Start by thinking about the meals your current appliances struggle to prepare. A mini oven suits dishes and tins that fit inside its cavity, while a compact air fryer is better for small portions that fit in its basket. A combined oven and air fryer only makes cooking easier if its functions and usable dimensions suit your dishes. And if your existing appliances already do the job, keeping them means you won’t take up any more worktop space.
If you often make quiches, gratins, bakes or pizzas, check the usable space inside the appliance. SEB’s guidance on the dish sizes that fit a particular model shows why capacity in litres isn’t enough to make your choice.
If your meals mainly consist of vegetables, chips or small portions of meat, compare your usual servings with the basket capacity. Philips gives examples of quantities for its NA211/00, while Moulinex explains how to care for the basket in its EZ145A20.
If every appliance needs to stay out or be put away after use, consider how it opens, what accessories it comes with and how much space it actually takes up. Also think about what extra dishes you’d be able to make regularly.
Start with the kind of meals you make: compare the cavity of a mini oven with the basket of an air fryer, then check how much space you need to position and open the appliance. An oven-air fryer is only worth considering if its functions and accessories genuinely suit both uses.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dishes and baking tins | Measure your largest dish and compare it with the internal dimensions, tray and shelf positions. Capacity in litres alone won’t confirm that it will fit. | If I regularly cook quiches or gratins, I want to use my usual tins without having to scale down every recipe. Around 27% of consumers put this compatibility first. |
| Space and positioning | Measure the space available and the clearance needed in front of the door or drawer. Check the model’s manual for clearance, plug and installation instructions. | When my worktop is already full, I need to be able to open the appliance and put it away without disrupting everyday cooking. Keeping this space clear would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portions and cleaning | Compare your usual quantities with the manufacturer’s portion examples, and check exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe. | For frequent small meals, I’d prefer a basket that suits my portions and is easy to clean. This is the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Extra function | List the meals your current appliances can’t prepare the way you’d like, then check that the new appliance addresses that specific need. | If my oven, microwave or frying pan already covers my everyday meals, I don’t want to store and maintain an appliance that duplicates what I have. Around 13% of consumers put this question first. |
Capacity doesn’t tell you the width of the cavity, the shape of the dishes it can take or the space between the shelves. SEB, for example, says its Crousty Délice 22 L can take round dishes up to 33 cm and oval ones up to 38 cm. These sizes apply to this model only.
Measure the dishes you use most and compare them with the oven’s usable dimensions, rather than relying on its stated capacity.
You need to be able to open a door or drawer fully. You’ll also need to allow for the clearances specified for the appliance and find somewhere to store its accessories after use.
Check where it will sit on your worktop, allow space to open it at the front and read the manual’s instructions before ordering.
The wattage alone doesn’t tell you how much energy it takes to cook a meal. ADEME’s annual consumption figures are based on average usage, which may not reflect how often you cook or how long you use the appliance for.
Compare similar meals with your current appliance, taking cooking time, load and, where relevant, preheating into account.
A mini oven or air fryer takes up space and needs cleaning, even if you rarely use it. Its value depends on whether it offers a dish or function you’re currently missing.
Make a note of the meals your current appliances can’t prepare the way you’d like, then check that the new appliance is suitable for them.
These ranges offer examples of formats to compare. The features mentioned relate to the models named, not every appliance from each brand.
The range lets you compare Optimo mini ovens with compact Easy Fry air fryers.
A useful point of comparison for small-capacity basket air fryers, when the amount you’re cooking matters more than having a cavity for baking tins.
A brand to consider if the sizes of dishes an oven can take matter more to you than having a basket.
The range of freestanding ovens includes different cavity sizes to consider depending on the dishes you cook.
This selection includes a freestanding mini oven and basket air fryers in different capacities. First compare the format that suits your meals, then check the dimensions and instructions for the specific model before making space for it.
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Worth considering for dishes that fit in a 3.2 L basket. Check that its usable capacity suits your portions and that the space you choose follows the NA210/00 installation instructions. The quantity examples published for the NA211/00 shouldn’t be applied to this model.
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Compare the 2 L basket with your usual portions. The product name mentions a 60-minute timer and a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket. Also check the external dimensions and the clearances required for installation.
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Consider this if your dishes are suited to basket cooking and you’d like a choice of settings. The product name lists eight modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check the basket’s usable dimensions, the required clearances and how to clean the parts for your intended use.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer an oven cavity to a basket for your everyday dishes. Its stated capacity is 23 L. Measure your tins and check the internal dimensions, as well as the clearances in the manual, before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering for meals cooked in a basket rather than a large oven dish. Compare the basket’s usable dimensions with your portions, and check the manual for the appliance’s size, required clearances and instructions for cleaning the parts.
Measure their width, length and height, then compare these with the cavity, shelf positions and tray of the model you’re considering. Capacity in litres doesn’t guarantee a fit: for its Crousty Délice 22 L specifically, SEB lists round dishes up to 33 cm and oval ones up to 38 cm.
Yes, as long as the quantities and ingredients fit in the basket. Don’t assume that a particular capacity in litres will suit every meal. Philips says its 3.2 L NA211/00 can hold up to 400 g of chips, four chicken drumsticks or 400 g of vegetables. For a gratin or a large baking tin, compare the usable dimensions of a mini oven instead.
Check each part separately to see whether it’s dishwasher-safe, including the basket, rack and accessories. Moulinex says the basket in its Easy Fry Compact EZ145A20 is dishwasher-safe, but this doesn’t automatically apply to every part or to other models.
When you buy a new electrical appliance to replace an old one, France’s “one-for-one” take-back scheme allows you to return the old appliance, as explained by the DGCCRF and ecosystem. Ask the retailer how to arrange collection for your purchase, especially if it’s being delivered.