In the height of summer, I was introduced to Tefal’s latest innovation, the ‘YumMeal ’. At that point in time, the clever appliance was so new (and revolutionary) that it didn’t even have a name. However, it had a clear USP that intrigued me: a ‘personal cooker’ that aimed to make cooking for one easier, and dare I say, more exciting?

The new YumMeal from Tefal combines air frying and induction cooking into one relatively small appliance (23cm x 26cm x 36cm) that looks a little like a waffle maker. It has a built-in enamel bowl that you not only prep and cook food in, but also eat directly out of. It’s designed to be the perfect kitchen-to-sofa appliance, whipping up meals in just 15 minutes- a game-changer for anyone cooking for one.

Tefal YumMeal All-In-One Personal Cooker

I currently live with a partner, but before that, I spent a good 10 years cooking for one. Over that time, I grew frustrated that nearly every recipe involved cooking for two, so I’d have to eat it over two nights or force dinner on one of my hungry flatmates. So I was delighted to find that Tefal were finally going the extra mile to make one-person dinners feel celebratory.

While I’m impressed by the YumMeal concept, I do have questions about how likely it is to transform solo dining. It has a RRP of £199.99, which feels steep when you can pick up a compact Ninja air fryer for £109 at John Lewis, the best air fryers are the speedy appliance I usually turn to when cooking a quick dinner for one these days.

However, the cost of Tefal's new gadget is justified when you consider it's two appliances in one: an air fryer that can crisp, and an induction hob that can cook and simmer. It essentially replaces a full kitchen ecosystem, with the added perk that the two functions can be used together at the touch of a button.

(Image credit: Future / Rebecca Knight)

The YumMeal is not quite as easy as shoving a ready meal in the microwave, something I do also turn to when my partner is out for the evening, which is why I can’t see this product replacing them in my small kitchen. But I think where this appliance shines is as an investment for students who are trying to claim space in a shared kitchen or anyone who lives alone and hates reheating leftovers/enjoys being more creative with dinner.

If I still lived alone, I can see myself batch-prepping ingredients at the start of the week, and then using the YumMeal to make cooking from scratch as quick, easy and cost-effective as possible. Tefal also included the recipe for a one-person lemon drizzle cake as part of the launch, which piqued my interest for those days when you’re craving a single-portion sweet treat.

I haven't personally tested the YumMeal, but from what I saw when it was being demoed at the Tefal showcase, it has alot of potential. I can't wait to put it to the test and see if it really could replace the microwave meal for kitchens across the UK.

Alternatives

Our Place Wonder Oven - Steam

If you're cooking for one, short on space and want something to look good on the countertop this is air fryer I'd turn too. It has a built in steam function to help with the cooking process.

Instant Pot Instant Pot Duo 3 Mini Multi Cooker 3l

This is the guy that every American friend I had at Uni was packed off to school with, it even earned a spot in one of my best friends miniscule New York City apartment kitchen. It does everything from slow cooking to pressure cooking and works for everything from fast dinners to batch cooking.

Ninja Ninja Crispi 4-In-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer Meal Prep Set - Sage

If I were sending my kid of to university in this day and age, I'd skip the toastie maker and pack them of with this and a kettle. It is smaller enough that it can be kept in a drawer or a kitchen storage box (we all had one).