A single-basket model may work if your meal fits in one cooking chamber. Choose two zones to cook your main and side dishes separately, or a flexible basket if you also prepare larger cuts. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for more than five, but the stated capacity alone doesn’t guarantee you can cook everything in one go. A mini-oven style model is worth considering if you need several levels, provided you check that you have enough worktop space.
If you mainly cook one dish at a time, start by looking at the cooking surface of a single-basket model. For four people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L. If your main and side dishes need different settings, compare models with two zones instead.
For larger quantities, UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking at models with a capacity of 9 L or more. However, check the space available for each item of food: the total capacity of a dual-drawer model is split between its compartments.
A flexible drawer lets you cook two dishes separately or combine the space for a single dish. Moulinex and Philips product information describes both configurations; check the dimensions of the cooking chamber in the setup you’ll use most.
Choose this if: you mainly cook one dish at a time and can cook another batch if needed.
Bear in mind: a single cooking chamber can’t cook two dishes independently at the same time.
Choose this if: your main and side dishes need different settings and must cook at the same time.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split, so a large cut needs to fit in one of the drawers.
Choose this if: you switch between cooking two separate items and making a dish that needs a larger chamber.
Bear in mind: the usable space changes depending on whether the divider is in place or removed.
Choose this if: several trays or levels are more useful for your meals than two independent drawers.
Bear in mind: check where the appliance will go and how much clearance you’ll need to open the door.
| Priority | What to check | Think about your meals |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the cooking chamber’s capacity, shape and surface area. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for more than five; also check the size of the food you plan to cook. | I want to cook enough for everyone at home without stacking the food too high or having to cook a second batch. |
| Zone layout | Check the capacity of each compartment, whether you can set each one independently and, if needed, whether it has a synchronisation function. For a flexible drawer, compare both configurations. | The main and side dishes don’t always take the same time to cook. On other days, I need one large cooking chamber. |
| Kitchen space | Measure the space’s width, depth and height, then check how much clearance you’ll need to open the drawers or door. | I need to be able to use the appliance without blocking the worktop or cupboard doors. |
| Noise | Look for an operating noise measurement for the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir points out that ventilation is worth considering, particularly in a small space or open-plan kitchen. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise while I’m preparing a meal matters to me. |
| Cooking performance and energy use | Compare tests of the exact model using recipes and quantities similar to yours. Check electrical and thermal safety assessments separately. | I’d rather judge the cooking results and electricity used for my meals than make assumptions based on the stated power. |
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your food will fit in a layout that allows it to cook properly. UFC-Que Choisir notes that some appliances carrying this label have an actual capacity of less than 5 L.
Compare the shape of the cooking chamber and the space needed for your portions or largest items.
Two compartments let you cook different foods separately, but each item must fit in its own compartment.
If you also prepare large dishes, compare their dimensions with those of a flexible drawer in its open configuration.
The result depends on the appliance, recipe and quantity. A test using a small dish won’t necessarily show how it performs when cooking a family meal.
Look for measurements comparing the same recipe and quantity rather than relying on a general claim.
An appliance may take up more room in use than the footprint alone suggests. Its ventilation can also be audible in an open-plan kitchen, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Measure the space with the drawers or door open, and look for a noise measurement for the model you’re considering.
These examples show different configurations to compare; a feature listed for one model won’t necessarily apply to every product from the same brand.
The range includes dual and flexible drawers, as well as mini-oven style appliances.
The NA555/00 and NA565/02 suit two different needs: separate baskets or a convertible cooking chamber.
Ninja is one of the air fryer brands covered by UFC-Que Choisir. For a family meal, compare the specific model and how its capacity is divided.
This selection includes a single-basket model, dual-drawer appliances and a flexible cooking chamber. Compare them based on the meal you’re preparing and the space you have available.
Image unavailable
Cook two parts of a meal with different settings. The stated 9,5 L capacity is split between two 4,75 L drawers.
Check that your largest item will fit in one drawer, and allow enough space to open them.
Image unavailable
The stated 10 L chamber can be used as one large space or split into two 5 L zones, so you can switch between cooking one dish and preparing separate foods.
The usable space in a divided zone differs from that of the full chamber. Also check how much room you’ll need around the appliance.
Image unavailable
With two independent chambers and a stated total capacity of 9 L, it’s suited to meals made up of two dishes.
Check the usable capacity of each chamber for your main and side dishes, as well as the space the appliance will take up.
Image unavailable
Two independent 3,8 L drawers let you set different cooking programmes for each part of a meal. The stated total capacity is 7,6 L.
Each item needs to fit in its own drawer. Also check how much clearance you’ll need when they’re open.
Image unavailable
The single 7 L chamber is suited to meals that can cook using the same settings. A viewing window lets you keep an eye on your food as it cooks.
If your main and side dishes need different settings and must cook at the same time, compare a model with two zones instead. Check that you have enough worktop space.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for more than five. This is only a guide, and doesn’t guarantee you can cook everything in one go. Also compare the shape of the chamber, how much room the food takes up and, for a dual-drawer model, the capacity of each drawer.
Not if your dish needs to fit in one piece in a chamber larger than either drawer. Two zones are designed for cooking different foods at the same time, as UFC-Que Choisir explains. If you want to switch between this and cooking a large item, look at a flexible model and check the dimensions of its open chamber.
No: you need to compare the same recipe and quantity. In tests published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured average electricity use that was 36 % lower for a small quiche cooked in the air fryers tested than in a mini-oven. This result won’t necessarily apply to other meals or every model.
Look for a test of the exact model that includes an operating noise measurement and clear electrical and thermal safety checks. UFC-Que Choisir includes these checks in its air fryer testing process; a brand’s reputation alone doesn’t tell you how a particular model performs.