If you mainly cook small portions that fit in a basket, choose a compact air fryer. If you regularly cook in dishes or tins, a mini oven may be a better fit. A countertop air fryer oven can cover both uses if its accessories and dimensions suit your kitchen. If your existing oven already handles the dishes you usually make, check whether a second appliance would solve a recurring problem before making room for it.
You mainly cook one or two portions of bite-sized foods, such as vegetables or chips, and would also like to reheat leftovers. Moulinex describes its EasyFry Compacte Precision as suitable for one or two people; just check that the basket holds the portions you usually make.
For tarts, gratins, cakes or pizza slices, the usable width and height matter more than the stated capacity alone. For example, Moulinex says its 18 L OV185101 mini oven can fit a 28 cm round dish or a 33 cm oval dish.
You want to switch between tray baking, cooking in a tin and air frying without buying several appliances. In that case, a countertop air fryer oven is worth considering, as long as its accessories suit your recipes and its dimensions leave enough room on your worktop.
In a small kitchen, start with the kinds of meals you usually cook. They’ll help you work out which cooking format you need before you compare the advertised features.
Consider it: for small portions of food that fit in the basket.
Bear in mind: your usual dishes and tins may not fit.
Consider it: if tarts, gratins and dishes cooked in a tin are regular features of your meals.
Bear in mind: you’ll also need space around the appliance to open the door and allow for ventilation.
Consider it: if you’ll genuinely use both the air-frying functions and the oven-style accessories.
Bear in mind: check that its dimensions will fit your worktop.
Stick with it: if it fits your dishes and already handles the cooking you do most often.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to use your oven for small portions rather than a dedicated appliance.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dishes and tins | Measure your cookware, then compare it with the appliance’s usable width, depth and height. | If I often cook tarts or gratins, I want to be able to use the dishes I already own. Around 36% of consumers would put this compatibility first. |
| Functions in one appliance | Check that the advertised modes and included accessories suit the dishes you make regularly. | To switch from bite-sized foods to tray cooking without changing appliances, I prioritise the functions I’ll actually use; around 29% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Available space | Check the external dimensions, how far the drawer or door opens, and the clearances specified in the instruction manual. | When worktop space is limited, I’d rather choose a format suited to my small portions, even if that means using smaller dishes. This would be the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Find out which parts can be removed and how they should be cleaned. Also check the product-specific information about replacement parts. | If I use the appliance almost every day, I want it to be easy to clean and maintain. Around 14% of consumers would make this their main concern. |
Capacity doesn’t tell you whether your tin will fit. Moulinex says one of its 18 L mini ovens can take 28 cm round dishes, while UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer testing uses quiches and cakes measuring no more than 16 cm. These dimensions apply to specific appliances and uses, not every model.
Measure your dishes, then check the usable dimensions and accessories for the model you’re considering.
UFC-Que Choisir has found that chips brown differently depending on the model, with some appliances cooking the top and bottom unevenly. So the cooking mode’s name alone won’t tell you how your portions will turn out.
Look for tests of the model you’ve chosen, if available, and follow the manual’s guidance on food quantities and shaking or turning the food.
A drawer or door needs room to open, and ventilation and plug-in requirements vary by model. Measuring the appliance when it’s closed isn’t enough to work out whether it will fit in a compact kitchen.
Before you buy, check the manual for the exact model and measure the available space, including room for opening it and routing the cable.
A claim about one appliance and a particular set of cooking conditions can’t predict how much energy your meals will use or automatically tell you whether an air fryer or mini oven is more efficient.
Compare equivalent dishes and quantities, and check which appliance and conditions the energy information refers to.
Moulinex offers several formats to compare across its range: an air fryer for one or two people, a conventional mini oven and a countertop air fryer oven.
The 1000 Series includes a 4.2 L air fryer, and Philips support information can help you find out how to care for the model you’re considering.
Ninja is worth considering if you’re looking at air fryers with multiple cooking zones or formats other than a single basket.
These two appliances are options to consider if you’re looking for a countertop air fryer for small portions. If you mainly cook in dishes or tins, compare their usable cooking space with that of a mini oven before choosing.
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Worth considering if you cook small portions in a basket rather than in your usual dishes. The product name lists a 2 L capacity and a 60-minute timer; check the dimensions and clearances in the manual before making room for it.
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Worth considering if you want to use different-sized containers for different portions. Check that the containers and accessories for this model suit your recipes, then measure the available space and read the installation guidance in the manual.
It can for some small dishes, but not necessarily for the dishes and tins you already use. Check their dimensions: UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer tests use quiches and cakes measuring no more than 16 cm, while Moulinex says one of its 18 L mini ovens can fit 28 cm round dishes.
Measure the space it needs with the drawer or door open, not just the dimensions of the closed appliance. Before installing it, check the manual for the exact model for clearances, ventilation and plug-in requirements.
Let it cool down and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for its removable parts. Philips recommends letting its air fryers cool for around 30 minutes and advises against using metal utensils or abrasive accessories on non-stick coated parts. Check the manual to see whether your model’s basket is dishwasher-safe.
No. Don’t assume you can make a direct comparison simply because one appliance has an energy label and the other doesn’t. Check the information that applies to each model and the conditions used for the measurements before drawing conclusions about the dishes you usually make.