Who is this for?

Single-portion cooks short on worktop space

If you usually make one pie at a time, the oven needs to fit both your kitchen and your dish. Which? describes mini ovens as an option for small kitchens and shared accommodation.

Cooks using a separate pie dish

If you want to cook in an oven-safe ceramic or metal dish, measure its handles and filled height. A stated oven capacity does not tell you whether that dish will fit on the rack.

Cooks interested in quick preheat and multiple modes

If you also want to make toast or other small meals, a multifunction countertop oven may suit your routine. Check cookware restrictions before choosing one for pie: A 5 cm dish-height limit is listed for the Ninja SP101UK.

What matters when choosing?

Conventional mini oven

Choose when: You want bake and grill controls for a pie in your own oven-safe dish, with rack space and height that you can confirm before buying.

Trade-off: A larger model occupies more worktop, while a very small one leaves less room for the dish; neither its litre capacity nor its external dimensions prove the dish will fit.

Air-fryer-style countertop oven

Choose when: Your portion fits a shallow oven-safe dish or tray and you expect to use the appliance’s other cooking modes.

Trade-off: Dish height can rule out a deeper pie. A maximum suitable dish height of 5 cm is specified for the Ninja SP101UK.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Dish fit and worktop space Measure your dish, including handles and filled height, against the usable rack dimensions. Check the oven’s external dimensions against the space available. I need my usual pie dish to fit without giving over too much worktop to the oven. Around 42% of consumers would put dish fit and space first.
Cooking and reheating Check for suitable bake or roast controls and follow the recipe or packet instructions. When reheating, check that the centre is steaming hot. If I cook ahead, I want to brown the topping without merely warming the middle of the pie. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise cooking and thorough reheating.
Preheat and other uses Compare the cooking modes with meals you actually make, then check maximum dish height, external depth and cleaning access. I would use the oven for more than pie, so its other modes matter to me as well. Around 25% of consumers would put preheat and multi-use cooking first.

Buying pitfalls

  • Assuming litre capacity proves a dish will fit

    A dish can be too wide, deep or tall for the usable rack space even when the stated capacity sounds sufficient.

    Measure the dish you intend to use, including handles and filled height, and confirm the oven’s usable rack dimensions before ordering.

  • Choosing quick preheat without checking dish height

    Quick preheat does not change a physical cookware limit. The Ninja SP101UK is listed as suitable for dishes up to 5 cm high.

    If your pie dish is deeper, confirm compatibility with the manufacturer or choose an oven with sufficient verified clearance.

  • Relying on a programme or timer alone

    Dish depth, portion size and starting temperature affect cooking time. GOV.UK advises following recipe or packet instructions and checking that food is cooked completely; its reheating guidance says food should be steaming hot all the way through.

    Check the centre before serving, using a clean food thermometer where appropriate.

Brands to consider

Quest

Quest has conventional mini-oven models at different sizes. The 35409A is listed at 9 litres and the 35389 at 20 litres, giving buyers different worktop-space and capacity considerations.

  • A 100°C–230°C temperature range and a timer are listed for both models.
  • Check the usable rack dimensions against your pie dish; the stated capacities and external dimensions cannot confirm its fit.

Dualit

The Dualit 89220 is a larger conventional countertop option. It is listed at 22 litres with five functions.

  • The listing specifies a non-stick interior and removable crumb tray.
  • Allow for its listed 410 × 440 × 290 mm external dimensions, and confirm that your dish fits the usable interior.

Ninja

The Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 Flip SP101UK is a multifunction countertop oven and air fryer to consider for a shallow portion.

  • Eight functions, a removable crumb tray and an advertised 60-second preheat are listed.
  • The same listing specifies dishes up to 5 cm high. Check that limit against your filled pie dish before choosing this model.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

What oven capacity do I need for one shepherd’s pie?

No litre figure alone can confirm that your pie dish will fit. Conventional Quest and Dualit examples are listed at 9, 20 and 22 litres, but you should measure your actual dish and compare it with the oven’s usable rack width, depth and height before buying.

Can I cook shepherd’s pie in an air-fryer-style countertop oven?

Yes, if the appliance has a suitable cooking mode and your oven-safe dish fits its stated limits. For the Ninja SP101UK, dishes up to 5 cm high are specified, so do not assume a deeper pie dish will fit.

How do I check that a shepherd’s pie is cooked or reheated thoroughly?

Follow the recipe or packet instructions and check the centre before serving. GOV.UK advises checking that food is cooked completely and says reheated food should be steaming hot all the way through, rather than merely warmed.

Should I reject an oven just because it carries a CE rather than a UKCA mark?

Not on that basis alone. Department for Business and Trade guidance for Great Britain, updated in August 2026, says CE marking continues to be recognised alongside or in place of UKCA marking for many product categories. Check the requirements applicable to the specific appliance; Northern Ireland has different market arrangements.