In a studio flat, start by choosing the cooking function your kitchenette lacks, rather than the appliance with the most features. A mini oven is handy for small oven-baked dishes, a hob for frying or cooking in a saucepan, and a multicooker for meals prepared in its pot. A combination microwave or air fryer may suit other needs, provided you have enough space. Before you buy, measure the area and check the instructions and the rules for your accommodation.
You need to be able to leave the appliance in a permanent spot or put it away after use without getting in the way of meal preparation. Measure its external dimensions and allow for the clearances specified in the instructions: a small cooking cavity does not necessarily mean a compact appliance.
You switch between reheating, cooking in a saucepan and the occasional oven-baked dish. Before choosing between a hob, an oven cavity or a cooking pot, work out which type of cooking you do most often, rather than accumulating features you rarely use.
Check which appliances are already provided and whether they work, then read your tenancy agreement and the accommodation rules before adding another one. This helps you avoid doubling up and choose a function that will genuinely be useful.
Start with the meals you make most often: cooking on a hob, in an oven, in a cooking pot or in a basket. Then compare how much space each appliance takes up, including the room needed to open its door or lid, or pull out its basket.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and storage | Measure the width, depth and height, then check the space needed for opening and ventilation in the instructions. | I want to prepare meals without having an appliance permanently occupy my only free space. Around 28% of consumers might make space and storage their priority. |
| Oven cooking and reheating | Check which modes are actually included, such as microwave, grill and fan cooking, as well as the size of dishes that will fit. | If I make gratins but also reheat meals regularly, having both functions in one appliance matters more to me. This could be a priority for around 22% of consumers. |
| Meals cooked in a pot | Compare the pot’s capacity and the stated cooking modes, and check how much room is needed to open the lid. | For my smaller portions, I prefer making a meal in a single pot rather than keeping an eye on several pans. Around 17% of consumers might prioritise this. |
| Frying pan and saucepan cooking | Check the number of cooking zones and, for induction, whether your cookware is compatible. | Most of my meals involve frying or cooking in a saucepan; I don’t want to lose that option in favour of a single oven cavity. This could be the main need for around 17% of consumers. |
| Small roasted portions | Check the basket’s capacity and the space needed to pull it all the way out. | I mainly make small roasted portions and am happy for a basket not to be suitable for dishes with sauce. Around 16% of consumers might put this use first. |
An extra hob or reheating appliance might duplicate the equipment in your accommodation without providing the type of cooking you’re missing.
Check what’s provided and working, then choose the function you need to add: a hob, oven, reheating, cooking in a pot or roasting in a basket.
The internal capacity tells you nothing about the external depth or the space needed to open a door or remove a basket. For example, the Whirlpool MCP349WH combination microwave has a 25 L cavity and is 49.4 cm deep, according to Whirlpool.
Measure the space available and the room you’ll need to use the appliance, then check the clearances specified for the model you’re considering.
A combination microwave doesn’t do the same job as a hob for cooking in saucepans. A multicooker prepares meals in its pot, while a compact air fryer is best suited to small portions in its basket.
Make a note of the meals you actually prepare and choose the appliance that suits your main needs without losing a function you rely on.
Clearance requirements vary by appliance. Whirlpool, for example, says not to block a microwave’s air vents. ADEME points out that kitchen ventilation should be increased when cooking produces steam.
Read the instructions, tenancy agreement and accommodation rules before you buy. If a rule specific to your accommodation is unclear, ask your landlord or accommodation manager to clarify it.
The range includes countertop mini ovens for small-scale cooking using heating elements.
The brand offers freestanding microwaves, including models that combine several cooking modes.
The Cookeo Mini is designed for cooking small portions in a pot.
The Everyday Slim induction hob and Easy Fry Compact air fryer cater to two distinct cooking needs.
These Joybuy appliances suit a range of needs in a small kitchen: cooking on a hob, in a pot, in an oven or in a basket. Start by choosing the one that suits the meals you usually make, then check that you have room for it in your studio flat.
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For frying or cooking in a saucepan on a portable hob, without needing an oven.
The product name lists eight power levels, an adjustable temperature of 60 to 270 °C and compatibility with induction-ready cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm.
Check the external dimensions, ventilation clearances and whether your cookware is compatible before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering if you mainly make meals in a cooking pot rather than dishes that need browning under a grill.
This electric multicooker is described as a 7-in-1 model with a 3,8 L capacity, for up to four portions.
Allow enough room to open the lid and check the external dimensions: a cooking pot is no substitute for a large frying pan or an oven.
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For small oven-baked dishes if your kitchenette lacks this function or its existing oven doesn’t meet your needs.
The stated cavity capacity is 23 L; check the size of the dishes you want to put inside.
Also measure the space available for the appliance and follow the clearances given in the instructions, rather than relying on the cavity capacity alone.
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For making small portions in a basket when roasting matters more to you than cooking in a saucepan.
The product name lists a 2 L capacity, a dishwasher-safe basket and a 60-minute timer.
Check how much space is needed around the appliance and in front of the basket. This size is not suited to meals with sauce.
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For regularly making rice or porridge in a dedicated appliance, rather than as a replacement for a hob or oven.
The product name lists a 2 L capacity, seven stated functions, a keep-warm setting and a steam basket.
Check that it has the specific functions you’re interested in and look at the external dimensions before deciding where to store it.
Not necessarily. First, check which appliances are provided and make sure they work. Buying an extra appliance makes most sense if the way you usually cook requires a function that the existing equipment doesn’t offer.
Follow the clearances in the instructions for your chosen model and don’t block its air vents. For the room itself, ADEME recommends being able to increase kitchen ventilation when cooking produces steam. Also check that you can open the door or pull out the basket where you plan to place the appliance.
Yes. According to the Ministry of the Economy, this compulsory guarantee covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private customer in France. Keep your proof of purchase; a commercial warranty does not replace this legal protection.