An air fryer can be handy for making everyday portions in a worktop appliance, but it won’t automatically replace an oven: according to Que Choisir, the two overlap in their cooking functions. Before choosing a single drawer or a dual-zone model, check the usable space for your dishes, the appliance’s footprint and how easy it is to clean. If your priority is the texture of traditionally deep-fried food, think carefully before replacing your fryer.
A single drawer may be enough for one or two people, as long as its shape suits the food you usually cook. Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for this type of household, but it’s worth checking the actual usable capacity.
If your main and side need different settings, two zones can make it easier to cook them at the same time. Check the size of each basket and, if you want to serve both together, whether the model you’re considering has a synchronisation function.
According to Que Choisir, an air fryer overlaps with an oven in terms of cooking functions. Whether an additional appliance is worthwhile depends on the dishes and quantities you prepare. If you’re after the texture of traditionally deep-fried food, don’t assume an air fryer will give you the same result.
Start with the dishes you cook and how much you make, then decide whether cooking two things separately makes a dual-zone model worthwhile. The space you have and the appliances you already own can help you choose between the remaining options.
| What to consider | What to check | What this means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity and shape | Compare the interior space of each basket with the size of the dishes you usually make, not just the stated capacity. | If my portions don’t fit in the basket, I’ll have to cook them in batches. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise a good fit between the basket and their portions. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the settings for each zone, their size and whether the model has a synchronisation function. | To serve a main and a side together when they need different cooking times, I need two suitable zones. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise being able to cook two things at once. |
| Space, noise and cleaning | Measure the space with the drawer open; check how noisy it is and which parts are actually dishwasher-safe, according to the instructions. | If the appliance will be left out in my kitchen or needs to be put away, I want to be able to use and clean it without too much hassle. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise space and cleaning. |
| How useful it is alongside your existing appliances | Compare the meals you usually make with what your oven or fryer can already do. | If my oven handles my everyday meals, or I’m mainly after traditionally deep-fried food, I want to avoid buying something that duplicates an appliance I already have. Around 17% of consumers would put this question first. |
According to Que Choisir, it’s the usable capacity that determines how much you can actually cook. The shape of the basket matters too, especially if you need to fit a dish in whole.
Compare the basket’s interior dimensions and surface area with a dish you make often, particularly if you’re considering a model described as large.
Two zones let you cook different things separately, but their combined capacity doesn’t mean a large dish will fit in one basket. For example, Philips says the divider in the NA156/60 can be removed to combine its two zones; this feature is specific to that model.
If you switch between cooking two different things and making a single dish, check whether the divider is removable and whether the resulting space suits your dishes.
Que Choisir highlights the overlap between the functions of an oven and an air fryer. A traditional fryer, meanwhile, may be better suited to you if the texture of deep-fried food is what matters most.
Think about the dishes and quantities you prepare each week. An air fryer should meet a distinct practical need, rather than simply taking over from an appliance that already works well for you.
The range includes models with removable dividers and stacked baskets.
The brand offers several air fryer sizes, including models with a high stated capacity.
Que Choisir names Ninja among the air fryer manufacturers in this category.
This Joybuy selection includes models with two drawers, single-basket designs and an appliance with containers in different sizes. Start by choosing based on your portions and the way you put meals together, then check the space available in your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you cook a main and a side separately. The stated total capacity is 9 L; check the usable space in each basket against your usual portions, and see how noisy it is if that matters to you.
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The two-drawer design is worth considering if you cook two parts of a meal. The model name states a total capacity of 7,6 L and six functions; check the interior space of each drawer and the electrical compatibility before buying.
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Worth a look if you prefer a single-basket design for everyday meals. The stated capacity of 7,6 L doesn’t tell you which dishes will fit, so compare the basket’s interior dimensions with the meals you make and measure the space you have available.
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Consider this if you want to choose a container to suit the amount you’re cooking. Check which containers come with this variant and their interior dimensions to make sure they’ll fit the dishes you usually prepare.
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This 2 L basket is worth considering for smaller portions. Its stated capacity is below the 3 to 4 L guide Que Choisir gives for one or two people, so check your portion sizes, available space and electrical compatibility.
Not automatically: according to Que Choisir, an air fryer and an oven have similar cooking functions. A basket-style appliance may meet a different need, such as cooking smaller batches or preparing two things separately. If your oven already handles the meals you usually make, consider what difference a new purchase would actually make.
Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a starting point for one or two people, and 5 to 6 L for three or four. These are only guidelines: check the usable capacity and shape of the basket, and make sure it can fit a typical dish from your usual meals.
Check which parts of the model you’re considering are removable and which can go in the dishwasher. A dishwasher-safe rating for the basket doesn’t necessarily apply to the other parts, so check each one separately in the instructions.