Small households cooking one portion or a side
If you often cook small quantities, a single basket may suit your needs. However, check how much space it takes up against the room you can spare for it.
Who is each type suited to?
Households cooking two parts of a meal
A main and a side dish don’t always need the same settings. If you want to serve them together, check for two independent cooking zones and a synchronisation function. UFC-Que Choisir includes this feature in its test procedure for the relevant models.
People who already have an oven
Before adding another appliance, consider how often you’d genuinely cook small batches and whether you’re happy to give it space and take on the extra cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir advises consumers to consider the risk of buying more equipment than they need.
What should you look for?
Start with the meals you cook most often: choose a single basket for one type of food, two zones if you regularly cook dishes that need different settings, or a mini-oven style cavity if your dishes require it. Also compare these uses with what your oven already does.
Single basket
Worth considering: for a small everyday meal that fits in one basket.
Bear in mind: you may need to cook in separate batches if your food can’t cook together.
Two zones
Worth considering: if your main and side dish often need different settings.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split between the compartments, and there are more parts to handle.
Mini-oven style
Worth considering: if your recipes call for dishes, tins or shelf positions that fit its cavity.
Bear in mind: its functions may duplicate those of your existing oven.
Your existing oven
Keep using it: if it already handles the meals and quantities you usually cook.
Also consider: a countertop appliance may still be useful if you often cook small batches.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and space | Suitable quantities and usable basket dimensions; space needed on the worktop. | When I mostly cook one portion or a side, I want a suitably sized basket that won’t clutter my kitchen. Around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Cooking two dishes | How capacity is divided between zones and whether the appliance can synchronise cooking times. | If my main and side need different settings, I want to serve them together rather than cook two batches one after the other. This would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Noise and cleaning | Comparable noise measurements for the exact model; whether removable parts are actually dishwasher-safe. | In an open-plan kitchen, the fan can bother me, and I want to be able to clean the appliance after an everyday meal. Around 19% of consumers would put this ease of use first. |
| Usefulness alongside your oven | How often you cook small batches and which recipes your current oven doesn’t handle as conveniently. | My oven already works well: before adding another appliance, I want to know if I’ll use it often enough. Avoiding duplication would come first for around 18% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Relying only on an “XL” label or the total capacity in litres
The stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much food will fit in the basket or each drawer. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking the usable capacity and how many batches you’ll need.
Compare the internal dimensions and the quantities specified for the food you cook: the size of a dish, the number of pieces or the load allowed in each compartment.
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Assuming an appliance’s size tells you how noisy it is
You can hear the fan while food is cooking, and noise levels vary between models, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. This matters particularly if your kitchen opens onto a living area.
For a model you’re interested in, look for an independent noise measurement that states the distance used, rather than assuming a smaller appliance will be quieter.
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Taking claims about speed or cooking results at face value
Results depend on the model, the food and the quantity. A claim on a brand’s product page doesn’t prove you’ll get the same results with all your recipes.
Check the conditions behind the claim. If cooking results matter to you, look for an independent test of the exact model using similar foods.
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Buying an appliance without planning how you’ll use it
An air fryer overlaps with some of the functions of an oven. The ministry responsible for the environment encourages people to think about whether electrical equipment they expect to use only occasionally is genuinely useful.
Think about which meals you’d use the appliance for over the course of a week, and check where you’d keep it and store it. If your oven is enough for those tasks, keeping it may be the better option.
Brands to compare
Philips
Philips France offers both single-basket and dual-zone models. Its product pages include details of the 4.2 L NA120/00 and the NA156/60, which converts from two 3.55 L zones to a single 7.1 L basket using a removable divider.
- The stated capacities and quantities for each model make it easier to compare the format with your portion sizes.
- These specifications don’t tell you how another model from the brand will cook or how noisy it will be.
Moulinex
Moulinex offers several cooking formats in its Easy Fry range. The Surface XL 4 L is stated to fit pizzas, tarts or quiches up to 27 cm, while the Dual XXL splits its 11 L capacity between two drawers of 6.5 L and 4.5 L.
- These dimensions help you compare the space needed for a dish with the capacity of two separate compartments.
- Dishwasher-safe parts and repairability commitments announced by Moulinex apply to the specified models; check they apply to the one you’re considering.
Instant Pot
Instant Pot France offers a 2 L Vortex Mini and an 11 L Vortex Dual, with one 7 L basket and one 4 L basket.
- These two models offer formats to consider for small portions or two separate dishes.
- The brand’s claims about cooking time or energy use don’t, on their own, provide a comparison with your oven.
Air fryers for different needs
These Joybuy models include single-basket options for different quantities, dual-drawer appliances for cooking separate dishes, and a Crispi model to consider if you want to vary the size of the container. Compare each format with your recipes and the space you have available, without assuming it will replace your oven.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7.6 L
Worth considering if you regularly prepare two parts of a meal in separate drawers. This model is described as a 6-in-1 appliance with a 7.6 L capacity. Check the usable space in each drawer for your recipes, and look for a noise measurement for this model if noise is a deciding factor.
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Midea Air Fryer 2 L, 1150 W, black
Worth considering for small portions if they fit in a 2 L basket. The product name specifies a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket that’s dishwasher-safe. Check the appliance’s dimensions if you have limited space.
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Cuisinart Compact Max AFS8OBLE, 7.6 L
Worth considering if your usual portions need a larger basket than a compact model offers. The stated capacity is 7.6 L. Also check the basket’s usable dimensions, the space the appliance takes up and whether it’s compatible with your electrical supply before choosing this model.
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Ninja Crispi FN101EUGY
Worth considering if you want to change the container to suit the quantity you’re cooking. Check which containers and accessories come with the model on sale. If you want to cook two dishes at once, consult the instruction manual rather than assuming this is possible because it comes with more than one container.
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Philips Series 3000 NA351/00, dual basket, 9 L
Worth considering if you want to split a meal between two baskets. The stated total capacity is 9 L. Check the dimensions and usable capacity of each compartment against the food you usually cook, and check how noisy the model is if you have an open-plan kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
Does an air fryer always replace an oven?
No. UFC-Que Choisir points out that its cooking functions overlap with those of an oven. It may be useful as an extra appliance if you often cook small batches. For large dishes that your oven already handles well, first consider what another appliance would genuinely add.
What capacity should you consider for one or two people?
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for everyday portions for one or two people, but capacity in litres alone doesn’t tell you how much food you can cook. Compare the stated quantities for the specific model. For example, Philips says its 4.2 L NA120/00 can cook up to 500 g of chips, six drumsticks or 500 g of vegetables.
How can you tell whether a model will be easy to clean?
Check the instruction manual to see which parts are removable and which can go in the dishwasher. A claim about the basket doesn’t automatically apply to the plate or other accessories, so check each part you’ll need to wash after use.
Can you judge how noisy an air fryer is in a shop?
A quick test in a shop won’t necessarily recreate the conditions in your kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise 50 cm from the appliance. If this matters to you, look for a comparable measurement for the exact model.
What should you do with an old air fryer in France?
Don’t put it in your household rubbish: it counts as electrical and electronic equipment. The ministry responsible for the environment lists collection points and recycling centres as options. If the appliance still works, you could also take it to a reuse organisation.