Choose based on what you cook most often: a standard microwave for reheating and defrosting, a combination model for some additional cooking options, a mini oven for oven-style dishes or a hob for pans and frying pans. A compact cooker can combine an oven and hobs if you have floor space and a suitable power supply. In every case, check the space required, including room for the door to open and for ventilation, as well as the socket and the model’s instructions.
If bakes, tarts and other oven-cooked dishes are regular features of your meals, compare the dish sizes that a mini oven or combination model can accommodate. A compact cooker is only an option if your home also has floor space and a suitable power supply.
If you reheat and defrost more often than you cook in the oven, a standard microwave may be enough. It’s worth comparing combination models if you’d also like to cook simple dishes without giving up space for a second appliance on your worktop.
If your meals mainly need a hob, consider a portable hob. For an induction model, check that your cookware is compatible, that you have space for the appliance and that your power supply is suitable.
Start with the type of cooking you do most, then check that the appliance and its installation requirements suit the space and power supply you have available.
| Need | Things to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Oven-style cooking | Dish sizes the appliance can accommodate and cooking modes; space required, including with the door open. | If my meals rely on bakes, tarts or other oven-cooked dishes, the cavity needs to fit the dishes I usually use. Around 31% of consumers put oven cooking first. |
| Reheating and simple cooking | Whether it has the microwave and grill or oven modes you want; dimensions, including the clearance specified in the instructions. | I often reheat food, but I’d also like to cook a few simple dishes without adding lots of appliances. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Cooking on a hob | Type of hob and power; whether your cookware is compatible with induction, if applicable. | For boiling, simmering or frying, I need a hob rather than an oven cavity. This is the priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Reheating without extra functions | Appliance and turntable dimensions; required ventilation space. | When I mainly want to reheat or defrost, extra cooking functions don’t influence my choice. Around 15% of consumers prioritise this need. |
If you want both several hobs and an oven, measure the floor space available before considering a compact cooker. Indesit France’s product page for the I5V5LCS lists it as 50 cm wide, 60 cm deep and 85 cm high, so “compact” doesn’t mean it will fit on a worktop. Check your existing power supply before choosing this option.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your dish will fit inside the cavity, or whether the appliance will fit on your worktop with the door open. For example, Moulinex says its 18 L OV185101 mini oven can accommodate a 28 cm round dish. Those dish dimensions are more useful than capacity alone when checking whether it suits your needs.
Measure your dishes and the appliance, and check how far the door opens. Then consult the instructions for the required clearance.
A combination model handles reheating and some types of cooking, but the functions vary by model. Electro Dépôt describes theirs as suitable for simple dishes, for example; that doesn’t necessarily mean it will meet your needs for baking or cooking larger dishes.
If these types of cooking are part of your usual meals, compare the available modes and the dish sizes each appliance can accommodate with those of a mini oven.
Freestanding appliances still need to be installed in line with the instructions. Whirlpool says not to block the ventilation openings on its freestanding microwaves. The appliance’s power requirements must also be compatible with your existing installation.
Check the clearance required for the model you’re considering, and make sure its plug and electrical requirements are suitable before you buy.
Reviews on two manufacturers’ product pages can help you think of questions about how you’ll use the appliances, but they don’t compare them under the same conditions.
To choose between two types, compare their functions, dimensions, compatible dishes and instructions against the meals you usually cook.
The French range includes standard freestanding microwaves, models with a grill and combination models.
Its freestanding mini ovens are worth considering if oven-style cooking is your priority.
A portable induction hob is one option if cooking on a single hob is your priority.
A freestanding cooker can combine an oven and hobs if you have enough space for it.
These appliances suit a range of needs in a small kitchen: oven-style cooking on the worktop, reheating with or without a grill, and cooking on an induction hob. First, choose the function that matters most for your meals, then check the space and power supply the model requires.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook dishes that need an oven and have space on your worktop. The stated capacity is 23 L. Check that your dishes will fit inside the cavity, then consult the instructions for ventilation and power requirements.
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Worth comparing if you often reheat food and would also like a grill, without assuming it offers the same modes as a mini oven. The title lists a microwave power of 900 W. Check the dimensions, clearance and connection requirements for this model.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook with a saucepan or frying pan; a hob won’t replace an oven cavity. The title lists eight power levels and compatible cookware from 12 to 26 cm. Also check that your pans have a magnetic base, and that you have enough space and a suitable power supply.
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Worth comparing if reheating is still your main use and you’d like a grill function. The title lists a microwave power of 700 W and a capacity of 20 L. Check the usable dimensions for your dishes and the clearance required in the instructions.
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Worth considering if you’re mainly looking for an appliance to reheat and defrost food. The title lists a power of 700 W and a capacity of 20 L, with no grill mentioned. Check the available space, ventilation clearance and connection requirements in the instructions.
No. The location must meet the requirements in the model’s instructions, particularly the ventilation clearance. Whirlpool specifies a flat surface, a room temperature of between 5 and 35 °C, and unobstructed ventilation openings for its freestanding microwaves. Check the instructions for your chosen model to find out how much clearance to leave.
Don’t assume an extension lead is suitable for the appliance you’ve chosen. Promotelec advises against plugging an oven and another large appliance into an extension lead connected to a single socket, for example. Check the electrical requirements for your model and, if you’re unsure about your existing installation, ask a qualified professional to inspect it.
No. The study published by the Institut national de la consommation and ADEME in January 2026 compares four combination ovens and ten convection ovens, all built-in models. Its energy-efficiency results therefore don’t rank freestanding appliances. To choose the right one for you, compare the functions and specifications of the models you’re considering.
Yes. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual. It is separate from any commercial guarantee offered with the appliance.