An air fryer can complement an oven if you often cook small or medium portions that you want to roast or crisp up, without using a deep-fat fryer. If you mainly cook large dishes, or would only use the appliance occasionally, your existing oven may already meet your needs. Before choosing a single basket or two drawers, compare the usable capacity with your portion sizes, then check the space available, noise levels and cleaning requirements.
How often you’ll use it and the size of your meals matter more than simply having an oven in the kitchen.
If you regularly cook for one or two people, a single basket may suit your portions without adding a deep-fat fryer. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for this use; also consider whether you’d use the appliance often enough to justify giving it space next to the oven.
Two drawers are worth considering if you want to cook foods with different cooking times at the same time. However, each compartment needs to be the right size for your portions: a large total capacity alone won’t guarantee that.
If you mainly cook family-sized dishes or already use your oven regularly for the same kinds of cooking, start by thinking about those habits before adding another appliance. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the overlap between the functions of an oven and an air fryer, as well as the space an air fryer can take up.
Start with the meals you cook most often. They’ll help you decide whether a single basket is enough, whether two drawers would be useful, or whether your oven is still the better fit.
| Criterion | What to check | What shoppers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the shape and surface area of the basket with your usual portions, rather than relying on the stated capacity alone. | For everyday meals, I want to cook my portions without having to do several batches. Around 33% of shoppers put usable capacity first. |
| How it complements your oven | Think about which meals you’d regularly cook in the air fryer, and where you’d keep it on the worktop or in a cupboard. | If my oven already handles all my usual meals, I’d rather avoid an appliance that would sit unused. This is the main concern for around 27% of shoppers. |
| Cooking two things at once | For a two-drawer model, check the size of each drawer and the settings available to coordinate your cooking. | When two parts of a meal need different cooking times, I want to be able to prepare them together. Around 20% of shoppers make this their priority. |
| Ease of use | Check the dimensions, how easy it is to handle, which parts need cleaning and, if possible, a noise measurement from a product test. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise and the cleaning involved could put me off using the appliance often. Ease of use comes first for around 20% of shoppers. |
The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you how much surface area you have to arrange your food on. Large portions may need to be cooked in several batches, even in an appliance described as large.
Compare the internal dimensions with the shape of the food you cook; for a model with two drawers, check the size of each compartment.
Extra batches add to your meal preparation time.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that both appliances cook using hot air and can serve similar purposes. If you mainly cook large dishes, an air fryer could take up space without being used regularly.
Think through your usual meals and identify which ones you’d genuinely cook in its basket rather than in the oven.
Two compartments let you cook separate dishes, but a single dish may not fit in either drawer.
Check the capacity of each drawer. If you want to serve both dishes at the same time, look for independent settings and a synchronisation function, if available.
You may hear the fan while the appliance is cooking. UFC-Que Choisir advises taking this into account, particularly if you’ll use it near living areas. A basket that’s awkward to handle or clean can also put you off using it day to day.
Look for a noise measurement if one is available, then check the care instructions and the model’s removable parts.
These models include two-compartment air fryers for cooking two parts of a meal, and single-basket models for cooking one dish at a time. If you already have an oven, first choose the style you’d use regularly, then check that the basket suits your portions.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at the same time. The stated capacity of 9.5 L is split between two drawers, so check that each one can hold your portions and that you have space for the appliance in your kitchen.
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This style is designed for meals made up of two separate dishes. The stated total capacity is 7.6 L, split between two drawers; compare their dimensions with your portions before choosing this model.
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The two compartments are suited to cooking two dishes at the same time, provided each one is the right size for the food you have in mind. The stated total capacity is 9 L; check the capacity of each compartment and the available settings if you need to coordinate two dishes.
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Worth a look if you’d rather cook one part of a meal in a single basket. This model has a stated capacity of 7 L and a viewing window. Check the usable surface area of the basket to see whether you can arrange your portions the way you want.
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This single-basket model is worth considering if you usually cook everything in one batch. It has a stated capacity of 5 L and a viewing window; compare the basket’s surface area with your portions and check the cleaning instructions before buying.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people, and 5 to 6 L for three or four people. These capacities don’t guarantee that a particular dish will fit in the basket, so also check its usable surface area and the portions you cook.
Not for every meal. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers and ovens have overlapping functions. An air fryer can complement your oven for small, frequent meals, while large dishes and bigger batches may still need to go in your oven. Compare the dishes you actually cook with the size of the basket.
Being able to add little or no fat describes one way of preparing certain foods; it doesn’t amount to an established health benefit. When choosing an appliance, focus on portion sizes, the type of cooking you want to do and how easy it is to use.
Look for a noise measurement taken during a product test, and check the instructions, removable parts and how easy the basket is to handle. UFC-Que Choisir draws attention to fan noise, which is especially worth considering in an open-plan kitchen.