An air fryer is most worthwhile if you often cook small batches and its capacity, size and maintenance suit your kitchen. One drawer is enough for cooking one thing at a time; two cooking zones are better suited to serving a main and a side together. If your oven already handles your portions and recipes without any particular difficulty, another appliance could be redundant, as Que Choisir points out.
If you regularly prepare one or two portions, a single basket could suit the batches you cook. However, check how much food you can actually fit inside and how much space the appliance will take up. Que Choisir warns that adding an air fryer to your oven can clutter your kitchen.
Two cooking zones can be useful when different foods need different settings. However, synchronisation doesn’t solve the question of portion sizes: each compartment needs to hold the amount you plan to cook for the meal.
If your oven works well for the dishes you usually make, first consider which small batches you’d cook often enough in an air fryer. Without a distinct use for it, sticking with your oven could save you having another appliance to store and clean.
Start with your portion sizes and how often you cook small batches, then consider whether cooking two things at once is worth the space it takes up. The percentages below refer to consumers, grouped by the need they prioritise when choosing an appliance for everyday meals.
Consider it: for cooking one thing at a time and regularly making small portions.
The trade-off: a single basket won’t let you set different cooking settings for a main and a side.
Consider it: if two parts of your meal often need different cooking times or temperatures.
The trade-off: the advertised total capacity doesn’t tell you how much food fits in each zone.
Stick with it: if it already meets your needs, particularly for large dishes and batches.
Reconsider it: if cooking small batches often makes it impractical for everyday use.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and usable capacity | Compare the shape of the basket and the recommended quantity for your food, not just the advertised capacity in litres. Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people and recommends at least 6 L for a family of four. | When I cook several portions, I want them all to fit without having to cook multiple batches. Around 36% of consumers would put this actual capacity at the top of their list. |
| A different use from your oven | Think about which small batches you’d cook regularly, and measure the space available for setting up or storing the appliance. | If my oven already suits the dishes I usually cook, I don’t want another appliance that will see little use. Avoiding this duplication would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Co-ordinating two cooking tasks | Check for separate settings, synchronisation and the capacity of each zone. Whether there’s a removable divider depends on the model. | I often prepare a main and a side that need different cooking times, and want to serve them together. This would be the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and handling | Check the instructions to find out which parts are removable and dishwasher-safe. Also consider how easy the drawer is to handle. | After regularly preparing meals, I want to be able to clean and handle the basket without difficulty. Ease of cleaning would be the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
The stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that all your food will fit in one batch or that you’ll be able to arrange it without piling it up. Que Choisir highlights the amount you can actually cook and the differences in results between appliances.
Start with your usual portions and recipes, then check the shape and usable dimensions of the basket, as well as the quantities listed in the instructions.
According to Que Choisir, an air fryer’s cooking functions overlap with those of an oven. If your oven already suits your meals, buying one could simply mean another appliance to clean and store.
Before choosing a model, work out which small batches you’d genuinely cook more often in a separate appliance.
Also make sure you have a permanent place for it on your worktop or in a cupboard, and factor in cleaning after each use.
Two compartments let you cook different foods separately, but their combined capacity doesn’t necessarily give you enough space for one single ingredient or dish.
Check the capacity and shape of each zone. If you sometimes cook one large dish, specifically look for a suitable basket or a removable divider on the model you’re considering.
Energy use depends on factors including the recipe, quantity and model. Que Choisir measures energy use for each cooking test in its testing protocol, so comparisons are only meaningful when the food and conditions are similar.
For your usual portions, look for measurements based on comparable conditions rather than relying on a general claim about reducing energy use.
The range includes models with two cooking zones. For the NA154/00, Philips describes a removable divider that lets you switch from two 3,55 L compartments to one 7,1 L space.
The Easy Fry range includes models that combine air frying and grilling. Moulinex advertises a capacity of 4,6 L for the Easy Fry & Grill EZ505D10.
Ninja is one of the brands featured in Que Choisir’s air fryer comparison, which assesses appliances model by model.
These Joybuy models include two-zone baskets for cooking two different things together, as well as a small basket for limited portions. Before adding an appliance, compare each size with your oven and the space you have available.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at once. Check that the portions you have in mind will fit in the drawers.
The advertised total capacity is 7,6 L, and the product name lists six functions. Measure the space you have available before buying.
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The two baskets suit cooking a main and a side separately. If you mostly cook small portions, check that this size is right for how you’ll use it.
The 9 L is the advertised total capacity. Check the dimensions of each basket and the space you’ll need to keep or store the appliance.
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Worth considering for meals with two components when each drawer needs to hold a larger portion. If you usually cook one or two small portions, make sure you’ll benefit from the extra capacity.
The product name lists a total capacity of 9,5 L and six functions. Check the model’s dimensions to make sure you have room for it.
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The dual-zone design is worth considering if you switch between cooking two different things and making larger batches. Check how much you can actually cook and how much space you’ll need.
The product name lists a 12QT capacity, Sync and Dual modes, and 50 paper liners. Check what’s included in the box before buying.
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This 2 L basket is designed for people cooking small portions. Check whether your usual food will fit without requiring several batches.
The product name lists a rated power of 1150 W, a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Measure the space you have available rather than relying on the word ‘compact’ alone.
Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a starting point for one or two people. This figure doesn’t replace checking the basket itself: make sure your food and usual portions will fit without being piled up.
Not necessarily: two zones are mainly for cooking different foods separately when they need different settings. If you mostly cook one small batch at a time, compare single-basket models first. For one large dish, check whether the two-zone model has a usable space without the divider.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering to see which parts are removable and whether they’re dishwasher-safe. Moulinex says that removable parts of the Easy Fry & Grill EZ505D10 are dishwasher-safe, but you shouldn’t assume this applies to other models.
Check the model’s compliance information and instructions, and follow the guidance on installation and maintenance. The European Commission explains that the CE marking indicates that the product has been assessed against the applicable requirements in the European Economic Area; it is not a measure of cooking performance.