Smaller households making crispy food
If you mainly cook small quantities and want to avoid deep frying, start by looking at a single-basket air fryer. Check that the basket can hold your usual portions without you having to cook several batches.
Which option is right for you?
Households serving two dishes together
Two independent cooking zones can handle a main and a side dish with separate settings. If you want them to finish at the same time, check that the model actually has a cooking synchronisation feature.
Households that already have an oven
Before adding another appliance to your worktop, compare the small batches you cook regularly with the dishes your oven can already handle. The benefit depends on your portions and available space, not just the appliance’s name.
What sets these appliances apart?
Start with the cooking method you want and the quantities you usually make, then check the space and cleaning requirements.
| Criterion | What to check | What suits my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Odours and cooking | Consider the difference between hot-air cooking and deep frying. UFC-Que Choisir reports fewer odours with an air fryer than with traditional deep frying, not that odours disappear altogether. Also check which dishes your oven can already cook. | I want crispy food without the odours associated with frying oil; I don’t expect a promise of completely odour-free cooking. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the shape of the baskets and the number of portions they can hold, not just the stated capacity. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one to two people, 5 to 6 L for three to four, and 9 L or more for over five people. Check whether two zones can accommodate your dishes. | For my usual meals, I’d rather have a capacity that works for one batch than a large stated volume that doesn’t suit the shape of my food. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space you have and the clearance needed around the appliance. Only compare noise levels between models if they were measured using a comparable method; UFC-Que Choisir measures this at 0.50 m in its tests. | I need to keep my worktop usable, and I want to know whether the noise will be bothersome while cooking. |
| Existing oven | Compare how often you cook small batches with how often you use large trays and family-sized dishes. To assess energy use, you’d need comparable cooking times and loads: an annual figure for an oven doesn’t measure the energy needed to cook a recipe in an air fryer. | If my oven already handles the dishes I usually make, I don’t want to add another appliance for occasional use. |
| Cleaning and oil | Check which parts are removable and follow the cleaning instructions for the specific model. With a traditional deep fryer, bear in mind the handling of hot oil, steam and splashes highlighted by UFC-Que Choisir. | I’m happy to clean a deep fryer if cooking in oil is what I want; otherwise, ease of cleaning matters more to me. |
Mistakes to avoid before buying
-
Trusting the stated capacity without checking the basket
Overfilling a basket can restrict airflow and make cooking less even. In its testing, UFC-Que Choisir assesses a batch of chips with the basket two-thirds full and shakes the chips during cooking.
Compare the basket shape with the food you cook and choose based on the number of portions you actually make.
If one batch isn’t enough, you’ll need to allow time for the next ones.
-
Buying an air fryer when your oven is enough
Air fryers and ovens cover similar cooking needs. If you mainly cook large dishes or only make small batches occasionally, another appliance may simply take up valuable space.
Make a note of the portions and dishes you cook over a week or two, then identify when your oven genuinely doesn’t meet your needs.
-
Assuming “fewer odours” means “no odours”
The reduction in odours mentioned by UFC-Que Choisir is in comparison with traditional deep frying; it doesn’t mean your kitchen will be completely free of cooking smells.
Make sure your room is properly ventilated and clean the relevant parts after cooking greasy or breaded food.
-
Choosing a deep fryer to avoid odours
A traditional deep fryer brings the very odours, steam and hot-oil handling you may be trying to avoid. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that splashes can occur when inserting the basket.
Choose this option if you specifically want to cook in oil; otherwise, compare the results and practicalities of an air fryer with those of your oven.
A few brands to consider
These examples illustrate different formats; your choice should come down to the features of the specific model.
Moulinex
The Easy Fry range includes models with capacities of 3.5 L and 7.5 L, according to Moulinex product information.
- The 3.5 L Easy Fry Essential is worth considering for smaller portions; Moulinex says its basket is dishwasher-safe.
- For the 7.5 L Easy Fry Compact, check how much space it needs and whether it suits the quantities you cook, rather than judging portions by the stated capacity alone.
Philips
Philips offers the NA156/60 with a removable divider, which the brand describes as having two 3.55 L baskets or one 7.1 L pan.
- According to Philips, this model has a synchronisation mode for the two zones.
- Check its dimensions and cooking pan shape to make sure they suit your dishes; these features don’t apply to every Philips model.
Ninja
Ninja appliances, including the Crispi FN101, feature among the models assessed in UFC-Que Choisir’s French comparison.
- This comparison helps you see how a specific model performs in tests covering performance, ease of use and safety.
- Don’t apply the results for one appliance to the whole range: check the specifications and test results for the model you’re considering.
Dual-compartment air fryers on Joybuy
These models with two baskets or cooking zones are best suited to meals where you want to cook several dishes at once. Compare the shape of the compartments with your portions; their inclusion here doesn’t change the question of whether your oven is already enough.
Image unavailable
Philips NA351/00 Series 3000, dual basket, 9 L
The two baskets are worth considering if you cook two dishes at once. The stated capacity is 9 L: check the shape of the baskets and how many portions they can hold. If you want both dishes to finish together, check that it has a synchronisation feature.
Image unavailable
Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, two drawers, 9.5 L
The two drawers let you cook two different dishes. The product title lists a 9.5 L capacity, six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets; check how much fits in each drawer and whether the cooking synchronisation feature is important to you.
Image unavailable
Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7.6 L
This two-drawer model may suit you if you want to keep two foods separate while they cook. The product title lists a 7.6 L capacity and six functions; check the usable capacity of each drawer. For cleaning, check the model’s instructions before putting the baskets in the dishwasher.
Image unavailable
Bear QZG-F24F1, two baskets, 9 L, 2400 W
Its two baskets and independent temperature controls are designed for cooking two dishes with different settings. The product title lists a 9 L capacity and eight programmes; measure your available space and check that the capacity suits your food before choosing this format.
Image unavailable
ochama Air Fryer with two compartments, 9 L
The two compartments can be useful for cooking different ingredients at the same time. The product title lists a 9 L capacity and temperature control for each zone; check the cooking mode for your dishes, the usable capacity and whether it has a synchronisation feature if you need to serve both dishes together.
Frequently asked questions
Does an air fryer get rid of all cooking smells?
No. UFC-Que Choisir reports fewer odours than with traditional deep frying, not a complete absence of smells. Make sure your kitchen is properly ventilated while cooking.
What capacity should I choose instead of relying on the word “XXL”?
Start with your portion sizes and the shape of the basket. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one to two people, 5 to 6 L for three to four, and 9 L or more for over five people. The stated capacity still needs to suit the food you cook.
Do you need two compartments to cook a complete meal?
Not necessarily. Two zones are useful if your food needs different settings; if you want to serve everything together, check that the model has a synchronisation feature. A single basket may be enough for small portions that cook in the same way.
Can an existing oven do the job instead of an air fryer?
Yes, if its size and performance already suit the dishes you usually cook. UFC-Que Choisir highlights how similar their functions are: an air fryer is most worthwhile if you often cook small batches and have space for it.
What should I check to make cleaning easier?
Check the instructions for the specific model, including those for its baskets and other removable parts. For example, Moulinex says the basket of its 3.5 L Easy Fry Essential is dishwasher-safe; don’t assume the same applies to another appliance.