If your current oven already handles the meals you usually cook and you only make small batches occasionally, keeping it avoids adding another appliance with many of the same functions. A drawer-style air fryer may be worthwhile if you often cook small portions. A dual-compartment model is better suited to cooking two things at once, provided each basket fits the dishes you use and you’re happy with the space it takes up, the noise and the cleaning.
You want to know whether the way you usually cook really calls for another appliance. Compare how you use it before replacing something your oven can already do. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the risk of buying more appliances than you need when their functions overlap.
You’re considering a drawer-style air fryer for smaller quantities, provided its usable capacity suits your portions and you have room for it.
You want to cook two different foods separately on a regular basis. In this case, the usable size of each compartment matters more than the advertised total capacity. UFC-Que Choisir notes that results can vary from one drawer to another.
Start with the meals you actually cook and the functions your current oven offers. Then consider usable capacity, available space and cleaning before choosing an additional appliance.
| What you’re looking for | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding a redundant purchase | List the dishes and small batches you actually cook, then compare them with the functions of your current oven. UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer can overlap with an oven. | If I want to avoid adding another appliance, I first check whether my oven is enough for the meals I usually cook. Around 25% of consumers put avoiding duplication first. |
| Cooking small portions | Compare the basket’s usable capacity with your usual portions and check whether they’ll fit in one batch. Electricity-use test results can’t be applied to every appliance, dish and quantity. | When I often cook small quantities, I’m mainly looking for a convenient way to cook everything in one batch. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this use. |
| Cooking a meal or two dishes | Check the usable size of each basket and the shape of your dishes; two compartments don’t necessarily make one large, continuous space. UFC-Que Choisir notes that results can vary depending on which area you use. | If I want to fit a whole meal or cook two separate dishes, I check what will actually fit in each area. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this capacity. |
| Saving space and keeping noise down | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with the space available and, if possible, check a measurement of its operating noise. UFC-Que Choisir found differences in noise levels between the models it tested. | In a kitchen where worktop space or peace and quiet matters, I check the appliance’s size and noise level before adding it. Around 15% of consumers prioritise these considerations. |
| Keeping cleaning to a minimum | Check which parts are removable and read their cleaning instructions; don’t assume they’re all dishwasher-safe. | If I want to avoid an extra cleaning job after every use, I check the instructions for the appliance’s individual parts. Around 15% of consumers make cleaning their main concern. |
An air fryer can bake, roast or grill—jobs your oven may already handle. The category’s popularity doesn’t mean an extra appliance will be useful in every kitchen.
Make a note of the meals and quantities you cook, then check what your oven can do before deciding.
The shape of the baskets and their usable volume determine what fits in one batch. Two compartments don’t necessarily make one large cooking space.
Compare the usable dimensions of each basket with your dishes and consider how often you’ll need to cook two things at once.
If your portions exceed the usable capacity, you may need to cook several batches.
Comparisons depend on the appliances, dishes and quantities tested. UFC-Que Choisir specifies that its air fryer tests covered only one model of each type of cooking appliance.
Only compare like-for-like cooking, and take how often you’ll use the appliance into account. A test result alone can’t show whether it will pay for itself in your household.
Noise levels vary between appliances, and cleaning instructions depend on the parts involved. A cleaning recommendation for one model doesn’t apply to every air fryer.
Check a measurement of operating noise if one is available, and read the manual for the model you’re considering before relying on the dishwasher.
This selection includes drawer-style and dual-compartment air fryers, so you can compare designs suited to small portions or cooking several things at once.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook small portions and this capacity suits the meals you make.
Advertised capacity of 4.7 L; 2000 W; Air Fry, Reheat and Dehydrate functions; listed as suitable for 1 to 2 portions.
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Worth considering if you’d like to switch between two different-sized containers; check that each one suits the dishes you use.
5.7 L and 2.3 L glass containers; 5 preset cooking modes.
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Worth considering if you’re deciding between cooking a larger dish and preparing two separate dishes; check the usable dimensions for the way you plan to use it.
Advertised capacity of 10 L.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two foods with different settings; check that each drawer can hold your portions.
Advertised total capacity of 7.6 L; two baskets; SyncCook and SyncFinish functions listed.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two dishes in different-sized baskets; compare each basket with the dishes you usually use.
Advertised total capacity of 9 L; dual basket.
Compare the meals you usually cook, the quantities and how often you make small batches with the functions your oven offers. If it already handles these tasks, an air fryer mainly offers another way to cook similar dishes. A result seen with one appliance and one dish doesn’t justify buying one for every household.
Measure the appliance and allow for the space needed to use it, as set out in the manual. Then check that the basket’s usable size will fit your dishes. If you have an open-plan kitchen, also look for a measurement of its operating noise, if available: UFC-Que Choisir found differences between the appliances it tested.
Not necessarily: the two compartments are separate spaces and don’t always form one large cooking area. Check the usable dimensions of each basket and how much room your dishes need. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that cooking results can vary depending on which area you use.
No. Results depend on the appliances being compared, the dishes and the quantities. UFC-Que Choisir specifies that its tests included only one model of each type of cooking appliance, so they can’t guarantee savings for every household or establish a universal payback period.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity is compulsory for new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. It is separate from an optional commercial guarantee. If you need to make a claim relating to conformity, contact the seller.