If your current oven works well for smaller portions, keeping it avoids adding another appliance that would do much the same job, as Que Choisir points out. A single-drawer air fryer could make sense if its basket suits the batches you usually cook; a dual-drawer model is better suited to regularly cooking two foods at the same time. If you need to use an oven dish, rack or tray, consider a mini oven too, bearing in mind how much space it will take up and how it needs to be cleaned.
You already have an oven that meets your needs and want to work out whether a countertop appliance would offer something different. Que Choisir recommends considering the risk of buying more equipment than you need before purchasing an air fryer.
You often prepare one or a few portions and need to balance the size of the cooking space with the room available, noise and cleaning. Que Choisir highlights these factors in its air fryer advice.
You regularly put together meals with two foods that need to cook at the same time. A dual-drawer model is worth comparing with the dishes you usually make and the space you have available; Que Choisir describes this option for parallel cooking.
Start by checking what you can already cook in your oven, then choose a countertop appliance, if you need one, based on the shape of your dishes and how often you cook two things at once.
Consider it if: it already handles your smaller portions and you want to avoid adding another appliance.
Bear in mind: you won’t have a smaller cooking space dedicated to the task; don’t assume it will save time or energy without comparing how you use each appliance.
Consider it if: your batches fit in the basket and you’ll regularly use this distinct format.
Bear in mind: the drawer shape limits the dishes you can use, and the fan can be noisy, especially in an open-plan kitchen, according to Que Choisir.
Consider it if: you often need to cook two different foods at the same time, an option described by Que Choisir.
Bear in mind: each drawer has its own usable space, and you’ll need to find room for the appliance on your worktop.
Consider it if: you prefer using dishes, racks or trays that aren’t well suited to a drawer.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to make room for it and clean the cooking space and accessories.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding duplication | Identify the small batches that your current oven isn’t suitable for, and why. | If my oven already meets my needs, I’d rather not take up more kitchen space. Around 36% of consumers would put avoiding duplication at the top of their list. |
| Portions and available space | Compare the usable dimensions of the basket or cooking space with your dishes, and check the appliance’s external dimensions against the space available. | For my smaller batches, I want a suitably sized container without giving up too much worktop space; around 29% of consumers would prioritise this balance. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the usable space in each section and, if it matters to you, whether there’s a synchronisation function. | When my meals often include two foods that need to cook together, separate cooking zones become my main priority. Around 14% of consumers would share this priority. |
| Dishes and cleaning | Check the internal dimensions, included accessories and model-specific cleaning instructions. | I want to keep using a variety of dishes, racks or trays and be able to clean them easily. Around 21% of consumers would make this flexibility their top priority. |
Que Choisir points out that an air fryer does much the same job as an oven. If your oven already suits the meals you make, a new appliance could simply duplicate what you have.
Before you order, identify the small batches for which a dedicated basket would make a real difference to the way you cook.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your dishes will fit inside or how much room the appliance will take up once it’s in place.
Compare the usable internal dimensions with your dishes and the external dimensions with your worktop, allowing space to open the drawer or door.
Que Choisir presents dual drawers as a way to cook different foods at the same time. This format is less useful if you prepare a meal in just one cooking zone.
Think about the meals you usually make and check the usable capacity of each drawer, rather than relying on the stated total capacity alone.
A product listing should help you choose the right appliance and identify the seller. The DGCCRF recommends checking that electrical appliances carry the CE mark; French government guidance also recommends checking the site’s legal information and terms of sale.
Check the dimensions, accessories and documentation for the exact variant you’re ordering, and keep your proof of purchase.
These appliances let you compare several air fryer formats, including a dual-drawer option, as well as a mini oven. Before choosing one, compare how you plan to use it with the way you use your current oven.
Image unavailable
For smaller batches, check whether this model’s containers suit your portions and cleaning habits.
Check their usable dimensions before you buy; having two containers doesn’t mean you can cook two things at the same time.
Image unavailable
For a small portion, check that the basket shape suits the food you cook and that the appliance will fit on your worktop.
The product title lists a 2 L basket, 1 150 W power, a 60 min timer and a non-stick basket said to be dishwasher-safe.
Image unavailable
If the size of your batches varies, also compare the space this appliance takes up with what you need for your usual small meals.
The stated capacity is 7,6 L; check the basket’s usable dimensions and the appliance’s external dimensions before choosing this size.
Image unavailable
If you often cook two foods at the same time, check that this variant’s configuration really allows you to cook both as intended.
The name states 10 L, while the description also mentions two 4,5 L baskets: confirm the configuration, exact capacity and usable space in each basket before you buy.
Image unavailable
If you prefer cooking on a rack or tray, compare the mini oven’s internal dimensions with your dishes and your current oven.
The stated capacity is 23 L. You’ll also need to make room for the appliance and bear in mind that it needs to be cleaned by hand.
No. Don’t assume every appliance and cooking method will save energy. Que Choisir compared the energy use of many air fryers with cooking in an oven; to decide what’s right for your kitchen, compare the specific model, programme and portion with your oven.
Yes, especially if your kitchen is open-plan or you use the appliance often. Que Choisir draws attention to the noise from its fan; check the model’s specifications and, if possible, an independent review that describes how noisy it is.
Not necessarily. Que Choisir explains that whether racks and trays can go in the dishwasher depends on the manufacturer’s instructions; check the mini oven and accessory manuals before you buy.
According to the French government, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to a private individual, including new, second-hand and refurbished goods. The DGCCRF states that claims can be made for two years from delivery; keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller if the appliance does not conform to the contract.
Check who the seller is, the specifications for the exact variant, the dimensions, the accessories, and the terms for sale and returns. The DGCCRF also recommends checking that electrical appliances carry the CE mark; this marking doesn’t replace checking that the appliance you’re ordering is the right one.