An air fryer can complement an oven if you often cook small portions in a separate basket, or if two cooking zones fit the way you regularly plan meals. If your oven already suits the dishes you usually cook, sticking with it means you won’t need to give up more worktop space. Before buying, compare the usable capacity, noise, cleaning requirements and clearance needed according to the instructions with what your kitchen can accommodate.
If you already have an oven but would like to use a small, separate cooking basket regularly, consider a drawer model. Whether an extra appliance is worthwhile depends on how often you’d use it and how much it can actually hold.
If you want to cook two different dishes to serve together, a model with two zones is worth considering. Check the capacity of each drawer and the synchronisation features on the model you’re considering.
If your oven already handles the dishes and portions you usually cook, the space another appliance takes up, along with its noise and cleaning, may outweigh the benefit of having a separate cooking space. UFC-Que Choisir advises considering the risk of buying more appliances than you need.
Start with the meals you actually cook: a small basket, two drawers and a mini-oven-style cavity suit different ways of cooking. If none of these formats would give you a distinct use on a regular basis, stick with your oven.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Small portions | Compare the basket’s usable capacity with the portions you usually cook. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 l as a guide for one or two people, but you should also consider the shape of the basket. | I often cook a small amount and want a separate space for it, rather than using my oven. Around 31% of consumers make this a priority. |
| Two dishes to serve together | Check the capacity of each drawer and whether the appliance can coordinate the end of cooking times. | When two parts of a meal need different settings, I want to be able to cook them at the same time. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Family-sized portions | Check the usable surface area and capacity to reduce the number of batches, then compare the appliance’s footprint with that of your existing oven. | For a family meal, I want to avoid cooking multiple batches; my oven remains an option if the basket can’t hold my portions. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this capacity. |
| Space, noise and cleaning | Measure the available space, check the clearance required in the instructions and look at the cleaning guidance. If you have an open-plan kitchen, also look for a noise measurement for the specific model. | My oven is fine for the dishes I usually cook, and I don’t want to add another appliance that needs setting up and cleaning if it won’t serve a distinct purpose. For around 23% of consumers, avoiding this extra hassle is the main consideration. |
Both appliances can bake, roast and grill. UFC-Que Choisir warns against buying an extra appliance that simply duplicates what you already have.
Think about the meals for which you’d regularly use a small basket or two separate cooking zones. If none are part of your usual routine, stick with your oven.
How much you can cook also depends on the basket’s shape and usable capacity. If it’s too small, you may need to cook in several batches.
Compare your usual portions with the space you can actually use, and measure how much room the appliance will take up in your kitchen.
The fan can be audible while the appliance is running. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise as part of its testing protocol and recommends taking it into account, particularly in smaller spaces.
Look for a measurement or review of the specific model, and consider which other appliances you might be using at the same time.
Cleaning may involve more than just the basket. Philips’ Airfryer cleaning guidance also covers the inside of the appliance and the heating element, as well as precautions for the coating.
Check the instructions for your chosen model to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and how to clean the rest once the appliance has cooled.
These brands offer examples of formats to consider. Their inclusion here isn’t a ranking or a verdict on all their appliances.
The Airfryer range includes single-basket and dual-basket formats. Philips describes synchronisation as a feature on selected models, not across the whole range.
The Easy Fry range includes models with two drawers. For the EZ901N20, Moulinex describes an XXL drawer alongside a standard-sized one.
Ninja is among the air fryer manufacturers featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests.
These single- and dual-basket models are suited to cooking small portions or preparing dishes in separate zones. Compare their stated capacity with the dishes you usually cook; if your oven already meets your needs, you don’t need another appliance.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at once and have enough space for two drawers.
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Consider this model if two separate cooking zones suit the way you prepare meals, after checking that each drawer can hold the dish you have in mind.
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Worth considering if you want two baskets for different foods, but don’t assume their cooking cycles will automatically finish at the same time.
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Compare it with your oven if you often cook small portions and would like a separate basket for them.
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Only consider this model if your usual portions fit in a small basket: its stated capacity of 2 L is below the 3 to 4 l guide UFC-Que Choisir gives for one or two people.
No. Their baking, roasting and grilling functions overlap. An air fryer is mainly useful as an extra appliance if you regularly use its small basket or separate cooking zones. For large dishes and your usual portions, first check whether your oven is up to the job.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests starting with 3 to 4 l for one or two people, 5 to 6 l for three or four people, and 7 to 9 l for five or six people. Then compare the usable capacity and shape of the basket with the dishes you cook: the stated volume alone won’t tell you how much you can prepare at once.
Check the model’s cleaning instructions for the basket, pan and inside of the appliance. For its Airfryer models, Philips recommends letting the appliance cool for around 30 minutes and avoiding metal utensils and abrasive cleaning products on non-stick coatings. These instructions don’t replace the guidance for another brand’s model.
Distinguish information about the legal guarantee of conformity from details of any commercial warranty: the DGCCRF points out that a commercial warranty does not replace your legal rights. The DGCCRF also clarifies that CE marking is not a certification mark.