If your accommodation allows it, choose a compact air fryer for browning small portions, a mini oven for oven-ready dishes, or a microwave with grill if reheating and defrosting are your main priorities. A multifunction microwave can offer more cooking options in one appliance, provided its size and clearance requirements suit your kitchenette. Check the rules before you buy: regulations adopted in March 2026 for Crous de Paris residences ban cooking appliances other than microwaves in the accommodation and communal areas they cover.
You prepare small portions and need to be able to take the appliance out, use it and put it away without cluttering your kitchenette. Tefal, Moulinex and Philips offer models with capacities of 1,6 L, 3 L and 4,2 L respectively. These give you different options, but the stated capacity in litres won’t tell you how much space each appliance takes up on the outside.
You’re mainly looking to add a way to brown, roast or grill food. Before choosing a second appliance, check whether your microwave already has a grill and what dishes you actually want to prepare.
First, find out which appliances you’re allowed to use where you live. Regulations adopted in March 2026 for Crous de Paris residences allow microwaves but ban other cooking appliances in the accommodation and communal areas covered; check the rules that apply to your own accommodation.
Once you’ve confirmed the appliance is allowed and measured the space for it, think about what you cook most often. Having several functions in one appliance doesn’t make every type of appliance interchangeable.
Worth considering: for browning or roasting small portions, alongside a microwave you already own.
Bear in mind: the shape of the basket may limit the size of dishes you can use, even if its capacity in litres looks sufficient.
Worth considering: if you want to use a baking tin or oven dish that won’t fit easily in a basket.
Bear in mind: you’ll need enough room for the dish, the door to open and the clearances specified in the manual.
Worth considering: if reheating and defrosting are your priorities, with the option to brown food occasionally.
Bear in mind: having a grill doesn’t mean the model also has convection cooking.
Worth considering: if you want a microwave, grill and convection cooking in one appliance rather than adding more appliances.
Bear in mind: size still matters. For example, Panasonic’s NN-CD88 has a capacity of 34 L and also includes an air fryer function.
| Factor | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Permission and space | Check the accommodation rules, then measure the appliance, its opening and the clearances required in the manual. | If the rules or available space might prevent me from using it, I want to know before choosing a model; around 36 % of consumers put this first. |
| Everyday reheating | Check the microwave and defrost settings; if you want to brown food occasionally, check for a grill too. | Between classes, I mainly want to reheat or defrost food without adding a cooking function I’ll rarely use; everyday speed comes first for around 29 % of consumers. |
| Cooking options | Compare the available settings with the shape and dimensions of the dishes or containers you usually use. | If I want to prepare more than just a reheated meal, I need to be able to roast, grill or brown a small portion; around 21 % of consumers prioritise this variety. |
| Cleaning and storage | Check which parts are removable, how they should be washed and how much room you’ll need to store the appliance. | With little space around the sink, I’d rather have an appliance that’s easy to clean and put away; around 14 % of consumers share this priority. |
An appliance might fit on your worktop but still be banned where you live. Regulations adopted in March 2026 for Crous de Paris residences ban cooking appliances other than microwaves in the accommodation and communal areas covered.
Read the rules for your residence or rental accommodation, and ask the person in charge if anything is unclear.
The internal capacity won’t tell you the appliance’s external depth or how much space you need to open the door or remove a basket. For example, Panasonic lists the dimensions of its NN-GT21Q microwave with grill as 440 × 324 × 258 mm.
Measure the space available and check the manual for the clearance required around the model you’re considering.
UFC-Que Choisir assesses factors such as cooking performance and ease of use for each model. The name “air fryer” alone doesn’t tell you how well it will cook every type of food.
For the dishes you care about, compare the shape of the basket, the accessories and the cooking instructions for the specific model.
A manufacturer’s comparison depends on the appliances, portion sizes and cooking conditions used in the test; it won’t necessarily reflect the meals you usually make.
Check the conditions behind any comparison you see, and start by choosing a size that suits your portions and the space available.
The Moulinex Easy Fry range includes the EZ145820, a single-drawer air fryer with a 3 L capacity and 10 programmes.
Tefal describes its 1,6 L Easy Fry Compact as a model for up to two people.
Philips offers models such as the 4,2 L Airfryer Series 1000 NA120/00.
Panasonic describes the NN-GT21Q as a 20 L microwave with grill, and the NN-CD88 as a 34 L appliance combining microwave, grill, convection and air fryer functions.
These appliances offer two ways to equip your kitchenette: a microwave with grill for reheating, with the option to brown food, or an air fryer for basket cooking. Start by choosing according to your accommodation rules and the functions you’re missing.
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Worth considering if you want to keep the convenience of microwave reheating while adding a grill. The stated capacity is 20 L and the product name lists a power rating of 700 W; check the space required, ventilation and which containers are suitable for each mode.
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Worth considering if you’re missing hot-air cooking in your kitchenette. Before choosing it for your portions, check the usable dimensions of the containers, how much space the whole appliance takes up and the clearances needed to use it.
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Worth comparing if you mainly prepare small portions and want a removable basket. The product name lists a 2 L capacity, a 60-minute timer and a dishwasher-safe basket; measure the appliance and check the required clearances before finding a spot for it.
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Worth considering if you want a freestanding appliance that combines a microwave and grill. Its stated capacity of 25 L makes it especially important to check the available space, door clearance and which accessories are suitable for grill mode.
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Worth considering if you need both microwave and grill functions and have room for a 25 L appliance. Check its external dimensions, ventilation clearances and the size of the containers you plan to use.
It depends on the rules that apply where you live. Regulations adopted in March 2026 for Crous de Paris residences ban cooking appliances other than microwaves in the accommodation and communal areas they cover. Before you buy, check your own accommodation rules or ask the person in charge.
Not if you mainly rely on your microwave to reheat and defrost food. An air fryer is better suited to hot-air cooking and browning food in a basket; compare these uses with the functions of the appliance you already own.
Choose based on your portion sizes and the usable dimensions of the basket, not just the stated capacity in litres. Tefal describes its 1,6 L Easy Fry Compact as suitable for up to two people, while Moulinex and Philips offer models with capacities including 3 L and 4,2 L. Check the external dimensions of each model too.
Check the model’s cleaning instructions and which parts you’ll need to wash after use. Dishwasher compatibility applies to parts such as the basket or cooking pot, not the electrical unit as a whole; follow the manual and let the appliance cool before cleaning it.
It can combine the cooking functions you need, provided its settings and size suit your kitchenette. According to Panasonic, the NN-CD88 combines microwave, grill, convection and air fryer functions in a 34 L appliance. Check the available space and clearances before making it your only cooking appliance.