Small portions, with the oven often in use
If you cook for one or two people, an air fryer can free up your main oven for a small batch. Just check that the shape and quantity of your meals will fit in the basket.
Who is each option right for?
Meals cooked in oven dishes
For quiches, gratins or pizzas, compare a mini oven with the oven you already have. The space available for your dish and, if needed, the shelves matters more than the stated capacity alone.
Limited worktop space
Measure the space you have in mind, as well as the room needed to open the drawer or door. The capacity in litres alone won’t tell you how much space the appliance takes up or what clearances the manual requires.
What sets these appliances apart?
Basket air fryer
Worth considering: for small batches that fit in a basket, when your main oven isn’t available.
Things to weigh up: according to UFC-Que Choisir, its cooking functions overlap with those of an oven, so it could be an unnecessary extra.
Mini oven
Worth considering: if your everyday meals need an oven dish, a shelf or oven-style cooking functions.
Things to weigh up: its cavity doesn’t guarantee that your dishes will fit or that the appliance will fit in the space you have.
Your existing oven
Stick with it: if it’s available and already fits the portions and dishes you prepare.
Things to weigh up: a worktop appliance may meet a specific need if your oven is often in use or inconvenient for a small batch.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| How you use your oven | Identify the meals for which the oven is in use or inconvenient. Compare the dish or container you use with a basket, baking tray or shelf. | I want to cook a small batch without waiting for the oven to become free, but I don’t need an appliance that simply duplicates what I already use from time to time. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the shape of the basket or cavity with your portions and dishes. Check whether you’d need to cook in batches; litre capacity alone isn’t enough. | My usual dishes need to fit in the appliance, not just match its advertised capacity. |
| Space it takes up | Check the external dimensions and how the door or drawer opens. Read the manual for the exact model to find out how much ventilation clearance it needs. | I need to be able to open and use the appliance where I plan to put it, without relying on its cooking capacity alone. |
| Cleaning and noise | Find out which parts are removable and which are stated to be dishwasher-safe. If noise matters to you, check the information for the exact model: UFC-Que Choisir flags it as something to consider with air fryers. | If I’m going to cook often, I want an appliance that’s easy to clean and put away, especially in an open-plan kitchen. |
| Energy use | Consider the dish, portion, preheating and number of batches when making any comparison. A general claim may not reflect how you use the appliance. | I’d rather compare the cooking tasks I’d genuinely replace than choose based on promised savings. |
What should you watch out for before buying?
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Buying an air fryer without a distinct use for it
UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer performs the same functions as an oven. If your current oven already suits your meals and is available when you need it, a worktop appliance could be an unnecessary extra.
Make a note of a few meals you prepare regularly, then check their quantity, shape and container before choosing a basket air fryer or mini oven.
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Choosing based on litres alone
Cooking capacity doesn’t tell you the appliance’s external dimensions, how much room it needs to open or how much space it needs for ventilation.
Measure your worktop and read the manual for the exact model before making space for it.
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Taking advertised energy savings for granted
Manufacturers’ comparisons depend on the food, settings and appliances used. They don’t predict how much energy all your meals will use.
Compare your usual portions, any preheating, the number of batches and the oven you’d otherwise use.
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Overlooking cleaning and noise
You’ll need to clean the basket, tray or shelf after cooking; UFC-Que Choisir also draws attention to the noise made by air fryers.
Check which parts of your chosen model are removable or dishwasher-safe, and consider the noise if you have an open-plan kitchen.
Which brands and models should you compare?
Philips
Philips France describes the Philips Airfryer Série 3000 HD9252/90 as a 4,1 L model for two people.
- Philips says that some removable parts are dishwasher-safe.
- Check that the basket shape and the space the appliance needs suit your meals and kitchen.
Tefal
The Tefal Easy Fry XL Surface&Pizza FW4018E0 has a stated capacity of 4 L and, according to Tefal France, a surface designed to fit a 27 cm pizza.
- Tefal also states that this model can cook up to 1 kg of chips.
- These stated capacities don’t remove the need to check your own dishes and the space available on your worktop.
Moulinex
The Moulinex Optimo 19 L and 39 L mini ovens are suited to cooking in dishes rather than baskets.
- Moulinex France lists six cooking modes for the Optimo 19 L and seven for the Optimo 39 L; the latter is described as suitable for cooking two dishes at once.
- Check the dimensions of dishes that will fit and the installation instructions in the manual for your chosen model.
Air fryers available on Joybuy
These three basket air fryers are options to consider if you’re looking for a worktop appliance for everyday meals. Compare their size with your portions and the space you have; they’re not a substitute for comparing a mini oven or your existing oven.
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Midea Air Fryer 4 L, 1500 W
Worth considering for small batches when the oven is in use. This model has eight programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the manual for the clearances it needs, and compare the basket with your usual portions.
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Midea Air Fryer 2 L, 1150 W, black
If you’re looking for an appliance for small batches, compare the 2 L basket with your usual portions. The product title lists a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer; check which parts are dishwasher-safe, along with the dimensions and installation clearances.
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KITCHENCOOK AIRMED7W, 7 L
Its stated 7 L capacity is worth considering if a smaller basket would mean cooking in batches. The model has a digital display and a cooking window. Check how much food will actually fit in the basket and how much worktop space it needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can an air fryer replace my oven?
Not for every meal: UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer performs the same functions as an oven. It can be useful for small batches that fit in its basket when your main oven is in use. For oven dishes or cooking on multiple levels, consider a mini oven instead, or keep using your oven.
Does the capacity in litres tell me how much I can cook?
No: the shape and cooking surface matter too. For example, Tefal France states that its 4 L FW4018E0 can fit a 27 cm pizza or cook up to 1 kg of chips. Compare these details with your own portions and dishes.
Does an air fryer always use less energy than an oven?
Don’t assume it will always save energy. UFC-Que Choisir measures the energy used for each cooking task in its test procedure. When choosing, also consider the portion, preheating, the number of batches and which appliance the air fryer would genuinely replace.
What should I do with an air fryer or mini oven at the end of its life?
Take electrical equipment to a suitable collection point rather than putting it in your household bin. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition notes that this equipment contains components that need specialist treatment, as well as recyclable materials.