For regular small portions, a basket-style air fryer could be a good fit if its usable cooking area is large enough for your recipes and you don't mind the fan noise. A mini oven is more suited to cooking with oven dishes and tins. If your current oven already meets these needs, adding another appliance could be a duplication, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. Consider a combination microwave only if its cooking modes and capacity suit your dishes: energy efficiency varies between the combination ovens studied by ADEME and the French National Consumer Institute, depending on the dishes and models.
For everyday portions, UFC-Que Choisir suggests a simple 3 to 4 L basket as a guide for one or two people. Check its usable cooking area too: the stated capacity alone won't tell you whether your dish or ingredients will fit.
Available space, access to the basket or door, and storage are just as important as the appliance's dimensions. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends considering the noise from an air fryer's fan, particularly in an open-plan kitchen or small space.
If you cook with tins, compare their diameter with the dimensions the appliance can accommodate. A mini oven can fit some oven dishes; an air fryer with a wide cooking area may also suit certain recipes, depending on the model. The SEB manuals and Moulinex product page mentioned below give examples for specific models.
Start with the recipes you make most often, then check whether they suit each appliance's space, cooking format and cleaning requirements.
| Consideration | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket's cooking area or the cavity's dimensions with the number of portions and the size of your dishes. UFC-Que Choisir suggests a simple 3 to 4 L basket as a guide for everyday portions for one or two people. | I make small quantities and want them to fit in one batch, rather than choosing an appliance based only on its stated capacity in litres. |
| Recipe format | Check the cooking modes and the sizes of dishes the appliance can accommodate. According to SEB, the OV321032 and OV200200 mini ovens can fit round dishes measuring 31 cm and 35 cm respectively; these dimensions don't apply to other models. | My quiches or gratins need to fit in the dish I usually use. If I mainly cook in a basket, I'd prioritise the cooking area that can actually accommodate my portions. |
| Space and installation | Measure the appliance, its intended position and the space needed to open it. Check the manual for your chosen model for the required installation surface and clearances. | In my kitchen, the appliance needs to be easy to reach without taking over the worktop; if I have to put it away often, how easy it is to move matters too. |
| Noise and cleaning | For an air fryer, check the fan noise in a relevant test and find out which parts can be removed and how to clean them. UFC-Que Choisir highlights noise as a consideration in open-plan kitchens. | I want to be able to cook regularly without an annoying fan in my living space or a difficult clean-up after every meal. |
| Energy use | Compare measurements for similar recipes, quantities and cooking results. The study of combination ovens by ADEME and the French National Consumer Institute found that their efficiency varies according to the dishes, models and brands. | Before adding another appliance, I want to know how it will affect the dishes I usually make, rather than assuming I'll save energy every time I use it. |
| Appliances you already own | Think about the recipes your oven already handles with ease. For a combination microwave, check that the model you're considering has a convection mode, compatible accessories and a cavity of a suitable size. | If my oven is enough for my dishes, I'd rather avoid doubling up. A combination appliance only interests me if its functions also suit my reheating and cooking needs. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can do the same job as an oven for many dishes. If your oven already handles the recipes you make regularly, a new appliance will also take up space and need cleaning.
For a few meals, note down the quantities, dishes and recurring practical constraints. Look for an additional appliance only if it addresses one of these issues.
You'll need to find space for it and clean its parts after use.
A stated capacity doesn't guarantee that a quiche, pizza or spread-out dish will fit in the basket. Conversely, a larger cavity could take up unnecessary worktop space when you're only cooking small portions.
Compare the dimensions of your most awkward recipe with the cooking area or internal dimensions given for the exact model, then measure the space it will take up on the outside.
UFC-Que Choisir measures the energy used for each cooking session in its air fryer tests. Results also vary according to the dishes and models for the combination ovens studied by ADEME and the French National Consumer Institute. Neither finding guarantees savings for all your recipes.
Only compare similar dishes and quantities that achieve similar cooking results. Check any figures quoted by a manufacturer against the conditions of its own test.
The fan on an air fryer can be disruptive in an open-plan kitchen, according to UFC-Que Choisir. You also need to follow the manual for your specific cooking appliance to reduce risks related to heat and electricity.
Check a noise test if this matters to you, measure the space you have in mind, and read the installation and operating instructions before cooking with the appliance for the first time.
These models are examples of formats you can compare; their features won't necessarily apply to the whole range.
The Easy Fry range includes basket-style air fryers as well as models with a wider cooking area.
The brand's freestanding mini ovens offer different sizes and cooking modes, depending on the model.
Philips France's support pages list several capacities for its 2000 Series air fryers, depending on the model.
These models are options to consider if you're looking for an air fryer for smaller meals. Compare them with your current oven or a mini oven based on the dishes you make, rather than treating this list as a choice between all the formats discussed.
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Its stated capacity of 3.2 L falls within the 3 to 4 L guideline given by UFC-Que Choisir for everyday portions for one or two people. Check that the basket's cooking area suits your recipes, and consult the manual for installation instructions.
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Its stated capacity of 4 L is at the upper end of the guideline UFC-Que Choisir gives for one or two people. The model name lists eight pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the basket dimensions and cleaning instructions for the dishes you plan to make.
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The two glass containers listed let you choose between a smaller and a larger batch. This model has five pre-set modes and storage lids. Measure the space it will take up with its containers, and check that their dimensions suit your dishes.
Not for every recipe. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer could duplicate what your oven does; choose based on how often you make small portions and the basket's usable dimensions. Keep using your oven for dishes, tins or quantities that won't fit in the air fryer you're considering.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for everyday portions for one or two people in a simple basket. Then check its usable cooking area and height against the food and tins you plan to use.
Don't assume you'll save energy with every recipe: UFC-Que Choisir records the energy used for each cooking session in its air fryer tests. To decide based on how you cook, compare measurements for similar quantities and cooking results.
In France, the DGCCRF distinguishes between the statutory guarantee of conformity, the statutory guarantee against hidden defects and, where offered, a commercial warranty. A commercial warranty is in addition to statutory guarantees: check its specific terms and don't confuse it with your legal rights.