For more than five people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends choosing an air fryer with a capacity of 9 L or more. But the shape of the cooking compartment matters just as much as its stated capacity if you want to avoid cooking in batches. Two drawers work well for a main and a side, while a flexible basket also lets you cook a larger joint. If your oven already meets these needs, check that the air fryer will have a distinct role and a place in your kitchen before adding one.
If you want to cook a large quantity in one go, look at the basket’s surface area and shape, then consider how much room the food will take up. For households of more than five, UFC-Que Choisir recommends choosing a capacity of 9 L or more.
A main course and a side with different cooking times can benefit from two zones and a synchronisation function. However, check that each zone can hold the portions you plan to cook.
If worktop space is limited, start by thinking about the recipes you’d genuinely cook in an air fryer rather than in the oven. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an appliance used alongside an oven can become a nuisance if it has to stay within easy reach on the worktop.
Start with the food you want to cook in one go, then choose the layout of the cooking zones and check how much space the appliance will take up.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the cooking compartment’s dimensions and shape with your dishes and ingredients. Check the recommended load for loose foods. For households of more than five, UFC-Que Choisir recommends choosing a capacity of 9 L or more. | I want to cook the amount I need without overfilling the basket or having to start another batch every time. |
| Cooking zone layout | A single basket holds one preparation at a time, while two drawers keep dishes separate. Check the settings and capacity of each zone, and whether there’s a removable divider if you also need one large cooking space. | We often have a main and a side, but I also want to know whether my larger dishes will fit in the appliance I choose. |
| Size and cleaning | Check the external dimensions and the space needed to open the drawers. Look at the cleaning instructions for the exact model. If you have an open-plan kitchen, check for a noise rating too: UFC-Que Choisir notes that ventilation is worth considering. | The appliance needs to be within easy reach without getting in the way of meal preparation or requiring a difficult clean after every use. |
| How it compares with your oven | Compare the same recipes and quantities, and count how many batches each appliance needs. A mini-oven gives you a different layout, with racks or trays rather than a drawer, but it may overlap with what your existing oven can do. | I want to use the air fryer for dishes that suit its format, rather than add another appliance that does the same job as my oven. |
A stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether a quiche, a chicken or your planned quantity of chips will fit without being crammed in. Overfilling the cooking compartment can affect how evenly food cooks.
Compare the internal dimensions and shape of the cooking compartment with the food you plan to cook. For chips, also check the recommended load and stirring instructions.
Two zones let you cook separate dishes, but each drawer still has its own width: the total capacity doesn’t necessarily give you one large cooking space.
If you alternate between cooking two dishes and a large joint, look at a basket with a removable divider. If you want to use trays or cook on several levels, compare the mini-oven format too.
In UFC-Que Choisir tests, air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini-oven to cook a small quiche of the same size. This result applies to that dish and comparison, not to every family meal.
For larger quantities, factor in the number of batches needed and compare energy use for the same recipe and quantity.
Ventilation noise can matter in an open-plan kitchen, and you’ll need enough room in front of the appliance to open a drawer. Safety notices published on RappelConso have also covered specific air fryer models due to electrical or overheating risks.
Measure the available space, look for a relevant noise rating and check RappelConso using the exact model reference, particularly if you’re buying second-hand.
The Foodi FlexDrawer AF500EUCP is an example of a flexible basket: Amazon France lists a 10.4 L cooking compartment with a removable divider.
Philips offers flexible-basket and dual-drawer options, with layouts suited to different types of meals.
The 7.5 L Easy Fry Compact and the 20 L Easy Fry mini-oven offer two different ways to arrange your food.
These models, with two drawers or two cooking chambers, are designed for meals made up of separate dishes. Their total capacity alone doesn’t tell you how large a dish will fit in each zone.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook a main and a side separately: the title lists two drawers and a total capacity of 9.5 L. Check that each drawer can hold your portions, and that the end-of-cooking functions suit the way you like to serve your meal.
Image unavailable
Its dual baskets are suited to meals made up of two dishes. The title lists a total capacity of 9 L, 2400 W and eight pre-set programmes. Check the dimensions of each basket, the appliance’s external size and the cleaning instructions to make sure they suit your needs.
Image unavailable
This model with two drawers could suit meals split between two dishes; its stated total capacity is 7.6 L. Check the dimensions of each compartment if you often cook for more than five people or use large dishes.
Image unavailable
The two-chamber design lets you cook two foods as part of the same meal, with a stated total capacity of 9 L. Before choosing, check the capacity and settings of each chamber, the external dimensions and the cleaning instructions.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends choosing an air fryer with a capacity of 9 L or more for more than five people. Then compare the basket’s shape and usable dimensions with your dishes: the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that a large joint will fit.
No. Two drawers are particularly useful for cooking a main and a side separately. For one large dish, check the size of each drawer or consider a basket with a removable divider.
Compare the same recipe and quantity, counting all the batches needed. In UFC-Que Choisir tests, air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini-oven to cook a small quiche of the same size. This figure doesn’t automatically apply to other dishes.
It may duplicate your oven if you plan to cook the same dishes in both, without using the air fryer often enough for a different purpose to justify the space it takes up. UFC-Que Choisir advises considering how much room it needs, particularly if it will stay on the worktop.
Check the RappelConso notice for the exact model reference and follow its instructions. A notice published by RappelConso for an air fryer that posed electric shock and fire risks tells users to stop using the product. Don’t apply the instructions for one model to another.