An air fryer can complement your oven if you often cook small portions of roast or crispy food that fit in its basket. A single-drawer model is well suited to repeated small batches, while a dual-compartment model is more useful when you want two dishes to finish cooking at the same time. If your usual meals need a large cavity or several batches, keeping your oven as your main appliance will help you avoid buying something you don’t need.
If you regularly use your oven to cook a small amount of vegetables, chips or other foods to roast, an air fryer could handle these jobs instead. It’s less useful if you only cook them occasionally or if they already take several batches in the basket.
Two zones with separate settings can be useful when you want both dishes ready at the same time. However, check what each zone can hold: the total capacity quoted doesn’t tell you how much space is available in each drawer.
The space an appliance takes up and the noise from its fan may matter more than its cooking programmes. When comparing models, check their dimensions and look for noise measurements taken at a stated distance.
Worth considering: if you often cook small portions and don’t need to set two cooking programmes independently.
The trade-off: a large dish or several foods that need to be cooked separately may require multiple batches.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook two foods with different settings and want them to finish at the same time.
The trade-off: each compartment limits the size of the food it can hold, even if the total capacity looks generous.
Keep as your main appliance: if you mostly cook large dishes, use wide tins or regularly fill the oven cavity.
Worth comparing: when cooking the same quantity of a small quiche, air fryers tested by UFC-Que Choisir in 2024 used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven. This result won’t apply to every recipe or quantity.
| Feature | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Use alongside your oven | Think about the small meals you actually cook each week and count how many batches they would take in the basket. | If I often switch on my oven for a small portion, I want another appliance to genuinely take over that job. This would be the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Capacity and cooking at the same time | Compare the usable space in each zone with the food you cook, and check for independent settings if you need them. | To serve a main and a side together, I need enough room in each compartment. Around 25% of consumers would put this capacity at the top of their list. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space available with the drawer open, and compare noise measurements taken at a stated distance. | In an open-plan kitchen, I don’t want an appliance to get in the way or drown out conversation. Space and noise would be priorities for around 25% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and aftercare | Check which parts are removable and dishwasher-safe, as well as whether manuals and spare parts are available. | If I cook often, I want to be able to clean the parts I use and find the information I need to look after them. This would be the top priority for around 19% of consumers. |
The two appliances can handle some of the same types of cooking. An air fryer is worthwhile if you often make small dishes that fit inside it, not simply because you have one beside your oven.
Make a note of a few meals you cook each week and check whether the portions and containers fit in the basket without needing multiple batches. Keep your oven for larger dishes if that’s what you mainly use it for.
A quoted capacity doesn’t guarantee that a large food item or a full portion will fit in the basket. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of checking the volume you can actually use.
Compare the internal dimensions with the food you usually cook. If you’re looking at a model with two drawers, check each compartment separately, not just their combined capacity.
The fan is part of how an air fryer works, but noise levels vary between models. A quick demonstration in a shop won’t necessarily reflect what it’s like to use one in an open-plan kitchen.
If noise matters to you, look for a test that states the measurement distance. UFC-Que Choisir, for example, measures noise at 0,50 m as part of its testing process.
A service promise or commercial guarantee doesn’t replace the legal guarantee of conformity. In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that this applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual.
Check the terms of the brand’s service promise separately, along with spare-part availability and what any commercial guarantee adds to your rights with the retailer.
The Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20 may suit households looking for two drawers to cook different parts of the same meal.
The NA156/60 offers a different way to organise portions, with a removable divider between its two zones.
These Joybuy models give you a chance to compare smaller baskets, larger quoted capacities and a dual-basket appliance. Start by considering your portions and the space available; the models featured here don’t replace comparing an air fryer with your oven.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook portions in a single basket. Its quoted capacity is 6,2 L; compare the basket’s internal dimensions with your dishes, and check a noise measurement if you have an open-plan kitchen.
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Compare it with your usual portions if you’re looking for a basket with a quoted capacity of 7,6 L. Check its external dimensions and the usable space inside before relying on that capacity for a particular dish.
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Worth considering if you want to choose a container to suit different portion sizes. Check that each container has enough room for the food you cook; this design shouldn’t be confused with two compartments that cook at the same time.
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Worth considering if your priority is cooking two parts of a meal at the same time. This model is listed as a dual-basket appliance with a 9 L capacity and 2 400 W power. Check the usable space in each basket, the external dimensions and the cleaning instructions.
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Worth considering for small portions, provided the 2 L basket can hold the food you cook. The product title describes a non-stick, dishwasher-safe basket; check the appliance’s dimensions and how much space is actually usable inside the basket.
It may be redundant if you rarely use it and your usual dishes already cook easily in the oven. It’s more useful for small, frequently prepared dishes that fit in the basket. When cooking the same quantity of a small quiche, air fryers tested by UFC-Que Choisir in 2024 used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven. This doesn’t tell you what to expect with other recipes.
Use the capacity in litres as a starting point, then check how much room there is for the food you cook. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people, 5 to 6 L for three or four people, and at least 9 L for households of more than five. With a dual-drawer model, also check the capacity of each zone separately.
Yes, particularly if you’ll use the appliance near a living area. The fan is needed for convection cooking, and noise levels can vary between models. Compare tests that explain their method: UFC-Que Choisir, for example, measures noise at 0,50 m.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, an appliance sold by a business to an individual is covered by the legal guarantee of conformity, whether it’s new, second-hand or refurbished. If the product is faulty or doesn’t match its description, keep your proof of purchase and the product listing so you can assert your rights with the retailer. Any commercial guarantee should be considered separately.