An air fryer is worth considering if you often cook small or medium portions and have a well-ventilated spot on your worktop. A single-drawer model is suited to cooking one thing at a time, while two drawers can make it easier to cook two items that need different timings. For larger dishes, an oven or mini oven may still be more practical. If you specifically want to deep-fry food in oil, a traditional deep-fat fryer is designed for a different purpose.
You mostly prepare one portion or a simple weeknight meal, and need to be able to set up and clean the appliance without it taking up valuable kitchen space. To help you compare single-drawer models, Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people, and 5 to 6 L for three or four people. Check the basket’s usable surface area too.
You want to cook a main and a side dish with different settings, then serve them at the same time. A dual-zone model is worth considering if this is something you do regularly. Check the size of each drawer and whether the model you’re looking at has a synchronisation function.
You often serve five or more people, or use wide baking tins and dishes. Compare the genuinely usable surface area and capacity of a large air fryer or oven-style model with those of your mini oven or oven. Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can cook.
For weeknight meals, start by thinking about portion sizes and how many items you want to cook at once, then check how much space you have. An oven is still worth comparing for larger dishes. If your main aim is to deep-fry in oil, compare a traditional deep-fat fryer with an air fryer instead.
Worth considering: for cooking one thing at a time when worktop space is at a premium.
Limitation: if your portions won’t fit on the basket’s usable surface, you may need to cook in batches.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook two parts of a meal that need different settings.
Limitation: the total capacity doesn’t tell you whether each drawer will fit the food you usually cook.
Worth exploring: when the width of your dishes or the option to cook on several levels matters more than having a deep basket.
Limitation: compare usable shelf levels, accessories and cleaning requirements with those of the mini oven you’re considering.
Keep in mind: for large dishes, wide baking tins or batches that won’t fit in a basket.
Worth comparing: for a small cooking task, compare energy use for the same dish and quantity rather than assuming one appliance will always use less.
Worth considering: if deep-frying in oil is specifically what you’re looking for.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to handle the oil and clean the appliance afterwards.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and usable capacity | Compare the usable surface area and internal dimensions, not just the stated capacity. For a dual-drawer model, check each compartment separately. | If I’m cooking several portions on the same evening, I want to avoid waiting for a second batch. Around 31% of consumers put this need for capacity first. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check whether the zones work independently and, if needed, whether the specific model can synchronise the end of cooking times. | When the main and side dishes need different settings, I want to serve them together. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the appliance and the drawer when open, check the clearances specified in the manual, and find out which parts are dishwasher-safe. | In a small kitchen, I need to be able to open the drawer and wash the parts after an everyday meal. Around 23% of consumers prioritise ease of set-up and cleaning. |
| Choosing between an air fryer and an oven | To compare energy use, cook the same dish and quantity, taking into account how many batches you’ll need. | If my oven already handles larger dishes, I want to know whether another appliance is useful for the small meals I cook often. This comes first for around 15% of consumers. |
A large stated capacity may be split between two drawers, without leaving enough room for a wide piece of food. Que Choisir reminds shoppers that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Compare the internal dimensions with your usual portions. For a dual-drawer model, check each compartment separately.
Results vary depending on the dish, quantity and appliance. In a 2024 test published by Que Choisir, air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven to cook a small quiche of the same size. This result doesn’t apply to every type of cooking.
Look for tests involving dishes similar to the ones you cook, and factor in how many batches you’ll need to make the quantity you want.
You’ll also need room to open the drawer and to maintain the clearances specified for heat to escape. These distances vary by model.
Measure your worktop and the space in front of the appliance, then check the manual for installation and cleaning instructions.
Que Choisir distinguishes between a traditional deep-fat fryer, which uses oil, and an air fryer, which cooks with circulating hot air. The two appliances are designed for different ways of cooking.
If deep-frying in oil is your main priority, compare the practicalities of a traditional deep-fat fryer with those of an air fryer before choosing.
Tefal’s range includes single-drawer air fryers in different capacities, as well as dual-drawer models.
Moulinex offers several capacities, including dual-zone models and designs with stacked baskets.
Philips’ range includes single baskets, dual baskets, and adjustable or stackable configurations.
Ninja’s range includes single-drawer air fryers and dual-zone models.
These models are designed for air frying weeknight meals. Several have two drawers or zones, while a single-basket model offers a different way to portion your food. Compare their dimensions and cooking containers with the dishes you make before choosing.
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Worth considering if you switch between cooking a larger dish and two parts of a meal. Stated capacity: 10 L. Check the usable dimensions in each configuration, the cleaning instructions and the clearances specified in the manual.
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The two baskets are worth considering if you cook a main and a side dish using different settings. The stated total capacity is 9 L. Check the capacity of each basket, whether the synchronisation feature meets your needs and how much space you’ll need around the appliance.
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This dual-drawer model is worth considering if you want to set two dishes separately. Its stated capacity is 9,5 L, and the product name indicates that the baskets are dishwasher-safe. Check the manual for details on synchronising cooking times and installation clearances.
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This single-basket model is worth comparing if you cook one thing at a time and are looking for a stated capacity of 7,6 L. Measure the space it will take up on your worktop and check the basket’s usable surface against your usual portion sizes.
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Worth considering if you want to choose a container to suit the size of your dishes. Check the capacities and accessories for the FN101EUGY model; don’t assume its containers let you cook two things at once.
As a starting point, Que Choisir suggests a single basket of 3 to 4 L for one or two people, and 5 to 6 L for three or four people. For larger batches, focus on how the usable surface area and capacity compare with the food you usually cook. Then consider a large air fryer, an oven-style model or your oven.
No. Results depend on the dish, quantity and appliances being compared. In tests published in 2024, Que Choisir found that an air fryer used an average of 36% less energy than a mini oven to cook a small quiche of the same size. That result doesn’t apply to every dish, and you should also take into account how many batches you’ll need.
Removable parts listed as dishwasher-safe for the specific model can make cleaning easier. Check the drawer, crisper plate and accessories separately: a claim about one part doesn’t necessarily apply to the others.
Yes. Check the manual for your chosen model to find out how much clearance it needs and what installation conditions apply. For example, the Philips NA210/00 product information specifies at least 100 mm on all sides. Don’t assume the same clearance applies to another model.
Not for every purpose. An air fryer cooks using circulating hot air, while a traditional deep-fat fryer uses a bath of oil, as Que Choisir points out. If deep-frying in oil is your priority, consider how you’ll handle the oil and clean the appliance rather than treating the two as interchangeable.