For browning one or two portions
If you mainly cook small portions that you want to roast or grill, consider a compact air fryer. In a living space, think about its ventilation too: UFC-Que Choisir advises checking how noisy it is before you buy.
Which option is right for you?
For cooking in dishes and baking tins
If quiches, gratins and small cakes are part of your usual meals, look at the shape of the cavity and the cooking settings on a mini oven. Its capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether your tin will fit.
For adding to a microwave you already own
If you can already reheat and defrost food, start with what you’re missing: the occasional browned topping from a grill, or rice, soups and steamed food from a compact multi-cooker. Remember that another appliance will also take up worktop space.
What sets these appliances apart?
In a student kitchenette, first choose the type of meal you want to make, then check that the appliance and its door or drawer will fit in the space you have planned. Noise and cleaning may help you choose between the models that suit your needs.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Browning small portions | Check that the basket has room for your portions and look for feedback on the noise level of the exact model. | I want to roast or brown one or two portions regularly, but the ventilation mustn’t become a nuisance in my studio flat; around 36% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Cooking in a dish | Compare the internal dimensions with those of your baking tin and check the cooking settings. | I make quiches, gratins or cakes and need my dish to fit inside the appliance; this would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Reheating without clutter | Consider what your microwave already does; if you’re thinking about a grill, check the size of the turntable too. | I mainly need to reheat and defrost food without adding an appliance that duplicates what I already have; around 21% of consumers would put this first. |
| Making meals with less supervision | Check that it has useful programmes for your recipes, and look at the cooking pot and included accessories. | I’d prefer not to keep an eye on rice, grains, soup or steamed meals; around 14% of consumers would prioritise this use. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on capacity in litres alone
A stated capacity won’t tell you whether your baking tin will fit inside the cavity, whether your dish will fit on the turntable or whether the drawer can open where you plan to put the appliance.
Measure the dishes you use, then compare them with the usable dimensions and the space needed to open the appliance you’re considering.
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Forgetting how noisy an air fryer can be in a studio flat
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the ventilation needed for convection cooking can be disruptive in a small space.
If your kitchenette opens onto your living area, look for a noise measurement or review for the specific model you’re considering rather than relying on its capacity.
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Expecting a microwave with grill to cook everything an oven can
The grill can brown the top of a dish, but that alone doesn’t make the appliance equivalent to a mini oven for regular cooking in dishes or baking tins.
If you often make quiches, cakes or oven dishes, compare the dimensions and cooking settings of a mini oven first.
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Confusing an extended warranty with your legal rights
In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies, among other things, to new, second-hand and refurbished appliances sold by a business to a consumer. A commercial warranty does not replace it.
Before taking out an extended warranty, compare its duration, exclusions and claims process with the legal protection that applies to your purchase.
Brands to consider
Moulinex
Moulinex offers two types of appliance worth comparing: the Easy Fry Compacte Precision EZ301810 air fryer, designed for one or two people, and the Optimo 19 L mini oven.
- Moulinex says the Optimo 19 L includes settings such as fan-assisted heat, conventional heat and a grill.
- Check the usable dimensions, noise level and space required for the model you choose; the features of these two appliances don’t apply to the whole brand range.
Philips
The Philips NA229/00 is an example of a 4.2 L air fryer to consider if you’d like several hot-air cooking functions.
- Philips lists cooking, grilling and roasting functions for this model.
- Its capacity won’t tell you how much worktop space it needs, whether the drawer can open or how noisy it is.
Tefal
The Tefal Pop RK5352E0 offers a different option: a compact 2 L rice cooker and multi-cooker, which Tefal says is suitable for one to four people.
- Tefal lists programmes for rice, grains, soup and slow cooking.
- These uses won’t replace the browning function of an air fryer or the regular cooking of dishes in a mini oven.
Air fryers and microwaves with grill on Joybuy
These appliances suit two different kitchenette needs: browning small portions in an air fryer, or reheating and browning food in a microwave with grill. To choose between them, think about the meals you usually make and measure the space available.
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Philips NA210/00 2000 Series Air Fryer, 3.2 L
Worth considering for smaller portions cooked with hot air. Its stated capacity is 3.2 L; check that the basket fits the food you want to cook and that the drawer can open where you plan to put it.
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Midea Air Fryer, 2 L, 1,150 W, black
Consider this if you prefer smaller portions and a basket that’s easy to clean after use. The product name states a capacity of 2 L and a power rating of 1,150 W. It also lists a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket that’s said to be dishwasher-safe. Check how much space you need to open the drawer.
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Ninja FN101EUGY Crispi Air Fryer
Worth a look if you want to cook with hot air using an appliance with containers. Compare the space needed for the appliance and its containers with the space available on your worktop, and follow the handling instructions when they’re hot.
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Philips HD9252/70 Black Air Fryer
Compare it with smaller models if you sometimes cook several portions. Before making space for it in your kitchenette, check the external dimensions, how the basket opens and the care instructions for the exact model.
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Beko MGC20100B1 Microwave with Grill, 20 L, 700 W
Worth considering if you mainly want to reheat meals and brown the top of a dish occasionally. The product name states a capacity of 20 L and a power rating of 700 W; check the space needed around the appliance and the size of dishes that will fit on its turntable. Its grill function won’t replace all the cooking options of an oven.
Frequently asked questions
Can a compact air fryer replace a mini oven in a studio flat?
It can for some small portions that you want to roast or brown, but not necessarily for oven dishes. If you often use a tin for quiches or cakes, compare the cavity and cooking settings of a mini oven with the shape of the air fryer basket.
Is a microwave with grill enough instead of an oven?
It may be enough if you mainly reheat meals and want to brown the top of a dish now and then. If you regularly cook in dishes or baking tins, compare what a mini oven can do instead: the grill function alone won’t cover all these uses.
What should I check before setting up an appliance in a kitchenette?
Measure your worktop and allow enough room to open the door or drawer. Then check the manual for the exact model for clearance, ventilation and plug-in instructions; INRS also stresses the importance of safe electrical installations and equipment.
What are my rights if an appliance bought from a business is faulty or not as described?
In France, the Ministry of the Economy says the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer. Keep your proof of purchase and a copy of the product listing so you can report the problem to the seller; any commercial warranty does not replace this legal right.