An air fryer can complement an oven if you often cook small quantities and would like a separate cooking space for those meals. If you usually make large dishes, or would only use the appliance occasionally, sticking with your oven avoids adding another appliance with similar functions. Before choosing a format, compare the usable capacity and number of cooking zones with your portion sizes, then check the space available, cleaning requirements and noise level.
If you cook one portion or a small meal, a single basket may be enough, as long as its usable surface can accommodate what you’re making. Also check where the appliance will sit while it’s cooking and where you’ll store it.
Two drawers let you cook different foods at the same time using different settings, as UFC-Que Choisir explains. This format is worth considering if you do this regularly and have enough space for it.
Your choice depends on which small meals you’d genuinely cook in a second appliance. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers share many of the same functions as ovens. If you don’t have a regular, separate use for one, keeping your existing appliance may make more sense.
Consider it: for everyday portions that fit in a single cooking zone.
Bear in mind: you may need to cook in batches if the meal is too large or needs two separate cooking settings.
Consider it: if two parts of a meal need to cook at the same time using different settings.
Bear in mind: it takes up more space, and the capacity of each drawer matters just as much as the advertised total capacity.
Consider it: if your dishes are better suited to baking trays, racks or an oven-style cavity.
Bear in mind: choose a format to suit the space you have and the dishes you cook most often.
Keep it: if you usually cook large dishes or rarely make smaller meals.
Bear in mind: you won’t have a separate small cooking space for the occasional meal.
| Criteria | What to check | Who might find this useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and usable capacity | Compare the basket’s surface area, the capacity of each cooking zone and the amount of food you need to cook in one batch. UFC-Que Choisir highlights that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook. | When I need to cook the whole meal at once, I want to avoid serving some items later than others; around 31% of consumers prioritise having enough capacity for their portions. |
| Small meals and available space | Measure the space needed to use and store the appliance, then think about which small meals you’d cook in it instead of your oven. | In a small kitchen, I’m looking for an appliance I can use often without leaving the worktop cluttered; compact size comes first for around 31% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check which parts of the specific model are dishwasher-safe, and look for a review of that model if noise matters to you. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the fan can be audible. | If I cook in an open-plan room, I don’t want difficult cleaning or noise to put me off using the appliance; around 23% of consumers prioritise this everyday convenience. |
| How useful it is alongside your oven | Identify the meals you’d regularly cook in the air fryer rather than your oven, without assuming it will always save electricity. | If my oven already meets my needs, I’d rather make sure I’d genuinely use a second appliance; avoiding duplication is the priority for around 15% of consumers. |
The label or advertised capacity alone won’t tell you how much food will fit in the basket. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the stated capacity and the volume you can actually use.
Compare the cooking surface and capacity of each zone with your usual dishes, and check whether you’d need to cook in several batches.
Results vary depending on the recipe, quantity and appliance you’re comparing it with. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests on small meals don’t guarantee the same results for every dish.
Base your choice first on the meals you actually cook regularly, rather than on a general promise of energy savings.
The fan can be distracting while the appliance is in use, and a larger model needs more worktop space.
Measure the space where you’ll use and store it. If noise is a deciding factor, look for a review of the exact model.
An air fryer and an oven can handle many of the same types of cooking. UFC-Que Choisir advises taking the risk of buying more equipment than you need into account.
Think about which small meals you’d regularly cook in a separate space. If none come to mind, you can keep your oven and put off buying an air fryer.
An extra appliance also needs storage space and cleaning after use.
The Easy Fry range includes various formats, including models with two cooking zones and an Easy Fry Compact advertised by Moulinex as having a 7,5 L capacity.
Philips offers both single-basket and dual-zone formats. Its Series 3000 Airfryer XL HD9270/60 product information lists a 6,2 L bowl for this specific model.
Ninja models feature in UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer comparisons, alongside a range of formats to consider for different meals.
These Joybuy models include dual-compartment appliances for cooking two items at once, as well as single-basket models with different advertised capacities. Start by considering your portions and the space available. None of these formats automatically makes keeping your oven unnecessary.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you cook two parts of a meal using different settings.
The product title lists two drawers, a total capacity of 7,6 L and six functions. Check how much food fits in each drawer rather than relying on the total capacity alone.
If noise matters in your kitchen, look for a review of this model.
Image unavailable
The dual-basket format is worth considering if you need to cook two dishes at once.
The product title lists a total capacity of 9 L, a power rating of 2 400 W, eight pre-set programmes and independent temperature control. Check how much space it takes up and how much food fits in each basket.
Image unavailable
This format is designed for cooking two dishes at the same time in separate zones.
The product title lists a total capacity of 9 L and ten functions. Check the dimensions, the space available in each compartment and the cleaning instructions for this model.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for small meals, if they fit in a 2 L basket without needing several batches.
The product title lists a power rating of 1 150 W and a 60-minute timer. Its advertised capacity is below the 3 to 4 L guideline UFC-Que Choisir suggests for one or two people, so compare it with your usual portion sizes.
Check the external dimensions if every centimetre of worktop space counts.
Image unavailable
A single basket with a larger advertised capacity may suit you if you want just one cooking zone.
The product title lists a 7 L capacity, a digital display and a viewing window. Compare the usable surface area with your dishes and check the dimensions before deciding where to put it.
No, it depends on what you’re cooking and which appliances you’re comparing. UFC-Que Choisir found that some tests on small meals used less energy, but the results don’t apply to every recipe or model. Compare equivalent quantities and cooking methods.
Check the product information for the exact model to see which parts are removable and which can go in the dishwasher. A note about the basket doesn’t necessarily apply to the racks, exterior panels or other accessories.
In France, goods sold by a business to a consumer are covered by the legal guarantee of conformity, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. If the appliance doesn’t match the seller’s description, contact the seller to make a claim under this guarantee. This is different from simply returning an item because you’ve changed your mind.
An old electrical kitchen appliance can be taken to a collection point for waste electrical and electronic equipment. If you’re buying a similar appliance, ask the seller about the “one-for-one” take-back scheme described by the ministry responsible for ecological transition, rather than putting it in your household rubbish.