If your oven already handles the cooking you have planned, an air fryer isn’t automatically worth buying just because it can bake, roast or grill. First, identify a dish you make regularly that would benefit from a dedicated appliance. To choose the right size, compare the capacity of each drawer with your portions, consider whether you need independent cooking settings, and check how much space you’ll need to use the appliance. Don’t treat the stated capacity in litres or promises of speed as a guarantee of results. Que Choisir Ensemble highlights the risk of buying too much equipment when an air fryer duplicates what your oven can do.
You already have an oven and are looking for a dedicated appliance for a dish you make regularly, without adding functions you already use successfully. Que Choisir Ensemble recommends considering the risk of buying more equipment than you need.
You’d like to cook two items with different settings and serve them at the same time. In that case, how the capacity is divided between compartments matters more than the total capacity alone.
You need to fit in an extra appliance while allowing for ventilation, and you want to take noise into account. Check the dimensions and installation instructions for the exact model.
Consider this if: you mainly cook one item at a time and a single compartment is big enough for your portions.
Bear in mind: a single basket can’t separate two dishes with independent cooking settings.
Consider this if: you regularly cook two items separately and want to serve them together.
Bear in mind: each compartment has its own capacity, so a large dish needs to fit in a single drawer.
Consider this if: your dishes are better suited to a baking tray, rack or oven dish than a basket.
Check: that there’s enough room inside for your cookware, and that an extra appliance is worthwhile when you already have an oven.
Stick with this if: your oven already handles the dishes you have in mind and you don’t cook anything regularly that justifies a second appliance.
Bear in mind: you avoid adding another appliance, but won’t have the independent drawers found on some air fryers.
To compare these options, start with your usual portions and dishes, then check the space needed to use the appliance, how easy it is to clean and whether a dedicated cooking appliance would genuinely be useful.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usefulness compared with your oven | Identify a dish you make regularly that your oven doesn’t already handle well. | If you’re looking for a regular use that justifies an extra appliance rather than a duplicate, around 20% of consumers prioritise usefulness compared with their oven. |
| Portions and results | Compare the capacity of each compartment with the dish you’re making, and stick to the maximum load in the instructions. | If you want to prepare your usual portions in one go, around 20% of consumers prioritise the quantity per batch and the results. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check for independent settings and whether you can synchronise the cooking end times. | If two items need different settings but should be served together, around 20% of consumers prioritise this flexibility. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space, including the required clearances, and look for an acoustic assessment of the exact model. | If worktop space is limited or noise bothers you while the appliance is in use, around 20% of consumers make how well it fits into their kitchen a priority. |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Check which parts can be removed, are dishwasher-safe and are compatible with the appliance. | If you want to make cleaning up after each meal easier and find suitable replacement parts easily, around 20% of consumers prioritise maintenance and aftercare. |
The two compartments in a drawer-style air fryer are still separate. The Philips NA352/00 has stated capacities of 6 L and 3 L; the Ninja DZ400EU has a capacity of 4.75 L per drawer. A dish needs to fit in the drawer you’re using.
Compare the size and capacity of the compartment that will actually hold your food, rather than the total capacity shown.
If a dish is too large for one drawer, you may need to split the food or cook it in batches.
A manufacturer comparison using frozen chips won’t tell you how every recipe will turn out, or how the appliance will perform compared with your own oven.
Think about the dishes you cook regularly, and don’t assume a marketing claim applies to all your meals.
Que Choisir Ensemble reports that, depending on the model, chips can be overcooked at the top and still pale at the bottom. The stated capacity alone therefore doesn’t tell you how a large batch will turn out.
Look for results for the food and quantity you have in mind, then stick to the maximum load specified in the instructions.
You may need to reduce the amount you cook in each batch.
The manufacturer lists which Easy Fry Silence models are compatible, and excludes some models with a viewing window or a non-removable front panel.
Check your appliance’s full model number against the compatibility list before choosing a part.
An incompatible part may mean placing a replacement order or arranging an extra return.
The EZ552DF0 is an example of a single-drawer model, with a stated capacity of 5 L and a removable front panel.
The DZ400EU is a two-drawer model, with a stated capacity of 4.75 L per drawer.
The NA352/00 is an example of an asymmetrical layout, with two baskets with stated capacities of 6 L and 3 L.
The 26680-56 is a mini oven-style model; Russell Hobbs lists five functions for it.
The models below include single baskets, different container sizes and double drawers. Compare them based on your portions, the dishes you prepare and the space you have available.
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A single drawer for meals for 1–2 people, according to the product description.
Stated capacity: 4.7 L; holds up to 500 g of chips per batch, according to the description. Adjustable temperature from 30 to 210 °C. Basket stated to be dishwasher-safe.
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Two container sizes are listed, so you can choose the right one for the amount you’re cooking.
Glass containers stated to have capacities of 1.4 L and 3.8 L; parts listed as dishwasher-safe.
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Two independent zones let you set different controls for two dishes; a large dish needs to fit in one drawer.
Stated capacity: 4.75 L per drawer. Stated dimensions: 32,5 × 41,5 × 27 cm. Drawers and crisper plates stated to be dishwasher-safe.
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Two independent drawers with the same capacity let you cook two dishes at the same time.
Stated capacity: 3.8 L per drawer. Stated dimensions: 31,5 × 38 × 26,5 cm. Six functions listed; drawers and plates stated to be dishwasher-safe.
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The single, large-capacity drawer may suit you if your food fits in one compartment.
Stated capacity: 8.5 L. Viewing window; basket stated to be dishwasher-safe. The description mentions a whole chicken or a 10-inch pizza, among other examples.
Compare the capacity of each drawer with the food you’re preparing, and check the quantities and limits in the instructions. For the Philips NA350–NA353, the manufacturer says not to exceed the basket’s maximum fill level. The total capacity of two drawers doesn’t create one continuous cooking surface.
Follow the clearance requirements for the exact model. The Philips NA350–NA353 instructions call for at least 10 cm of clear space behind, on each side and above the appliance. This guidance applies to this range and shouldn’t automatically be assumed to apply to every air fryer.
Not with the Philips NA350–NA353 range: the manufacturer says not to immerse or rinse the appliance under the tap. Keep the electrical unit separate from removable parts that can be washed, and check the instructions for your model.
No. Moulinex says the XA1150E2 set is compatible with the EZ552DF0, EZ5728F0 and EZ572DF0, but not with models that have a viewing window or a non-removable front panel. Check the appliance’s full model number rather than relying on the range name alone.
No. Moulinex’s repairability commitment is separate from the legal guarantee of conformity. For a purchase from a professional seller, Service Public says the defect must appear within two years of delivery for the guarantee period described to apply.