If your oven or microwave already meets your dinner needs, start by working out which function you’re actually missing. UFC-Que Choisir notes, for example, that an air fryer overlaps with some of the things an oven can do. For small portions to roast, consider an air fryer; for dishes that need less supervision, a multicooker; and for combining food preparation and cooking, a cooking food processor. In a small kitchen, usable portions, the space needed while the appliance is in use and how easy it is to clean matter just as much as the list of functions.
Your choice will depend mainly on the space you have, how many portions you need and what your current appliances can already do.
Compare the portions you usually cook with the appliance’s dimensions and the space needed to store it. Moulinex describes its 3 L Cookeo Touch Mini WiFi as a size designed for a small household. You’ll still need to measure the space you have in mind.
If you want to get dinner started and move on to something else, look at the multicooker’s programmes and check which steps you’ll still need to do by hand. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between multicookers and cooking food processors, whose capabilities vary by model.
First, work out which dinners are difficult to prepare with the appliances you already have. UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying more appliances than you need if an air fryer would simply duplicate functions your oven already performs.
Start with the meals you usually make. First, identify a function you’re missing, then check that the appliance will fit in your kitchen and make the right quantities.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Useful function | Compare the meals you usually make with the functions of the oven, microwave and hob you already have. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air frying, roasting and grilling can overlap with what an oven does. | If my current appliances work well for dinner, I’d rather keep the space than add a similar function. |
| Type of meal | For roasting small portions, consider an air fryer. For rice or slow-cooked dishes, look at the multicooker’s functions; for preparing food and then cooking it, check what the cooking food processor can do. A food processor is more suited to preparing ingredients for cooking separately. | I want to choose based on the dishes I make regularly, not the number of programmes listed. |
| Space and portions | Measure the appliance in the position you’ll use it in, allowing for the lid to open or the basket to be removed, and for accessories to be stored. Check the fill limits and portions per recipe: UFC-Que Choisir notes that you can’t use the full capacity of a multicooker. | I need enough portions for my household without taking up the little worktop space I have. |
| Hands-on time | Distinguish between programming, preparation steps and monitoring while food cooks. Check what the model actually does without your help; a programme won’t necessarily eliminate the need to chop or mix ingredients. | After a busy day, I mainly want to cut down on tasks that require me to be there. |
| Everyday use | Check the cleaning instructions, which parts are dishwasher-safe and which accessories are included. In an open-plan kitchen, consider the fan noise too: UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking this for an air fryer. | If I use it several evenings a week, cleaning and noise will influence my choice. |
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the two appliances can perform the same cooking, roasting and grilling functions. The new appliance could take up space without meeting a different need.
Make a note of a few dinners you often cook and ask yourself what your current appliances can’t do well.
UFC-Que Choisir explains that you can’t use the full capacity of a multicooker. The amount you can cook also depends on the recipe.
Check the fill limits and the portion guidance in the manual for the dishes you make.
An air fryer’s fan may be audible in your living space. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering this before you buy.
Look for a noise measurement taken in comparable conditions or an independent review of the model you’re considering.
Bowls and accessories take up space, and some recipes may need an extra part. UFC-Que Choisir notes that additional food processor accessories are only assessed when they’re supplied with the appliance.
Check exactly what comes with the model, then set aside space only for the parts you’ll use.
Optional accessories may need to be bought separately.
These models illustrate functions and capacities you can compare. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean every product range from these brands is suitable for a small kitchen.
Moulinex describes the Cookeo Touch Mini WiFi as a 3 L multicooker for a small household.
The Cook Expert Connect combines food preparation and cooking. Magimix lists a usable capacity of 2.5 L and a power rating of 1 700 W for this model.
Vorwerk lists a maximum bowl capacity of 2.2 L for the Thermomix TM7.
This Joybuy selection includes air fryers, a multicooker and a cooking food processor. Compare them by the type of dinner you make, the portions you need and the space available, without assuming you need another appliance.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking. Check which steps you’ll still need to do yourself. The scales and touchscreen are mentioned in the product name; also measure the space needed with the bowl and accessories fitted.
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For hot-air cooking, compare your usual portions with the container’s usable capacity. Also check the space needed while it’s in use and the instructions for handling hot parts.
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The stated 2 L capacity is worth comparing with your portion sizes and the size of the food you cook. The product name mentions a 60-minute timer and a basket said to be dishwasher-safe. Check the manual to see whether cooking stops when the timer ends, and how much clearance the appliance needs.
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If you’re looking for an appliance that cooks food in a bowl, check for programmes suited to the evening meals you make. The product name states 2 L; consult the manual for recipe-specific fill limits and how much space to leave around the appliance.
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The stated 7.6 L capacity is worth checking against the number of portions you cook. Before making room for it in a small kitchen, compare its dimensions and required clearance with the space available.
It can be, if you have a specific need that your oven doesn’t meet conveniently, but it’s not an automatic buy. UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer can perform the same cooking, roasting and grilling functions as an oven. Think about the meals you make regularly before giving it space in your kitchen.
No, it doesn’t necessarily represent the usable volume for every recipe. UFC-Que Choisir says you can’t use some of the stated capacity. Check the model’s manual for fill limits and recommended portions.
Measure the space where you’ll use and store the appliance, then check its dimensions in the configuration you’ll use. Allow room to open the lid, remove the basket or bowl and meet the clearance requirements in the manual. You’ll also need space for accessories.
Check the cleaning instructions for each part and whether it’s stated to be dishwasher-safe, then see what’s included in the box. For food processors, UFC-Que Choisir explains that additional accessories are only included in its tests when they’re supplied with the appliance.