If you mainly reheat ready meals, start by looking at microwaves. If you also want to brown or cook food as you would in an oven, consider a mini oven or a combination microwave. A multicooker or compact hob is better suited to meals cooked in a pot or pan, while an air fryer works well for small batches of roasted food. Before choosing, compare the appliance’s external dimensions and installation requirements with your available space. If you’re considering induction, check that your pans are compatible.
For reheating or defrosting in a kitchenette, a freestanding microwave covers the essentials. If you’d also like to brown food from time to time, compare standard, grill and combination models, such as those from Whirlpool.
If your usual meals include soups, stews or small portions of steamed food, a multicooker is worth considering. Moulinex, for example, offers the Cookeo Mini, with a 3 L bowl designed for two people.
For browning a dish, roasting a small portion or getting a crisp finish, compare a mini oven, combination microwave and air fryer based on the cookware you use and the space available. Their features vary by model, as the appliances described by Moulinex, Whirlpool and Electrolux demonstrate.
Start with the meals you make most often: reheating, cooking in an oven cavity and using a saucepan all call for different appliances. Then compare the space required, each model’s features and the level of maintenance you’re happy to manage day to day.
| Your needs | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and defrosting | Microwave functions and external dimensions; the clearances required in the instruction manual. | If my meals are already prepared, I mainly want to heat them up without giving the appliance too much space; around 25% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Cooking or browning | The dimensions of your dishes and the oven cavity; whether it has the cooking modes you’re looking for. | A simple reheating function isn’t enough for my gratins or roast dishes. Oven-style cooking would be a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Cooking meals in a pot | Capacity to suit the number of people you’re cooking for and the available modes; cleaning the pot and accessories. | I often make soups or stews and prefer cooking in a single pot with less supervision; around 20% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Roasting small portions | Usable basket capacity for the food you’re cooking; cleaning parts exposed to splashes. | When I cook in small batches, a golden or crispy texture matters more to me than making sauces; this would be the priority for around 15% of consumers. |
| Cooking in a pan | How many cooking zones you need; whether your cookware is compatible with induction, if applicable. | For boiling, simmering or frying my usual meals, I need an accessible heat source; around 20% of consumers would prioritise cooking in a pan. |
Internal capacity doesn’t tell you the appliance’s external depth or the size of dishes that will fit inside. For example, Whirlpool’s MCP349WH combination microwave has a 25 L cavity and an external depth of 49.4 cm.
Measure your worktop, the space needed to open the door and the dishes you usually use before comparing capacities.
Whirlpool warns that blocking a microwave’s ventilation openings can cause it to overheat quickly.
Follow the clearances specified in the model’s instruction manual and keep its air vents unobstructed.
The frying, grilling, roasting and cooking functions listed by Electrolux for its EAF5B don’t provide a heat source for cooking soups or sauces in a pan.
If you often cook meals in water or simmer them, consider a compact hob or multicooker instead.
Incorrect repairs or electrical modifications can be dangerous. The INRS advises against attempting to repair an electrical appliance yourself.
If you notice an unusual smell, sparks or a fault, stop using the appliance and contact the manufacturer, retailer or a qualified repairer.
The Optimo mini ovens and Cookeo multicookers show two different ways to cook in a small space: in an oven cavity or in a pot.
Its freestanding microwaves include standard, grill and combination models. Choose according to whether you only want to reheat food or also brown and cook it.
The Everyday Slim IH2108E1 portable induction hob is worth considering if your priority is cooking in a saucepan.
The EAF5B Air Fryer is an example of basket-style cooking for people who mainly prepare small portions to roast or grill.
These appliances cover microwave reheating, cooking on a hob, small batches in an air fryer and meals made in an electric pot. Choose based on the dishes you usually prepare: an electric pot won’t necessarily offer the functions of a multicooker, and none of these appliances is a mini oven.
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Worth considering if you mainly reheat or defrost food. The product name specifies a capacity of 23 L. As this is a solo model, check separately whether you need browning functions and make sure to allow for the ventilation clearances specified in the instruction manual.
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For cooking in a saucepan on a hob rather than in an oven cavity. The product name specifies eight power levels and compatibility with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Before buying, check that your pans are compatible and confirm the permitted supply range in the instruction manual.
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Consider this for portions cooked in a basket rather than for soups or sauces. The product name lists a 60-minute timer and a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket. Measure the space you have available and check the model’s power requirements.
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An option for meals made in a single pot, such as soups or noodles. The product name lists two power settings and a non-stick interior. Check the usable capacity for your recipes, as well as the external dimensions and power requirements.
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Worth considering for small portions cooked in a pot. The product name specifies a stainless steel interior and two settings, 300 W and 600 W. Check that the usable capacity, dimensions and power supply suit your needs.
No. The location must meet the model’s installation and ventilation requirements. Whirlpool’s installation advice specifies a flat surface, a room temperature between 5 and 35 °C, and unobstructed ventilation openings. Check the instruction manual for the requirements of the appliance you choose.
A microwave with a grill or combination functions is one option if you want a single appliance for both uses. Whirlpool distinguishes these features from those of a standard microwave. Check that the model you’re considering has the functions you need and will fit in your kitchen.
That depends on your cookware and the hob you choose. Check compatibility and the permitted dimensions in the instruction manual. Tefal lists pan detection for the Everyday Slim IH2108E1, but you should still check that your own pans are compatible before buying.
No. Also compare how long and how often you use each appliance to cook the same dish and quantity. ADEME publishes annual energy consumption figures for kitchen appliances, but these are based on different usage patterns and aren’t enough on their own to tell you which appliance is better for the meals you usually make.