For small portions, start by thinking about the dishes you make: choose an air fryer for roasting or crisping, a mini oven for baking tins and oven dishes, or a multicooker for recipes prepared in a pot. If you only cook this way occasionally and your oven already does the job, an extra appliance may simply take up space. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests found that air fryers used less electricity than a mini oven for the small quiche they tested, but this result cannot be applied to every recipe.
If you often cook a small portion, the size of the dish matters just as much as the appliance’s stated capacity. For a small quiche tested in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir found that the air fryers in its test used an average of 36% less electricity than the mini oven used for comparison. This result does not apply to every type of cooking.
Consider how much space the appliance takes up while cooking, as well as the clearance needed to open a drawer, door or lid. Cleaning and noise may also influence your choice if you use an appliance regularly; UFC-Que Choisir highlights both as points to consider when buying an air fryer.
Before adding a countertop appliance, check what you can already cook in your oven. If you only cook small portions occasionally, the extra space and cleaning may matter more than having a second appliance with similar functions.
Worth considering: for regularly cooking small quantities that you want to roast or crisp.
Bear in mind: the basket limits the size of the dishes you can use, and ventilation and cleaning are part of everyday use.
Worth considering: if you often cook small portions in a baking tin or oven dish.
Bear in mind: its oven-like format does not guarantee lower energy use for a small recipe; check how much space it takes up, too.
Keep using it: if you only cook small portions occasionally and your current dishes fit inside.
Consider this: in UFC-Que Choisir’s test of a small quiche, the mini oven used more electricity on average than the air fryers tested.
Worth considering: for recipes cooked in a pot, including steaming or slow cooking, depending on the modes available on your chosen model.
Bear in mind: a cooking pot does not offer the same useful surface and shape as an air fryer basket or oven.
| What to consider | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the usable width, depth and height with your dishes and portion sizes. Check the shape of the basket or pot, rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone. | I want my baking tin or portion to fit inside without having to switch containers every time. |
| Electricity use | Compare the energy measured for the same recipe and quantity, along with the cooking time. The rated power alone does not tell you how much energy a recipe will use. | If I often cook small portions, I want to compare the dishes I usually make rather than assume every recipe will save energy. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space available and the clearance needed to open the appliance. If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a noise measurement for the specific air fryer model. | In my kitchen, I need to be able to open and use the appliance without blocking the way; noise during cooking matters, too. |
| Cleaning and use | Check which parts can be removed, how to clean them and whether the manufacturer says they are dishwasher-safe for the model you are considering. Think about how much effort this involves in relation to how often you will use it. | For occasional cooking, I’d rather check whether my existing oven is enough before adding a basket or pot that needs washing. |
Its cooking space may limit the quantity you can prepare or may not fit your baking tins. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this capacity limitation.
Make a note of the dishes you cook most often and measure the containers you use. Keep your oven for recipes that need its size and shape.
The stated power does not measure the electricity used throughout a recipe. In UFC-Que Choisir’s tests, the results varied depending on the dish and the appliances being compared.
Look for measurements based on comparable recipes and quantities before drawing conclusions about how an appliance will work for you.
You need to be able to open a drawer or door while the appliance is in use. If you have an open-plan kitchen, you should also consider the air fryer’s ventilation.
Measure the space you’ll need to use it, check that a socket is within reach and, if noise matters, look for a test of the model you’re considering.
A pot designed for recipes such as steaming or slow cooking is not the same shape as an air fryer basket or oven cavity.
Start with the dishes you usually make: check the multicooker’s modes for pot-based recipes, and the usable dimensions of an oven or basket for other dishes.
These examples can help you compare specific formats, but a brand name is no substitute for checking the model itself.
The range includes air fryers, mini ovens and multicookers. Moulinex describes the Easy Fry Compacte Precision as suitable for 1 to 2 people, the Optimo as a 19 L mini oven and the Cookeo Touch Mini as a 3 L multicooker.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands mentioned by UFC-Que Choisir in its coverage of the French market.
Philips offers, among other models, a 1000 Series air fryer that the brand lists with a capacity of 4,2 L.
This selection includes air fryers for hot-air cooking and pot-style appliances for recipes cooked in a pot. Choose according to the dishes you make: pot-style appliances do not serve the same purpose as a mini oven.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for small quantities cooked with hot air, once you’ve checked that the basket can hold your portions. The product name lists 1150 W power, a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket described as dishwasher-safe; these features do not tell you how much energy a recipe will use. Measure the space you’ll need to use it.
Image unavailable
This pot-style cooker is suited to dishes such as soups, pasta and rice, rather than cooking on a tray or in an air fryer basket. The product name lists a stainless-steel inner pot and two power settings, 300 W and 600 W. Check the pot’s usable shape and the cleaning instructions to make sure they suit your needs.
Image unavailable
Worth a look if you’re after an air fryer for small portions that you want to roast or crisp. Before choosing this model, check that its containers are the right size for your portions, and consider how much space it takes up and how much noise you can tolerate in your kitchen. Use suitable protection when handling hot containers.
Image unavailable
This pot-style appliance is worth considering for soups, noodles and other one-pot dishes, but it is not a direct substitute for an oven. The product name lists a 2 L non-stick pot, 1000 W power and two settings; the power rating alone does not tell you how much electricity a meal will use. Check the usable quantity against the filling instructions, and let the appliance cool before cleaning it.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for dishes prepared in a pot, especially if you cook rice or soup more often than roasted food. Check the minimum quantity that suits your portions: the “2 L” capacity alone does not tell you how efficiently it will cook a small meal. Allow enough space around and above the appliance, and take care when opening it to avoid the steam.
No, you can’t apply one test result to every type of cooking. For the small quiche compared by UFC-Que Choisir in 2024, the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than the mini oven. For your own needs, compare measurements for similar recipes, quantities and appliances.
Measure your dish or baking tin, then compare its width, depth and height with the appliance’s usable internal dimensions. As a guide for a specific model, Darty lists the Moulinex Optimo OX444810 mini oven’s cavity as 32,5 cm wide, 24,5 cm deep and 22,6 cm high; an air fryer basket has a different shape.
Yes, particularly if you have an open-plan kitchen or use the appliance near a living area. Ventilation is part of how it works, so look for a noise measurement for the model you’re considering rather than assuming they’re all alike. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol includes measuring noise at 0,50 m.
First, look into repair or reuse options. If the appliance has reached the end of its life, find out where to take it for appropriate collection. In France, household electrical appliances are covered by the waste electrical and electronic equipment scheme described by the Ministry for Ecological Transition.