An air fryer deserves a place alongside your oven if you plan to use it regularly for smaller cooking jobs; otherwise, its functions may simply duplicate what you already have. For cooking one thing at a time, consider a single-drawer model. Two cooking zones come in handy if you often need to cook two items at once using different settings, provided each drawer and the whole appliance fit in your kitchen.
If you usually prepare one portion or a small meal, a single drawer may be enough. Check that your usual dishes fit in the basket, though: the stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much space there is for food.
Two independent cooking zones let you cook foods at different temperatures or for different lengths of time. If you want to serve them together, check that the model you choose also has a synchronisation function; having two drawers doesn’t guarantee this.
In a small kitchen or open-plan room, the appliance’s footprint, ventilation and cleaning all matter. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking ventilation noise into account, as it can vary between models.
Start with the foods you’d genuinely move from your oven to an air fryer, then check portion sizes, how many things you need to cook at once and how much space you have.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and usable capacity | Compare the volume and cooking surface of each basket with the quantities you prepare. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 l for a family of four. | If I have to cook several batches for an everyday meal, the appliance makes my week less straightforward. Around 33% of consumers prioritise being able to cook a full portion in one go. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check that the settings can be controlled independently, the size of each zone and, if needed, whether the cooking times can be synchronised. | When two parts of a meal need different cooking times, I want to be able to serve them together. This is the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| A different role from the oven | Think about the smaller cooking jobs you’d often do in the air fryer rather than the oven. Don’t assume it will save electricity overall based on a single dish. | Before adding another appliance, I want to know whether it will regularly take over from my oven. For around 20% of consumers, avoiding duplication comes before other criteria. |
| Space and everyday convenience | Measure the space, check the clearance and cleaning instructions, and look for a sound test if noise matters to you. | In an open-plan or small kitchen, I don’t want an appliance I use often to get in the way of meal preparation. Installation and maintenance are the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that it performs jobs your oven already does. Electricity consumption results observed for tested dishes don’t necessarily apply to every meal.
Make a note of the smaller cooking jobs you could genuinely use it for over the course of a week. If your meals mainly involve large oven dishes, keep the oven as your main appliance.
Even an appliance you rarely use will take up space on the worktop or in a cupboard.
On a two-drawer model, the stated capacity may be split between two compartments. So a large total capacity doesn’t mean that each part of your meal will fit in its own zone.
Check the volume and cooking surface of each basket, then compare them with your usual dishes before choosing between one large drawer and two separate zones.
The fan may be audible while the air fryer is cooking. UFC-Que Choisir notes that noise levels differ between models and points out that a brief in-store test won’t tell you much about how disruptive it may be.
If noise matters in your kitchen, look for an independent test or measurement of the model you’re considering, as well as checking its dimensions.
Air frying and traditional deep-fat frying serve different purposes. UFC-Que Choisir says an air fryer may not reproduce the taste and crispness you get from cooking in hot oil.
If that texture is your priority, don’t choose an air fryer assuming it will replace your traditional deep-fat fryer.
These models cover two of the uses discussed here: cooking a meal in one basket or cooking two items at once in separate zones. First, choose the format that suits your meals. You’ll still need to check the stated capacity, settings and dimensions of each model.
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Worth considering if you cook two parts of a meal at once: the product details list two 3.8 L drawers with independent controls and six functions. If both dishes need to finish at the same time, confirm that this model has a synchronisation function. Also check the cleaning instructions for the baskets and the clearance needed for installation.
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This single-drawer model is better suited to a small cooking job than to cooking two things with separate settings. Its stated capacity is 3.2 L; the product details list a 30-minute timer and a maximum temperature of 200 °C. Allow for the 100 mm clearance specified around the appliance when choosing where to put it. If your kitchen is open-plan, look for information about its noise level in use, too.
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Consider this model if you’d like to cook a larger quantity in one basket and don’t need two independent sets of controls. The product details list a 7.6 L capacity, seven functions and a reminder to shake the food. Compare the cooking surface with your usual dishes rather than estimating portion sizes from the stated capacity alone, and check the external dimensions before deciding where to put it.
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This single-drawer model is designed for meals cooked in one basket. Its title lists a 4 L capacity, eight pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the clearance needed for installation and the cleaning instructions for removable parts, especially if you plan to use it often.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two things at once: the description lists two baskets with independent time and temperature settings. The stated capacity and basket configuration are inconsistent, so ask the retailer to confirm the actual usable capacity of each zone before deciding on portion sizes. If you want both dishes to finish at the same time, check whether their end times can be synchronised, too.
Not necessarily. It can take care of the smaller cooking jobs you do often, while your oven remains better suited to dishes and quantities that won’t fit in its basket. UFC-Que Choisir found differences in electricity consumption depending on the dishes and appliances tested; don’t assume one result applies to all your meals.
Choose two zones if you often cook two things at once that need different settings. A large single basket is better suited to giving you space for one dish. Either way, check the usable cooking surface. With two drawers, check the capacity of each zone separately, as well as whether there’s a synchronisation function if you need one.
Measure the available space and follow the clearance instructions in the model’s manual. If the fan might bother you, look for an independent test or measurement: UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer testing protocol includes a noise measurement taken at 0.50 m.
No. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) explains that the CE marking is not a certification mark. When choosing an air fryer, assess the features that matter for your meals separately and, if possible, look for tests of the specific model you’re considering.