An air fryer can be a useful addition to an oven if you often cook small portions that need roasting or crisping, and have room for the appliance. Choose a single basket to cook one dish at a time, or two zones to prepare a main and a side separately. If your meals mostly involve large batches or wide dishes, an oven is still the better choice. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two appliances have similar functions, while an air fryer’s cooking space limits the quantities you can prepare.
If you’re cooking a portion of vegetables, drumsticks or frozen chips and are short on worktop space, start by looking at a single-basket model. You’ll only be able to cook one dish at a time, though, so check that your usual portions will fit without being piled up.
Two drawers let you cook a main and a side separately. Check the capacity of each drawer, not just the total shown: the overall volume is split between two cooking compartments.
If your oven already handles your usual meals, an air fryer is only worth considering if you’ll use it often enough to justify the space it takes up. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the overlap between the functions of the two appliances, as well as the quantity limits imposed by an air fryer’s small cooking cavity.
Choose this: for smaller portions when you usually cook one food at a time.
Limitation: a second dish or a larger quantity may mean cooking another batch.
Choose this: to cook a main and a side separately, using different settings.
Limitation: two drawers don’t combine to make one large cavity for a wide dish.
Stick with this: if large batches or wide dishes make up most of your meals.
Trade-off: you won’t have a dedicated basket for smaller dishes or crisping up leftovers.
Once you’ve settled on a format, compare it with the dishes you usually cook and the space you have, rather than looking at the litre capacity alone.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare your portions with the basket’s shape and usable dimensions. For a dual-drawer model, check each drawer separately. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four, although this doesn’t guarantee that a particular dish will fit. | I want to prepare a meal without cooking multiple batches or piling up the food. |
| How it compares with an oven | List the dishes you cook often: small batches, reheating, large dishes or food that needs to be spread out. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers and ovens have similar functions, but an air fryer’s cavity limits the quantities you can cook. | I’m only interested in a second appliance if it’s useful for something I cook often and my oven handles less conveniently. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable and how easy the basket is to access. Consult the manual for the exact model to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and how they should be cared for. | After an everyday meal, I’d like to be able to clean the parts I’ve used without any hassle. |
| Noise and set-up | Measure the space available and check the clearances specified in the manual. To find out how noisy it is, look for a test of the exact model: UFC-Que Choisir, for example, measures the noise of the appliances it tests from 0,50 m away. | In a small kitchen or open-plan room, the space it takes up and the sound of the fan will influence my choice. |
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether you’ll be able to spread the food out enough. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the limited cooking space restricts the quantities you can prepare.
Start with your usual portions and dishes, then check the shape and usable dimensions of the drawer.
The total capacity of a dual-zone appliance is split between the drawers. For example, Philips lists its NA352/00 as a 9 L model, split into 6 L and 3 L drawers. They don’t combine to make one 9 L space.
Choose two zones for separate recipes. If you mostly cook wide dishes, compare their dimensions with those of your oven.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer performs functions already handled by an oven. If you rarely use it, it will still take up space in your kitchen.
Before buying, think about the smaller dishes you’ll genuinely cook in the basket rather than in your oven.
You’ll also need to make room to use or store the appliance.
The fan noise may matter in an open-plan kitchen. Cleaning depends on which parts are removable and the care instructions for each model.
Look for a noise test of the model you’re considering, and check its manual for instructions on cleaning the baskets, racks and trays.
These models illustrate different configurations to compare; a brand name alone doesn’t tell you how well a particular model will cook.
The range includes the 3,2 L single-basket NA211/00 and the NA352/00, with two drawers totalling 9 L, according to Philips France product listings.
Moulinex France listings show the Dual Easy Fry EZ901AF0 with two drawers of 5 L and 3 L, and the Easy Fry Dual XXL EZ942BF0 with two drawers of 6,5 L and 4,5 L.
Ninja is one of the air fryer brands featured by UFC-Que Choisir. You’ll still need to choose the model and format that suit the dishes you cook.
This selection includes mostly models with two baskets or two chambers for cooking foods separately, as well as one single-basket model. Compare the drawers with your usual portions; this selection alone won’t tell you whether adding an appliance to your oven is worthwhile.
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Its two drawers are designed for cooking two foods separately. The stated 9,5 L capacity doesn’t make one single cavity, and the product title describes the baskets as dishwasher-safe. Check that each drawer will fit your dishes, and allow enough room to set up the appliance.
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The two-drawer design lets you cook two different dishes, but the stated 7,6 L capacity isn’t one large drawer. The title describes the baskets as dishwasher-resistant, while the description says they’re dishwasher-safe. Check the DZ300EU manual for the correct care instructions.
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The two baskets are designed for cooking two dishes separately. The product title lists eight programmes and independent temperature control. Before choosing this model, check the space it needs and the usable dimensions of each basket to make sure they’ll fit your dishes.
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This single-basket model is worth considering if you’d rather cook one dish at a time than split the capacity between two drawers. The stated 9 L doesn’t tell you the usable dimensions, so compare them with the size of your dishes.
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The two chambers are designed for separate dishes, and the product title lists temperature control. To check whether this format suits your portions, look at the volume and usable dimensions of each chamber rather than the 9 L total alone.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four. Also check the shape of the basket and how much food you’ll need to spread out in it: the litre capacity doesn’t guarantee that a whole meal or a wide dish will fit in one batch.
Choose two drawers if you regularly cook a main and a side separately, especially when they need different settings. For one small dish, look at a single-basket model first. In a dual-zone model, the total capacity is split between the drawers.
Not for every meal. UFC-Que Choisir says that the appliances have similar functions, but that the limited space in an air fryer restricts the quantities you can cook. It can complement an oven for frequently prepared smaller dishes; keep the oven for large batches and dishes that won’t fit in the basket.
It depends on the model and the parts in question. Check the manual for the exact model before putting its basket, rack or tray in the dishwasher. A feature listed for one model won’t necessarily apply to others.