An air fryer can be a good choice for regular small or medium-sized meals, but it won’t automatically replace an oven for larger dishes. Choose a size to suit what you actually cook — one dish, two items at the same time or larger dishes — then check the space it needs, how easy it is to clean and how noisy it is. If your oven already covers these needs, you may not need another appliance, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If you usually cook just one dish, a single basket means fewer compartments to handle. For one or two people, 3 to 4 L is a useful guide according to UFC-Que Choisir; also check that there’s enough surface area for the foods you usually cook.
Two drawers can make it easier to cook separate items for the same meal. If your main dish is large, the capacity of each drawer matters more than the total capacity alone.
In a small or open-plan kitchen, measure the space where you plan to put the appliance, including the room needed to open it. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends considering fan noise, which can vary from model to model.
For simple weeknight meals, the right size depends first on how you put your meals together. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you how much usable space you’ll have or how easy the appliance will be to use day to day.
Choose this if: you mainly cook one item at a time as the whole meal.
Bear in mind: cooking a main and a side may mean doing them in separate batches.
Choose this if: you regularly cook two items with different settings.
Bear in mind: the capacity is split between the drawers, so a large dish may not fit in either one.
Consider this if: your meals often include flat foods or dishes suited to a mini-oven format.
Bear in mind: the door and accessories need space and cleaning.
Stick with it if: you mainly cook large dishes or its features already meet your needs.
Bear in mind: you won’t have an appliance dedicated to smaller meals.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and surface area | Compare the interior surface area and compatible dishes with your portion sizes, not just the capacity in litres. | When I’m cooking several portions, I want to avoid running another batch to finish the meal; around 36% of consumers would prioritise this practical capacity. |
| Cooking two items | Check the capacity of each drawer and, if needed, whether the settings are independent and can be synchronised. | If my main and side need different cooking times, I want to be able to serve them together. Around 29% of consumers would put this coordination first. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the appliance and the clearance needed to open it; check which parts can be removed and washed. | I’m short on space and don’t want more items to wash after every meal; around 21% of consumers would put this concern ahead of the others. |
| Noise | Look for a noise measurement that states the distance and test conditions, especially if you have an open-plan kitchen. | With my kitchen close to the living area, I want to limit fan noise while cooking. Noise would be the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A large stated capacity doesn’t tell you how much surface area is available for arranging your food. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of usable capacity.
Compare the shape and internal dimensions with the dishes you cook; if there are two drawers, check each compartment separately.
Two compartments let you cook separate items, but split the capacity: a single large dish may be difficult to fit.
If you mainly cook one large dish, compare its size with that of a large basket or an air fryer oven.
The fan can be disruptive when the appliance is running near your living space. UFC-Que Choisir measures the noise from the appliances it tests at a distance of 50 cm.
Look for a measurement that specifies the distance and conditions, rather than relying on a quick listen.
You’ll need room to remove the drawers or open the door, and then to clean the drawers, trays or racks you’ve used.
Measure the space you’ll need to use the appliance before choosing where to put it, and check whether each part is dishwasher-safe.
The Easy Fry range includes basket-style models, two-drawer models and air fryer ovens.
The Airfryer range includes models with two baskets in different sizes or with baskets stacked on top of one another.
The Easy Fry range lets you compare a single-basket model with one that has two cooking zones.
These models are suited to weeknight meals cooked in a drawer- or basket-style appliance, and to different portion sizes. To choose between them, compare each size with the dishes you usually cook and the space you have available; your existing oven is another option.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two items for a meal in separate drawers.
The title states a total capacity of 9.5 L and two drawers. If you want both items to finish cooking at the same time, check for a synchronisation function; for an open-plan kitchen, also look for a noise measurement.
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Worth considering if you’d like to cook a main and a side separately rather than using a single basket for everything.
The title states two drawers and a total capacity of 7.6 L. Check that each drawer has enough room for your portions, and look for a synchronisation function if serving both items together matters to you.
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The single basket is suited to cooking one main item at a time, as long as its shape works for the foods you usually prepare.
The title states a capacity of 6.2 L. For larger dishes, check the interior surface area instead of relying on the litre capacity alone.
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Worth considering if you often adjust the amount you cook to suit different portion sizes.
If you plan to cook two items for a meal at the same time, check how the containers can be used before choosing this style.
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Compare it with your needs if you cook generous portions in one appliance.
The title states a capacity of 7.6 L. Measure the space you have and the clearance you’ll need, then check the usable surface area for your dishes.
Yes, for dishes that are the right size and shape for the model you choose, but not necessarily for larger dishes. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers and ovens serve similar purposes. If your oven already meets your needs, weigh the extra use you’d get from an air fryer against the space it takes up and the cleaning involved.
Choose a single basket if you mainly cook one item at a time; two compartments make more sense if you often cook a main and a side separately. If so, check the size of each drawer and the settings available, as the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much room there is in either compartment.
Yes, especially if you’ll be using the appliance in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the fan can be audible. Compare measurements that state the distance and test conditions rather than relying on a single promise that a model is quiet.