For a family meal centred on cooking one dish at a time, start by comparing single-basket air fryers. If you regularly cook a main and a side dish using different settings, look at dual-zone models instead. A flexible basket gives you the choice of one large compartment or several cooking zones, while an oven-style air fryer suits recipes arranged across multiple levels. Whichever format you choose, check how much usable space there is for your food, how much room the appliance takes up and how easy it is to clean. The advertised capacity in litres alone won’t tell you which format is right for you.
A single basket may be enough if you don’t usually need two independent settings for a meal. For a family of four, UFC-Que Choisir recommends starting with a minimum capacity of 6 L. Then check that the basket’s shape suits the portions you plan to cook.
Compare the space available in each zone if you’d like to cook a main and a side dish at the same time. UFC-Que Choisir recommends starting your search at 9 L or more for a household of over five. Bear in mind that the advertised capacity won’t all necessarily be usable.
A drawer with a removable divider lets you compare two setups in one appliance: one large zone or separate compartments. If your recipes are better suited to racks and multiple levels, consider an oven-style air fryer too, checking how much room each dish will have.
Start with the meals you cook most often, then check what each format can fit and how much space it will take up in your kitchen.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the shape of the cooking compartment, the space available to spread out food and the capacity of each drawer. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and suggests starting at 9 L or more for households of over five. These are useful starting points for narrowing down your options, not guarantees of usable capacity. | I’d like to cook enough portions for a meal without having to make several batches or pile the food up. |
| Cooking setup | If you’re cooking two dishes that need different times or temperatures, check for separate zone settings and a synchronisation function. For a large cut of meat, look at the dimensions of a single compartment or a zone created by removing a divider. | If I often serve a main and a side together, two zones appeal to me. If I’m cooking a large cut, I mainly need one uninterrupted cooking space. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space where you plan to put the appliance, how far the drawers open and the clearance required according to the manual. If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a test that includes a noise measurement: UFC-Que Choisir notes that ventilation is worth considering. | My air fryer should be easy to use and store without getting in the way on the worktop. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable and how they should be cleaned, including whether the specific model’s parts are dishwasher-safe. An oven-style air fryer with several racks also means finding somewhere to store and clean its accessories. | After regular meals, I want to be able to clean the parts I actually use. |
A cooking compartment may have a large advertised capacity without offering the shape or surface area needed for the portions you want to cook.
Compare the usable dimensions, the shape of the baskets and the space needed around the food. With a dual-drawer model, check each compartment separately.
Two separate zones make it easier to cook different dishes, but their combined capacity doesn’t create one large cooking compartment.
If you sometimes cook a large cut of meat, check the internal dimensions of the larger drawer or look for a model with a removable divider.
An appliance may fit on your worktop but get in the way when its drawers are open. Fan noise is also worth considering in an open-plan kitchen.
Measure the space you’ll need to use the appliance, check the clearances specified in the manual and look for a noise measurement for the model you’re considering.
Moulinex offers family-sized models with two drawers, flexible cooking zones and an oven-style design.
Philips offers dual baskets arranged side by side or one above the other.
Ninja offers air fryers with a single basket, two baskets or flexible compartments.
These models let you compare dual-zone designs for meals with several components and a single-basket option for cooking one dish at a time. Before choosing an appliance for your usual portions, check how much usable space there is in the baskets.
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Worth considering if you often cook two parts of a meal using different settings. The advertised 9.5 L capacity is split between two drawers, so check how much usable space each one offers for your food. Also consider the appliance’s size and noise level if you have an open-plan kitchen.
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Its two baskets and independent temperature controls make it a good option to consider if you want to cook two foods at the same time. The model name indicates a total capacity of 9 L and eight programmes. Check the size of each basket against your portions, and measure the appliance before deciding where to put it.
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A dual-chamber design is worth comparing if you want to cook two parts of a meal at the same time. The advertised 9 L capacity is shared between both chambers, so check the capacity of each one and whether there’s a synchronisation function if you need both dishes to be ready together.
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The two drawers make it possible to cook separate dishes for a family meal. The advertised total capacity is 7.6 L, so check what each drawer can hold, especially if you’re cooking for more than five people. If you’ll use it in an open-plan kitchen, compare its noise level too.
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This single-basket model is worth comparing if you mainly cook one dish at a time. It has an advertised capacity of 7 L, a digital display and a cooking window. Check how much usable space there is for your portions, and allow for cooking in batches if your meal needs different settings.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends a minimum capacity of 6 L for a family of four. Use this as a starting point when comparing models, then check the basket’s shape and usable space against the portions you actually cook.
No. Two drawers are most useful if you regularly cook two dishes that need different settings. If you’re cooking a large cut of meat, compare the space in a single compartment or a drawer with a removable divider instead. The capacity of two fixed compartments won’t combine to create one large cooking zone.
Measure the space where you plan to put the appliance, then allow room to open the drawers and meet the clearances specified in the manual. The advertised capacity in litres doesn’t tell you the appliance’s external dimensions, so compare the measurements of your chosen model, especially if you’re deciding between side-by-side and stacked baskets.
Yes, particularly in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir includes fan noise among its selection criteria and says it measures appliance noise from a distance of 0.50 m as part of its test protocol. Look for a measurement for the model you’re considering rather than relying on a short demonstration.
Check which parts can be removed, how the manual says to clean them and whether they’re dishwasher-safe. With an oven-style air fryer, also factor in the racks and other accessories you’ll use and need to put away after your meal.