Choose based on the meals you make, rather than the stated capacity alone. A dual-zone air fryer is ideal for cooking a main and a side separately, while an oven-style model lets you spread food across racks. If you mainly cook rice and one-pot dishes, a multicooker is a better fit. A single-basket model may be enough for cooking one dish at a time, as long as its usable dimensions suit your portions.
If you usually cook one dish at a time, start by checking the space available in the basket and on your worktop. For an air fryer intended for four people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L, but notes that this does not guarantee everything will cook in one batch.
A dual-drawer appliance lets you cook a main and a side separately. Check the capacity of each zone and, if the cooking times differ, whether it has a synchronisation function. UFC-Que Choisir notes that cooking results can vary between zones.
For rice, saucy dishes and slow-cooked meals, a multicooker’s cooking modes are a better match than hot-air cooking. Check the permitted fill level for your recipes, as it may be lower than the pot’s stated capacity.
Start with the dishes you cook most often, then compare their quantity and shape with the cooking space you can actually use.
Consider it if: you only need to cook one dish at a time and worktop space is important.
The trade-off: a main and a side may need to be cooked in two batches.
Consider it if: you want to cook two parts of a meal separately. On some models, a removable divider also lets you combine the zones.
The trade-off: the total capacity may be split into zones that are too small for one large dish.
Consider it if: your food is easier to spread across racks or trays than to fit into drawers.
The trade-off: you’ll need space for the appliance, its door to open and its accessories.
Consider it if: your usual meals are rice, saucy dishes or food slow-cooked in a pot.
The trade-off: its cooking modes don’t replace two hot-air zones for preparing separate dishes.
| Priority | What to check | What matters to me |
|---|---|---|
| Portions | Compare the internal dimensions, basket shape and space the food needs. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for an air fryer intended for four people, and preferably 9 L or more for households of more than five. | I want to prepare the usual portions for my household without having to cook a second batch every time. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check the capacity of each drawer, whether the settings can be adjusted separately and whether the appliance has a synchronisation function. On a flexible-basket model, check whether the divider can be removed. | I want the main and side to be ready at the same time, even if their cooking times differ. |
| Type of meal | For food spread across multiple levels, look at the racks on an oven-style model. For pot-cooked recipes, compare the cooking modes and permitted fill level. | If I mainly cook rice and slow-cooked dishes, I’ll choose a pot-style appliance. For hot-air cooking, I’ll look at baskets or racks. |
| Space | Measure the space available, the room needed to open the drawers or door, and the clearances specified in the manual. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer used regularly can take up a permanent spot on the worktop. | I want to be able to position and use the appliance without getting in the way of preparing other meals. |
| Noise and cleaning | If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for an independent measurement of fan noise, an issue raised by UFC-Que Choisir. Also check how easy the parts are to reach for cleaning. | Noise while cooking and cleaning up after a meal both matter in my day-to-day use. |
The stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much surface area there is to arrange the food. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people, and preferably 9 L or more for households of more than five, depending on what you’re cooking.
Compare the basket’s shape and usable dimensions with the portions you actually cook.
Two appliances advertised as 9 L may divide that capacity differently. Philips’ product details for the NA352/04 and Moulinex’s for the Dual Easy Fry Flex list zones of 6 L and 3 L, and 5.5 L and 3.5 L with the divider in place, respectively.
For one large dish, check that it fits in a single zone or that the divider can be removed. For two recipes, check the settings available for each zone.
A multicooker cooks in a pot, with fill limits that vary by recipe. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo pot, which has a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L.
First choose the cooking method that suits your dishes, then check the permitted quantity in the manual.
Larger models need space for the appliance and for opening the drawers or door. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that you may hear an air fryer’s fan while it’s cooking.
Measure the space, allowing for the clearances specified in the manual. If your kitchen opens onto your living space, look for independent noise measurements.
These examples refer to specific models; they don’t represent every appliance from each brand.
The range mentioned here includes hot-air appliances with flexible zones or racks, as well as Cookeo multicookers.
The NA352/04 is an example of a model with two different-sized baskets.
The 4.6 L Easy Fry & Grill cited by Tefal is an example of a single-basket model.
This selection includes four dual-zone air fryers for preparing different parts of a meal, as well as a programmable cooker for dishes cooked in a pot. Compare the size of each zone, the features you need and the space available before choosing.
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Its two drawers let you split a meal between two dishes. The stated total capacity is 9.5 L. Check the internal dimensions to make sure they suit your portions, and look for synchronised cooking times if you want both dishes to be ready together.
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The dual-basket design suits two dishes that need different temperature settings. The title states a total capacity of 9 L and independent temperature controls. Check the usable space in each basket, the external dimensions, voltage and plug type.
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Its two drawers give you separate spaces for preparing different parts of a meal. The stated 7.6 L is the total capacity. Check the usable dimensions of each drawer, as well as synchronisation, voltage and plug type if these are important to you.
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The two compartments are designed for cooking food separately. Check how the stated 9 L capacity is split between them, then check the settings available for each compartment, along with the dimensions, voltage and plug type.
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This pot-style cooker is suited to meals you want to programme, rather than cooking two dishes with hot air. Its title lists a 6 L capacity, nine menus, two pressure settings and a 24-hour timer. Check the permitted fill level for your recipes, whether the instructions are available in French, the dimensions, voltage and plug type.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for an air fryer intended for four people. Then check the basket’s shape and usable dimensions against your recipes: the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that all your portions will fit in one batch.
No. Two drawers are mainly useful for cooking a main and a side separately. For one large dish, compare the size of each drawer with that of a large basket or a flexible zone. Also check whether the cooking times can be synchronised.
Choose a multicooker if you mainly prepare rice, saucy dishes or meals slow-cooked in a pot. Check that its cooking modes and fill limits suit your recipes; it won’t replace two hot-air zones for cooking a main and a side separately.
No. The stated capacity isn’t necessarily the permitted cooking capacity. UFC-Que Choisir says that a 6 L Cookeo pot can hold a maximum of 4 L for cooking. Check the limit for each recipe and the model you’re considering.