An air fryer is worth considering if you often cook small or medium portions that you want to roast or crisp up, and you have an accessible spot for it. Choose a basket that suits the portions you usually make, then decide whether two zones would save you cooking different parts of a meal one after another. If your oven already handles the dishes you normally cook, or you specifically want the results of deep-fat frying, don’t assume an air fryer will be a replacement.
If you regularly cook for one or two people, check that the basket is easy to load and clean, and can hold your portion without requiring several batches. UFC-Que Choisir recommends comparing the stated capacity with the quantities you actually cook.
If your side dish and main course need different settings, two zones can let you cook them at the same time. Check the space available in each drawer: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much fits in one zone.
Before making room on your worktop, compare the portions and dishes you usually cook with the capacity of an air fryer. Also consider the fan noise, which UFC-Que Choisir identifies as a factor for an appliance used regularly.
Start by comparing the meals you usually cook with what your oven and deep-fat fryer can already do. If an air fryer would serve a different purpose, look at the basket, the space it needs and whether two zones could be useful.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s surface area and shape with your portions and the bulkiest food you cook, rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone. | To serve a meal without cooking several batches, I need to be able to arrange my food without piling it up too much. Around 36% of consumers would put this usable capacity first. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space available and the clearance needed to open the drawers; look for sound measurements taken under comparable conditions. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to keep the appliance within easy reach without it getting in the way of other activities. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise this ease of use. |
| Cooking two dishes | Check the capacity of each zone, whether the settings can be controlled independently and, if needed, whether the cooking times can be synchronised. | If the two parts of my meal need different cooking times, I’d rather prepare them at the same time. Around 21% of consumers would put two-zone cooking first. |
| How useful it is alongside your existing appliances | Compare the dishes you cook most often with the size of the air fryer and the results you expect from your oven or deep-fat fryer. | My oven already suits large dishes, or I want the results of chips cooked in hot oil: I want to avoid buying an appliance that duplicates what I have. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this question. |
A large stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your bulkiest dish will fit in the basket, or how much food you can cook without piling it up too high. UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking at the capacity you can actually use.
Start with your portion sizes, the shape of the food and how many batches you’re prepared to cook, then check the internal dimensions.
An air fryer and a deep-fat fryer don’t cook fresh chips in the same way. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the taste and crispness may differ, which is an important limitation if fresh chips are the main reason you’re buying one.
Before deciding to replace your current fryer, compare the results you want with what it can do.
The fan can be audible while the food is cooking, and an appliance you use every day should be easy to open and handle.
Measure the space you need in front of the appliance and, if noise matters to you, look for an independent measurement taken while it’s running.
Comparisons depend on factors such as the recipe, quantity and appliances used. UFC-Que Choisir measures energy use for each cooking test, rather than assuming the results will be the same for every meal.
Before using a figure to choose between an air fryer and your oven, check that the cooking conditions being compared are similar to the way you’ll use it.
The Easy Fry Silence EZ552DF0 is an example of a straightforward, mid-capacity basket model.
The Philips NA565/02 is aimed at households that want to switch between two baskets and one large cooking space.
The Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400EU is worth considering if you want to cook two dishes separately.
These models cover smaller portions with a single basket, meals cooked in two zones and needs for greater capacity. Before choosing, compare the format with your oven and the portions you usually make.
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Worth considering if you switch between cooking one large dish and two parts of a meal; check that the basket suits the shape of your food.
Stated capacity: 10 L. Also allow enough room to open the basket.
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If you want to cook two parts of a meal, compare the size of each basket with the portions you plan to put in it.
Stated total capacity: 9 L. Don’t confuse the total volume with the space available in a single basket.
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The two drawers are handy for a meal with separate dishes; if they need to finish cooking together, check whether this model has a synchronisation function.
Stated total capacity: 9.5 L. The product name lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets.
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If you want a larger basket than a compact model offers, check that its shape suits the dishes you cook and the space available in your kitchen.
Stated capacity: 7 L. The product title mentions a digital display and a cooking window.
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Worth considering for smaller everyday portions, once you’ve checked that the basket has enough surface area to hold your food without piling it up too much.
The title lists a 4 L capacity, eight preset modes and an adjustable temperature range of 35 to 200 °C.
Start with your portions and the shape of the basket, not just the stated volume. UFC-Que Choisir gives 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people, 5 to 6 L for three or four people, and 7 to 9 L or more for larger households. Always check that your usual dish will actually fit.
It can handle some roasted or crispy dishes, but it won’t necessarily recreate fresh chips cooked in hot oil. UFC-Que Choisir notes possible differences in taste and crispness. If that’s your main use, compare the results you want before replacing your fryer.
Check the exact model to see which parts can be removed, which are dishwasher-safe and whether the bowl and heating area are easy to reach. This is more useful than relying on a general ‘easy to clean’ claim.
Don’t assume it will use less for every meal: the comparison depends on the recipe, quantities and appliances. UFC-Que Choisir measures energy use for each cooking test; when deciding, look for test conditions that are close to the way you’ll use it rather than relying on a general claim.