Start by choosing an air fryer based on the portions you need to cook in one batch, then check the space available, including room to open the drawer. A single basket works well for everyday meals cooked together; two cooking zones or a flexible basket can be useful if you switch between separate recipes and larger portions. Before adding another appliance to a kitchen that already has an oven, think about the meals you would actually prepare in it.
If you want to avoid cooking in several batches for three or more people, look at the usable cooking surface and the shape of the basket as well as its stated capacity. Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four, although the right amount also depends on the food you cook.
If two recipes need different cooking times or temperatures, separate adjustable zones can make cooking them easier. Check the space available in each zone and whether there’s a synchronise function if you want to serve both dishes at the same time.
If worktop space is limited, compare the width, depth and height, and check how much room you need to open the drawer. Also consider which meals you would cook in the air fryer instead of the oven: Que Choisir advises against adding an appliance if it would simply duplicate what you already have.
When choosing an air fryer, start with the amount of food and number of recipes you usually cook for the same meal. Then compare the appliance and its components with the space you have available.
Worth considering: for everyday portions that you’ll mainly cook in one go.
Bear in mind: there are no separate compartments for two recipes that need different settings.
Worth considering: for cooking a main and a side at the same time with different settings.
Bear in mind: each recipe needs to fit in its own drawer. A vertical design saves width, but needs more height and depth.
Worth considering: if you switch between cooking a larger meal and splitting food into two portions.
Bear in mind: the large drawer may be difficult to fit in your kitchen or clean, and the divider may not fully separate the cooking zones.
Worth considering: if multiple cooking levels and uses similar to a countertop oven suit the meals you usually make.
Bear in mind: this style can take up more space and may take time to get used to its different modes.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and batches | Compare your usual portions with the basket’s cooking surface and the amount of food your recipes call for, not just its capacity in litres. | If I’m cooking a meal for the whole household, I want to avoid cooking batch after batch without overfilling the basket. Around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Cooking different dishes at once | Check the settings for each zone, the synchronise function and the capacity of each compartment. | When a main and a side need different cooking settings, I want them to be ready at the same time. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the appliance with the drawer open, allow for the clearance specified in the instructions and check that the components fit in your sink or dishwasher. | In a kitchen where every centimetre counts, I’d prefer an appliance that’s easy to set up and clean every day. Around 21% of consumers would put this consideration first. |
| How it compares with an oven | Think about which meals you would genuinely move from the oven to the air fryer, and check that your dishes fit in the cooking space. | If I already have an oven, I want the air fryer to be useful regularly rather than taking up extra worktop space. Around 14% of consumers would put this question first. |
A high capacity in litres doesn’t tell you how much food you can cook properly in one batch. Que Choisir advises checking the usable capacity behind certain « XXL » labels, in particular.
Start with the recipes and portions you usually make, then check the basket shape, the space available for food and the guidance in the instructions.
A vertical dual-drawer model may be narrow but still tall and deep. A large basket can also be awkward to handle when removed for cleaning, as tests of specific models published by Les Numériques have shown.
Measure the space, the drawer opening and the ventilation clearance. Also check that the components fit in your sink or dishwasher.
A single basket gives you more room for one dish, but it doesn’t let you set different temperatures or cooking times for two recipes. Even with a divider, the zones may not be fully insulated from each other.
If you often cook two different dishes, check the controls and capacity for each zone. Otherwise, focus on finding a cooking surface that suits your main dish.
According to Que Choisir, the two appliances have overlapping uses, while an air fryer’s size may limit the dishes and quantities it can handle. Adding one without a specific use in mind could leave you with too many appliances.
Before buying, identify the regular meals you would cook in the air fryer and check that they’ll fit in the style you’re considering.
The points below relate to the models featured in tests by Les Numériques, not every appliance made by each brand.
The Easy Fry Smart & Silence 5 L is an example of a single-basket model for everyday cooking in households of two to four people.
The Double Stack SL400EU and Combi SFP700EU give you the option to compare a vertical dual-drawer model with a two-level design.
The Dual Blaze TwinFry model tested is an example of a flexible basket that lets you switch between cooking a larger meal and making two separate recipes.
The Smart Double Stack Air Fryer 12L model tested is a high-capacity vertical dual-basket air fryer.
These Joybuy models include single baskets, dual baskets and a flexible basket. Compare their stated capacities with your usual portions, then check how much space you’ll need in your kitchen.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to divide a meal between two drawers. The stated total capacity is 7,6 L; check the space in each drawer to make sure it suits your portions.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to divide a meal between two baskets. The stated capacity of 9 L is the total for both baskets, so check the dimensions of each one before planning your recipes.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you switch between cooking a larger meal and making two smaller recipes. Joybuy’s description of this TF101S says its 10 L basket can be used as one large compartment or split into two 5 L zones. Check that both configurations suit your portions.
Image unavailable
Compare this model for smaller everyday portions rather than cooking a family meal in one go. Its stated capacity is 3,2 L; check that your food will fit in the basket without needing extra batches.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook a single recipe in a larger quantity than a small basket allows. The stated capacity is 6,2 L; the basket shape and your recipes will determine whether you can cook the whole meal in one batch.
Choose a capacity that suits your household’s portions, then check the cooking surface. Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four; the basket shape, the food and the quantities specified in the instructions may still mean you need to cook in several batches.
No. It’s most useful when two recipes need different settings or need to finish cooking at the same time. If you’re cooking one larger dish, also compare a large basket or a flexible basket, and check that the cooking space can hold your usual amount.
Measure its width, height and depth, then allow for the ventilation and drawer-opening space specified in the instructions. A vertical model may take up less width, but need more height or depth.
It can take care of some meals you would usually cook in the oven, but not necessarily larger dishes or the same quantities. Que Choisir points out that the two appliances have overlapping uses, so identify the recipes you would regularly move to the air fryer before making room for one.
In France, an appliance sold by a business to an individual is covered by the legal guarantee of conformity if it doesn’t match the seller’s description. The Ministry of the Economy explains that this mandatory guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. Contact the seller and describe the difference you’ve found.