If your studio flat doesn’t have an oven, start by thinking about what you usually eat: choose a mini oven for baked dishes or pastries, a multicooker for rice, soups and slow-cooked meals, an air fryer for small portions of roasted food, or a portable hob for cooking in a saucepan or frying pan. None of these appliances automatically replaces all the others. Before you buy, check that the appliance’s capacity and dimensions suit your dishes, then consult the manual to see how much room you’ll need to open it, position it and plug it in.
If you alternate between baked dishes, soups and stir-fries, the number of programmes matters less than the cooking methods actually available. A dish for baking, a cooking pot and a frying pan don’t all call for the same appliance.
Compare the capacity with your usual portion sizes, but also measure the space needed to open the door, drawer or lid and to put the appliance away after use.
A freestanding appliance meets different needs from a built-in model. Before deciding where to put it, check what type of product it is and follow the instructions in its manual for positioning and plugging it in.
Think of a few meals you make often, then rule out any appliance types that won’t suit the dishes you use or the space available.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking method | Check which functions are actually listed for the model. SEB’s OF241100 and OV100400 mini ovens have documented oven functions, while the Moulinex MK708810 multicooker offers steam cooking and slow cooking, among other features. A portable hob lets you cook in a suitable pan. | I mainly make oven-baked dishes, recipes in a cooking pot or meals in a frying pan: which cooking method will I use most often? If I make all of these, one appliance may not cover every need. |
| Capacity and shape | Compare the stated capacity with the usable dimensions for your dish. Tefal states that the EY101815 has a 1.6 L capacity and is suitable for up to two people, while the FW4018E0 can fit a 27 cm pizza. These figures relate to different uses. | My portions are small, but my usual dish still needs to fit inside the appliance. For a pizza or baked dish, its shape matters just as much as its stated capacity. |
| Space required | Measure the appliance when closed and open, then check the clearance requirements in its manual. For the OF241100 and OV100400 mini ovens, SEB requires a stable surface. Its instructions also specify an earthed socket for the OF241100. | I need to be able to open the appliance without moving everything else in the kitchen, while also meeting its positioning and connection requirements. |
| Cleaning | Identify which parts need washing after the recipes you usually make, and check which ones can be removed. Moulinex says the MK708810 has removable, dishwasher-safe parts; SEB describes the OF241100 as having a lift-up heating element. | If I cook every day, I’d rather know what I’ll need to clean after making soup, cooking greasy food or dealing with an overflowing dish than rely on the coating’s name alone. |
| Freestanding appliance | Make sure you can tell the difference between a portable hob and a built-in domino hob. Electro Dépôt’s listing for the VALBERG IH 2 TB 007C gives built-in dimensions, so this model isn’t suitable if you want to avoid building work. | I want to cook in a saucepan without modifying the kitchen unit. I need to check that the hob I choose is freestanding and, if it’s an induction hob, that my pans are compatible. |
An air fryer, multicooker, mini oven and hob don’t all cook food in the same types of dish. So the number of programmes alone doesn’t tell you whether an appliance can handle the meals you usually make.
Make a note of five meals you regularly cook, including the cooking method and the dish or pan you need for each one. This will help you see whether one type of appliance will do the job or whether you need two different functions.
If an appliance can’t handle these meals, you may end up buying a second one and needing to find extra space for it.
Tefal’s stated 1.6 L capacity for the EY101815 and the 27 cm pizza size listed for the FW4018E0 tell you about different usable dimensions. A dish can be too wide even if the capacity seems sufficient.
Measure the dish or pizza you use most often and compare it with the internal dimensions or cooking surface stated for the exact model you’re considering.
The door, drawer or lid needs room to open in the space you’ve chosen. The positioning and connection requirements in the manual also matter, even for a compact appliance.
Check the appliance’s dimensions when in use and the clearances specified in its manual. For the SEB mini ovens mentioned here, allow for a stable surface too, and check the socket requirements for the model you choose.
The VALBERG IH 2 TB 007C listed by Electro Dépôt has built-in dimensions. It isn’t designed simply to sit on a worktop.
If you don’t plan to have any building work done, look specifically for a freestanding hob or portable cooker, and check how the model should be installed in its documentation.
The EY101815 and FW4018E0 air fryers show two different designs: a small-capacity basket and a cooking surface listed as suitable for a 27 cm pizza.
The Fuzzy Logic MK708810 multicooker is an example of a cooking-pot design, particularly for soups, steaming and slow-cooked dishes.
The freestanding OF241100 and OV100400 mini ovens are examples of oven cooking: the first has convection and a grill, while the second offers fan-assisted heat and a baking function.
The IH 2 TB 007C is an example of a built-in induction domino hob, not a portable hob.
These Joybuy options cover cooking on a freestanding hob, preparing meals in a cooking pot and making small portions in an air fryer. First decide what type of meal you want to make, then check the dimensions and instructions for the model you’re interested in.
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Cook in a saucepan or frying pan that’s compatible with induction, without opting for a built-in hob. The product name lists eight power levels, a 3-hour timer and compatibility with pans measuring 12 to 26 cm. Check the hob’s footprint and the clearance required where you plan to put it.
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Worth considering if you mainly prepare meals in a cooking pot rather than in a frying pan or oven dish. The stated capacity is 2 L of uncooked rice, which doesn’t mean it can hold the same volume of every type of food. The instructions for this model specify a flat, dry, heat-resistant surface and an earthed 220–240 V socket, with 40 cm of clearance above and 10 cm at the sides.
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For small portions cooked or reheated in a basket, rather than recipes prepared in a saucepan. The product name lists a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket that’s dishwasher-safe. Check how much space you’ll need around the appliance and to open its drawer.
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Consider this for small-batch cooking in a pot, such as noodles or soup, rather than baking a dish in the oven. The product name lists a stainless-steel inner pot and two power settings: 300 W and 600 W. Before deciding where to put it, check the documentation for its dimensions, power supply and operating clearances.
No, not for every meal. Tefal lists several cooking modes for the EY101815, but its 1.6 L basket won’t meet the same needs as a large oven dish or a saucepan. If you often cook in a frying pan or simmer sauces, think about how you’ll cover those uses too.
Measure the space with the door open, then allow for the clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model. SEB requires a stable surface for the OF241100 and OV100400 mini ovens; the OF241100 instructions also specify an earthed socket. Don’t use the clearance measurements given for a different appliance.
Not if it needs to be built in: Electro Dépôt lists built-in dimensions for the VALBERG IH 2 TB 007C. If you want to cook in a saucepan without altering your worktop, look for a hob specifically described as freestanding, and check its manual and—if it’s an induction model—that your pans are compatible.
Look at which parts need cleaning after the recipes you make most often. Moulinex says that the MK708810 multicooker has removable, dishwasher-safe parts; SEB describes the OF241100 mini oven as having a lift-up heating element for easier access to the inside. These features apply to these specific models, not every appliance in their categories.