A compact air fryer could be a good fit for a small kitchen if you often cook small batches and have a suitable place to use it. If your oven already handles those meals, the appliance may simply duplicate what you have: UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two have overlapping functions. Before making room for one on your worktop, compare its usable capacity, noise level and cleaning requirements.
Whether another appliance is worthwhile depends mainly on what you can already cook at home and how much space it will take up between meals.
You usually cook one or two portions. Before adding an air fryer, think about which small batches you would make often enough to justify cleaning a basket and finding somewhere to store the appliance. UFC-Que Choisir highlights that air fryers and ovens perform similar functions.
Having a clear worktop is not the only thing to consider: you also need to be able to use the appliance as directed and remove its basket. In an open-plan kitchen, it is worth paying particular attention to the sound of the fan, as UFC-Que Choisir notes.
If you want to avoid building up a collection of appliances, start with the tasks you need to keep covered: cooking on a rack or tray, making small batches in a basket, reheating and defrosting. A mini oven and a combination microwave do not meet these needs in the same way.
Start with the meals you cook regularly, then check whether the appliance you are considering can be used and stored in the space available.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| A distinct use | Make a note of the small batches you cook in your current oven. Compare what each appliance can do, without assuming that cooking in a basket adds a completely new function: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the overlap with ovens. | I want to avoid leaving another appliance on the worktop if my oven already suits the meals I usually cook. |
| Cooking method | For food cooked in a basket, consider an air fryer. If cooking on a rack or tray matters more and you do not have a main oven, look at a mini oven. If you are also replacing a microwave, check the cooking functions of the combination model. | My usual meals should guide my choice: small batches in a basket, dishes cooked on a tray and meals that are mainly reheated do not call for the same appliance. |
| Portions and space | Compare the external dimensions with the space available and the clearances specified in the instructions. For an air fryer, also check the basket’s shape, usable dimensions and recommended load, rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone. | I want to prepare everyday portions without taking up unnecessary worktop space with a large cooking cavity. |
| Noise and cleaning | Look for a noise measurement taken during operation using a stated method; UFC-Que Choisir, for example, measures appliances from 50 cm away. Check which parts can be washed according to the instructions and how to clean the fixed components. | In an open-plan kitchen, I would like to cook without being bothered by the fan, then clean the appliance without too much difficulty. |
| Electricity use | Compare the same recipe and quantity using the appliances being assessed, rather than looking at their power ratings alone. For a small quiche of the same size, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36 % less electricity used by the air fryers it tested than by a mini oven; this result does not apply to every meal or model. | I often cook small batches and want to know whether a like-for-like test based on my cooking shows a benefit, without assuming I will save energy every time. |
For meals your oven already cooks, a new appliance may simply mean more storage and cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying more equipment than you need.
Make a note of the meals you cook regularly and identify which ones would genuinely change the way you cook if you made them in small batches in a basket.
Even when it is not in use, you will still need to find space for the appliance on your worktop or in a cupboard.
The stated capacity does not, by itself, tell you how much of your food will fit in the basket without overfilling it.
Check the recommended load in the instructions, then compare the basket’s shape and internal dimensions with your usual portions and dishes.
The fan needed for convection cooking can still be heard. UFC-Que Choisir recommends bearing this in mind, particularly in a small or open-plan kitchen.
Look for a test that measures noise while the appliance is cooking and states the distance at which the measurement was taken.
Results vary depending on the recipe, quantity and appliances being compared. UFC-Que Choisir’s test using a small quiche does not prove that a large batch will produce the same result.
Only compare tests involving dishes similar to the ones you cook, with the quantity and reference appliance clearly stated.
These options illustrate the choices discussed here: two air fryers, a combination microwave and a mini oven. Compare each one with the appliance you already own and the space you have available.
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Consider this if your small batches make a basket-style appliance more practical than using the oven. The product name specifies a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer; check the instructions for the usable load, required clearances and which parts are dishwasher-safe.
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Compare it with the 2 L model if your portions need more room in the basket. The product name lists eight programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer; check the usable load, available space and operating noise before choosing this size.
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It is mainly worth considering if you are replacing a microwave and want to keep its usual functions while exploring other cooking methods. This 39 L model needs careful checks for its location and the required clearances; do not assume its cooking results will be the same as those of an air fryer.
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Consider this if you do not have a main oven and prefer cooking in an oven-style cavity rather than a basket. Before making room for it, check the installation clearances and the usable internal dimensions for your dishes.
Not necessarily: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the overlap between their cooking functions. An air fryer is more likely to be useful if you often cook small batches and have somewhere to put it without getting in the way in your kitchen.
Start with the amount you usually cook, then check the recommended load, shape and usable dimensions of the basket. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing method distinguishes, among other things, between the recommended quantity specified in the instructions and the volume of a basket filled to two-thirds. So the stated capacity in litres is not enough to judge the usable portion size.
Measure the space where you plan to use it, the room needed to remove the basket and the storage space available. Then check the instructions for the exact model to find out what clearances it requires. Moulinex recommends placing it on a flat, stable, heat-resistant surface, away from water and the wall.
Yes, it may influence your choice: UFC-Que Choisir draws attention to air fryer fans, particularly in a small space or an open-plan kitchen. Look for a measurement taken while the appliance is running, with the method explained, rather than trying to guess how noisy it will be from its size.
No: its functions need to suit the dishes you prepare and the appliance it would replace. A study by ADEME and the French National Consumer Institute, covering four combination ovens and ten convection ovens, found that results varied depending on the dishes and models, with no clear overall advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens.