An air fryer can complement your oven if you often cook small or medium-sized portions of roast food, but it won’t automatically replace it: both appliances offer similar cooking functions. Choose a size based on how much you can realistically cook and how many dishes you need to prepare at once. Then check the space available, noise levels, cleaning requirements and installation instructions.
You regularly prepare vegetables, fish or a roasted side dish but don’t want to switch on the main oven. Whether an extra appliance is worthwhile depends on how often you make these meals and how much space you have.
You often serve two foods that need different cooking times or settings. A dual-drawer model is worth considering if you regularly cook this way, rather than only from time to time.
You’ll need to consider the space it takes up, the clearance required around it and the noise from its fan. Cleaning also plays a part in how easy it is to use every day.
Choose this: for smaller portions and cooking one item at a time, particularly if you have limited worktop space.
Bear in mind: larger quantities may need to be cooked in batches. Follow the filling instructions and shake or stir the food if the manual recommends it.
Choose this: if you regularly cook two parts of a meal with different settings. Check that the model can coordinate the end of cooking if you need this feature.
Bear in mind: two drawers take up more space and mean more parts to wash. Check the capacity of each drawer too.
Consider this: for larger dishes or cooking on several levels, provided the usable dimensions are suitable for the food you plan to prepare.
Bear in mind: its size may make an extra appliance less worthwhile if your current oven already meets these needs.
Keep your: oven if you mainly cook large dishes or are short on space. A deep-fat fryer, meanwhile, meets a different need: frying food in hot oil.
Bear in mind: to decide whether your oven also suits frequent small portions, compare how you use it with the quantities you cook and your actual habits.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| How useful it is alongside your oven | Note how often you cook small batches and compare using your current oven with having an extra cooking space. | If I often prepare a small roasted side dish, I want an extra appliance to suit this regular use rather than duplicate my oven. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this convenience. |
| Capacity and cooking zones | Check the usable capacity and shape of the cooking compartment. For a two-drawer model, check the capacity of each drawer and whether the cooking times can be synchronised. | When serving several portions or two parts of a meal together, I mainly want to avoid cooking in batches. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this capacity. |
| Space, noise and cleaning | Measure the available space, check the clearances required in the manual, and find out about noise levels and dishwasher-safe parts. | In an open-plan kitchen or on a small worktop, I’d choose an appliance that I can install and clean without too much hassle. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise these practical considerations. |
As UFC-Que Choisir points out, an air fryer offers cooking functions similar to those of an oven. Having an extra cooking space is not, by itself, a reason to buy one.
Before deciding whether a dedicated appliance would be useful, think about the small batches you actually cook and how often you make them.
The usable capacity and shape of the basket determine what you can cook at once. A large capacity in litres doesn’t tell you whether your usual ingredients will fit within the recommended fill level.
Compare the cooking compartment’s dimensions with your portion sizes and check the manual before choosing between one large basket and two separate zones.
If the basket can’t hold the quantity you want to cook at once, making several batches will add time to meal preparation.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking the fan noise into account, as it can be particularly noticeable in a living area. The appliance may also need more space than its stated dimensions suggest if the manual specifies clearance around it.
Measure the space you have in mind, read the model’s installation instructions and check a sound test if you cook in an open-plan room.
Where dishwasher-safe parts are specified, this applies only to certain components. Philips also provides cleaning instructions for the inside of its appliances and their heating elements.
Check which parts of your chosen model are dishwasher-safe, and clean the appliance once it has cooled, following the manual. Don’t use abrasive cleaners on a non-stick coating.
The Easy Fry range includes compact models, single-drawer models and dual-drawer models.
Depending on the range, the brand offers single-drawer and dual-basket models, as well as flexible configurations.
Ninja is one of the air fryer manufacturers on the French market, with drawer-style models among its range.
These single- and dual-drawer models let you compare capacities and configurations for cooking roast food regularly. Check the usable capacity and installation requirements before adding one to your kitchen.
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Compare it with your usual small portions if one cooking zone is all you need.
Eight pre-set modes, temperature settings from 35 to 200 °C, a 60-minute timer and a reminder to shake or stir the food.
If you have an open-plan kitchen, check the noise level. Also consult the manual for cleaning instructions and required clearances.
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The viewing window may appeal if you want to keep an eye on your food without opening the basket.
Touch controls, a non-stick basket and a steam box mentioned in the product title.
Compare the shape of the cooking compartment with your portions, and check the dimensions, noise level and cleaning instructions before buying.
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The two drawers suit households that regularly need to cook two parts of a meal at the same time. Check the usable capacity of each zone.
Six advertised functions, including roasting; baskets listed as dishwasher-safe.
Make sure it fits on your worktop, and check the noise level if your kitchen is open-plan.
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Compare this capacity with your usual quantities if you also prepare larger meals.
Check the usable capacity, even if your smaller portions fit easily in the cooking compartment.
Check the external dimensions, noise level and care instructions before deciding where to put it.
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The viewing window lets you keep an eye on your food. Check whether the stated capacity suits the portions you regularly cook.
Digital display and clear cooking window.
Check the dimensions, noise level and basket cleaning instructions, especially if the appliance will be used in an open-plan kitchen.
Not necessarily: air fryers and ovens offer similar cooking functions. As UFC-Que Choisir explains, an extra appliance is most useful if you often cook small or medium-sized batches. If your oven already suits your dishes and cooking routine, replacing it isn’t an obvious choice.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for a single-basket model for one or two people, and 5 to 6 L for three or four people. Also check the usable capacity and shape of the cooking compartment: the number of litres alone won’t tell you whether your portions will fit in one batch.
Place it on a flat, stable, heat-resistant surface. Moulinex recommends keeping its appliances away from water and walls. Check the manual for your chosen model for the required clearances and any other specific instructions.
No: dishwasher-safe parts are limited to those specified for your model. Philips also recommends cleaning the inside and heating element of its Airfryers after unplugging the appliance and letting it cool. Follow the manual for your model and avoid abrasive cleaners on non-stick surfaces.