the landlord’s written permission.
You’ll need to balance your usual meals, the size of your dishes and the space each appliance takes up. A combination microwave or multicooker is worth considering if its cooking functions genuinely suit the recipes you make.
If you already have a suitable cavity and the right installation, a compact built-in oven could be a good fit for your plans. Check the dimensions and instructions; if you’re renting, ask the landlord for written permission if the project involves altering the fixtures or property.
When equipping a small kitchen, start with the limitations of your home, then choose the functions that suit your meals. Next, measure the full space for each freestanding appliance, including the clearances specified in its instructions.
| Consideration | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Your home’s electrical setup | Identify the existing sockets and circuits. If you’re renting and plan to make alterations, ask the landlord for written permission; Promotelec specifies dedicated circuits for hobs, cookers and ovens. | If I can’t alter my kitchen, I want to avoid buying an appliance that I can’t connect in my home. Around 26% of consumers reportedly consider compatibility their main concern. |
| Everyday cooking | Compare your recipes with the cooking modes listed for the model: saucepan cooking, steaming, slow cooking, grilling or oven-style cooking. Check the size of the cooking pot or cavity, too. | When I regularly make a variety of meals, I want to cover my usual cooking needs without building up a collection of appliances. This versatility is reportedly a priority for around 26% of consumers. |
| Size | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the door opening, then allow for the clearances specified in the instructions. | With very little worktop space, I need to leave enough room to prepare food and open the appliance. Around 21% of consumers reportedly make available space their top consideration. |
| Reheating and simple meals | Check the reheating and defrosting functions, then consider which cooking modes you’ll actually need for your meals. | If my meals mainly involve reheating and simple cooking, I’d prefer an appliance suited to these regular tasks. This need reportedly comes first for around 16% of consumers. |
| Maintenance and lifespan | Check which parts need cleaning and, for the model you choose, look into its documentation, spare parts and repair options. ADEME includes these among its repairability criteria. | When one appliance handles a large part of my cooking, I want to be able to maintain it and consider having it repaired. Around 11% of consumers reportedly make this a priority. |
A freestanding appliance still needs the right connection. Promotelec specifies dedicated circuits for hobs, cookers and electric ovens, and advises against plugging an oven into an extension lead connected to a single socket.
Identify the socket, circuit and circuit breaker before buying. If you’re unsure, ask a qualified professional to check rather than improvising the connection.
An appliance could leave too little room to prepare meals or open its door. The Whirlpool MCP349WH combination microwave, for example, is 49.4 cm deep, according to Whirlpool France.
Measure the available depth, the door opening and the clearances specified in the instructions. Check separately that your dishes will fit inside the cavity.
Moulinex lists functions for the MK705111 multicooker that include rice cooking, steaming and slow cooking. Tefal’s EY401D15 air fryer, meanwhile, includes functions for grilling and roasting. These uses don’t automatically replace cooking in a saucepan or frying pan.
Make a note of the meals you usually cook before choosing your main appliance, and keep a suitable alternative for any cooking methods you’ll still need.
ANIL points out that tenants must not alter rented property or fixtures without the landlord’s written permission. So you shouldn’t decide on a built-in appliance based on its dimensions alone.
Ask for permission before making any alterations, and check the relevant extracts from the building’s co-ownership rules.
A brand to consider if you’d like one freestanding appliance for microwave cooking, grilling and some oven-style cooking.
An option for meals based around rice, steamed dishes and slow-cooked recipes, rather than oven or frying-pan cooking.
An option to consider for dishes suited to an air fryer, alongside other cooking methods if needed.
A brand to consider if your kitchen already has a suitable built-in space.
These freestanding appliances suit different meals: reheating and grilling in a microwave, cooking in a multicooker, using a mini oven or preparing portions in an air fryer. Choose according to the cooking methods you genuinely need; on their own, these options don’t provide a combination with a hob.
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Worth considering if you want a freestanding appliance for microwave cooking and grilling, without relying on it for frying-pan cooking. The stated microwave power is 700 W.
Before deciding where to put it, check the clearances specified in the instructions and make sure there’s a suitable socket available.
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Worth considering if you need a freestanding microwave with a grill and a 25 L cavity. The stated microwave power is 900 W.
Before choosing a location, check the external dimensions, ventilation clearances and connection requirements in the instructions.
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Worth considering if a multicooker better suits your meals than an appliance designed for grilling or oven cooking. The name of this version indicates app control and a sous vide mode.
Pressure cooking requires you to follow the locking and steam-release instructions in the manual. Don’t assume this appliance will replace a microwave or hob.
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Worth considering if you need a freestanding oven rather than a built-in model. It won’t replace a hob for recipes that require a saucepan or frying pan.
Check its external dimensions, clearances and connection instructions before setting aside space for it on a stable surface.
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Worth considering for dishes suited to an air fryer, rather than recipes that need a saucepan or microwave.
Measure the space available and check the instructions for the required clearances and safe handling of hot containers.
Don’t assume the available socket is suitable. Promotelec specifies dedicated circuits for hobs, cookers and electric ovens; have the installation checked before buying. ANIL points out that if the project involves altering rented property or fixtures, you’ll need the landlord’s written permission.
It can handle some oven-style cooking if the model has the right functions and your dishes fit inside the cavity. Whirlpool France, for example, describes combination microwaves that combine microwave and convection cooking. Check the functions of the specific model you’re considering rather than assuming every microwave with a grill has convection.
Choose a multicooker if your meals mainly feature rice, steamed dishes or slow-cooked recipes. Consider an air fryer for food that suits its basket, such as grilled or roasted dishes. The functions listed by Moulinex for the MK705111 and by Tefal for the EY401D15 illustrate the difference; the two appliances aren’t interchangeable.
Measure the space you actually have and the clearance needed to use the appliance, then check the clearances required in its instructions. Also compare the interior dimensions with your dishes: Whirlpool France, for example, lists an external depth of 49,4 cm and a 25 L cavity for the MCP349WH.
Check the relevant rules if your plans involve work on your home that could affect the building. ANIL states that the rules set out how private and communal areas can be used, and that tenants can obtain the relevant extracts from their landlord.