If you don’t have an oven, an air fryer can cook or reheat smaller meals using hot air, especially when texture matters. A single drawer is suitable if you mostly cook one food at a time. If you want to prepare two things at once, consider a dual-drawer model, but check its overall size and the usable space in each drawer. If you already have an oven, the extra appliance should also justify the space it takes up and the cleaning involved.
The right choice depends on whether you don’t have an oven, already own a cooking appliance or regularly prepare two different things for the same meal.
You cook one or two portions and sometimes want to cook or reheat food using hot air rather than simply warming it up in the microwave. Check that the basket fits the dishes you normally use and that you have room for the appliance in your kitchen.
You have a working oven and are considering an appliance for smaller meals. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can duplicate what an oven does. How often you use it should justify the space it takes up and the extra cleaning.
You want to cook two things with different cooking times and have them ready together. A dual-drawer model may suit your needs, as long as each compartment is large enough for your portions and you have somewhere to store the appliance.
If you don’t have an oven, start by comparing the size of your meals with the space available. A single-drawer air fryer is best for smaller portions, while a dual-drawer model lets you cook two things separately. A mini oven is worth considering for wider dishes. If you already have an oven or a combination microwave, ask yourself what distinct purpose another appliance would serve.
Consider it: for a small portion or one type of food at a time.
Bear in mind: the basket size limits the dishes you can use, and some foods need to be shaken or stirred during cooking.
Consider it: if you regularly use two compartments to cook foods that need different cooking times.
Bear in mind: it takes up more space, and you shouldn’t assume both compartments will produce identical results.
Consider it: if your tins or dishes need a wider cooking space than a drawer can offer.
Bear in mind: check that you have room for it and compare how well it handles the meals you actually cook.
Keep it: if it works well and you regularly use it for larger dishes or family-sized portions.
Weigh up: whether cooking smaller meals in another appliance is worth the extra space and cleaning it would involve.
Keep it: if your main priority is reheating food quickly and a crisp texture isn’t essential.
Weigh up: whether an air fryer would be useful depends on what you reheat and how much space it would take up.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking and reheating | Compare the foods you usually cook with test results for similar recipes. Check whether you can monitor cooking without opening the drawer. | When I’m preparing a small portion, I want to know whether hot-air cooking gives me the texture I’m looking for, rather than simply reheating the food. Around 33% of consumers would rank this need as a priority. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the internal dimensions with those of your dishes. If you want to cook two foods, check the size of each compartment and the settings available. | If I need to cook two parts of a meal or fit in my baking tin, the stated capacity in litres isn’t enough to make a decision. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise the capacity they can actually use. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space available, the clearance needed to pull out the drawer and the storage space. Look for noise measurements for the model you’re considering. | In a small kitchen, I don’t want another appliance permanently taking up worktop space or making too much noise. Around 25% of consumers would put this comfort factor first. |
| Cleaning | Check the instructions for the exact model to find out which parts are removable, how to clean them and whether replacement parts are available. | If I cook often, I want to know how many parts I’ll have to clean after each meal. Around 17% of consumers would make ease of cleaning their top priority. |
A full basket doesn’t guarantee that enough air can circulate around the food. In its test procedure, UFC-Que Choisir fills the basket two-thirds full to measure the maximum quantity of chips, and uses quiches and cakes no more than 16 cm in diameter. These are test conditions, not guaranteed dimensions for every model.
Measure your dishes and compare them with the basket’s usable dimensions. Also consider how many batches you’ll need to cook for your meal.
A dual-drawer model lets you cook two things at once, but larger models are generally bulkier and heavier. It’s less useful if you rarely use it because you don’t have room for it.
Measure your worktop, the clearance needed to open the drawers and your storage space before choosing this style.
If you leave the appliance out, it will permanently take up some of your worktop space.
UFC-Que Choisir found that chips may cook unevenly depending on the conditions and the model. The taste may not be the same as chips fried in a deep-fat fryer.
If chips are the main reason you’re buying one, look for tests that include them and check the recommended quantities and shaking instructions.
UFC-Que Choisir found that one small quiche used less energy in an air fryer than in a mini oven. The result depends on the appliances, recipe and quantities tested, so it doesn’t apply to every everyday cooking task.
Before buying another appliance, compare your portion sizes and how often you cook smaller meals with the conditions used in the tests you’re interested in.
The features below apply to specific models, not every appliance from each brand. Always compare the model you’re considering with the size of your dishes and the space you have available.
The Easy Fry range includes single-drawer models as well as the dual-drawer Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20.
According to Philips France, the Series 1000 NA154/00 has two 3.55 L compartments that can be combined into a single 7.1 L cavity using a removable divider.
The Crispi FN101 is one of the less conventional designs featured by UFC-Que Choisir.
These appliances suit anyone looking for hot-air cooking for smaller portions. The Ninja Crispi has a distinctive design, while the other models have single baskets in different capacities. Check the usable size before choosing one for your dishes.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a different design from a conventional basket-style air fryer for smaller meals. Before choosing this model, check that its containers are the right size for your dishes, and check the noise level if you cook in an open-plan space.
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Its 2 L single basket is worth considering for one or two small portions. The product title lists a 60-minute timer, a non-stick basket and parts stated to be dishwasher-safe. Check the instructions to find out which parts these are. Also measure the appliance and the inside of the basket if space is limited or you have particular dishes in mind.
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This single-basket model is worth considering if you want to compare its stated 3.2 L capacity with your usual portions. Check the internal dimensions rather than assuming a tin or dish will fit based on capacity alone. Also allow enough space around the appliance, as specified in the instructions.
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Consider this model if you’d prefer a 4 L single basket rather than a smaller 2 L one, provided you have room for it in your kitchen. The title lists eight modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C, a 60-minute timer and a shake reminder. Check the basket’s internal dimensions and the cleaning instructions before buying.
Not for every meal. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the risk of duplicating what an oven does. An air fryer can be useful for smaller quantities, but its cooking cavity limits the size of dishes and family portions. If you don’t have an oven, compare the dishes you normally use with the basket dimensions and those of a mini oven.
Measure your tins and dishes, then compare them with the basket’s internal dimensions. UFC-Que Choisir’s test procedure uses quiches and cakes no more than 16 cm in diameter, and fills the basket two-thirds full to measure the maximum quantity of chips. These conditions show why the stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much space you can actually use.
Unplug the appliance and let it cool completely before cleaning, as Moulinex recommends. Check the instructions for your model, use a non-abrasive sponge on the relevant surfaces, and check separately which parts are dishwasher-safe.
The legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business, as France’s Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) points out. If the appliance doesn’t match its description or has a conformity defect, keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller. A retailer’s returns policy doesn’t replace this guarantee.
For an appliance sold in France, check the conformity and end-of-life information provided for the model. According to the official Your Europe portal, electrical and electronic equipment may be subject to the relevant EU rules on CE marking. The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol indicates that the appliance must be collected separately at the end of its life.