Start with what you’re missing in your everyday routine: a small fridge to keep food fresh, a microwave for reheating and defrosting, or a mini oven if you cook regularly. A combination appliance can offer several cooking modes, but compare its footprint, ventilation requirements and electrical specifications with those of separate appliances.
In a studio flat, you may want to reheat and defrost food without giving up much space for cooking. A freestanding microwave could suit your needs, as long as you check its external dimensions and the installation instructions for the model.
If you often cook dishes that need baking, roasting or grilling, compare a mini oven, a combination microwave and an appliance designed for a specific type of cooking. Think about the recipes you make and the space available. Their functions aren’t interchangeable: Moulinex and Panasonic, for example, describe different cooking modes for their Optimo 19 L and NN-CD88 models.
If you regularly keep perishable food or leftovers, make sure you have suitable refrigerated storage first. Check the usable capacity, temperature and clearance needed around the appliance before planning where to put your cooking equipment.
A fridge takes care of food storage. For meal preparation, distinguish between reheating and oven-style cooking before looking for an appliance that combines several functions. Then compare the space you have with the instructions for each appliance.
| Need | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping food chilled | Usable capacity, temperature setting and the clearance specified for the fridge. | I often keep fresh food or leftovers, so I need suitable chilled storage. Cooking appliances can’t replace it. Around 31% of consumers put food storage at the top of their list. |
| Reheating and defrosting | External dimensions and total electrical power; turntable diameter if you use large plates. | I mainly need to reheat meals quickly and don’t want an oven taking up worktop space. For around 25% of consumers, reheating comes before other needs. |
| Oven-style cooking | Cooking modes and dimensions that suit the dishes you use; the manufacturer’s installation instructions. | I regularly cook dishes that need roasting or grilling, so a standard microwave mode won’t suit all my recipes. Oven-style cooking is the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Reducing the number of appliances | Functions you’ll actually use, external dimensions and the space needed to open the appliance. | I want to save space in my kitchenette and could consider a multifunction appliance, even if it takes up more room than a basic model. Around 19% of consumers prioritise having fewer appliances above all else. |
Internal capacity doesn’t tell you how much worktop space the appliance will take up. Panasonic says its NN-CD88 multifunction microwave is 500 mm wide and 437 mm deep. Having several functions in one appliance doesn’t necessarily mean it will fit in your kitchenette.
Measure the space and check the external dimensions, door clearance and ventilation gaps specified in the manual before comparing capacities.
A compact size doesn’t remove the need to allow heat to escape. For its freestanding fridges, Whirlpool specifies 5 cm of clearance above and 10 cm behind, and advises against placing them near a heat source.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the model you choose, as they may differ from this example, and avoid placing it near an appliance that gives off heat.
If you mainly reheat meals, you may not get much use out of the extra cooking modes. Similarly, a microwave with a grill doesn’t necessarily offer the same modes as a fan-assisted mini oven.
Make a note of the meals you usually prepare, then compare the cooking modes you need rather than the number of functions listed.
The size of an appliance alone doesn’t tell you how well it will keep food. Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge.
Check the usable capacity and whether you can set and monitor the temperature for the food you plan to store.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding microwave mainly for reheating and defrosting, with a grill for certain dishes.
Consider a freestanding mini oven if you want to cook dishes rather than simply reheat them.
Compare a combination microwave if you want to bring reheating and several cooking modes together in one appliance.
Consider a tabletop fridge for a small kitchen, including under a worktop if the model’s installation instructions allow it.
For cooking small portions when you don’t need all the functions of an oven.
These appliances are suited to different needs: a freestanding microwave for reheating, an air fryer for specific types of cooking and a mini oven for cooking dishes. Choose according to what you’ll use most and how much space you have. If you need to store fresh food, you’ll also need suitable refrigeration.
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For reheating and defrosting if a microwave is your main appliance for quick meal preparation.
The product name lists a microwave output of 700 W. Check the dimensions, installation clearances and electrical specifications in the manual before deciding where to put it.
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For reheating and defrosting meals with a freestanding appliance. Compare its footprint with the space you actually have.
The product name lists a capacity of 23 L. Check the manual to see how much clearance you need around the appliance.
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For reheating and defrosting, with a grill if you’d also like to brown certain dishes occasionally.
The product name lists a capacity of 25 L. If you plan to cook as you would in an oven, check the available modes. Also check the total electrical power and the installation clearances specified.
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For cooking smaller dishes, particularly if you want to roast food without installing a mini oven.
This type of appliance doesn’t replace chilled storage or all the functions of a microwave. Check how much space it needs while in use and follow the instructions in the manual.
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For cooking or grilling dishes when reheating in a microwave isn’t enough for your usual meals.
The product name lists a capacity of 23 L. This countertop oven isn’t a microwave, so check the available space, ventilation instructions and electrical specifications before installing it.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the model you choose. As a guide, Whirlpool specifies 5 cm above and 10 cm behind its freestanding fridges, and advises against placing them near a heat source. These measurements don’t automatically apply to every brand.
Compare the total power, voltage and current listed in the product details and manual with your existing electrical installation. For example, Electrolux lists 1,270 W, 230 V and 10 A for the EMZ421MMK. Don’t use these figures for another microwave or a mini oven.
Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge. Choose an appliance that lets you set and monitor the temperature for the food you want to store.
Compare the energy consumption information for appliances of the same type and a similar capacity. A wine cooler and a fridge designed for food may not be suitable for the same purpose, so first check that each model is right for the items you plan to store.
No. In France, the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that, for goods sold by a trader to a consumer, a claim under the legal guarantee of conformity must be brought within two years of delivery. A commercial warranty is in addition to statutory rights, so check what it covers and any exclusions before choosing one.