An air fryer is worth considering if you often cook small portions or want to prepare two parts of a meal separately. However, it won’t automatically replace your oven: according to UFC-Que Choisir, both appliances can bake, roast and grill using hot air. Before adding one to your kitchen, compare the space you have, the size of the food you prepare, the noise level and the parts you’ll need to clean.
If you mainly cook a main or side dish, a single basket may suit the portions you usually prepare. However, compare it with how you use your oven: UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer also performs functions your oven already handles.
A dual-drawer model lets you use different settings for a main and its side dish. Check the size of each drawer, whether your chosen model has a synchronisation function, and how many parts you’ll need to clean.
If your meals call for a baking tray, rack or large dish, compare an oven-style air fryer with a mini oven and the oven you already own. The shape of the cooking cavity and the accessories matter just as much as its stated capacity.
Start with the meals you actually cook, then check whether a single basket, two drawers or an oven-style cavity meets a need that your current appliances don’t already cover.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| How you use your oven | Compare your usual small batches with what your oven can already do. According to UFC-Que Choisir, an air fryer also uses circulating hot air to bake, roast or grill. | If my oven can easily cook the dishes I usually make, do I need another appliance for the same meals? |
| Usable capacity | Check the internal dimensions and the shape of the basket or cavity. If it has two drawers, look at each compartment separately rather than just the total capacity. | I want my dish or portion to fit without having to cook in several batches; separate cooking zones appeal to me if I often prepare two things at once. |
| Available space | Measure the space you have in mind, the appliance’s external dimensions and the room needed to open the drawers or door, as specified in its instructions. | The appliance needs to be usable on my worktop without getting in the way of other food preparation. |
| Noise | If possible, check tests carried out from a similar distance. UFC-Que Choisir notes that fan noise is worth considering, particularly in a small or open-plan kitchen. | In an open-plan kitchen, I’d want to know how noisy the specific model is before giving it a permanent place. |
| Cleaning | Check which baskets, drawers, racks and trays are removable. Consult the instructions for the exact model to find out which parts are dishwasher-safe and which surfaces need to be cleaned by hand. | I’ll be more inclined to cook with this appliance if it’s easy to clean as part of my after-meal routine. |
According to UFC-Que Choisir, both an air fryer and an oven can bake, roast and grill. If you don’t have a distinct use for it, such as cooking small batches or using two separate zones, the new appliance may duplicate what your oven already does.
Think about the meals you cook regularly and check which ones are already easy to make in your oven.
In a dual model, the total capacity is split between two drawers. A large item of food or a wide dish may not fit in either drawer, even if the total capacity seems sufficient.
Check the size of each compartment or, for an oven-style model, the cavity and accessory dimensions against the dishes you use.
UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of noise when choosing an appliance, especially in an open-plan kitchen. Noise levels vary by model.
Look for a noise measurement or an independent test carried out in comparable conditions, then choose a spot that suits your kitchen.
Two drawers mean more surfaces to wash; an oven-style model also has a cavity and several accessories. Dishwasher compatibility can vary between parts and models.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering to see which parts are removable and which surfaces need to be cleaned on the appliance itself.
These ranges show some of the different formats available. A feature listed for one model won’t necessarily apply to other models from the same brand.
The Easy Fry range includes single-drawer, dual-drawer and oven-style models.
The Airfryer range lets you compare a small single basket with models that have two baskets.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests.
These Joybuy models include a single-basket appliance for cooking one thing at a time and appliances with two zones for separate cooking. Their inclusion in this selection doesn’t mean you need to buy one: compare how you’d use them and how much space they take up with your oven.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal with different settings. The model name indicates two drawers and six functions; check that each drawer can hold the portions you plan to cook and that the appliance fits in the space you’ve chosen.
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The single basket is suited to cooking one dish or side at a time. Philips lists a capacity of 3.2 L for this model; compare the basket size with your portions, and bear in mind that two dishes requiring different settings will need to be cooked separately.
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The two baskets are suited to preparing two parts of a meal separately. The product name lists a total capacity of 9 L, 2,400 W, eight programmes and independent temperature control. Check the space you have and the size of each basket before choosing.
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This two-chamber format is worth considering if you want to cook different parts of a meal separately. The product name lists a total capacity of 9 L and ten functions; check the dimensions of each chamber and the space the appliance needs rather than relying on the total capacity alone.
Not necessarily. According to UFC-Que Choisir, both appliances can bake, roast and grill using hot air. Before replacing your oven or adding another appliance, compare the size and shape of your dishes, the batches you usually cook and the space you have available.
A single drawer suits meals you cook in one batch. Consider two drawers if you often cook two things using different settings; check the capacity of each compartment and, if you need it, whether the model you’re considering can synchronise the end of cooking time.
Check the instructions for the exact model to find out which baskets, drawers, racks and other accessories are dishwasher-safe. A model with two drawers means more parts to wash, while an oven-style model also has a cavity to clean.
Yes, it’s worth considering fan noise in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir includes noise among the factors to consider; look for a comparable measurement or test for the model you’re considering rather than assuming all appliances are equally noisy.