Can I manage without an oven?

[BexyGr]

Hi, I’m separating from my husband and moving into a smaller property, an old Victorian terrace which needs a complete overhaul. I’m moving the kitchen from the basement up to the ground floor, it’s lovely but not a massive space. I’m wondering if I can manage without an oven and get an airfyrer and a combi oven-microwave instead. I do use a microwave so I definitely want one of those, and I do like to cook, but won’t be doing big meals anymore (just me and dd but she’ll also be at uni). I bake sometimes, but I can maybe use the combi for this? Has anyone given up their traditional oven and done this? Or is it just not worth it and I should just find the space? Thanks x

A free standing cooker or a built in oven and a separate hob ?

I've never had a combi so can't recommend. But I have a microwave (hardly used), instant pot (used almost every day) and air fryer oven (used every single day).

I wouldn't be able to do without my ovens because I do cook for big groups every so often, but if I were in my own or only DH and I/one or both of my children then I could definitely make it work with just the little oven. Ours works well for baking.

We just did a Reno and have lived without an oven for 3 months. It's easily doable with an air fryer.

I don't have a basket fryer and have never had one so can't draw comparisons, but our little oven is brilliant and covers everything we need.

We cook 90% of our food in our air fryer nowadays, the ovens only get turned on for pies and pizzas! Could easily live without them.

For a temporary period until the reno is done? Or are you planning the new kitchen not to have an oven?

If it's just you and you have a really good combination and a really good air fryer/insta pot then you would probably be fine but you'd want a way to make that feel not like clutter on your counter.

I haven’t used my oven for years and regularly cook for 3 or 4. A dual drawer air fryer does everything I need including roast dinners and baking!

Permanently or short term while you’re doing renovations?
Short term yes you can manage a few months with a microwave and air fryer.
Long term no I wouldn’t want to be oven- less and if you ever want to sell not having an oven will really decrease the value of your home

Air fryers and combi microwaves are small ovens. Make sure the microwave is one that also comes with a grill and you’ll be missing nothing that an oven provides except the ability to cater for large groups.

It would be permanent. I don’t have a combi but my friend swears she does a roast for 4 in her one. I haven’t used an air fryer either (been living under a rock clearly!) but I might get one to have a try. Just having one microwave/oven would save me some unit space, and then I’d try to get a larder cupboard with a worktop inside to put the air fryer into, so it could be tucked away when not in use

I haven't used the oven since buying an air fryer. I use a bigger one for pizzas, and a smaller one for doing small meat bits.

If you are not going to be cooking for large groups, you should manage very well with a combi microwave and an air fryer.

The air fryer is actually a small powerful oven, its name is a bit misleading!

I'm not sure positioning in a cupboard is a good idea. It will need to be placed somewhere with airflow around it. It does get hot in use, so if you wanted to keep your larder cool that would be a problem.

Also, when using the air fryer you do need flat surface space around it to use it safely, somewhere for the basket to stand, or for serving plates, or for the drawer to be pulled out safely.
You will probably use it every day, so having it a cupboard might not be convenient.

I’m doing exactly that in my new (tiny) kitchen. I don’t use the oven often. Never roast any big meats or birds. Mostly I use to warm up frozen food and the odd baguette and the once a year birthday cake for my kids. A small combi oven will work just fine for me. It was a much better use of space to have drawers instead of a full size oven.
I have a Ninja combo air fryer / pressure cooker that I keep in the cupboard when not in use.
Not planning to sell the house, so really it has to suit my needs only.

I have a combi and an oven. I could easily not use the oven. It’ll be useful on Xmas day I guess for extra space!

This. My DH is vegetarian so won't use the family cooker as meat has been in there. He manages well with an air fryer and a combi microwave that cooks, microwaves and grills too. If you only have to cook for 2 you will manage.

Do you ever want to bake cakes?
Or want to do a full Christmas dinner?
I couldn't live without an oven but I do enjoy cooking from scratch.

I think a combi could work very well in your situation. As I said I haven't got one but my air fryer oven has a grill as well so I've got everything covered. We bake bread in it, bake cakes in it and have successfully done a full roast dinner for two. I cook everything from scratch.

I'd get a plug in 2 ring hob too for frying, boiling, we haven't replaced our oven so use hob, airfryer and combination microwave

I have a combi microwave, air fryer and a mini oven I hardly ever use the big oven now just cooking for the two of us. My air fryer has bake and roast setting on it as do many of them, but I haven't baked in it yet. I used to have a ninja double stack but it wasn't right for us, the drawers are too narrow for my tins and dishes so I gave it away recently and got an instant pot air fryer instead. There are so many different kinds and sizes it's mind numbing, so have a really good look around before you get one

https://www.dunelm.com/product/statesman-13-in-1-15l-digital-air-fryer-oven-1000217140?defaultSkuId=30848063&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Electricals_Fryers-PMax_%5BGOO-PLA-ELECTRICALS-FRYERS%5D&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21042770878&gclid=CjwKCAjw7_DEBhAeEiwAWKiCC6JFh3qv_6Aehobr6Mt3a2CqN3ZEETisMKty8pbdtzGtllIof9M2xxoCIHgQAvD_BwE

we use this air fryer and never use the cooker anymore

Oh yes I hadn't thought of that...we have an induction hob; our double oven is separate to that. I couldn't get by without at least a two-hob option for frying/boiling/etc.

You can do without an oven - since I was given my double drawer air fryer a year ago I've used the oven once.

However, as you are installing a new kitchen, however compact, presumably you will have a basic 4-ring hob? In which case what will go underneath - the most usual appliance would be an oven?

I've got a combi microwave and used it to cook Christmas dinner for 6 one year (at a push) when the oven broke.
I manage most things with the combi and a wok.
My son has just used an air fryer for pretty much everything since he moved out.
I'd say you'd be fine.

ETA I'm assuming you'll have a hob.

Combi oven-microwaves are really annoying so I wouldn't bother with this - get a normal microwave. Just get an air fryer with more than one setting e.g. a Ninja Foodi, then you can use it for baking.

We only use our oven for frozen pizza and lasagne now. And roast chicken but we could do that in the slow cooker/air fryer.

I`ve not used my oven for a good 3 months.