An air fryer is particularly useful if you often prepare small quantities and want to avoid heating up the oven’s large cavity. For an individual small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir recorded average consumption 36% lower than that of a 19 L mini oven, although the result depends on the recipe and the appliances compared. A single drawer is suitable for straightforward cooking, while two drawers are better suited to meals made up of two foods requiring different settings.
You regularly prepare a side dish, a few pieces of food to roast or a small everyday meal, and want to know whether a smaller cavity offers a genuine benefit without creating unnecessary duplication. The case is strongest for small, frequently repeated preparations, but you should also consider available space, noise and cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir highlights these criteria in its tests and buying guide.
You regularly prepare a main dish and a side with different cooking times or temperatures and want them to finish together. A dual-drawer model could meet this need if the zones are genuinely independent and synchronisation is confirmed for the model you are considering.
You want to cook more than a small portion without turning on the oven every time, but without installing an oversized appliance that is poorly suited to your needs. Usable capacity, actual dimensions, the number of batches required and storage space matter more than marketing terms such as « XL » or « XXL ».
Start with the meals you prepare most often, then compare the format with the space available and the functions your oven already provides.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Avoid duplicating your oven | Compare the meals you actually prepare, portion sizes and the cooking methods you already use in the oven. A mini-oven format with racks and trays deserves particularly careful comparison with your existing equipment. | I want to reduce repeated small batches, not add an appliance that merely duplicates occasional oven use. |
| Choose the right capacity | Check the usable volume, food size, external dimensions and storage requirements. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for 1 to 2 people and 5 to 6 L for 3 to 4 people, although this is not suitable for every dish. | My portions need to fit without requiring multiple cycles, while leaving my worktop practical to use. |
| Coordinate two foods | Check the capacity of each drawer, the independent settings and the synchronisation function. Two drawers of different sizes will not necessarily suit two equal portions. | I often prepare a main dish and its side with different cooking times or temperatures and want to serve them together. |
| Compare energy consumption | Look for a measurement based on the same recipe and quantity, rather than comparing wattage alone. Cooking time and temperature also affect the result. | For an individual small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir’s tests recorded an average of 36% less electricity for the air fryers tested than for a 19 L mini oven. I check that this type of comparison matches my recipes. |
| Live with the appliance every day | Measure the space, allowing for the clearances specified in the instructions, check the removable parts and look for an independent noise measurement. The fan deserves particular attention in an open-plan kitchen. | I want to be able to take the appliance out, clean it and put it away easily, without excessive noise disturbing meals or time spent in the living room. |
An air fryer also uses circulating hot air to cook, roast or grill. If it only occasionally duplicates functions that your oven already handles well, it may take up space without being used very often.
List three meals you prepare each week, their quantities and the cooking method you currently use. Choose this type of appliance if it genuinely avoids frequent oven preheating or batches for these specific uses.
Differences in energy consumption depend on the recipe, quantity, cooking time and model. UFC-Que Choisir also found that some appliances used more energy than others when cooking chicken drumsticks.
Give priority to per-cycle measurements comparing the same recipe and quantity. A percentage claimed by a brand should be checked in this context rather than treated as a guarantee.
A large total capacity does not guarantee that a main dish and its side will each fit in the appropriate drawer. The two drawers may be asymmetrical.
Check the usable volume and dimensions of each zone separately, then compare them with the two foods you cook most often. Also confirm synchronisation if having both dishes finish at the same time is important.
The fan required for convection can be disruptive in an open-plan kitchen. Ease of cleaning, storage and handling are also practical differences between models, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Measure the intended space, allowing for the clearances specified in the instructions, check which parts can be removed and look for an independent noise measurement before choosing.
Moulinex offers drawer-style air fryers as well as mini-oven formats, particularly in the Easy Fry & Grill and Easy Fry 20 L ranges.
Philips notably sells dual-basket air fryers with synchronisation, including asymmetrical 6 L and 3 L formats.
Ninja is a prominent brand in marketing communications for air fryers sold in France.
These Joybuy options mainly cover dual-drawer air fryers for a main dish and side, with one single-drawer model for straightforward everyday cooking.
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Suitable for meals consisting of a main dish and side requiring different settings.
Two baskets, a stated total capacity of 9 L, synchronisation, eight programmes, a temperature range from 40 to 200 °C and a timer of up to 60 minutes. Check the usable capacity of each basket, as well as noise and energy consumption for your recipes.
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Two drawers with the same capacity for preparing two foods with separate settings.
Two 4.75 L drawers, six functions, digital settings for each zone and baskets stated to be dishwasher-safe. At 41.5 cm wide and weighing 8.8 kg, check the available space; also confirm synchronisation if it is essential.
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A dual-zone format for a main dish and side when two 3.8 L drawers are sufficient.
Two independent 3.8 L drawers, six functions and separate time and temperature settings for each zone. The appliance is 38 cm wide and weighs 8.2 kg; check synchronisation and the number of batches needed for large portions.
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Two baskets of the same size for dividing a main dish and its side.
Two independent 4.5 L baskets, a stated Sync function, eight programmes and touch controls. Check the dimensions, weight, temperature range, timer and cleaning method before buying.
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A suitable choice for cooking one component of a meal at a time in a single-basket format.
Stated 5 L capacity, temperature range from 80 to 200 °C, six programmes, touch controls and a non-stick basket stated to be dishwasher-safe. Check the dimensions, usable volume and noise; this format does not allow two independent cooking programmes to run simultaneously.
Compare the energy used for the same recipe, quantity and a comparable cooking result; the stated wattage alone is not enough. When cooking an individual small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity for the air fryers tested than for a 19 L mini oven, although this figure does not apply to every preparation.
Prioritise an independent test that specifies the distance and measurement method. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0.50 m while the appliance is running and has it assessed by three experts; the impact may be greater in an open-plan kitchen or small home.
No: it is mainly useful for cooking two foods simultaneously in separate zones and, depending on the model, synchronising their finish times. For large dishes, substantial quantities or cooking on several levels, an oven remains more suitable; choose a dual-drawer model based on how often you actually prepare two-component meals.
Buy from an identifiable seller and keep your proof of purchase, the instructions and the model information. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that electrical equipment is monitored because of risks including electric shocks, fires, mechanical hazards and burns; also follow the installation and clearance instructions in the manual.