An air fryer could be a good fit if you regularly cook portions that fit in the basket without being crowded, and you’re happy with its noise and how much space it takes up. If your oven already meets those needs, UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying more appliances than you need. If you want to cook two dishes at once, consider a dual-basket model, but remember that its total capacity isn’t the same as the space available in each zone.
The number of portions you cook and the appliances you already own matter more than an ‘XXL’ label or the number of programmes.
A single basket may be enough for a modest amount of vegetables, fish or a side dish. Check that the foods you usually cook fit in the basket without being crowded, then measure the space available on your worktop.
Two zones can be useful for cooking a side dish separately from another part of the meal. If you mostly cook large joints or use large dishes, check the dimensions of each compartment instead: the combined capacity doesn’t create one large cooking zone.
Compare the meals you usually cook with what your oven can do before adding an air fryer. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can perform the same functions as an oven, so you’ll need to find a regular, distinct use for it.
Start with the foods and quantities you cook, then check that your chosen size fits your kitchen and is easy to use after every meal.
| Criterion | What to check | Consider your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s surface area, the volume of each zone and the size of your dishes. For four people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 l, but you’ll still need to check that there’s enough room for the food itself. | I want to cook my usual portions without having to make several batches or crowding the food. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | A single basket gives you one cooking zone. With two baskets, check the settings for each zone and the size of the food that will fit in them. If you use large dishes, compare the space offered by your oven too. | Do I need to cook a side dish separately from the rest of the meal, or do I mostly cook a large joint? |
| Space and noise | Measure the width, depth and height of the space you have in mind, allowing for the handle and the clearances specified by the manufacturer. To check the noise level, look for a review of the exact model: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the fan as an important factor. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to cook without the appliance disrupting conversation or taking up the whole worktop. |
| Cleaning | Check how easy it is to reach the baskets, which parts are removable and how they should be washed. A dual-basket model also means two zones to clean after cooking two dishes at once. | If I plan to use it often, cleaning it after an everyday meal needs to fit in with my routine. |
| Uses already covered | Make a list of the dishes your oven already cooks. For traditional deep-fat frying, compare that method separately with air frying: the two appliances use different cooking methods. | I’m looking for a practical use that my current appliances don’t cover, rather than a second appliance for cooking the same dishes. |
With a dual-basket model, the advertised capacity is split between two compartments. It doesn’t tell you whether your dish or a large piece of food will fit in either one. Crowding the food can also affect how evenly it cooks.
Check the size of each zone and the surface area available for the foods you usually cook, rather than looking only at the number of litres advertised.
An air fryer also uses hot air. UFC-Que Choisir warns that it may duplicate an oven that already suits your household’s needs, while taking up space on your worktop.
Before you buy, identify the small dishes or separate cooking tasks you’d genuinely use the new appliance for.
The fan can be a consideration in an open-plan kitchen. An appliance that looks compact from the front may also need more depth than you have, especially once you allow for the handle.
Measure the space and the required clearances, then check a review that covers the noise level of the exact model you’re considering.
An air fryer and a deep-fat fryer use different cooking methods. The results you get with chips also depend on the model, the quantity you cook and how often you shake or turn the food.
Choose an appliance based on the cooking you expect to do most often, rather than assuming a traditional deep-fried recipe will turn out the same when cooked with hot air.
These examples illustrate different formats. Their features and the findings from the reviews cited don’t apply to every appliance from each brand.
The Easy Fry Smart & Silence is worth considering if noise from a single-basket model is an important factor in your decision.
The Essential Airfryer Compact HD9252/90 and Vertical Duo Series 4000 NA462/70 demonstrate a compact design and two stacked compartments respectively.
Compare the Combi SFP700 with mini-oven-style appliances if you’re looking for something different from a traditional basket design.
These models all cook with hot air: four have two baskets or chambers for keeping dishes separate, while the ROUNY T3 has a single basket. If your oven already meets your needs, or you’re mainly looking for a deep-fat fryer, compare these uses first before choosing one of these models.
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Worth considering if you cook two parts of a meal separately. The model name indicates six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. The 9,5 l is the total capacity, so check the size of each drawer for the food you cook, as well as the appliance’s dimensions and noise level if these are important to you.
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This format is suited to meals where it helps to cook the different elements in separate drawers. The model name indicates six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. The advertised 7,6 l is the total capacity, so check the space in each drawer, then consider the model’s size and noise level in relation to your kitchen.
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The two baskets let you cook different dishes separately. The model name indicates eight programmes, touch controls and independent temperature settings. To work out what portions will fit, check the capacity of each basket rather than relying on the 9 l total. Measure the space you have available and check the noise level if needed.
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The two chambers are designed to keep different foods separate while you prepare a meal. The model name indicates a total capacity of 9 l and temperature control. Check the volume and shape of each chamber to make sure your dishes will fit, and consider the appliance’s dimensions and noise level if space is limited.
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This single-basket model is worth comparing if you cook everything in one zone. The model name indicates a viewing window, touch controls and a non-stick basket. Check that its surface area suits your portions, then consider its dimensions, cleaning instructions and noise level in line with your priorities.
No. Both appliances use hot air for some cooking tasks, and UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying more appliances than you need when your oven already cooks the dishes you want to make. Compare the meals you cook most often and how much space they take up before adding an air fryer.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends a capacity of at least 6 l for a family of four. This is only a guide and doesn’t guarantee that all your dishes will fit. Check the basket’s surface area and, for an appliance with two zones, the size of each compartment.
Yes, especially if you’ll be using the appliance in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir measures air fryer noise at 0,50 m as part of its test procedure. Look for a review of the exact model you’re interested in rather than assuming all fans are equally quiet.
Don’t assume it does: one cooks with hot air, while the other uses a bath of oil. If traditional deep-fat frying is your main use, bear this difference in mind when choosing. For an air fryer, check how it performs with the foods and quantities you usually cook.