An air fryer can be useful if you often prepare small portions that fit in its basket and would rather not switch on the full-size oven. It won’t automatically replace your oven for large dishes or bigger quantities, or your deep-fat fryer if you specifically want traditional deep-fried food. Before choosing between one or two drawers and a mini-oven style, think about what you usually cook, the space you have, how much noise it makes and how easy it is to clean. UFC-Que Choisir has found that results vary between models.
If you mainly roast or reheat small quantities, one drawer may be enough, as long as you’re happy to cook in batches when different parts of the meal need different settings. Check that your usual portion will fit in the basket.
Two cooking zones can make it easier to cook foods with different settings at the same time. How useful they are depends on the capacity of each zone and the model’s synchronisation function. Philips and Moulinex, for example, offer different configurations in their dual-zone appliances.
In an open-plan kitchen or on a narrow worktop, compare the appliance’s footprint, how the drawers open and how noisy it is in use. UFC-Que Choisir notes that noise levels vary between models, and a demonstration in a shop won’t necessarily reflect how it sounds at home.
Start with the quantity and shape of the dishes you cook most often. Your existing oven is still an option for larger meals, while a deep-fat fryer is designed for traditional frying. For smaller batches, choose between one drawer, two zones or a mini-oven style, depending on how many things you want to cook at once and how much space you have.
| Feature | What to check before you buy | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Small batches | Compare the amount you can actually cook per cycle with the space needed for your dish or tin. If your oven already handles your usual meals easily, consider whether you really need another appliance. | When I’m cooking a small portion, I want to avoid switching on my full-size oven without having to cook several batches; around 40% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Cooking two things at once | Look at the capacity of each zone, not just the total, and check how synchronisation works when cooking two different foods. | To serve a main and a side together, I need different settings without having to wait for a second batch; around 30% of consumers rank this type of meal planning as their top priority. |
| Everyday use | Measure the space needed with the drawers open, and look for reviews covering noise and cleaning for the exact model. Make a note of its model number too, so you can check for any recalls. | In my open-plan or small kitchen, noise, storage and washing up matter as much as cooking performance; around 30% of consumers put these needs first. |
Both appliances use hot air to cook food, but a basket may suit small portions without being large enough for your wider dishes or a whole family meal.
Make a note of three meals you cook often, the size of the dishes you use and how many batches you’d need to cook before choosing a style.
An extra appliance also takes up worktop space, even on days when you don’t use it.
Capacity split between two drawers won’t necessarily give you enough room for a large item or a single dish.
Check the usable dimensions of each zone. If you want to switch between cooking two portions and one large dish, see whether the model you’re considering has a removable divider.
Compartments that don’t suit your dishes may mean you have to cook in several batches.
Air circulation is part of convection cooking, but noise levels vary from one appliance to another. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering this before you buy.
Look for a review that measures the noise while cooking for the exact model, rather than relying on a brief demonstration in a shop.
RappelConso has issued recalls for air fryers which, depending on the model, may pose a risk of electric shock or overheating. The appliance’s generic name isn’t enough to identify an affected model.
Note down the model number and, if available, the batch number or GTIN. Search for these on RappelConso, especially if you’re buying second-hand, and follow the instructions for any relevant recall.
The range includes models with two cooking zones. Philips France, for example, describes the NA156/60 as having two 3.55 L compartments that can be combined into one 7.1 L space using a removable divider.
The Easy Fry range includes models with two drawers. Moulinex lists the EZ901820 with one 5.2 L drawer and another of 3.1 L.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands reviewed by UFC-Que Choisir and offers appliances with two cooking zones.
These models have a single basket, two drawers or an adaptable basket. Consider them in light of your portion sizes and how many foods you want to cook together. For a wide dish or traditional frying, also compare how your existing oven or deep-fat fryer could be used.
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Worth considering if you regularly prepare two parts of a meal. The stated total capacity is 9 L; check how much space it needs with the baskets open and look for cooking and noise reviews of the NA351/00.
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The two drawers may appeal to households that cook a main and a side separately. The product name lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. If you need both dishes to finish at the same time, check the DZ300EU’s synchronisation function.
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The adaptable basket is worth considering if you switch between cooking one dish and two separate foods. The product name lists a viewing window and Sync and Dual functions; check the appliance’s dimensions and how these functions suit the meals you usually cook.
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A single basket is worth considering if you usually cook one dish at a time. Its stated capacity is 6.2 L. If you want to cook two foods with different settings, plan to cook them in batches, and check that the AF180EU’s size and noise levels work for you.
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This size is worth comparing with your usual portions if you typically cook for one or two people, as stated in the product name. It lists three functions and a 4.7 L basket; measure your available space and look for noise and cooking reviews of the AF110EU.
Not for every meal. An air fryer overlaps with some oven functions, but its basket may limit the size of the dishes and the amount you can cook at once. UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying more appliances than you need. Compare the small batches you cook often with the larger or more generous oven dishes you already make.
It depends on the recipe, the quantity and the appliances being compared. In tests published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir found that the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini-oven when cooking a small quiche. This result doesn’t apply to every type of cooking or every oven.
Look for a review of the exact model that measures noise while it’s cooking, especially if you have an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0.50 m from the appliance, for example. A short demonstration in a shop won’t necessarily reflect the conditions at home.
Check the exact model number, read the instructions and search RappelConso for any recalls affecting the model. For products covered by the relevant European rules, the DGCCRF explains that the CE mark indicates the manufacturer’s commitment to meeting the applicable requirements; it is not a certification mark.
No. Two drawers are mainly useful if you need to cook foods with different settings at the same time. If you’re more likely to prepare one large dish, check the usable size of each compartment. The stated total capacity alone won’t tell you whether your dish will fit.