If you often prepare smaller portions, a dedicated air fryer could be a good fit, provided you have room for it and are happy with the limits of its cooking compartment and the noise from its fan. If your oven already accommodates your usual dishes and quantities, carrying on using it means you won’t need another appliance. An air fryer oven is best compared with your existing oven in terms of its internal dimensions and accessories, rather than headline capacity alone.
You’re looking for a dedicated cooking compartment for a simple meal or side dish. But do check how much room it will take up in your kitchen: Philips France says its 7.2 l NA341/10 air fryer measures 453 × 333 × 303.5 mm.
Your dishes, gratins or tray bakes already fit in your oven. The question is whether another format would meet a regular need, rather than adding an appliance for functions you already use.
The space it takes up, the noise while cooking and the parts you need to clean all matter. UFC-Que Choisir highlights fan noise in particular, so compare these factors across the specific models you’re considering.
If you regularly cook smaller meals, start with the dishes you actually make. The useful cooking space and the room you have available matter more than the number of programmes.
Worth considering: for frequent smaller portions, if the basket suits your dishes and you have a suitable spot for the appliance.
Bear in mind: the drawer shape may not suit some dishes, while the fan can be disruptive depending on the model and your kitchen.
Worth considering: if you’re looking for a worktop appliance with racks and trays for dishes that don’t fit well in a drawer-style air fryer.
Bear in mind: it may offer many of the same uses as the oven you already have. UFC-Que Choisir describes air fryers with a format similar to a mini oven.
Best if: your usual dishes and quantities already fit, and you’d rather not add another appliance.
Check: any accessory you choose must suit your oven’s dimensions and settings. Don’t assume it will save time or electricity every time you cook a small portion.
| What matters | What to check | Who this applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding duplication | Compare the dishes you make regularly with the functions of your existing oven and check whether a potential accessory is compatible. | If my oven already handles the dishes I make most often, I need a clear reason to add another appliance. This could be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Choosing the right size | Measure your dishes, the cooking compartment and the appliance’s external dimensions. Capacity in litres alone doesn’t tell you how much usable space there is. | To avoid cooking my meal in several batches, I’m looking for a compartment that suits the shape and quantity of my food. This could be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Saving space and keeping noise down | Check where you’ll put the appliance, the clearance required in the instructions and noise levels measured under comparable conditions. | In a kitchen where the appliance will be on show and used alongside other activities, I want to keep the space it takes up and the noise to a minimum. Around 20% of consumers could make this their top priority. |
| Making cleaning easier | Check the instructions to see which parts are removable and which can go in the dishwasher for the specific model. | After using an appliance regularly, I’d rather not have lots of awkward parts to clean. For around 20% of consumers, ease of cleaning could come ahead of other factors. |
Two compartments with a similar stated capacity may fit dishes of different shapes. A divider, rack or the available height can also affect what you can cook.
Measure your dishes and the space you have available, then check the layout inside the exact model you’re considering.
UFC-Que Choisir takes noise into account in its tests and measures it from 0.50 m away. This distance matters when you compare results.
Look for measurements taken under clearly stated conditions or, if possible, listen to the model while it’s running.
An appliance with racks and trays may handle many of the dishes you already cook in your oven, while taking up more space in your kitchen.
First, work out which format or function you’re actually missing. If an accessory for your oven could meet that need, check that it’s compatible before choosing a second appliance.
Removable parts and dishwasher compatibility vary between models and individual components.
Check the instructions for the specific model you’ve chosen, including details for the basket, racks, trays and any dividers.
These air fryers come with cooking compartments in different sizes. Compare each one with your portion sizes and existing oven: greater capacity or more functions don’t automatically make a second appliance useful.
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Worth a look if you want a dedicated appliance for smaller portions. Check that the compartment suits your dishes and that you have enough room for it. If noise matters to you, look for comparable measurements for this model.
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Compare the 2 l compartment with the portions you regularly prepare and the dishes you use. Also check the external dimensions, noise levels and cleaning instructions for this model.
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Compare it with a smaller model if your meals need more room in the cooking compartment. The eight stated modes don’t remove the need to check whether your dishes will fit, how noisy it is and which parts need cleaning.
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The two drawers are worth considering if you regularly cook two separate foods. Compare the stated total capacity of 7.6 l with your smaller portions and measure how much space the appliance will take up. Check noise levels if that’s a concern in your kitchen.
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This 7.6 l capacity is worth considering if you cook larger quantities than you’d need for a typical small meal. Before making room for it, compare its dimensions and compartment with your dishes and the oven you already have.
Not for every meal. An air fryer can bake, roast or grill, but its compartment needs to fit your usual dishes and quantities. If you often use large dishes or several shelves, compare those needs with your existing oven before thinking about replacing it.
No. The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you the shape of the compartment or the appliance’s dimensions. Check that your dishes will fit inside and that the model will fit where you plan to put it. For example, Philips France lists dimensions of 453 × 333 × 303.5 mm for its 7.2 l NA341/10.
Look for measurements that specify the distance and method used, or listen to the appliance while it’s running if you can. UFC-Que Choisir measures air fryer noise from 0.50 m as part of its testing process. Don’t compare figures taken under different conditions directly.
No. It depends on the model and the individual part. Check the instructions for your chosen model, including the basket, racks, trays and any dividers, before deciding how you’ll clean it.