An air fryer is worth making room for in a small kitchen if you often cook small portions that need browning or reheating without going soggy. If you want to cook two parts of a meal at the same time, look at a dual-drawer model. If you prefer cooking larger dishes, reheating or defrosting, compare a mini oven or a microwave designed for those uses instead. In every case, measure your available space before adding another appliance.
For small portions of pizza, quiche or roasted vegetables, an air fryer can give you a different texture from the one you get with a microwave. You’ll need to make room for it, though, and be prepared to cook in batches if you’re making more.
Two independent drawers let you set different cooking times and temperatures for a main and a side. If you want to serve them together, check that your chosen model has a finish-time synchronisation function, and that each drawer can hold the portion you plan to cook.
If you already have an oven or microwave taking up worktop space, start with the meals you actually cook. The size of your dishes, the functions you need and the appliance’s external dimensions will help you decide whether an air fryer adds enough extra versatility.
Start with the foods and portions you usually prepare, then check how much space the appliance will take up. A stated capacity doesn’t tell you the shape of the cooking space or how much room the appliance needs.
| Criteria | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating and texture | Consider whether you simply want to reheat food or brown it. Check the model’s functions: a grill doesn’t necessarily mean it has fan-assisted cooking. | I mostly reheat leftovers that need to keep their texture: an air fryer is worth considering. Que Choisir specifically mentions quiches and pizzas as foods that can retain their texture when reheated in one. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the shape and internal dimensions with your portions, dishes or tins. For an air fryer with two drawers, check the capacity of each one, not just the total. | If I want to cook a large dish in one piece, I’d look at the cavity of a mini oven rather than relying on the stated total capacity of two baskets. |
| Cooking two dishes | Check whether the cooking zones have independent settings and whether there’s a function to synchronise the finish time. Two supplied containers don’t necessarily mean you can cook in both at once. | Need a main and a side to be ready together? Two drawers could be useful, as long as each is large enough for the food you’re cooking. |
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height, then check the space needed to open the appliance and the clearances specified in the instructions. | If I have to put the appliance away after every meal, how easy it is to move matters as much as the space it takes up when in use. Que Choisir points out that adding an air fryer to an oven or microwave can make a kitchen feel cluttered. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable and, for the exact model number, which are dishwasher-safe. | For frequent use, I want to be able to clean the parts that come into contact with food easily, without assuming that every accessory can be washed in the same way. |
| Energy use | Compare tests using the same recipe and quantity, taking preheating and the model into account. | I wouldn’t choose based on a general promise of energy savings: the ADEME–INC study published in 2026 found no clear advantage for combination ovens over convection ovens across all the dishes and models studied. |
An air fryer can cover some of the same uses as an oven, while reheating and defrosting are separate reasons to keep a microwave.
Make a note of the meals and leftovers you’re most likely to prepare. If you mainly cook large dishes, look at a mini oven. If reheating or defrosting is your priority, start by comparing microwave functions.
A total capacity split between two drawers doesn’t give you the same space for one dish as a single, continuous cavity.
Check the capacity of each drawer, its internal dimensions if listed, and the space your food or tins need. If you want to serve two dishes together, check for a synchronisation function too.
An appliance may fit on your worktop but still get in the way of a door or drawer, or lack the clearance required for safe use.
Measure the whole space and check the model’s instructions for installation and ventilation requirements before ordering.
Comparisons vary depending on the dish, quantity, preheating and appliances tested. The ADEME–INC study published in 2026 found no clear advantage for combination ovens across all the dishes and models it compared with convection ovens.
To compare two appliances on this point, look for tests using a recipe and quantity similar to yours.
These examples cover specific models and their configurations; they don’t necessarily reflect the features of every model from each brand.
The Easy Fry range includes single-drawer air fryers, such as the Easy Fry Max EZ245320.
The Série 3000 NA352/24 is an example of a model with two drawers in different sizes.
The Foodi DualZone AF300EU is an example of a model with two independent drawers.
These options include air fryers for food you want to brown or cook in dedicated containers, as well as a microwave with a grill if reheating and defrosting are your priorities. Compare their dimensions with your worktop space. The microwave with a grill featured here isn’t a fan-assisted oven.
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Worth considering if you prepare two parts of a meal in separate baskets. The stated 9 L capacity is split between them, so check the size of each basket and the clearances required for your chosen spot in the instructions.
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Its two drawers are worth considering if you want to prepare foods separately. If you need both to finish cooking at the same time, check that this model has a synchronisation function. Also check the drawer sizes and installation instructions.
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When comparing this model with two drawers, consider the portions each one needs to hold rather than just the total capacity of 7.6 L. Check for a synchronisation function if you want both dishes to finish together, and make sure there’s enough clearance around the appliance.
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Compare it with drawer models if you’re looking for a different style of air fryer. To decide whether it suits your meals, check the size of the containers, how they’re used and how much space you’ll need. Don’t assume that two containers let you cook two dishes at the same time.
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Worth considering if reheating and defrosting are your priorities, but you’d also like a grill. This 25 L microwave isn’t described as an air fryer or a fan-assisted oven, so check its functions and the ventilation clearances required for your chosen spot.
Not for every use. An air fryer is worth considering if you often reheat food that you want to keep its texture or brown on the surface. Que Choisir specifically mentions quiches and pizzas. If everyday reheating and defrosting are your main priorities, compare microwave functions first.
Choose this style if you regularly prepare two dishes that need different settings. Check the capacity of each drawer and, if both foods need to be served together, make sure the specific model has a synchronisation function.
Measure the available width, depth and height, and remember to account for the door or drawers opening and the clearances listed in the instructions. Capacity in litres won’t tell you these dimensions: for example, the product listings for the Sauter SMF30MX mini oven and Whirlpool MWSC833B microwave describe freestanding appliances with different shapes.
Check which removable parts are dishwasher-safe for the model you’re interested in. This should apply to the basket, rack or tray you’ll actually use; it doesn’t automatically mean that every accessory is dishwasher-safe.
Don’t assume that’s true for every recipe. The quantity, preheating and models all affect the comparison. For combination ovens compared with convection ovens, the ADEME–INC study published in 2026 found no clear advantage across all the dishes it examined. Look for a test using a dish and quantity similar to yours.