If your oven already suits the dishes you cook and worktop space is at a premium, keeping it can help you avoid buying an appliance with similar functions. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this risk of duplication. For frequent small batches, a basket-style air fryer could be useful; if your dishes need an oven cavity, compare a mini oven with a combined oven and air fryer. In every case, check portion sizes, the space needed to use the appliance and how easy it is to clean before making room for it.
If your oven handles the dishes you usually cook, consider which smaller cooking tasks would genuinely justify adding another appliance. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can overlap with an oven’s functions.
If you need a cavity for the dishes you cook regularly, compare the space taken up by a small mini oven and a combined oven and air fryer, as well as the dishes each can accommodate.
For small batches, check how much food the basket can hold and which parts need cleaning, rather than choosing based solely on the number of programmes.
Start with the dishes your current oven doesn’t handle as you’d like, then weigh up each alternative against the space it needs and the steps involved in using it.
| Criterion | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Distinct use | Identify the cooking tasks your existing oven doesn’t handle as you’d like. Compare the functions you’ll genuinely use, without assuming every dish will use less electricity: UFC-Que Choisir’s test results depend on the food being prepared and the appliances compared. | My oven already suits the meals I cook regularly, so keeping the worktop clear may matter more than adding an appliance with similar functions. |
| Space when in use | Measure the space, then allow room to open the door or remove the basket, as well as the clearances specified in the manual. Severin says the TO 2052 mini oven measures 20,6 × 35,8 × 31 cm, in height × width × depth; these measurements don’t include the space needed to use it. | I want to be able to cook without permanently taking over the worktop or blocking access to other appliances. |
| Portions and dishes | Compare the stated quantity for a particular food with your portion sizes, or check your dishes’ dimensions against a mini oven’s cavity. Philips says the 3,2 L NA210/00 can cook up to 400 g of chips and notes that the maximum quantity varies depending on the food and model. | A basket may suit me for small batches; if I use oven dishes or a rack, their shape and whether they fit in the cavity become key considerations. |
| Oven functions | Check for the cooking modes your recipes need. According to their product specifications, the 9 L Severin TO 2052 doesn’t have a fan-assisted setting, while the 19 L Moulinex Optimo OX444810 does. | If I don’t have a suitable oven, I’d rather choose a cavity and cooking modes that suit my dishes than rely on the word ‘compact’. |
| Cleaning | Check separately which parts need cleaning: the basket, rack, tray and cavity. Check whether each part is dishwasher-safe. Moulinex says the EZ145820’s basket is, but that doesn’t apply to every part of every appliance it makes. | I want to be able to clean the parts I use regularly and store the accessories without taking up even more kitchen space. |
| Installation | Check the manual for your chosen model to find out about clearances and how to connect it. Compare the appliance’s electrical requirements with the socket and installation you plan to use. | Before I buy, I need to know I can position, open and plug in the appliance in my kitchen without having to improvise. |
UFC-Que Choisir warns against buying more appliances than you need: an air fryer may duplicate the functions of an oven that already meets your household’s needs.
Make a note of the cooking tasks your oven doesn’t handle well. If they don’t justify a dedicated appliance, stick with the oven you have.
Even if you rarely use it, a second appliance takes up permanent space if it stays on the worktop.
Capacity doesn’t tell you whether your dishes will fit, or how much space you’ll need in front of the appliance to open the door or remove the basket.
Measure the space and your dishes, then compare them with the dimensions and installation guidance for the specific model. For a basket-style appliance, also check the stated quantity for the foods you prepare.
An appliance that’s too small for your portions may mean cooking in several batches.
The energy-use comparisons published by UFC-Que Choisir cover specific dishes and appliances; they don’t describe every meal a household cooks.
To assess energy use, compare the same dish and quantity using the appliances in question. Don’t assume one test result applies to all your cooking.
A dishwasher-safe basket doesn’t mean the rack, tray or other parts of the appliance are dishwasher-safe too.
Check the cleaning instructions for each part you use, and see which accessories you’ll also need to store.
Regular cleaning and storing accessories take time and space.
These models show some of the different formats available; their features shouldn’t automatically be assumed to apply to every model from the same brand.
The Series 2000 NA210/00 is a 3,2 L basket-style air fryer worth considering for smaller portions.
The basket-style Easy Fry Compact EZ145820 and the 19 L Optimo OX444810 mini oven suit different shapes of food and cooking needs.
The TO 2052 is a 9 L mini oven, while the TO 2077 combines oven and air fryer functions in a 25 L format.
These four 2 to 5 L air fryers and one 23 L mini oven let you compare different formats with your household’s portion sizes and the space available.
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Compare the 2 L capacity with your usual smaller portions and the space you can set aside for a basket-style appliance. The product title lists a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer; check the dimensions before deciding where to put it.
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If you’re considering a 4 L basket, compare its capacity with your portion sizes and the space available rather than assuming it will fit on your worktop. The product title lists eight pre-set programmes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C; check the manual for cleaning instructions for the parts you use.
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Compare the 5 L basket with the amount you usually cook, especially if you’re cooking for a small household. The product title mentions a Steam Box, a viewing window and a non-stick basket; measure the space available before choosing this format.
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This mini oven is worth considering if you need a cavity for your dishes rather than a basket, particularly if you don’t have a suitable oven. It has a stated capacity of 23 L; compare the dimensions of your dishes and the space needed to open the door with the appliance’s dimensions.
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If you have a small household, check whether a 5 L basket suits the batches you cook before making room for it. The product title lists a power rating of 1450 W, touch controls and six automatic programmes; also check the appliance’s overall dimensions.
Measure the width, depth and height of the space, then allow room to open the door or remove the basket. Check the manual for your specific model to find out what ventilation clearances it needs: the external dimensions alone don’t tell you how much space is required while it’s in use.
No. You also need to check the stated quantity for the food in question and how much space it takes up in the basket or cavity. Philips says the NA210/00 has a 3,2 L cooking chamber and can cook up to 400 g of chips, while noting that the maximum quantity varies depending on the food and model.
Follow the connection instructions in the manual and compare the appliance’s electrical requirements with the socket and installation you plan to use. Don’t assume an extension lead is suitable simply because the wall socket is difficult to reach.
Look at each part you’ll use separately: the basket, rack, tray and cavity. Moulinex says the EZ145820’s basket is dishwasher-safe; check the instructions for the other parts and the model you’re considering.
According to the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, the legal guarantee of conformity covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer in France; you must make a claim to the seller. Any commercial guarantee is in addition to this and doesn’t replace it.