Small households with simple meals
You usually make one or two portions, a one-pot meal or a side dish. The space it takes up on your worktop and whether you can put it away matter just as much as its stated capacity.
Who are these formats suited to?
Households that cook two parts of dinner
You want to cook a main and a side dish at the same time, sometimes with different settings. A two-drawer model is worth considering, provided each drawer can hold the foods you usually cook.
People already happy with their oven
Your oven easily accommodates your portions and tray-baked dishes. Think about the meals you cook most often before adding an appliance that might largely do the same job.
How do you choose between an air fryer and an oven?
Start with the dinners you usually make: first check whether your oven is genuinely inconvenient, then decide whether you need to cook one part of a meal at a time or two things simultaneously.
One drawer
Worth considering: for a small portion or one part of dinner at a time.
The trade-off: you may need another batch for a second item; the number of litres alone doesn’t tell you how many portions it can hold.
Two zones
Worth considering: if you regularly cook two dishes at once, as you can with the two-drawer model described by Moulinex.
The trade-off: the capacity is split between compartments, and the appliance takes up space even when you only use one zone.
Your existing oven
Stick with it: if you’re already happy with your tray-baked dishes, portion sizes and cooking routine.
What you avoid: you won’t have an extra cooking option on the worktop, but you’ll also avoid finding space for another appliance and cleaning it.
| Consideration | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Duplication and space | Compare the dinners you often make with what your oven can already do, then measure the space available to use and store the appliance. | If my oven already meets my needs, I don’t want to clutter a small kitchen just to make the same dishes again. Around 36% of consumers would put avoiding duplication and minimising the space taken up at the heart of their decision. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the usable size of each drawer and, if cooking times differ, whether you can coordinate when they finish. | I want to serve a main and a side dish without waiting for a second batch. Cooking two things at once would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Capacity that suits your dishes | Check the basket’s surface area, height and shape against the foods you cook, rather than relying on its capacity in litres alone. | For my everyday portions, the food needs to fit in the basket without making me cook multiple batches. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise having a capacity that suits their meals. |
| Noise and cleaning | Find out how noisy the model is and check its instructions to see which removable parts are dishwasher-safe. | In an open-plan kitchen, fan noise and the washing-up after dinner could put me off using it regularly. Quiet operation or easy cleaning would come first for around 14% of consumers. |
What should you watch out for before buying?
-
Assuming the capacity in litres tells you how many portions it holds
Philips says the maximum quantity varies depending on the food and the size of the appliance. So a serving recommendation for one model won’t necessarily apply to every meal.
Compare the basket’s surface area and height with the dishes you usually make. For a two-drawer model, check each compartment separately.
-
Choosing two drawers without using both for cooking
The point of two zones is to prepare two parts of a meal at the same time. If you usually make just one dish, that may not justify the space the appliance takes up.
Think about the dinners when you’d genuinely use both drawers and check that each food item fits in its zone.
-
Assuming every dish will save you time or electricity
Que Choisir compared the energy consumption of air fryers with oven cooking. That comparison doesn’t mean you’ll get the same result with every recipe, quantity or pair of appliances.
Don’t base your purchase on a general promise of savings. Start with the meals you regularly cook in your oven.
-
Forgetting about noise and parts that need washing
Que Choisir draws attention to fan noise. Whether parts are dishwasher-safe depends on the specific components and model.
If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for information about the noise level of the model you’re considering and check the instructions for how to clean each part.
Brands to know
There are no brand profiles to display in this section.
Air fryers for different needs on Joybuy
These appliances suit different needs: cooking one part of a meal, switching between two container sizes or using two drawers at once. If you have a small kitchen, also compare the space they take up with what you have available.
Image unavailable
Midea Air Fryer 2 L, 1150 W, black
Worth considering for a small portion or one part of dinner. The title lists a 2 L basket, a 60-minute timer and a removable basket described as dishwasher-safe. Before buying, check how much space it needs, the basket’s usable dimensions and how noisy it is if you have an open-plan kitchen.
Image unavailable
NINJA Crispi FN101EUGY
Worth a look if you want to switch between containers of different sizes. They’re used one after the other, so this model isn’t suited to cooking two things at the same time. Check their usable dimensions against the dishes you make and find out how noisy it is if that matters to you.
Image unavailable
Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, 7.6 L, two drawers
Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of dinner at the same time. The stated total capacity is 7.6 L; check the usable dimensions of each drawer against the foods you cook, as well as how much space the appliance takes up in your kitchen. If cooking times differ, check whether the model can synchronise them.
Image unavailable
Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, 9.5 L, two drawers
Worth a look for cooking two dishes at once if your portions call for this size. The stated total capacity is 9.5 L: compare the space it needs and the dimensions of each drawer with the meals you usually make, especially if you often cook small portions. Also check whether the cooking times can be synchronised if you want to serve both dishes together.
Image unavailable
Cuisinart Compact Max AFS8OBLE, 7.6 L
Worth considering if your dishes need the stated 7.6 L capacity rather than a small basket. Check that your food fits inside and that you have room for the appliance in your kitchen. If you usually make small portions, compare how you’d use it with your oven.
Frequently asked questions
Can an air fryer replace my oven in a small kitchen?
Not for every meal. It can complement your oven if you often make a small portion or one part of dinner on the worktop. But if your oven already easily accommodates your tray-baked dishes and portions, another appliance may simply duplicate what you already do.
What capacity should I choose for a small household?
Choose based on the foods you cook and the basket’s usable dimensions, not just its capacity in litres. Philips explains that the maximum quantity depends on the food and the size of the appliance. Its example of a 4.1 L model for two people, holding up to four portions depending on what you’re cooking, isn’t a rule that applies to every model.
Are two drawers useful for quick dinners?
Two drawers make sense if you regularly cook a main and a side dish at the same time. Moulinex describes this option on one of its two-drawer models. Before choosing one, check the size of each compartment and how much space the whole appliance takes up.
What should I consider when it comes to noise and cleaning?
If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for information about the noise level of the model you’re considering: Que Choisir recommends paying attention to the fan. Also check the instructions to find out exactly which drawers, baskets or racks are removable and dishwasher-safe.