An air fryer can complement your oven if your dinners often consist of portions that fit in its basket. Choose a single drawer for one dish, or two drawers if your main and side need to cook separately. For larger dishes and bigger batches, compare a mini-oven format with your existing oven before adding another appliance. Capacity in litres isn’t the only thing that matters: the shape of the compartments, the space available, noise and cleaning are all worth considering.
Start with the meals you actually make in the evening. The number of portions and whether you need to cook different elements separately are more useful guides than the total capacity shown on its own.
For one or two people, UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 l as a guide for everyday portions in a single basket. Check the usable surface area too: your usual dish needs to fit, so don’t rely on the litre figure alone.
Two drawers let you cook foods with different cooking times separately. Some Philips and Moulinex models have compartments of different sizes, so check the capacity of each one, especially if your main dish needs plenty of room.
An air fryer is worth considering if your everyday meals fit in its basket and it offers a function you’d like to add. If you mainly cook large dishes or big batches, check what a new format would offer compared with the oven you already use.
Think of three dinners you make regularly, then compare the shape of the dishes, how many separate cooking programmes you need and how much space the appliance will take up in your kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir’s capacity guidelines can help you narrow down the options, but they don’t guarantee that a particular recipe will fit.
| What to consider | What to check | For my meals |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and basket shape | Compare the capacity of each compartment, the usable surface area and the shape of your dishes. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 l for everyday portions for one or two people, and includes 7 to 9 l among the sizes to consider for five or six people. | Do I mainly make smaller portions, or do my dinners need a large dish that won’t fit in a basket? |
| One or two cooking zones | If two foods need different settings, check the controls for each drawer and whether the exact model has a sync function. Check the size of both compartments separately. | Do the main and side need to be ready at the same time? If I usually cook just one thing, would I use a second drawer? |
| Kitchen space | Measure the space where you plan to keep the appliance, then compare it with the external dimensions and clearances specified in the manual. Darty lists dimensions of 382,4 × 443,9 × 314,2 mm for the Philips NA352/04; these figures don’t apply to other Philips models. | I need to be able to position the appliance and open its drawers without getting in the way of meal prep. |
| Results for different recipes | Look for tests covering the recipes you’re interested in and the exact model you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol includes chips, quiche, cake and chicken drumsticks, among other foods. A result for one recipe doesn’t apply to all the others. | Do I mainly cook small portions to roast or grill, or quiches and larger dishes that already fit in my oven? |
| Cleaning | Find out which parts are removable and check the manual to see which can go in the dishwasher. Compatibility can vary by model and accessory. | After dinner, I’d prefer parts that are easy to remove and clean according to the manufacturer’s instructions. |
| Noise | If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a measurement or independent test of the exact model, carried out under comparable conditions. UFC-Que Choisir notes that fan noise is a factor to consider. | If I’ll be cooking in my living space, operating noise will affect my choice. |
This figure doesn’t tell you whether a quiche, a large dish or your usual portions will fit in the basket. Nor does it tell you how much space the appliance will take up.
Write down three meals you plan to make, then compare the basket’s usable shape, the capacity of each compartment and the appliance’s external dimensions.
The compartments may be different sizes. For example, Philips lists a 6 l basket and a 3 l basket for the NA352/04, while Moulinex gives capacities of 5,2 l and 3,1 l for its Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20.
First, check that the drawer intended for the main dish is large enough for your portions. Then consider how much space your side dish needs.
UFC-Que Choisir reports varying performance across the appliances it tests, and considers noise, ease of use and cleaning among its assessment criteria.
If these factors matter in your kitchen, look for a test of the exact model rather than trying to predict how it will perform based on the brand or number of drawers.
A recipe that fits in a basket and a large oven dish don’t have the same requirements. The appliance format alone also doesn’t prove that every meal will take less time or use less electricity.
Compare your usual recipes and quantities with the model’s usable capacity, and keep your oven in the running for dishes that need more space.
These models illustrate different configurations to consider; their features don’t represent every product in each brand’s range.
The NA352/04 is an example of a double-drawer model with compartments of different sizes: Philips lists one 6 l basket and one 3 l basket.
The Easy Fry range includes a 4,2 l single-basket Deluxe and a Dual EZ901N20 with 5,2 l and 3,1 l drawers, according to Moulinex.
SharkNinja describes the DualZone DZ400EU as a 9,5 l model with two independent drawers and six cooking modes.
This selection includes single-basket models and two-drawer appliances for evening meals. Compare their capacity and layout with the portions you cook. If your recipes mainly call for large dishes, keep your oven in mind when making your decision.
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Worth considering if you cook your main and side dishes separately. The product title lists two drawers, a total capacity of 9,5 l and six functions; check that each compartment suits your portions. The baskets are described as dishwasher-safe. If noise matters to you, look for a test of this exact model.
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Another two-drawer option for cooking two parts of dinner separately. The title lists a total capacity of 7,6 l and six functions; compare the usable space in each drawer with the dishes you usually make. The baskets are described as dishwasher-safe. Check the noise level if you cook in a living space.
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The single basket suits a dinner cooked in one batch, as long as your portions fit. The product title lists a 5 l capacity, touch controls and six automatic programmes. Check the external dimensions before setting aside space in your kitchen; if you have an open-plan kitchen, look into the noise level for this model too.
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This single-basket model is designed for meals that involve cooking several portions of one dish. Its listed capacity is 7,6 l, but check the basket’s shape before planning to cook a quiche or larger dish. Check the external dimensions and noise level too, to make sure it suits your kitchen.
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The two baskets suit meals where the main and side are cooked separately. The product title lists a total capacity of 9 l; check the capacity of each basket against your portions rather than assuming the features are the same as those of another Philips model. If you want both dishes to be ready together, check how the sync function listed for the NA351/00 works.
Not for every meal. A basket may suit portions and recipes that fit within its usable surface area, while your oven remains an option for larger dishes or bigger batches. UFC-Que Choisir includes quiches and cakes in its test protocol, among other foods. For these recipes, check the results for the model you’re considering rather than assuming any air fryer will do the job.
Two drawers are useful if you regularly cook a main and a side that need different cooking times or settings. If you usually cook just one dish, compare the usable size of a single basket with your portions instead. With a double-drawer model, check the capacity of each side, not just the total.
No. Check the instructions for the specific model and each part. Philips and Moulinex list dishwasher compatibility for certain removable parts on specific models, but this doesn’t automatically apply to their other appliances or accessories.
If noise could be disruptive in your open-plan kitchen, look for an independent test of the exact model that explains how the measurements were taken. UFC-Que Choisir identifies the fan as a source of noise to consider. Capacity and the number of drawers alone won’t tell you how loud an appliance will be.