A single-drawer air fryer is best suited to cooking small portions at a time, while a dual-drawer model is more useful if you want to prepare two recipes at once with different settings. If your existing oven already does the job, keeping it could save you from buying a duplicate appliance. For deep frying, an oil fryer serves a different purpose. Whatever you choose, check the space you have available, the usable dimensions, the noise level and the model’s care instructions.
If you usually prepare one meal or side dish at a time, compare the basket’s usable cooking area, how easy the drawer is to access and how much worktop space it takes up. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether your food will fit.
Two cooking zones can be handy for cooking a main and a side dish with different settings. Check the capacity of each drawer separately to make sure there’s enough room for the portion you have in mind.
If your oven suits the recipes you usually make, compare how you use it with what an extra appliance could offer before making room on your worktop.
Best if: you mainly cook one dish or small portions and have a suitable space for the appliance.
Bear in mind: one cooking space may mean cooking in batches for a larger meal or when preparing foods that need different settings.
Best if: you regularly prepare two separate recipes and want them to finish cooking at the same time.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split between the drawers, and both baskets need cleaning.
Best if: your existing oven already fits your dishes. A mini oven may be worth considering if you don’t have a suitable oven and need a cavity for your dishes or tins.
Bear in mind: a mini oven also takes up space, and its internal dimensions need to suit your cookware.
Best if: your favourite recipes call for deep frying rather than hot-air cooking.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the oil, clean the bowl and handle hot oil. The oil capacity in litres is not the same as an air fryer basket’s capacity.
| Factor | What to check before buying | Who places most importance on it |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per batch | Compare the internal dimensions with the quantities given for your recipes, then work out how many batches you’ll need. | When I’m cooking for several people, I want to know whether my portions will actually fit in the basket. Around 28% of consumers put the amount cooked per batch at the heart of their decision. |
| Space and overlap with your oven | Measure the space, allow for the drawer or door to open and leave the clearance specified by the manufacturer. Also check whether your oven already handles the recipes you have in mind. | If my worktop is already crowded or my oven meets my needs, I’d rather avoid an appliance that duplicates what I already have. Around 22% of consumers prioritise the space an extra appliance takes up and how useful it will be. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check the dimensions and capacity of each drawer, whether the settings can be adjusted independently and whether there’s a synchronisation function. | When I want to serve a main and a side dish at the same time, I check that each dish fits in its own basket. Around 22% of consumers prioritise being able to cook two dishes at once. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe, and look for noise measurements taken at a stated distance and under specified conditions. | If I use the appliance often and it’s near my living space, I want to know what to expect in terms of noise and cleaning after each meal. Around 17% of consumers put these practical considerations first. |
| Cooking method | Decide whether your recipes need an oil bath. Check the amount of oil required, which parts can be removed and how to dispose of used oil. | If I’m mainly looking for a deep fryer, I compare oil fryers rather than relying on the word ‘fryer’ in an air fryer’s name. Around 11% of consumers make this cooking method their priority. |
The total capacity doesn’t guarantee that a large dish or your planned quantity will fit in a drawer. With a dual-basket model, the capacity is split between the drawers.
Compare the internal dimensions with the recommended quantities for your recipes. If there are two drawers, check each basket separately.
An air fryer may overlap with some of the cooking functions of an oven you already own, while taking up extra space.
Make a list of the dishes your oven can’t prepare in the way you want, then check whether another appliance would genuinely meet that need.
Dishwasher compatibility depends on the components and model number. For the Filtra Pro FR516070, Tefal says the heating unit is not dishwasher-safe.
Check the exact manual and distinguish between baskets, racks, bowls and electrical components.
These appliances use different cooking methods. An air fryer is not designed to submerge food in oil.
Start by choosing the recipes you want to make, then compare food capacity, cleaning requirements and the handling instructions for the cooking method.
The range includes single- and dual-drawer models. The NA352/00 is an example of a model with two baskets of different sizes.
The Easy Fry range includes single-drawer models as well as mini-oven-style formats.
The range includes different formats, such as the removable containers supplied with the Crispi FN101EUGY.
Compare mini ovens with air fryers if you need a cavity for trays, tins or a pizza and don’t already have a suitable oven.
Consider electric oil fryers if deep frying is what you mainly want to do.
These models include single-drawer and dual-drawer air fryers, as well as one with an adjustable compartment. Compare their usable capacity with your portions and the space you have available.
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Designed for one to two people, this model may suit smaller portions.
It has a 4,7 L basket, 2 000 W of power, and cooking, reheating and dehydrating functions. The non-stick basket and removable crisper plate are listed as dishwasher-safe.
This model is not designed for deep frying.
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Two independent cooking zones may suit you if you regularly prepare two recipes at the same time.
The 9,5 L total capacity is split between two 4,75 L drawers, with independent settings and six functions. The drawers and crisper plates are listed as dishwasher-safe.
The 9,5 L capacity is not one single cooking space.
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The compartment can hold one 10 L dish or be divided into two 5 L zones, depending on whether you’re cooking one dish or two recipes.
Stated dimensions: 33,8 × 51,8 × 31,3 cm. The listing specifies Wi-Fi connectivity and monitoring through the VeSync app.
Make sure you have room for the appliance and follow the clearance guidelines in its documentation.
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This 2 L model is presented as suitable for one to two people and may be worth considering if space is limited.
It has 1 150 W of power and a 60-minute timer. The non-stick basket is listed as dishwasher-safe.
The manual says never to fill the bowl with oil.
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The two baskets and synchronisation function may suit you if you want to prepare a main and side dish to serve together.
The stated total capacity of 9 L is split between two baskets of different sizes. The removable baskets are listed as dishwasher-safe.
The total capacity does not represent one single basket. Check the capacity of each basket for your recipes.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four, but capacity alone doesn’t guarantee that a whole meal will fit in the basket. Check its shape, the size of the food and the amount recommended for your recipe.
No. The total capacity is split between the drawers. If you want to prepare two recipes at once, check the dimensions and capacity of each basket separately, and whether you can adjust or synchronise the cooking settings.
Noise levels vary by model, and you may hear the fan while it’s cooking. Compare measurements taken at a stated distance and under specified conditions. UFC-Que Choisir says it measures its appliances from 0,50 m away and asks three experts to assess them.
Measure the space, allowing for the drawer or door to open, and follow the clearance guidance in the manual. Before cleaning, unplug the appliance and let it cool down. Check which parts can be washed separately or put in the dishwasher, and don’t immerse the electrical unit in water.
No. For an electrical appliance covered by the relevant European rules, including those within the voltage range of 50 to 1 000 V AC, the manufacturer must meet the applicable requirements and apply the CE mark before placing it on the market. The DGCCRF explains that this mark is not an independent certification. Check the documentation for the specific model.