Start by choosing an appliance to suit the meals you want to prepare: a portable hob for a saucepan or frying pan, a microwave for reheating and defrosting, a mini oven for oven-cooked dishes, or a multicooker for meals prepared in a cooking pot. Before buying, measure the space available and check the instructions for placement and power requirements. None of these appliances is automatically a substitute for the others.
If worktop and storage space are limited, start by deciding which function is essential. A slim hob may be easier to put away than an appliance with an oven cavity, but you’ll still need to check its full dimensions and the clearances specified in the instructions.
Whether you want to cook in a frying pan or saucepan, make oven-baked dishes or prepare a meal in a cooking pot, choose an appliance that offers the right function. Models from Tefal, Severin and Moulinex illustrate these different uses; they are not interchangeable.
If your meals are already prepared, reheating and defrosting may matter more than cooking on a hob. The ADEME lists microwaves separately from electric hobs and ovens among household cooking appliances.
Identify the cooking task you can’t do without, then check the appliance’s dimensions and electrical instructions against your accommodation.
| Need | Points to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking on a hob | Number of cooking zones, compatible cookware and power supply instructions. | If I prepare meals in a frying pan or saucepan, reheating alone isn’t enough for me; around 33% of consumers prioritise cooking on a hob. |
| Reheating and defrosting | Microwave functions, capacity and external dimensions. | When my meals are already cooked, I mainly want to be able to reheat or defrost them; this is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Oven cooking | Capacity, temperature range and clearances specified in the instructions. | If I regularly make gratins or bakes, I need an oven rather than something that simply reheats food; around 20% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Meals in a cooking pot | Pot capacity, available programmes and storage space needed. | If I’d rather prepare a meal in one pot using suitable programmes, I’ll look at multicookers; this is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
A hob is for cooking on a cooking zone, while a microwave is particularly useful for reheating. A mini oven and a multicooker are designed for other types of cooking; the categories of electric cooking appliances identified by ADEME are not automatically interchangeable.
Make a note of the meals you’ll prepare most often, then choose the appliance that lets you do the essential cooking task.
Depth, height and the clear space around the appliance matter too. The dimensions published by Severin for its TO 2067 and MW 7773 models show that a mini oven or combination microwave needs space to be set up.
Measure the space where you’ll use and store the appliance, then check the instructions for your chosen model to find out how much clearance it needs.
Promotelec describes dedicated circuits for certain fixed appliances, but that doesn’t determine the conditions for using every portable appliance. For example, Tefal lists a maximum power of 2 100 W for its Everyday Slim IH2108E1 hob.
Compare the instructions and power rating of the model you’re considering with the information available about your accommodation’s socket and circuit. If you’re unsure about any instructions from your landlord or accommodation provider, ask them to clarify without altering the electrical installation.
The speed and energy-use comparisons Moulinex makes for its Cookeo+ depend on the dishes and conditions chosen by the brand; they may not reflect how you use the appliance.
Instead, consider which programmes you’ll actually need, the pot capacity and how often you expect to use the appliance.
The Everyday Slim IH2108E1 portable induction hob is designed for cooking on a single zone in a format that’s listed as 45 mm high.
The TO 2067 mini oven and MW 7773 combination microwave offer two different ways to cook or reheat food.
The Cookeo+ mentioned by Moulinex is a 6 L multicooker designed for preparing meals in a single appliance.
These models suit two needs in temporary accommodation: reheating and defrosting food in a microwave, or cooking on a portable induction hob. Choose between them based on the meals you prepare, then check you have enough space and read the instructions for your chosen model.
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For reheating meals or defrosting food without cooking on a hob.
The product listing states that it has a 700 W microwave output, 11 power levels, six preset programmes and a defrost function. Check the instructions for the power supply requirements and clearances needed for positioning.
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For reheating and defrosting when you want a solo microwave rather than an appliance for oven cooking.
The model is listed with a Quick Defrost function and an LED display. The product listing mentions 1 150 W, but this alone doesn’t clarify the difference between power consumption and microwave output. Check the instructions to compare these figures and allow for the necessary clearances.
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For cooking in a saucepan or frying pan, as long as you use induction-compatible cookware.
The product listing states that it has eight power levels, seven programmes and a three-hour timer, and is compatible with cookware measuring 12 to 26 cm. Before deciding where to place it, check the full dimensions, clearances and power supply requirements in the instructions.
Don’t assume so: it depends on the hob’s power rating and instructions, as well as the socket and circuit in question. Promotelec describes dedicated circuits for fixed appliances, while Tefal lists a maximum power of 2 100 W for its Everyday Slim IH2108E1 portable hob. Guidance for a fixed hob alone doesn’t determine what’s suitable for this portable model.
Choose a mini oven if your dishes need to be oven-cooked, and a microwave if you mainly need to reheat or defrost food. Severin lists an adjustable temperature range of 100 to 230 °C for its TO 2067 mini oven; its MW 7773 combination microwave adds a grill and fan-assisted cooking, but check these features on the model you’re considering.
Check the instructions, available accessories, the warranty terms that apply to your purchase and the repair options for the specific model. Moulinex lists a repairability period for the Cookeo+ mentioned here, but this manufacturer-specific information doesn’t apply to every multicooker or reflect the terms offered by every retailer.