An air fryer is worth considering if you often cook small batches and want to avoid using the oven every time. Choose a single basket for one dish at a time, or two compartments if your main and side dishes need different settings. Keep the oven for larger dishes and a deep-fat fryer if immersion frying is your priority. Usable capacity, available space and cleaning matter more than the number of programmes alone.
If you mainly cook for one or two people, a single basket may be enough without taking up too much space. Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for this size of household; also check that the basket shape suits the dishes you usually make.
Two zones let you set your main and side dishes separately. If you want them to be ready at the same time, check whether the model has a synchronisation function and how it works, then look at the size of each drawer: the total capacity doesn’t tell you whether your main dish will fit.
An air fryer can complement your oven for some smaller batches, but it won’t replace the oven’s capacity for larger dishes. In a test comparing the same quantity of small quiche, Que Choisir measured lower electricity consumption for the air fryers tested than for a mini oven; this result doesn’t apply to every recipe.
Start with the portions and dishes you actually make, then compare the basket layout with the appliances you already own. Finally, consider practicalities such as space, cleaning, noise and the cooking results of the model you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s shape and dimensions with your dishes, not just its stated capacity. Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for 1 to 2 people, 5 to 6 L for 3 to 4 and 7 to 9 L for 5 to 6. | I make small portions and don’t want to cook in several batches. For a family meal, I’ll choose based on how much food will actually fit in the basket. |
| Number of zones | A single basket lets you cook one dish with one set of settings at a time. With two zones, check the size of each drawer, whether the settings are independent and, if needed, whether the cooking times can be synchronised. | My main and side dishes often need different cooking times, so two drawers could be useful, as long as each can hold my usual portion. |
| Appliances you already own | Compare the dimensions of the dishes you plan to cook with those of the baskets and your oven. A deep-fat fryer cooks by immersion, while an air fryer uses circulating hot air, so don’t assume they’ll give identical results. | If I mainly cook larger dishes, I’ll keep using the oven for those. If deep-fat frying is part of my routine, I won’t treat an air fryer as a direct substitute. |
| Even cooking | Look for tests of the exact model using different quantities and types of food. In its tests, Que Choisir found that chips could be overcooked on top and pale underneath in some appliances. | I want to cook my usual portion without relying on a stated maximum capacity, which on its own doesn’t tell me how evenly food will cook. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the appliance’s external dimensions and the space it needs around it. Check which parts can be removed, how they should be cleaned and whether a product test reports its noise level. | In a small kitchen, I need to make sure the appliance will fit and that it’s easy enough to clean for frequent use. |
| Energy consumption | Compare the electricity used for the same recipe and quantity, taking into account how many batches you’ll need to cook. For a small quiche, Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by the air fryers it tested than by a mini oven, for the same quantity. | Sometimes I cook a small batch without wanting to heat the whole oven. For a larger meal, I’ll also consider how cooking several batches would affect energy use. |
Two compartments can hold a main and a side dish, but one or both may not be wide enough for a larger dish. Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Make a note of the dimensions of the dishes you use most often and compare them with those of each basket.
Results vary depending on the model and how much food is in the basket. Que Choisir found that, in some appliances it tested, chips were more cooked on top than underneath.
Follow the manual’s guidance on how much to load and when to shake or stir the food. If possible, look for a test using a quantity similar to yours.
A favourable comparison for a small recipe won’t necessarily apply to a large meal, other models or several batches cooked one after another.
Compare the same recipe and quantity, then work out how many batches you’ll need before deciding when to use the air fryer instead of your oven.
Circulating hot air and immersion frying are two different cooking methods. The appliance’s name doesn’t guarantee that your usual dishes will have the same texture.
If deep-fat frying is essential to you, don’t replace your deep-fat fryer based solely on an air fryer’s promises.
These examples can help you identify different basket configurations. They don’t indicate the performance of every model from a brand or whether a particular model is included in the selection below.
The Easy Fry range includes dual-drawer appliances for cooking different parts of a meal separately.
Some Philips models let you switch between two zones and one larger basket.
When considering a Ninja model, start by looking at its basket layout and what you want to cook in it.
These Joybuy models include single-basket appliances for cooking one dish at a time and dual-compartment appliances for cooking two parts of a meal separately. Compare the size of each basket with your portions: the models featured here aren’t a substitute for comparing an air fryer with your oven or deep-fat fryer.
Image unavailable
Its two baskets are designed for cooking a main and side dish separately, and a synchronisation function is listed.
The stated total capacity is 9 L. Check the volume and dimensions of each basket if one needs to hold a large joint or several portions.
Image unavailable
The two drawers let you set different cooking times and temperatures for two dishes.
The stated capacity is 7,6 L, split between two 3,8 L drawers. If you need both dishes to finish cooking at the same time, check the exact features of this model before choosing.
Image unavailable
Two baskets can hold different parts of a meal at the same time, with independent temperature settings.
The stated total capacity is 9 L, or 4,5 L per basket. Check the external dimensions of the baskets and exactly how the synchronisation function works if these features will affect your choice.
Image unavailable
This single-basket model falls within Que Choisir’s suggested 3 to 4 L range for meals for one or two people, provided your dishes fit inside.
The product name lists eight preset modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. If two foods need different settings, you’ll need to cook them in separate batches.
Image unavailable
Its single basket has a stated capacity of 8 L, which may suit a household that would rather cook a larger quantity in one batch than set two drawers separately.
A viewing window lets you check on your food without removing the basket. Make sure its dimensions suit your dishes and the space available on your worktop.
Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for 1 to 2 people, 5 to 6 L for 3 to 4 and 7 to 9 L for 5 to 6. Use these as a starting point: check how much each basket can hold and its dimensions, especially on a dual-drawer model.
Not if you rely on your oven for large dishes or quantities that won’t fit in the baskets. An air fryer can complement your oven for smaller batches. The favourable results published by Que Choisir compared with a mini oven relate to the same quantity of small quiche, not every type of meal.
Check the manual for the exact model to find out which parts can be removed and how to clean them. For noise levels, look for a measurement from a test that explains how it was carried out, so you can compare models on a like-for-like basis.
No. Anses says that acrylamide can form when certain foods rich in starch and asparagine are cooked at high temperatures. Keep an eye on these foods as they cook, whatever appliance you’re using; don’t assume an air fryer is an exception.