For one or two people who often cook small portions, a single-drawer air fryer with a capacity of 3 to 4 L is worth considering: UFC-Que Choisir associates this size with everyday portions for these households. If your oven already does the job and you’d rarely use a second appliance, buying one could simply mean doubling up. A dual-drawer model makes more sense if you regularly cook two foods with different settings. Either way, check how much space you’ll need, how noisy the model is and how easy it is to clean.
If you mostly cook everyday portions, the question is whether you’ll use a small basket often enough to avoid turning on your full-sized oven. UFC-Que Choisir suggests a capacity of 3 to 4 L as a starting point for this kind of use.
If two foods need different settings, separate cooking zones can be useful. UFC-Que Choisir describes this as a use for dual-drawer models, but it’s worth checking whether you’ll need them often enough to justify the space they take up.
On a narrow worktop or in an open-plan kitchen, where you’ll put the appliance, how its fan runs and which parts need cleaning matter just as much as its stated capacity. UFC-Que Choisir includes ease of cleaning among its buying criteria and recommends paying attention to noise.
Start with the meals your oven already cooks, then check whether the format you’re considering will fit where you plan to use it.
| Criterion | What to check | Who might prioritise this? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and oven use | Compare your portions with the basket’s usable surface area and volume. UFC-Que Choisir suggests a single basket of 3 to 4 L as a starting point for one or two people. | If I usually cook a small portion, I want to know whether a compact basket will genuinely take the place of my oven day to day. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this question of use and capacity. |
| Space and ventilation | Measure the appliance with its drawer open and check the clearance required in its own instruction manual. | If there’s little space under my cupboards or on my worktop, I need to be able to position the appliance and remove its basket without difficulty. Available space would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Cooking two foods at once | Check the capacity of each zone, whether the settings are independent and, if it matters to you, whether the cooking times can be synchronised. | When the two parts of my meal need different settings, I’d rather cook them at the same time than prepare several batches. Around 21% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Noise and cleaning | Look for an independent noise measurement for the model you’re considering, and check which parts the instruction manual says are dishwasher-safe. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to use the appliance regularly without its noise or cleaning becoming a chore. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise these practical considerations. |
A high stated capacity doesn’t tell you on its own how much food will fit in the basket. UFC-Que Choisir recommends starting with the portions you usually cook: for one or two people, a single basket of 3 to 4 L is a useful guide.
Check the basket’s usable surface area and volume, and only opt for a larger format if your meals regularly need more space.
A larger appliance also takes up more room on your worktop or in a cupboard.
Like an oven, an air fryer cooks food using hot air. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering the overlap between these appliances before buying one.
Think about which meals a compact basket or two separate zones would genuinely change the way you cook. If you’d rarely use it for this, sticking with your oven may make more sense.
A second appliance that sees little use still takes up space and needs cleaning.
You’ll also need room to open the drawer and leave the clearance specified for the model you choose. The Philips NA229 manual reproduced by ManualsLib calls for at least 10 cm of clear space behind, beside and above this model; this measurement doesn’t automatically apply to other appliances.
Measure the space with the drawer open, and follow the positioning and ventilation instructions in the exact model’s manual before setting it up.
Noise levels and cleaning instructions vary between models. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise as part of its testing, while dishwasher compatibility needs to be checked for the parts of each individual model.
For an open-plan kitchen, look for an independent test of the model you’re considering. If you’ll use it often, find out which parts can be removed and read their cleaning instructions.
The range includes air fryers in different sizes. Philips identifies the Series 2000 NA229/00, in particular, as a 4.2 L model.
The Easy Fry range includes dual-drawer models. Moulinex lists 5.2 L and 3.1 L drawers for the Easy Fry Dual shown in its documentation.
Ninja is among the brands covered in UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer testing references.
These single-basket and dual-zone models let you compare a format for everyday portions with appliances designed to cook two foods for the same meal. If your oven already covers these needs, first consider whether you’d use a second appliance regularly.
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Worth considering if you mostly cook one or two portions and want a single basket: its 4 L capacity matches UFC-Que Choisir’s guide for this type of use.
The product title lists eight pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Before making room for it, check its dimensions and the required clearances in the manual. If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a noise measurement too.
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For small portions, check that your usual meals will fit in its 2 L basket: this capacity is below UFC-Que Choisir’s suggested 3 to 4 L guide for one or two people.
The product title mentions a 60-minute timer, a non-stick basket and dishwasher compatibility, which you should confirm in the manual for the relevant parts. Check the model’s dimensions and set-up instructions as well.
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A dual-drawer model is worth considering if you regularly cook two different foods for the same meal. If you usually prepare just one small portion, think about whether you’ll make use of the capacity.
The product title gives a total capacity of 7.6 L and six functions. Check the DZ300EU manual for its dimensions and required clearances, as well as the cleaning instructions for its baskets.
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If you’d like the option of switching between one large zone and two separate cooking zones, consider this convertible format in light of the meals you usually prepare. However, with a stated capacity of 10 L, check carefully that you have enough room for it, especially if you cook small portions.
Before choosing the TF101S, check the manual for how to configure the zones, ventilation clearances and cleaning instructions. The information for this model recommends hand-washing.
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This dual-basket model is mainly suited to cooking two foods for the same meal. If you usually prepare just one small portion, compare its footprint with that of a single-basket model.
The product title lists a total capacity of 9 L, a power rating of 2,400 W, eight programmes and independent temperature control. Check the manual for this model for its dimensions, ventilation requirements and basket cleaning instructions.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a single basket of 3 to 4 L is a good starting point for everyday portions for one or two people. However, check the basket’s usable surface area and height, along with the maximum load listed in the manual, to make sure your usual meals will fit.
Yes. Follow the clearances specified in the manual for the model you buy. For the Philips NA229, the manual reproduced by ManualsLib calls for at least 10 cm of clear space behind, beside and above the appliance, with nothing placed on top. It also says to use a flat, level and stable surface. Don’t apply these measurements to another model without checking its manual.
Find out which parts can be removed and which ones the manual explicitly says are dishwasher-safe. Moulinex recommends unplugging the appliance and allowing it to cool completely before cleaning. It also advises against using abrasive tools on non-stick coatings.
No. In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. A commercial repairability promise or manufacturer’s guarantee is separate from this legal protection, so read its terms before you buy.