An air fryer can be useful for frequent small batches, thanks to its smaller cooking chamber compared with an oven, but it does not automatically replace the appliances you already own. Choose a single drawer for even portions and limited space; two drawers are mainly worthwhile if you often cook two items with different settings, while an oven remains better suited to large dishes and baking trays.
This format could suit you if you frequently reheat or cook a portion, vegetables, chicken or frozen food without wanting to use the full-sized oven. UFC-Que Choisir points out, however, that an air fryer works on a cooking principle comparable to that of an oven. Its value therefore depends on how often you actually prepare these smaller meals.
Two drawers can be useful when you need to cook two foods with different cooking times simultaneously and serve them together. Check the usable capacity of each drawer, as well as the space available on your worktop.
Before adding another appliance, compare the meals it will genuinely handle with those already covered by your oven, microwave or mini oven. Dimensions and storage matter more than the number of programmes when worktop space is limited.
Start with the meals you prepare most often, then check the shape of the cooking chamber, the space available and how easy it is to clean day to day.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Avoid duplication | Compare the meals you prepare each week; check whether a basket, racks or a wider cooking chamber would offer a genuinely different use; take your existing appliances into account. | I’m looking for an appliance for frequent small batches, not a function already handled well by my oven or mini oven. |
| Usable capacity | Check the basket’s size and shape; compare the capacity of each zone, not just the total; check whether synchronisation would be useful for two cooking cycles. | I want to prepare the right quantity without having to cook multiple batches, while keeping a format suited to the foods I usually make. |
| Electricity per cooking cycle | Compare the same recipe and quantity; look for an energy measurement per session; do not draw conclusions from the rated power alone. | I want to assess consumption based on my recipes. For a small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity for air fryers than for a 19 L mini oven, for the same quantity. This result depends on the recipe and the model. |
| Everyday use | Look at the removable parts, hard-to-clean corners and washing instructions; check the storage dimensions; consult tests covering the noise level of the specific model. | I want to avoid buying an appliance that goes unused because it is too noisy, bulky or difficult to clean. |
An air fryer uses fan-assisted cooking that is comparable in principle to oven cooking. If it is only used occasionally or for tasks already covered by another appliance, it adds to your storage and cleaning workload.
List three quick meals you prepare each week and check that they fit in the cooking chamber you are considering before comparing programmes.
Two drawers split the available volume and do not necessarily provide the same usable surface as one large cooking chamber. The two zones may also produce different results.
Check the capacity of each drawer, the size of the food you need to cook and the practical value of synchronisation for your usual meals.
UFC-Que Choisir has observed differences depending on the recipes and models. A useful comparison is based on the same recipe, quantity and energy measurement under identical conditions.
If electricity usage is important to you, prioritise tests that specify the appliance used for comparison, the recipe and the quantity cooked.
Noise, ergonomics, safety and cleaning are separate criteria in UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol. An appliance that is inconvenient to use is likely to be used less often.
Check the removable parts, hard-to-clean corners, storage dimensions and noise tests for the exact model.
Moulinex features in UFC-Que Choisir’s French tests and offers, among other options, two-drawer models for preparing two dishes in parallel.
Philips offers air fryers with side-by-side or stacked dual baskets, depending on the range.
Ninja is among the brands included in UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer panel, offering compact, dual-zone and more unusual formats depending on the model.
This Joybuy selection brings together single- and dual-drawer air fryers for even portions, a main dish with a side or larger batches.
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Worth considering for a main dish and a side with different cooking times.
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This model suits two foods with different cooking times or temperatures.
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Its adjustable basket could suit you if you alternate between larger batches and two separate preparations.
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Consider it if your meals alternate between a single dish and two components requiring independent settings.
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This single-basket model is designed for even batches when separate settings are not needed.
Not automatically. An air fryer uses fan-assisted hot air, like an oven, and UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying more appliances than you need. It is particularly convenient for certain small portions; keep your oven if you often prepare large dishes or use multiple trays.
It coordinates two cooking cycles so that they finish at the same time when the foods require different durations or settings. It is useful for a main dish and a side, but also check the size of each zone and the results achieved by the specific model.
Compare the same recipe, quantity and energy measurement per cooking cycle: the stated power alone is not enough to draw a conclusion. For a small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity for air fryers than for a 19 L mini oven, for the same quantity.
For a purchase from a professional seller, the French Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory guarantee of conformity is mandatory for new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold to private individuals. Keep the information describing the product and contact the seller if the appliance does not match that description.