To avoid handling an oil bath, consider an air fryer for recipes suitable for circulating hot-air cooking, without expecting a completely odour-free kitchen. A single drawer is suitable for preparing one dish at a time, while two drawers make it easier to cook two foods with different settings. A mini-oven format may be more suitable for dishes cooked on racks or trays.
You prepare chips, breaded foods or roasted ingredients, but want to avoid an oil bath and the associated handling. An air fryer is worth considering, without assuming that it eliminates all cooking odours. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the smell of frying can put some users off deep-fat fryers.
Two drawers can be useful for cooking, for example, chips and chicken, vegetables or fish with different cooking times. However, check the usable size of each drawer, not just the advertised total capacity.
Measure your worktop, allow for the clearances specified for the appliance and consider the noise from the fan. UFC-Que Choisir includes noise among the factors to consider before buying an air fryer.
Start with the recipes and portions you actually plan to prepare, then check the available space, noise levels and which parts need cleaning.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Recipes and load | Compare the recommended load, internal dimensions and shaking instructions. For chips, the UFC-Que Choisir testing protocol considers, in particular, the quantity specified in the instructions and a basket filled to two-thirds. | I want to know whether my chips, roasted foods, quiches, cakes or drumsticks will fit in the appliance without overcrowding them. |
| Oil bath and odours | Check that your recipes are suitable for circulating hot-air cooking. A deep-fat fryer remains suitable for recipes that require genuine immersion in oil. | I want to avoid buying, storing, cooling and handling an oil bath, while still maintaining suitable ventilation in the kitchen. |
| Noise | Look for a measurement or test of the exact model carried out under stated conditions. UFC-Que Choisir measures the noise of its tests at 0.50 m from the appliance. | In an open-plan or compact kitchen, I want to keep fan noise to a minimum while cooking. |
| Cleaning and storage | Check which parts are genuinely removable, whether they are dishwasher-safe and how much space the drawers, trays or racks take up. Repairability commitments and accessories vary by model. | I am looking for an appliance whose parts are easy to wash and store in my kitchen. |
The ventilation required for cooking can be disruptive in an open-plan or small room, and a quick in-store test does not always reflect everyday use.
Look for a noise measurement or an independent test of the exact model, and consider other appliances that may be running at the same time.
On a dual-drawer appliance, the capacity may be divided between zones of different sizes. Overfilling can also affect cooking evenness.
Compare the recommended load, the size of the food you plan to cook and the dimensions of each zone. For chips, follow the manufacturer’s shaking instructions.
Hot-air cooking avoids an oil bath, but odour also depends on the food, the recipe and the ventilation in your home.
If odour is your main concern, check the efficiency of your extractor hood, the room’s ventilation and the recipes you cook most often.
Energy consumption depends on the recipe, the load and the comparison method. Likewise, dishwasher-safe parts and removable components differ from one appliance to another.
Consult the instructions or product details for the exact model to check the programmes, included accessories and washable parts.
The range includes dual-drawer air fryers, including 8 L and 11 L formats with synchronisation functions, as well as a compact vertical format with two drawers.
The brand offers single-drawer air fryers, including XL and XXL formats designed for larger family-sized preparations.
Ninja is among the manufacturers featured in the French air-fryer market reviewed by UFC-Que Choisir.
This selection brings together single- and dual-drawer Joybuy air fryers for recipes suitable for hot-air cooking, with particular attention to capacity, cooking zones and cleaning.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two preparations with different cooking times or temperatures.
Two independent 4.75 L drawers, six functions and non-stick baskets advertised as dishwasher-safe. Stated dimensions: 32.5 × 41.5 × 27 cm.
Check the noise level and results with your usual quantities, particularly in an open-plan kitchen.
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This format is suitable for households that regularly prepare two different recipes at the same time.
Two independent 4.5 L baskets, advertised Sync function, touch controls, eight programmes and independent temperature adjustment.
Check the external dimensions, ventilation clearances and results at full capacity before choosing.
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Consider it for cooking different ingredients simultaneously in two separate chambers.
Advertised total capacity of 9 L, ten menus and removable non-stick baskets.
Check how the 9 L capacity is divided, the usable dimensions of each chamber, the footprint and the noise level for your kitchen.
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This single-basket model is better suited to one main preparation per cycle or to cooking in batches.
5 L basket, 1450 W power, temperature adjustment from 80 to 200 °C, six automatic programmes and a non-stick basket advertised as dishwasher-safe.
It does not have a second independent zone; also check its dimensions and noise level.
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Worth considering for small portions or one recipe at a time when worktop space is limited.
Single 3.2 L drawer, 30-minute timer, temperature adjustable up to 200 °C and removable basket advertised as dishwasher-safe. Dimensions: 368 × 273 × 293 mm.
A minimum clearance of 100 mm is specified; compare the capacity with your portions and check the model’s noise level.
No, you should not expect it to be completely odour-free. UFC-Que Choisir states that the smell of frying can encourage some users to move away from deep-fat frying, but this does not guarantee an odour-free kitchen with an air fryer. Ensure suitable ventilation, particularly when cooking strongly scented foods.
List the foods and quantities you prepare in each batch, then compare them with the internal dimensions and recommended load in the instructions. Under the UFC-Que Choisir protocol, chip tests take into account the quantity specified in the instructions as well as a basket filled to two-thirds. The number of litres alone is therefore not enough to predict the result.
No. Two drawers are useful when two foods require different settings or need to finish at the same time. If you usually cook one preparation or small portions, a single drawer may be enough. Also examine the size of each drawer, as the total capacity may be divided unevenly.
Look for a measurement or independent test of the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir measures the noise of its tests at 50 cm from the appliance, providing a more useful reference than briefly switching it on in a shop. In an open-plan kitchen, consider how close it is to your living space.