An air fryer is a good choice if you want to roast or prepare crispy food without managing a bath of oil, provided you check the available space, cleaning requirements and fan noise. Two drawers are useful for serving two dishes with different settings; an air fryer mini oven is better suited to larger dishes and tray cooking, while a traditional deep-fat fryer remains an option for occasional frying if you are happy to handle hot oil.
You want to avoid a bath of oil, splashes and frying smells while still preparing chips, roasted vegetables or breaded food. An air fryer meets this need if you are happy to accept fan noise, the space it takes up and a texture that may not exactly match traditional frying. UFC-Que Choisir particularly highlights smells and splashes among the drawbacks of frying in oil.
A dual-drawer model can make it easier to prepare two foods with different cooking times or temperatures. However, check that each compartment suits your portion sizes; a removable divider is especially practical if you switch between two separate preparations and one larger dish.
For pizzas, chickens, family-sized dishes or recipes cooked on trays, an air fryer mini oven offers more possibilities than a deep drawer. In return, it needs more worktop space and comes with more accessories to wash and store.
Start with your usual portion sizes and the space available, then compare usable capacity, noise and the parts that need cleaning rather than focusing only on the number of programmes.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and oil | Compare the cooking method, how hot oil is handled and the cleaning required after a greasy recipe. A traditional deep-fat fryer uses a bath of oil, unlike a hot-air air fryer. | I want to prepare roasted or crispy food without the drawbacks of hot oil, splashes and frying smells. |
| Cooking results | Look for tests of the model using the recipes you cook, with a basket load similar to your usual portions. UFC-Que Choisir assesses appearance, texture and crispness for different preparations. | For my chips, vegetables or breaded food, the result matters more than the list of displayed programmes. |
| Usable capacity | Check the volume of each drawer, the internal dimensions and whether your dishes will fit. The total volume of a dual-drawer model does not necessarily correspond to one large cavity. | My main dishes and usual quantities must fit without having to cook several batches. |
| Noise and placement | Prioritise a comparable sound measurement with a stated distance, and measure your worktop. UFC-Que Choisir measures air fryer noise at 0.50 m as part of its testing protocol. | In an open-plan kitchen or small home, I want to avoid the fan disturbing meals or conversations. |
| Cleaning | Count the drawers, racks, trays and drip trays that need washing. Check the model’s instructions for dishwasher compatibility and keep utensils that have touched raw food separate from those used for cooked food. | I am looking for a format where I can wash every part after cooking greasy or marinated food. |
With a dual-drawer model, the total capacity is divided between two zones. A 7.1 L appliance may, for example, offer two 3.55 L baskets, so a large dish or whole chicken will not necessarily fit in a single zone.
List the three dishes you prepare most often and check the usable basket or cavity dimensions, the stated maximum weight and the portion examples for the exact model.
Two zones let you programme different foods, but they do not guarantee identical results from one basket to the other. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses synchronisation, including chips in one basket and drumsticks in the other.
Think of synchronisation as a convenient way to serve both foods together, and look for a model test that describes cooking performance in both baskets.
Convection relies on a fan. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking this into account, particularly in an open-plan kitchen or a small space.
Before buying, look for a noise measurement taken at a stated distance and consider the combined noise from other appliances being used at the same time.
A basket, rack, drip tray and tray mean more parts to clean. The cooking method does not remove the need to prevent cross-contamination.
Choose a format whose every component you are prepared to wash, and do not put cooked food back into dishes or utensils that have carried raw food, as recommended by Anses.
The range includes dual-compartment air fryers and adaptable formats. The Philips NA154/00 demonstrates a configuration that converts from two 3.55 L zones into a single 7.1 L cavity using a removable divider.
The Easy Fry range covers compact drawer models, appliances with a grill function and mini-oven formats. The EZ505D10 is an example of a 4.6 L model, while the AL605820 is presented by the brand as a 20 L oven format.
Ninja offers, among other options, dual-zone air fryers. Joybuy France describes the Double Stack SL300EU as a vertical model with two 3.8 L drawers, giving a total capacity of 7.6 L.
This selection brings together Joybuy air fryers with one or two drawers for everyday home meals, particularly when you want to coordinate a main dish and side or prepare one recipe at a time.
Image unavailable
For switching between two preparations and one large cavity, with advertised SYNC and DUAL modes.
Image unavailable
Suitable for serving a main dish and side at the same time, thanks to two differently sized baskets and the advertised synchronisation feature.
Image unavailable
Two independent drawers for preparing two recipes with separate settings.
Image unavailable
A single-drawer option for preparing one simple dish at a time, with an advertised cooking window.
Image unavailable
Two equal-sized baskets for cooking a main dish and side with separate settings.
No. An air fryer avoids the smells associated with a bath of oil, but it still cooks food and cannot guarantee a completely odour-free experience. It is particularly useful if you want to avoid handling oil; kitchen ventilation is still helpful.
Two drawers are worthwhile if you often cook two foods with different settings and want to serve them together. Check the size of each zone: a total capacity of 7 to 9 L may be divided into two compartments that are too small for your main dish. A removable divider may be a better fit if you also need one large cavity.
Look for a test that states the noise measurement taken during operation and the distance at which it was recorded. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0.50 m and also assesses it with three experts; this criterion is particularly important in an open-plan kitchen or small home.
It may be suitable if you often prepare pizzas, larger dishes, roasts or recipes across several levels. The manufacturer presents the Moulinex AL605820 with a 20 L cavity and several accessories, but this format needs more space and cleaning than a single drawer. Measure the worktop, the space in front of the door and where you will store the trays.
Follow the model’s instructions and wash the parts after preparing greasy or marinated food. Anses recommends not reusing dishes and utensils that have carried raw food for cooked food. A dishwasher-compatible part makes cleaning easier, but it does not replace these hygiene rules.