For small batches that fit in a basket, a single-drawer air fryer can save you from using the main oven. If your dishes need a rack or a flat surface, a mini oven may be a better fit. UFC-Que Choisir measured lower average energy consumption for an air fryer than for a mini oven when cooking a comparable small quiche, but this result won’t apply to every recipe or model. Before adding an appliance to your kitchen, check its usable cooking area, footprint, noise level and cleaning requirements.
You usually make one small recipe at a time and want to use the main oven less. Check that the cooking surface can actually accommodate your dish or food: UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer’s cavity can limit the quantity you can cook.
You want to cook a main dish and a side without running two batches in succession. Two drawers or an adjustable divider can help, provided each compartment fits your portions and you have room for the appliance in your kitchen.
In a compact or open-plan kitchen, the fan noise and parts you need to wash matter just as much as the programmes. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these factors in its tests, so compare the specific model rather than relying on a general promise of convenience.
Choose this if: you mainly cook one small dish at a time, suited to the shape of the basket.
Bear in mind: the cavity limits the size of dishes you can use and may mean cooking in several batches.
Choose this if: you often cook two different items as part of the same meal and need them to cook at the same time.
Bear in mind: two compartments generally take up more space than a compact single drawer.
Consider this if: your recipes often need a rack, a flat dish or multiple levels.
Bear in mind: this larger format is less suited to the specific needs of cooking a single small portion.
Keep or choose this if: pizzas, baking and flat dishes feature regularly in your meals.
Bear in mind: for some comparable small recipes, UFC-Que Choisir’s tests measured higher energy consumption than with most of the air fryers tested.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and space taken up | Compare the basket’s usable dimensions with your dishes, then measure the space available and the clearance needed to open it. | My dishes need to fit without an oversized appliance taking over the worktop; around 33% of consumers would put this fit at the top of their list. |
| Energy use per recipe | Look for measurements based on the same dish and quantity, rather than a general energy-saving percentage. | I often cook small batches and want to know how much energy the appliance uses for my usual dishes; around 27% of consumers are thought to share this priority. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check the size of each compartment and, if it matters to you, whether the appliance has a synchronisation function. | When the main dish and side need to be ready together, I’d rather avoid running two cycles in a row; around 20% of consumers would prioritise this approach. |
| Noise and cleaning | Look for a noise measurement for the specific model and check which parts can be removed and washed. | In my open-plan kitchen, the fan and cleaning requirements affect everyday use; around 20% of consumers would put convenience first. |
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you about the shape of the basket or whether there’s room for a dish. Even a large capacity may not suit the dishes you usually make.
Compare the internal dimensions and the types of dishes it can accommodate, then measure the space available when the appliance is open.
UFC-Que Choisir found that air fryers used less energy on average than a mini oven for a comparable small quiche, but the difference varies by recipe and model.
To compare two appliances, look for independent measurements based on the dishes and quantities you cook.
Separate compartments let you cook different items at the same time; they don’t necessarily make an appliance better suited to cooking one small dish.
Choose this format for meals where you regularly use both compartments, and make sure you have enough worktop space.
Noise can become a nuisance when the appliance is running close to your living space. UFC-Que Choisir found differences between models and measures noise at 0.50 m, among other things.
Look for a measurement taken at a specified distance for the model you’re considering, rather than relying on a general claim that it runs quietly.
The range includes baskets with adjustable compartments. According to Philips France, the NA154/00 can be switched from two 3.55 L compartments to a single 7.1 L basket using a removable divider.
Moulinex offers Easy Fry air fryers, a 20 L air fryer oven and Optimo mini ovens, including a 19 L model.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands covered in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests, with appliances in a range of formats.
These hot-air appliances offer a range of formats to compare for small meals. Before choosing, check how the cooking compartment is shaped and how much space your usual dishes need; the models featured here don’t cover the mini oven option.
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Worth considering for a small dish in a single basket, once you’ve checked that your dishes will fit.
The non-stick basket is stated to be dishwasher-safe, and the timer runs for up to 60 minutes. Also check how much room you’ll need to open the basket.
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Consider this if you’d rather look at a format with a cooking container than a pull-out basket. Check the internal dimensions and make sure your dishes are compatible before choosing this model.
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Compare it with a smaller basket if your recipes need more room, but don’t judge the number of portions by capacity alone.
Features eight stated programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the internal cooking area and which parts need cleaning.
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Consider how its capacity compares with your small portions: check the usable cooking area and footprint before choosing this single-basket model.
The stated capacity is 6.2 L; that alone won’t tell you whether your usual dishes will fit.
No. Capacity alone isn’t enough: the shape and surface area of the cooking compartment also determine what you can cook. For your usual recipes, compare its usable dimensions with your dishes and the quantities you cook.
No. It depends on the recipe, quantity and appliances. UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by the air fryers tested than by a mini oven when cooking a comparable small quiche, but also found different results for other dishes.
Look for a noise measurement for the specific model and check the instructions to see which parts can be removed and washed. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0.50 m and assesses cleaning, among other things; results vary between appliances.
For an appliance sold by a business to an individual in France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Contact the seller if the product is faulty or doesn’t match its description; this guarantee is separate from returning an item simply because you’ve changed your mind.