An air fryer can replace a deep fat fryer for portions you want to cook using hot air, without having to manage a vat of oil. Just make sure its capacity suits your meals, and that you’re happy with its noise and the space it takes up. If your oven already handles your usual dishes with ease, there’s no need to add another appliance for the same purpose: UFC-Que Choisir notes that their functions overlap. In its tests on a small quiche, the air fryers tested used less electricity than a mini oven for the same quantity. However, this result won’t apply to every recipe or batch.
An air fryer’s appeal mainly depends on the size of the portions you cook and how much room it would take up alongside your oven.
For one or two people, a single basket can be a good option for regular cooking without a vat of oil. Just check that your portions fit without being piled too high, and consider the fan noise and how much room you’ll need to store the appliance.
A dual-drawer model lets you keep two foods separate while cooking them at the same time, as UFC-Que Choisir explains. However, the total capacity doesn’t tell you whether each dish will fit in its drawer, so check the size of the cooking zones before choosing this style.
If you mainly cook small quantities, compare using an air fryer with using your oven. UFC-Que Choisir also advises against buying more appliances than you need: if your oven already does the job, another appliance may not be worth the space in your kitchen.
Start with the meals you usually cook, then compare the quantities with the appliance’s usable cooking space and the room available in your kitchen.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the space available for the food, not just the advertised capacity in litres. For four people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L; for more than five people, its guideline is 9 L or more. Check the size of your dishes, too. | I want to cook my usual quantity without having to make several batches or pile the food too high. |
| How you organise a meal | A single drawer suits cooking one dish at a time; two drawers keep foods separate while they cook simultaneously. For an oven-style model, check the racks, shelf positions and how much usable space there really is. | If the main dish and side need different cooking times, I’d like to be able to serve them together. |
| Using your oven and electricity | Compare the same recipe and quantity, including all the batches needed. In a 2024 test, UFC-Que Choisir measured average electricity consumption for a small quiche that was 36% lower with the air fryers tested than with a mini oven. This figure doesn’t apply to every meal. | Do I mainly use my oven for small portions, or do I regularly cook dishes that wouldn’t fit in the basket? |
| Noise and where to put it | Look for a noise test of the model you’re considering and measure the space on your worktop. UFC-Que Choisir highlights how important fan noise can be in an open-plan kitchen or a small space. | In my open-plan kitchen, a fan you can hear while cooking could matter more than extra programmes. |
| Cleaning and deep frying | Check which parts can be removed and which are actually dishwasher-safe. An air fryer means you don’t have to manage a vat of oil, but you’ll still need to clean the basket and accessories. | I want to avoid handling and storing frying oil, without choosing an appliance that’s a pain to clean after every meal. |
A large advertised capacity doesn’t guarantee that a dish will fit in a drawer, or that food can be spread out without piling it too high. UFC-Que Choisir stresses the importance of usable capacity when judging how much you can actually cook.
Compare the internal dimensions of each cooking zone with the dishes you usually use, and measure the space you have for the appliance, too.
If a portion doesn’t fit properly, you may have to cook it in several batches.
Results depend on what you’re cooking and how many batches you need. UFC-Que Choisir’s test on a small quiche, comparing the same quantity with a mini oven, won’t predict how much electricity a family meal will use in a different appliance.
To compare an air fryer with your oven, factor in your usual quantity and add up the energy used for all the air fryer cooking cycles you’ll need.
Hot-air cooking uses a fan. UFC-Que Choisir notes that its noise is worth considering, particularly in an open-plan kitchen or a small space.
If this matters to you, look for a noise measurement or detailed test of the exact model, and think about where you’ll use it.
A claim made for a particular appliance and dish won’t necessarily reflect your results with a different recipe or quantity.
Don’t base your choice on nutrition claims. For cooking performance or electricity use, look for independent tests using quantities similar to your own.
These brands offer different air fryer styles. Features vary by model, so be sure to check the specific appliance you’re considering.
The range lets you compare a single basket with a dual-drawer model, depending on the quantity you cook and how you like to organise a meal.
Its oven-style appliances are worth considering if you’d prefer trays or multiple shelf levels to a basket.
The brand features in UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer tests, but that doesn’t mean the results for one model apply to the whole range.
These options include a single-basket model for smaller portions, several dual-drawer models for keeping dishes separate, and an oven-style design. Compare them with the space you have and how you currently use your oven.
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The two baskets let you keep different parts of a meal separate. The advertised 9 L capacity is the total for both baskets, so check the size of each one against the dishes you usually cook. Consider the noise level, too, if you’ll be using it in an open-plan kitchen.
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This two-drawer model is worth considering if you want to cook two foods separately. Its advertised total capacity is 9.5 L, so compare the size of the drawers with your usual portions. Before buying, check the washing instructions for the baskets for this specific model.
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The two drawers make it easy to cook separate dishes, and the advertised total capacity is 7.6 L. Check that your usual quantities will fit in the available cooking zones, and ask for the washing instructions for the baskets for this specific model.
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This 4 L single-basket model is worth comparing with the smaller portions you usually cook. It has eight modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Depending on what matters most to you, check its dimensions, noise level and cleaning instructions for the removable parts.
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This 11 L oven-style model is worth considering if you’d prefer a cavity to a drawer. Check that the internal space suits your dishes and that you have room for the appliance in your kitchen. Before comparing features, confirm the exact variant: FW5018 or FW501815.
Not for every meal. It can work well for smaller portions, while an oven is still useful for dishes or batches that won’t fit inside the air fryer. UFC-Que Choisir notes that their functions overlap, so compare how you use them before adding another appliance.
Start with the quantity you want to cook in one go, then check the usable space in each basket. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for more than five people, while stressing that usable capacity matters more than an ‘XXL’ label.
It can be noticeable in an open-plan kitchen or a small space. UFC-Que Choisir highlights fan noise and measures it from 50 cm away in its testing. If a quiet kitchen matters to you, look for a test of the specific model you’re considering.
An air fryer means you don’t have to handle or store a vat of oil, but the basket, drawer or accessories still need cleaning. Check which parts are removable and which are dishwasher-safe for the model you’re considering.