If your oven is already working well, an air fryer is most worthwhile for frequent small batches or for cooking two separate dishes in a dual-drawer model. For larger dishes or occasional use, first consider whether the convenience outweighs the space it takes up and the extra cleaning. As Que Choisir points out, its functions largely overlap with those of an oven.
You regularly cook for one or two people and want to know whether a basket-style appliance would be more convenient than your oven for these meals. The amount you actually cook matters more than the stated capacity alone, says Que Choisir.
You often prepare a main dish and a side with different settings. Dual-drawer models let you cook them separately, as Que Choisir explains; the question is whether you’d use this feature often enough.
Your oven already covers your usual cooking needs, and every extra appliance needs a place to live and cleaning afterwards. Que Choisir recommends considering the risk of over-equipping your kitchen before adding an air fryer.
Start with the meals you actually make, then consider how much you need to cook, whether separating two dishes would help and how much space you have. A single drawer, two drawers or a mini oven suit different needs — and sticking with your oven is also an option.
| Criterion | What to check | Which consumers? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding a redundant appliance | Think about which meals you’d genuinely use the air fryer for and where you’d keep it. | If my oven already meets my needs and I’d only use an air fryer occasionally, I’d rather not add another appliance to store and clean. Around 36% of the consumers concerned would put this first. |
| Frequent small batches | Compare the basket’s usable surface area with your usual portions. For one or two people, Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide. | I often cook small amounts and would like to save the oven for larger dishes, without having to cook several batches in a cramped basket. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Two separate cooking tasks | Check the settings for each drawer, their individual capacities and whether the cooking cycles can be set to finish together. | My main dish and side often need different settings, so I’d like to cook them at the same time. Around 21% of the consumers concerned would prioritise this need. |
| Larger meals | Check the usable capacity against your dishes and the number of batches you’d need to cook, then measure the space the appliance would take up. | When I’m cooking for several people, I want to avoid starting multiple cycles. If my oven can already fit the whole dish, it may be more convenient. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise capacity. |
The two appliances offer similar cooking functions. Que Choisir advises against adding another appliance if it won’t serve a distinct, regular purpose.
For a week, note which meals you’d choose to cook in a basket rather than the oven. If the list only includes the odd occasion or large dishes, your oven may be all you need.
According to Que Choisir, usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook. A litre measurement alone doesn’t tell you how much room there is for your food.
Compare the basket’s internal dimensions and shape with the portions and dishes you usually prepare.
A basket that’s too small may mean cooking several batches for one meal.
Two baskets make it easier to cook different dishes at the same time, but the capacity of each matters just as much as the total if the two parts of your meal need different amounts of space.
Check the capacity and settings of each drawer, as well as the synchronisation function if you want both dishes to finish cooking together.
Which parts are dishwasher-safe varies by model. Any claim of energy savings based on a specific recipe or test method won’t necessarily apply to the meals you cook.
Check the manual for cleaning instructions and read the conditions behind any energy comparison before applying it to your own use.
These basket-style appliances are for extra cooking capacity when you already have an oven. Their stated capacities range from small batches to larger baskets; only the dual-basket model is designed for cooking two dishes separately. Before choosing, compare the space you have with the usable capacity you need for your meals.
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Worth considering if you mainly need to cook small batches rather than large dishes. Stated 2 L capacity, 60-minute timer and a basket described as dishwasher-safe. Check the basket’s usable size and where you’ll store the appliance.
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Worth a look if you switch between small and larger meals. Compare the usable surface area of the containers with your portions: having two containers doesn’t mean you can cook in two independent zones at the same time.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal separately. It has a stated total capacity of 9 L, eight programmes and independent temperature control. Check the usable space in each basket, the time settings and the appliance’s external dimensions.
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Its stated 7,6 L basket is worth comparing with your oven if you want to cook more than a small portion. Measure the basket’s usable size and the storage space you have: the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that your usual dishes will fit.
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Worth a look if you want a mid-capacity basket with a window to keep an eye on your food as it cooks. Check that the usable surface area suits your portions, that the appliance fits where you plan to put it and that cleaning the parts works for you.
Yes, if you have a regular, separate use for one, such as cooking small batches or preparing two separate dishes in a dual-drawer model. Otherwise, you may not need one. Que Choisir points out that an air fryer and an oven do largely the same things. For large dishes or occasional use, sticking with your oven means you won’t have another appliance to store and clean.
Not on their own. According to Que Choisir, it’s the usable capacity that determines how much you can actually cook. Look at the shape and surface area of the basket too, and compare them with the food and dishes you usually prepare rather than relying on an “XXL” label.
That depends on the model and the part in question. Check the manual before putting the basket or accessories in the dishwasher. Philips also recommends letting its air fryers cool down before cleaning them.
No. You can’t assume every appliance will use less energy for every meal. Que Choisir measures energy consumption using a set testing method. To make a fair comparison, look at similar cooking tasks and quantities, and remember to factor in extra batches if the basket can’t fit the whole meal.