An air fryer deserves a place alongside your oven if you often cook small portions, reheat food you want to keep crispy or need to cook two parts of a meal at the same time. If you mainly cook large meals or only use your oven occasionally, sticking with it avoids buying an appliance that duplicates what you already have : before adding one, consider how much space it needs, its usable capacity, noise and cleaning requirements.
You often cook one or two portions, or reheat pizza, quiche, breaded food or vegetables. Whether a drawer-style air fryer is worthwhile depends on how much space it takes up and how easy it is to clean after regular use.
You want to serve two parts of a meal together without needing the oven’s capacity for both. Two compartments could do the job, provided their individual capacities and the appliance’s overall size suit your needs.
Your oven already handles large batches and you have limited worktop space. As UFC-Que Choisir points out, an air fryer duplicates some of the oven’s functions : it’s worth identifying the dishes you’d cook in it regularly before adding one.
Start with the dishes you actually make : a single drawer works well for some small batches, two compartments help you coordinate cooking, while your oven is still the better choice for larger dishes. If you specifically want to deep-fry food in oil, compare traditional deep fat fryers and consider what using one involves.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Duplication and space | Measure the space available, how far the drawer opens and the clearances specified in the manual for the model you’re considering. | If my oven already meets my needs, I don’t want to give up worktop space for the odd cooking task ; around 31 % of consumers prioritise avoiding a redundant appliance. |
| Capacity and coordinated meals | Compare the usable capacity and dimensions of each compartment with the dishes you usually cook ; check whether the cooking functions can be coordinated if that matters to you. | If I want to serve two dishes together or avoid cooking in batches, I need enough room in each basket, not just a large advertised capacity ; around 23 % of consumers put this need first. |
| Frequent small-batch cooking | Look for tests using your recipes and quantities ; also check the appliance’s noise level and cleaning instructions. | I often cook small portions and want to reheat food without using my oven ; around 31 % of consumers prioritise this regular use. |
| Deep-frying in oil | Decide whether you want hot-air cooking or deep-frying in oil, which comes with its own handling and cleaning requirements. | If what I really want is deep-fried food, an air fryer won’t quite meet my expectations ; around 15 % of consumers prioritise this cooking method. |
A litre figure won’t tell you whether your pizza, baking tin or usual portion will fit in the drawer. UFC-Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Compare the internal dimensions, basket shape and your dishes before relying on the preset programmes.
If a dish doesn’t fit in one go, you’ll need to cook it in batches.
In a UFC-Que Choisir test, the air fryers used an average of 36 % less electricity than a 19 l mini oven when cooking a small quiche of the same size. This result doesn’t predict the energy use for a different dish, quantity or oven.
To compare two appliances, look for a test that specifies the recipe, quantity and models used.
An appliance you use regularly should be easy to keep within reach and clean. UFC-Que Choisir also assesses noise and ease of use in its air fryer tests.
Check tests for the exact model, then consult its manual for removable parts, cleaning instructions and the space you need to leave around the appliance.
Hot-air cooking and deep-frying in oil are two different methods. UFC-Que Choisir notes, for example, that fresh chips don’t turn out the same in an air fryer.
If deep-frying is your main aim, compare traditional deep fat fryers and factor in hot oil, splashes, smells and cleaning.
The Easy Fry range includes drawers in different sizes, as well as models with two compartments.
Philips offers configurations including two baskets in different sizes and stacked baskets.
The range includes drawer-style and dual-zone air fryers, with sizes to compare according to the portions you plan to cook.
These single- and dual-drawer models are suited to small batches and meals with several dishes. Compare their capacity with the food you usually cook before deciding whether one deserves a place alongside your oven.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal in separate baskets. The advertised capacity is 9 l ; check the capacity of each basket and how much space you’ll need around the appliance.
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The two drawers are handy for keeping two dishes separate. Its advertised total capacity is 7,6 l ; check the dimensions of each drawer and the cleaning instructions for the DZ300EU model.
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Compare this single-drawer model with the batches you usually cook, rather than your oven’s total capacity. Its advertised capacity is 6,2 l ; check the usable dimensions to make sure your dishes will fit.
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With an advertised capacity of 2 l, this model is better suited to small portions than family-sized meals. The title states that the basket is dishwasher-safe ; check the manual for care instructions and the appliance’s dimensions.
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Consider this model for moderate portions if you’d rather leave larger dishes to the oven. The title lists eight programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a reminder to shake the food ; check the manual for basket care instructions.
Yes, if you regularly use it for small portions, certain reheating jobs or two dishes that need to be ready together. Your oven is still worth keeping for large batches and dishes that won’t fit in a drawer ; UFC-Que Choisir points out that adding an air fryer can also mean ending up with more appliances than you need.
No, the difference depends on the recipe, quantity, appliances being compared and number of batches. UFC-Que Choisir’s test of a small quiche found that the air fryers used less energy on average than the mini oven tested, but this doesn’t predict how they’ll compare with your oven for every meal.
Let it cool down and follow the instructions in its manual, particularly for removable parts. For its own appliances, Philips recommends cleaning the pan and basket with hot water, washing-up liquid and a non-abrasive sponge. Don’t use metal utensils on the non-stick coating.
According to the DGCCRF, the statutory guarantee of conformity can be claimed for two years from the date the goods are delivered, whether they’re new or second-hand. It covers lack of conformity ; a commercial guarantee offered by a retailer or manufacturer doesn’t replace it.