For three to four people, Que Choisir recommends starting with a 6 L air fryer, then checking that the basket’s surface area suits the dishes you usually cook. If you often prepare two parts of a meal at the same time, consider a dual-drawer model; for a large joint or a wide dish, look instead at a flexible cooking cavity or a compact oven. Measure the space available, too, and check cooking and cleaning tests for the model you’re considering: the stated capacity alone isn’t enough to distinguish between appliances.
The number of people you’re serving is a useful starting point, but the size of each dish determines whether it will fit in the basket.
If you mainly cook one part of the meal at a time, a single drawer may be enough. Que Choisir recommends starting with 6 L for four people : then check the available surface area for your portions, especially if the food needs to be spread out.
Two cooking zones let you cook dishes using different settings. However, compare the capacity of each drawer with your usual portions : adding their capacities together doesn’t mean a large joint will fit in either one.
Stacked drawers can help keep the appliance narrower. Les Numériques’ test of the Ninja Double Stack SL400EU shows the benefits of this design, as well as the need to allow for its height, depth and space to open the drawers.
Start with the dishes you cook most often : one large dish and two dishes cooked at the same time don’t need the same basket shape.
| Criterion | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and cooking cavity | Compare the capacity of each zone, the basket’s surface area and the internal height with the dishes you plan to cook. Que Choisir recommends starting with 6 L for four people and opting for 9 L or more for more than five people : these are guidelines, not a guarantee that everything will cook in one batch. | I want to be able to spread out my usual portions without having to cook different parts of the meal one after another. |
| Meal preparation | A single drawer suits cooking one dish at a time; two zones allow for different settings. If you want to switch between one large cooking cavity and two separate dishes, check how the divider works and the size of each zone in a flexible model. | If the main and side need to be ready together, I’ll look at the two zones and the synchronisation feature. For one large joint, I’ll prioritise the shape of the cooking cavity. |
| Cooking results | Look for tests covering recipes similar to yours and how evenly heat is distributed. Les Numériques, for example, checks temperatures using several probes; Que Choisir tests several types of food. | A long list of programmes doesn’t tell me whether chips, chicken or a quiche will cook evenly in this model. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the width, clearance beneath cupboards and depth with the drawer pulled out. Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and whether the basket fits easily in your sink; for noise, compare measurements taken under clearly stated conditions. | I plan to keep the appliance within easy reach and clean its parts after regular meals, without blocking the worktop. |
| Compact oven | If your recipes need racks, baking trays or wide dishes, consider a compact oven too. Que Choisir describes some air fryers as similar to mini ovens; compare the dimensions and uses of the model you choose rather than assuming it will cook better. | If I often cook wide dishes, I want to know whether a basket-style appliance really suits my recipes. |
Two baskets whose capacities add up to a certain amount don’t offer the same space as one large cooking cavity. Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Compare your portions and dishes with the surface area, height and capacity of each zone, rather than relying on the « XXL » label alone.
Separate drawers make it easier to cook two different dishes, but can make it impossible to fit a large dish in a single basket.
If you often cook a large joint or a wide dish, check its dimensions and consider a single, flexible cooking cavity or a compact oven.
A vertical design may be narrower but still tall and deep. Tests by Les Numériques also flag the space some large drawers take up when it’s time to wash them.
Allow for clearance beneath cupboards and in front of the appliance when the drawer is open, as well as room in the sink or dishwasher.
Que Choisir has found that, depending on the model, chips at the top can cook differently from those at the bottom. The number of programmes doesn’t measure this difference.
Check tests that describe the recipes, temperature readings and results for the specific model you’re interested in.
These examples show different designs; the observations cited apply to the models named, not every appliance from each brand.
The Double Stack SL400EU shows how two stacked cooking zones can be a good choice when worktop width is limited.
The NA352/00 pairs a 6 L basket with a 3 L one, so you can cook a main and a side separately.
The Dual Blaze TwinFry TF101S lets you choose between one 10 L cooking cavity and two 5 L zones.
The Easy Fry Dual XXL EZ9428F0 is another example of a dual-drawer model with drawers of different sizes.
These dual-basket or flexible-cavity models are designed for preparing meals for several people. To choose between them, compare the space each zone offers for your dishes and the appliance’s overall size.
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Its two drawers let you prepare two dishes for the same meal. The product title states a total capacity of 9,5 L and six functions; check that each drawer has enough room for your portions.
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This dual-drawer model is worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal separately. Its stated total capacity is 7,6 L, with six functions; check the size of each drawer before relying on it to cook everything in one batch.
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The 10 L cooking cavity can be divided into two 5 L zones, according to the product page and Les Numériques’ test. It’s a design worth considering if you alternate between cooking one large dish and two separate ones. Les Numériques also highlights the size of the appliance and the drawer that needs washing.
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The two baskets let you cook different parts of a meal separately. The product title states a total capacity of 9 L; check the capacity of each basket to make sure it suits your portions. Published results for the Philips NA352/00 shouldn’t be assumed to apply to this NA351/00.
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The two baskets let you cook different dishes at the same time. The product title states a total capacity of 9 L, 2 400 W and eight preset programmes; check the usable space in each basket as well as the appliance’s external dimensions to make sure it suits your kitchen.
Que Choisir recommends starting with 6 L for four people and opting for 9 L or more for more than five people. Check the basket’s usable surface area and height, too : the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that your usual dish will fit or cook in one batch.
No : its two zones make it easier to cook a main and a side separately, but each one needs to be large enough for the portion you want to cook. For one large joint or a wide dish, compare the dimensions of a flexible cooking cavity or compact oven instead.
Look for a test of the specific model that describes the recipes and measurements used. Les Numériques uses several probes to examine heat distribution; Que Choisir’s testing process includes chips, chicken drumsticks, a quiche and a cake.
Compare noise measurements taken under clearly stated conditions : Que Choisir says it measures air fryer noise from 0,50 m away. For cleaning, check which parts of the model you’re considering are dishwasher-safe and whether there’s enough room to wash its drawer in your sink.