People who cook small batches
You mainly prepare small portions and want to clear your worktop after use. A compact air fryer could suit you if your meals don’t mainly rely on pans or large dishes.
Who are these options for?
People who like oven cooking
You regularly make pizzas, bakes, cakes or roasts and can set aside a permanent spot for a mini oven. If reheating food in the microwave is also part of your routine, look at the functions offered by a combination model.
Households planning a fitted kitchen
You want to keep your worktop clear and have a kitchen project that allows you to check the housing unit, ventilation and power supply before choosing a built-in appliance.
Which factors make the difference?
In a small kitchen, your choice depends as much on the cooking functions you need as on the space the appliance takes up when in use. The options below suit different meals and installation requirements.
Compact air fryer
Worth considering: if you mainly cook small batches and want to be able to put the appliance away after use.
The trade-off: it doesn’t provide a hob for cooking with pans, and the size of the food you can cook depends on the basket.
Mini oven
Worth considering: if pizzas, bakes and cakes matter more to you than reheating food in the microwave.
The trade-off: you’ll need to make room for the oven, its open door and any accessories.
Combination microwave
Worth considering: if you reheat food often and would also like to use a grill or fan oven, where the model offers these functions.
The trade-off: combining functions doesn’t remove the need for a stable position and the clearances specified in the instruction manual.
Compact built-in oven
Worth considering: if your fitted kitchen can accommodate the model and you want to free up worktop space.
The trade-off: the housing unit, installation and power supply must all be suitable for your chosen appliance; it isn’t a portable option.
| Factor | What to check before buying | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Essential cooking functions | Identify the functions you need for your meals, then check which dish sizes the appliance can accommodate. | If my meals call for a pan, a baked dish or microwave reheating, I want to choose an appliance that genuinely caters for those needs. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Space and storage | Measure the appliance, the space needed to open its door and the clearances specified in the instruction manual. | When the worktop is also used for food preparation, I want to be able to leave the appliance there without it getting in the way, or put it away once it has cooled. Available space comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Combined functions | Compare the modes actually offered and the usable capacity for the dishes you usually make. | If I want to remove an appliance from the kitchen, its functions need to suit the meals I actually cook. Reducing this overlap is the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Installation | For a built-in model, check the housing unit and installation instructions; also make sure the power supply is suitable for the appliance. | In a fitted kitchen, I need to know whether the oven I’m considering can be installed before I choose it. This compatibility is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Relying on the litre capacity without measuring your dishes
The stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that a tin or pizza will fit inside. For example, Moulinex says that one of its 7.5 L air fryers can fit a 24 cm pizza. The pizza size is what makes this information useful.
Measure the dishes you use often and compare them with the usable dimensions or the sizes the model can accommodate.
-
Assuming “multifunction” means “replaces everything”
An air fryer, mini oven or combination microwave may offer several modes without providing a hob for a frying pan or saucepan.
Make a note of the meals you usually cook and identify which need a hob, an oven or a microwave before getting rid of a dedicated appliance.
-
Measuring the appliance only when it’s closed
An open door, a tray that needs removing and accessories that need storing all take up space too. For example, Severin gives the dimensions of its TO 2067 mini oven as 29,5 × 44,5 × 38,5 cm, not including the space needed around it during use.
Measure the space with the appliance in use and check the instruction manual for clearance and ventilation requirements.
-
Treating a built-in oven like a countertop appliance
The housing unit and power supply must be suitable for the model. For the EVL9E2DGT, Electrolux specifies a housing unit measuring 450 × 560 × 550 mm and a total power rating of 3 000 W.
Before ordering, get confirmation of the installation diagram, ventilation requirements and electrical circuit compatibility. Promotelec notes that an oven and hob need dedicated circuits in a fitted kitchen.
If the existing housing unit or installation isn’t suitable for your plans, you may need to adapt the kitchen unit or make changes to the electrical installation.
Brands to consider for your project
Moulinex
Worth considering for a countertop air fryer, particularly if small batches or a grill function suit the meals you usually cook.
- Moulinex offers a 3,5 L Easy Fry Essential and a 7,5 L Easy Fry Compact: two different capacities to compare with the dishes you use.
- The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you the basket’s usable area or how much space you’ll need around the appliance.
Severin
Worth considering if you’re looking for a mini oven or microwave with several cooking modes.
- Severin gives the TO 2067 a capacity of 20 L and a power rating of around 1 500 W; the MW 7752 combines microwave, grill and fan oven functions.
- Sizes vary considerably between models: according to Severin, the TO 2073 mini oven measures 38,5 × 59,5 × 52,5 cm. Check the dimensions of the model you’re considering.
Electrolux
Worth considering for a compact built-in oven if your kitchen can accommodate a permanent installation.
- For the EVL9E2DGT, Electrolux specifies a housing unit measuring 450 × 560 × 550 mm and oven, grill and microwave functions.
- These specifications apply to this particular model: check its instruction manual and installation diagram against your kitchen unit and electrical installation.
Countertop appliances on Joybuy
These countertop appliances offer two ways to cook in a smaller space: prepare food using hot air or combine a microwave with other functions. Their sizes and modes suit different meals, so compare them with the space you have available.
Image unavailable
NINJA FN101EUGY Crispi Air Fryer
Worth considering for small batches if you want to move or store your appliance. Check the instruction manual for the space needed when it’s in use; it doesn’t replace a hob for cooking with pans.
Image unavailable
Cuisinart Compact Max AFS8OBLE, 7,6 L air fryer
Worth considering if you’re looking for an air fryer with a stated capacity of 7,6 L for several portions. Measure the space available and check that your dishes will fit in the basket: capacity alone won’t tell you.
Image unavailable
LG MJ3965ACS, 39 L combination microwave, black
Worth considering if you want to combine reheating with other cooking modes in a countertop appliance. It has a stated capacity of 39 L; check that it offers the functions you need for your meals, and that you have enough space and can meet the model’s installation requirements.
Image unavailable
Midea, 2 L air fryer, 1 150 W, black
Worth considering for small portions if you don’t need to cook a large batch. It has a stated capacity of 2 L and a power rating of 1 150 W; the title also mentions a 60-minute timer and a dishwasher-safe, non-stick basket. Check the space it takes up and the clearances in the instruction manual.
Image unavailable
Electrolux EMZ725MMTI Inverter, 25 L microwave with grill, Titanium
Worth considering if you reheat food often and would also like to use a grill. The title gives a capacity of 25 L and a power rating of 900 W; don’t choose it as a substitute for a fan oven without checking which modes it offers. Also check where it will go and the clearances specified in the instruction manual.
Frequently asked questions
Can a compact air fryer replace all my cooking appliances?
No. Even if some models combine several cooking modes, an air fryer doesn’t provide a hob for a saucepan. Before getting rid of an oven or another dedicated appliance, also check that the basket is big enough for the dishes you usually cook.
Do I need a dedicated circuit for a compact built-in oven?
For a fitted kitchen, Promotelec says that the oven needs a dedicated circuit. Before choosing a built-in model, get confirmation that your existing housing unit and electrical installation meet its installation requirements.
What should I do with my old cooking appliance when replacing it in France?
An old household appliance can be taken to a collection point for electrical and electronic equipment. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition says that a ‘one-for-one’ take-back service is offered when you buy a product of the same type. Ask about the take-back options available when you make your purchase.