An air fryer can complement an oven if you often cook small portions of roasted, grilled or crispy food that fit in its basket. If you mainly cook large dishes or need to prepare several batches in a row, the benefits of an additional appliance are less clear. Its footprint, cleaning and fan noise are also worth considering.
You regularly cook one or two portions of roast vegetables, chicken or frozen food and would rather not heat up the oven just for that. Que Choisir’s tests of small dishes offer useful insight into this kind of use, though results can vary from one recipe to another.
You want to cook a main dish and a side with different settings or cooking times. A dual-compartment appliance is worth comparing with your current routine, provided each drawer can hold the portions you plan to cook.
The space it takes up on your worktop, fan noise and cleaning may matter more to you than the number of programmes. Que Choisir includes ease of cleaning and noise among the factors worth considering.
Start with the dishes you actually cook. Their size and the number of cooking times you need to coordinate will determine whether a single basket, two compartments or your oven is the right choice.
Consider it: for frequent small portions that fit in one basket.
Bear in mind: larger dishes or several preparations may need to be cooked in batches.
Consider it: when your main dish and side need different settings.
Bear in mind: the stated capacity is split between the drawers, rather than giving you one large cooking area.
Stick with it: for large dishes, spread-out preparations or if you don’t want another appliance.
Compare: energy use for a small dish depends on the recipe, quantity and appliances being used.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Small portions | Compare your usual portions and dishes with the basket’s usable area, and look for tests covering the recipes you’re interested in. | I often cook a small amount and would rather not turn on the oven just for that. Around 36% of consumers make this a priority. |
| Capacity and compartments | Check the internal dimensions, the capacity of each drawer and whether you can set two cooking programmes independently. | To serve a complete meal, I need the main dish and side to fit and be ready at the right time. This is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Space and noise | Measure the available space, including room to pull out the drawer, and look for a noise reading that states the measurement distance. | In an open-plan or already busy kitchen, I want to use the appliance without cluttering the worktop or putting up with intrusive fan noise. Around 21% of consumers put this need first. |
| Cleaning and lifespan | Check the manual for removable parts, whether they are dishwasher-safe and whether spare parts are available for the model you choose. | If I cook often, a fiddly clean could put me off using the appliance. Around 14% of consumers prioritise cleaning and lifespan. |
To give you an idea of how it compares with another appliance, Que Choisir measured average electricity use that was 36% lower than a mini oven when cooking a small quiche in the air fryers tested, using the same quantity. This result applies to that dish and comparison, not to every recipe or oven.
The two appliances can be used for similar things, but an air fryer’s limited cooking space restricts the size of the dishes you can cook. Que Choisir highlights this limitation, particularly for foods usually cooked in an oven.
Make a note of three dishes you cook often and compare their dimensions with the basket before deciding whether the appliance would offer something different.
A total capacity split between two drawers doesn’t give you the same space as one large basket. The term ‘XXL’ also doesn’t tell you what shape of dish will fit inside.
Check the internal dimensions and, for a dual model, the capacity of each compartment.
The fan runs while the food is cooking and can be distracting near a dining or work area. Que Choisir tests noise at 50 cm from the appliance.
Look for a reading taken at a stated distance, and decide where you’ll place the appliance while it’s running.
Energy use varies depending on the recipe, quantity and appliance being compared. A result for a small dish doesn’t tell you what to expect with a large dish or several batches.
Compare tests that specify the recipe, quantities and appliances used, rather than relying on a percentage on its own.
These ranges showcase different formats. Check the specifications of the model you’re considering rather than assuming they apply to every appliance from that brand.
The Easy Fry range includes both single- and dual-compartment formats. The Dual Easy Fry XXL EZ942AF0 is an example of a model with two drawers of 6,5 l and 4 l, according to Moulinex.
The NA352/24 in the 3000 Series is an example of a model with two baskets of different sizes.
Ninja appliances feature among the models reviewed in Que Choisir’s French comparisons, including the Crispi FN101.
These appliances let you compare a single-basket format, a dual-drawer model and the Ninja Crispi FN101EUGY. Check the stated capacity against your usual portions and available space. This selection doesn’t replace comparing them with the oven you already own.
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Worth considering if your food fits in a 2 l basket. Compare the capacity with your usual portions.
The title states that it has a removable, non-stick, dishwasher-safe basket and a 60-minute timer. Check the appliance’s dimensions and operating noise if space is limited.
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Compare it with the small dishes you usually cook before adding another appliance alongside your oven.
Check the size of the containers and the dishes they can hold, as well as the space needed to use and store them.
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Consider it if you want to use one drawer for the main dish and the other for a side.
The stated 7,6 l capacity is split between two drawers. Check the size of each one against your dishes, as well as the space it will take up on your worktop.
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Worth considering if you’d like to compare a single 7,6 l basket with an appliance that has two drawers.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you the cooking area on its own. Check the shape of the dishes that will fit and the external dimensions before deciding where to put it.
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Compare it with 2 l models if your usual portions need more room in the basket.
The title lists eight preset modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the internal cooking area for your dishes and the cleaning instructions for removable parts.
No. The result depends on the dish, its quantity and the appliances being compared. Que Choisir found average energy use was 36% lower than a mini oven for a small quiche cooked in the air fryers tested, using the same quantity. This figure doesn’t automatically apply to other recipes or your oven.
Que Choisir recommends starting with a model of at least 6 l for a family of four. Then check the internal cooking area and, for a dual model, the space in each drawer. The total capacity doesn’t guarantee your dishes will fit.
Look for a noise reading that states the distance and test conditions. Que Choisir measures noise 50 cm from the appliance while it’s running. Compare results taken under similar conditions rather than relying on a quick listen in a shop.
Check the manual for your chosen model to see which baskets, racks and accessories are removable and which parts are dishwasher-safe. If you plan to use the appliance often, also make sure you’re happy with how easy it is to take these parts out and put them back.
Take it to an appropriate collection point for electrical equipment rather than putting it in household waste. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition lists collection points, recycling centres, retailers and social and solidarity economy organisations. Check the arrangements at your chosen location.