A drawer-style air fryer is worth considering if you often cook small portions that fit in its basket and have a convenient place to keep it. A mini oven may be a better fit for quiches, pizzas and dishes cooked in a tin. If you only cook these occasionally, or your current oven already does the job, a new appliance could simply duplicate what you have.
If you regularly cook a side dish or reheat a small portion, first check whether a single basket can hold the amount you usually make. Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people, but you should also check the basket’s usable dimensions.
A dual-drawer model may be useful if your main course and side dish often need different settings. Check the dimensions of each basket and how much space the appliance takes up. Some models, such as the Philips NA352/00, offer basket synchronisation.
The shape of what you’re cooking matters just as much as the quantity. Before choosing a basket-style appliance, compare the dimensions of your dishes with those of a convection mini oven and your current oven.
Start with the meals you actually cook, then check whether they’ll fit in the appliance and whether it’ll suit your daily routine.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Whether you need another appliance | How often you cook small portions; what your oven already does; whether you have somewhere to keep the appliance within easy reach. | I cook small amounts often enough to make use of another appliance, rather than leaving it in storage. |
| Portions and dishes | Internal dimensions, usable surface area and the height of the container; whether it’ll fit the dishes you use. Que Choisir suggests a 3 to 4 L single basket as a guide for one or two people, but the capacity in litres doesn’t guarantee usable space. | My portions, quiches or small gratins need to fit the chosen format without requiring several batches. |
| Cooking two things at once | The size of each basket; independent settings and any synchronisation feature; the overall footprint of a dual-drawer model. | I regularly cook a main dish and a side dish at different temperatures or for different lengths of time. |
| Everyday use | Which parts are dishwasher-safe according to the instructions, how easy it is to check on the food, and the space needed for ventilation. To compare noise, look for tests on the models you’re considering: Que Choisir measures it from 0.50 m as part of its testing process. | In a small kitchen, I want to be able to set up, check on and clean the appliance without too much hassle. |
| Electricity use | Energy used to cook the same recipe and quantity; preheating time, cooking time and any extra batches. Que Choisir measures energy use for each cooking test in its air fryer reviews. | I want to compare how much energy my small-batch cooking uses without assuming one format always uses less than another. |
Que Choisir notes that the functions of the two appliances overlap. An appliance you rarely use also takes up space and gives you another thing to clean and maintain.
Make a note of the meals you’d cook in a drawer-style air fryer each week. If you’d rarely use it, or your food won’t fit, first consider what your current oven can do.
The advertised capacity doesn’t tell you whether your dish will fit in the basket or how much food you can arrange in it for one batch.
Measure your dishes and check the usable width, depth and height of the model you’re considering.
Two cooking zones are most useful when you’re cooking different foods at the same time. The appliance also takes up space on your worktop.
Choose this format for meals where you regularly use both baskets. Otherwise, compare a single-basket model with your oven.
The amount you cook, preheating time and number of batches all affect the comparison. An oven’s annual energy use doesn’t represent the energy used for a specific recipe.
To compare two appliances, look for measurements based on the same recipe and quantity.
The Easy Fry range includes single-basket models and options in different capacities.
The Airfryer range includes single-basket models and several dual-basket layouts.
SEVERIN mini ovens are worth considering if your smaller dishes need an oven cavity rather than a drawer.
These air fryers are options to consider for smaller meals. Before deciding whether you need another appliance, compare their size with your portions and the space you have available.
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If you cook portions of different sizes, check the usable dimensions of the containers, the space needed to set up the appliance and whether it’ll fit your usual dishes. Read the instructions for guidance on handling hot containers.
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The 2 L basket is worth considering for small portions, provided your food and dishes fit inside. The product title lists a 60 min timer; also check the basket dimensions and the installation instructions in the manual.
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Compare this 4,7 L basket with your usual portions and the space available. It’s larger than the 3 to 4 L guide Que Choisir gives for one or two people. The product title lists 2 000 W; this power rating alone doesn’t tell you how much energy a cooking session will use.
It can handle food you cook regularly, provided the portions fit in its basket. However, it won’t necessarily replace an oven for large dishes or cooking several things at once. Que Choisir highlights the overlap between their functions, so think about the meals you’d genuinely cook in each appliance.
Que Choisir suggests a 3 to 4 L single basket as a guide for one or two people. Also measure your portions and dishes: the advertised capacity doesn’t confirm their usable dimensions.
It’s most useful if you regularly cook two different things at the same time. Check the size of each basket and the overall footprint. If you usually cook just one small portion, you may not make much use of both zones.
Compare the energy measured for the same recipe and quantity, taking preheating and the number of batches needed into account. ADEME gives an annual figure of 130 kWh for a 63 L electric oven, based on 187 cycles. This annual average doesn’t tell you the difference for a specific meal.
Read the instructions for the model you’ve bought to check where to place it, ventilation and connection requirements, cleaning guidance and how to handle hot parts. Requirements vary by model, so don’t rely on the clearances or instructions for another appliance.