For small portions that you want to roast or crisp up, consider an air fryer if your oven is often in use and you have room for the appliance on your worktop. If reheating is also important, compare the functions offered by a combination microwave. For recipes that need an oven dish, a mini oven may be a better fit. An electric deep fryer is primarily for deep-frying in oil, so before you buy, think about the dishes you already make, the space you have and how much cleaning is involved.
If you usually prepare one or two portions at a time, an air fryer can complement your oven for some fan-assisted cooking. Compare the usable space in the basket with the size of your food and dishes: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether they’ll fit.
A second appliance could save you from waiting for one dish to finish cooking. If you also need to reheat food, look at the functions offered by a combination microwave. If your recipes mainly use baking trays or oven dishes, check the cavity and cooking modes of a mini oven instead.
To avoid buying an appliance that duplicates what you already own, start with the recipes your current equipment can’t prepare when you need it. Then measure the available space, including ventilation clearances, and check which parts need cleaning or replacing for the model you’re considering.
Start with the recipes you make and how often your main oven is unavailable. Then check that the appliance can be installed and maintained in your kitchen.
Consider it: for small batches of food cooked with hot air, particularly if you’re after a roasted or crispy finish.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir highlights the space it takes up and the risk of duplicating functions your oven already provides.
Consider it: if you want to combine reheating with occasional cooking, provided the model has the functions you need.
Bear in mind: suitable cookware depends on whether you’re using the microwave, grill or convection function.
Consider it: if you mainly cook small portions of quiche, gratin or baking in a dish that fits its cavity.
Bear in mind: functions and size vary by model; trays, racks and the inside walls also need cleaning.
Consider it: if deep-frying in oil is what you’ll mainly use it for.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the oil, and it won’t replace an oven’s cooking functions.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Space and capacity | Measure the appliance and the space where you plan to put it, then check the clearances specified in its manual. Compare the shape of the cavity and accessories with your dishes and the quantities you cook in each batch. | I want to install the appliance without blocking its ventilation and fit in the portion I usually cook. |
| Recipes | Consider the differences between hot-air cooking, microwaving, grilling, convection and deep-frying. Check the functions of the exact model rather than relying on its category name alone. | Reheating matters as much to me as cooking; or, conversely, I mainly make dishes that need oven cooking. |
| Cleaning and care | Check which parts are removable and follow their washing instructions. For mini-oven trays and racks, Que Choisir recommends checking the manufacturer’s guidance before putting them in the dishwasher. | After cooking food that leaves crumbs or splashes, I want to know which parts I’ll need to clean and how. |
| Installation and use | Check the manual for ventilation requirements and the utensils allowed in each mode. For a microwave, also check the condition of the door and its seals before use. | Space is limited: the installation instructions need to suit the space I have, not just the appliance’s dimensions. |
| Duplication and repairs | Make a list of the recipes your current oven can already handle. For the model you’re considering, check the accessories, spare parts and repair options available. | If my oven is rarely in use, I’d rather work out exactly what a new appliance would offer before making room for it. |
A capacity in litres won’t tell you whether your quiche, dish or usual portion will fit properly. Que Choisir’s air fryer testing protocol distinguishes, among other things, between optimal and maximum quantities.
Measure the largest dish you use regularly and compare it with the cavity, the accessories supplied and the load limits in the manual.
According to Que Choisir, an air fryer can cook, roast or grill, so it may duplicate functions your oven already offers.
Before choosing a second appliance, think about when your oven is in use and which small batches you genuinely want to cook separately.
Ventilation clearances vary by model. For example, the GM20W2 microwave manual supplied by Darty calls for 30 cm of clearance above this particular appliance.
Check the manual for the model you choose and measure the space around it before putting it on your worktop.
An electric deep fryer is designed for a different type of cooking. Moulinex’s manual for the Uno M AF125810 specifies an oil capacity of 1,8 L and a fixed bowl. These are features of this particular model, not all deep fryers.
If you mainly want to roast, brown or bake, start by comparing appliances with functions suited to those recipes.
Deep-frying in oil also means storing and managing used oil, so check the model’s cleaning and care instructions.
These ranges illustrate features to compare from one model to another. A brand’s inclusion here doesn’t mean that all its appliances are suitable for a small kitchen.
The range includes Easy Fry air fryers, Optimo mini ovens and Uno electric deep fryers.
Its freestanding MWF255B combination microwave is worth considering if you need both reheating and occasional cooking.
The Airfryer range includes models with different capacities, which you can compare with your portions and available worktop space.
This selection includes four air fryers for occasional hot-air cooking and a microwave with a grill for reheating and some cooking tasks. For recipes that need fan-assisted heat, make sure that function is specifically listed: having a grill doesn’t mean it’s included.
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Worth considering for small batches if 2 L suits the portions you usually cook. The product title lists a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket. Measure the space you have and check the manual for the required clearances.
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An option to consider if you cook different batch sizes: compare the containers supplied with the dishes you usually use. Also check the ventilation space required in the manual and have oven gloves ready for handling hot containers.
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For a range of small hot-air cooking tasks, the product title lists eight modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Compare the 4 L capacity with your usual batch sizes, and check the manual for installation and basket cleaning instructions.
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If you mainly cook one or two portions, compare this capacity with the batches you actually make. Before setting aside space for it, check its external dimensions and the clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth considering if you reheat portions and would also like a grill. Check the dimensions, clearances and cookware suitable for each mode. If your recipes need fan-assisted heat, confirm that this model has it before choosing.
Not for every recipe or quantity. Que Choisir says an air fryer can cook, roast and grill, but also notes the space it takes up. Before adding one, compare the size of your dishes and how often your oven is in use.
Consider a combination microwave if these tasks are a priority and you’d also like some additional cooking functions. Que Choisir distinguishes combination models by their extra functions, including a grill and fan-assisted heat. Check that the model you choose has the features you need.
No. Que Choisir says plastic containers should only be used in microwave mode, not with the grill or convection function. You should also avoid using a sealed container in microwave mode. Check the manual for guidance on other materials and accessories.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the exact model. For example, the manual supplied by Darty for the GM20W2 microwave calls for at least 30 cm of clearance above it. This measurement doesn’t automatically apply to an air fryer or mini oven.
Don’t use the appliance until it has been repaired by a qualified person. That’s the guidance in the manual supplied by Darty for the GM20W2 microwave. Don’t try to repair the appliance’s safety components yourself.