A single-drawer air fryer could suit you if you often cook a small batch instead of using the oven; two drawers are better suited to cooking two things at once. If your recipes regularly call for a baking tin or wire rack, consider a mini oven or stick with your existing oven, especially if space is tight. Compare the usable cooking area with your portion sizes: according to UFC-Que Choisir, energy consumption varies depending on the appliance and recipe.
If you often use the main oven for just one small dish, first check what will actually fit in an air fryer basket. UFC-Que Choisir points out that its limited cooking space restricts the amount you can cook.
You need to be able to set up and use an extra appliance without cluttering your worktop. In an open-plan kitchen, also consider fan noise, which UFC-Que Choisir identifies as a factor when choosing an appliance.
Two drawers are worth considering if you regularly need different settings for a main dish and a side. If you usually cook one batch at a time, compare the space each format takes up with its usable capacity instead.
Start with the dishes you cook and how often you make them, then check the space you need and any practical considerations.
Consider it: if you often cook a small batch instead of using the oven.
The trade-off: UFC-Que Choisir notes that limited cooking space restricts quantities, so you may need to cook in several batches.
Consider it: if you regularly cook two things that need different settings.
The trade-off: the total capacity doesn’t tell you whether each drawer will fit the food you want to cook.
Consider it: if your recipes often call for a baking tin, wire rack or dish rather than a basket.
The trade-off: for a small quiche, the air fryers tested by UFC-Que Choisir all used less energy than the mini oven they tested. This result won’t apply to every recipe.
Stick with it: if you only cook small dishes occasionally and your oven already suits your needs.
The trade-off: you won’t have a second cooking space for preparing a small dish separately.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket dimensions with your dishes and portion sizes. For a dual-drawer model, check each compartment separately. | I want to cook my usual portion without having to make several batches. |
| How often you’ll use it | Work out which small meals would genuinely replace using the oven. Decide where the appliance will sit while you’re cooking. | If I rarely make small dishes, I’d rather not add an appliance I’ll seldom use. |
| Recipes | Check there’s enough room for your tins, racks or trays. Look for tests covering the recipes you cook. | My dishes need to fit in the appliance and cook the way I like. |
| Energy consumption | Compare equivalent quantities and recipes, as well as the number of batches and total cooking time; wattage alone isn’t enough. | I’d like to know whether my frequent small meals justify a separate appliance, without assuming it will save energy every time. |
| Noise and cleaning | Look for a noise test that states the distance, and check the cleaning instructions and which parts of the exact model are washable. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise matters as much as how easy it is to clean up after a meal. |
A large total capacity may be split between two drawers, one of which could be too small for your dish. An overfilled single basket may also mean you need to cook in several batches.
Measure your dishes and compare them with the dimensions of each compartment, rather than looking only at the number of litres.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that limited cooking space restricts quantities, and results vary between models.
Before giving up your oven or choosing a mini oven, list the recipes that need a tray, baking tin or more space.
In UFC-Que Choisir’s tests, the air fryers used less energy than the mini oven tested for a small quiche. This doesn’t predict the results for all your recipes.
Compare dishes of the same size, taking into account the total cooking time and any extra batches you may need.
The fan could be distracting in an open-plan kitchen, and an extra appliance takes up space even when it’s not in use.
Decide where you’ll keep it, look for a noise test and check the care instructions for the model you’re considering.
Philips France’s product page describes the HD9252/90 as a 4.1 L air fryer intended for two people and up to four portions. This information applies to this model, not all Philips air fryers.
Moulinex offers the Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20, with two drawers measuring 5.2 L and 3.1 L, as well as a 19 L Optimo mini oven. These are two formats to consider depending on your recipes.
The Crispi FN101EUGY is the Ninja air fryer featured among the products below.
These Joybuy options are for small dishes cooked in an air fryer. They don’t determine whether a mini oven is right for you or whether you can stick with your existing oven.
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If you’re considering cooking a small batch instead of using the main oven, compare the stated 3.2 L capacity with the size of your dishes. Also check the basket’s internal surface area and the noise level if you’ll be using it in an open-plan kitchen.
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For small dishes, compare the internal dimensions of the FN101EUGY containers with your usual portions. Check how many batches you’ll need and the care instructions for this model.
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The stated 2 L capacity makes this one worth comparing for small portions, but doesn’t tell you on its own what will fit in the basket. The product name mentions a 60-minute timer; check the usable dimensions and the space it needs before choosing this format.
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If you’re considering this model for small meals, check that its basket will fit your portions and dishes. Follow the cleaning instructions for the HD9252/70 specifically, rather than those for another Philips model.
Start with your portion sizes and the dimensions of your dishes, not just the stated capacity. For a dual-drawer model, check each compartment separately. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the amount of food and the available cooking space matter when assessing an air fryer.
No. You shouldn’t assume this applies to every recipe. For quiche Lorraine, UFC-Que Choisir found that all the air fryers tested used less energy than the mini oven tested. Compare your own recipes using equivalent quantities.
One drawer suits a single small batch; consider two drawers if you often cook two things separately. Measure the available space and check that each drawer can fit the dishes you want to cook.
Follow the instructions for the model you choose and let the appliance cool before cleaning it. Philips recommends letting its air fryers cool for around 30 minutes; check separately which parts of your model are dishwasher-safe.
You can take a used air fryer to a collection point or recycling centre, or return it to a retailer, in line with the French Ministry for Ecological Transition’s guidance on electrical and electronic equipment.