If you usually cook one small portion at a time, a single-drawer air fryer may suit you, provided the usable space fits your portion and you have room for the appliance on your worktop. Two drawers are more useful if you often cook two foods separately. A mini oven may be a better fit for certain dishes and tins, while your existing oven may be enough if you don’t want another appliance. Cooking results and energy use depend on the recipes and models being compared.
You usually cook or reheat a typical small batch. The basket’s shape and usable dimensions, along with how easy it is to clean, matter more than its stated capacity alone. Que Choisir highlights capacity, ease of use and cleaning among the factors to consider.
You often cook a main and a side at the same time, with different timings or settings. Check the capacity of each zone and how much space the appliance needs; Que Choisir notes that results can vary from one drawer to another.
You already have a working oven, or limited worktop space. Compare how you expect to use a compact appliance with your existing equipment, and check the actual dimensions before adding another appliance.
Worth considering: if you usually cook one small portion and its shape fits the basket.
Check: the usable dimensions, how the drawer opens and which parts need cleaning. The stated capacity in litres doesn’t guarantee that a particular dish will fit.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook two foods with different timings or settings.
Check: the capacity of each basket, the space it takes up and which parts need washing. Two zones are less useful if you only cook one small portion at a time.
Worth considering: if your dishes or tins are better suited to an oven cavity and shelf than a basket.
Bear in mind: in Que Choisir tests using a small quiche and bread rolls, most of the air fryers tested used less energy than the 19 L mini oven used for comparison. This doesn’t allow conclusions to be drawn about every appliance.
Worth considering: if your oven already handles your recipes and you’d rather not use up more worktop space.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir’s comparison with a conventional oven involved one appliance of each type, and its authors considered it not very precise. Check the results for your own recipes and quantities.
| Factor | What to check before you buy | Who considers it most important? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable space for your batch | Compare the shape and dimensions of the basket or cavity with your usual recipe, and check the appliance’s external dimensions too. | If I want my usual portion to fit without cutting it up or cooking multiple batches, usable space is my top priority. Around 36% of consumers prioritise being able to fit their usual batch. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the capacity of each drawer and the available settings. The total capacity doesn’t tell you the size of each zone. | If I often cook a main and a side with different timings, two zones could suit the way I organise meals. Around 29% of consumers prioritise cooking two separate dishes for the same meal. |
| Space and appliance duplication | Measure the space available and the clearance needed to open the appliance. Compare what it can do with the oven you already own. | If my worktop is already crowded or my oven meets my needs, I want to avoid adding an appliance I’ll rarely use. Around 21% of consumers prioritise available space and avoiding a duplicate appliance. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check which parts are removable, the cleaning instructions and, if available, the noise measurements for the specific model. | If I cook often, I want to know whether cleaning after use and the noise level will fit into my everyday routine. Around 14% of consumers put these practical considerations first. |
The stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how to arrange the food or whether a tin will fit in the basket or cavity. On a dual-drawer model, the total capacity doesn’t tell you the capacity of each zone.
Choose a recipe you make often and compare its shape and dimensions with the usable space in the compartment.
If a dish doesn’t fit in the compartment, you may have to cook it in multiple batches.
Separate zones are useful for cooking different foods at the same time. A larger appliance can also take up more space and has extra parts to look after.
Measure the space available and choose two zones if you’ll use them regularly; check the capacity of each one.
If you usually cook just one portion, the two zones and their parts may go unused or mean extra cleaning.
Test results vary depending on the recipes and appliances. Que Choisir notes that its comparison with a conventional oven, which involved just one model of each type, is not very precise.
Choose based on your portions, dishes and available space first. Only apply an energy-use result if the appliances, quantities and conditions are comparable.
The NA210/00 and NA352/00 models are examples of single-drawer and dual-basket designs respectively.
The Easy Fry Compact EY145810 is an example of a single-drawer design.
The Optimo OX464810 is a 33 L freestanding mini oven with a convection function.
The MAX PRO AF180EU is an example of a single-drawer air fryer with a higher stated capacity.
This selection includes single-drawer air fryers for one or more small portions, as well as a dual-basket model for cooking two dishes separately.
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It’s listed as suitable for 1–2 portions, cooking one batch at a time.
The basket is listed as dishwasher-safe. The product title mentions 2000 W of power and three functions.
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This single-drawer model may be worth considering for cooking one dish at a time, if its usable dimensions suit your portion.
Philips lists a 3.2 L capacity for this model. The brand also mentions a cooking window and a removable dishwasher-safe plate.
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The product description lists a 4 L basket for 1–4 people; check that its shape suits the portions you usually cook.
The product details mention eight programmes, an LED touchscreen and a dishwasher-safe basket. The title lists 1500 W of power.
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The product description recommends this size for one or two people; compare the basket with the size of your portion.
The stated capacity is 2 L and the title lists 1150 W of power. The basket and removable parts are listed as dishwasher-safe.
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Its two independent baskets are designed to cook two foods at once, with separate settings.
The product details mention independent temperature controls, as well as SYNC and DUAL COOK modes. Check the dimensions of each basket and the space available.
No, capacity alone doesn’t tell you whether your food will fit in the basket. Start with the portion size and the shape of the food. If you use a tin, check its dimensions against the usable space in the compartment. For a dual-drawer model, check each zone separately.
Follow the instructions for your model. For its Airfryers, Philips recommends letting the bowl and basket cool, then washing them in hot water with washing-up liquid and a non-abrasive sponge. Don’t use metal utensils or abrasive cleaners. These manufacturer’s instructions don’t replace those provided by another brand.
No, results depend on the recipe, quantity and appliances being compared. In a Que Choisir test, the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than a 19 L mini oven to cook a small quiche and the same quantity of food; results varied by recipe. The comparison with a conventional oven involved just one appliance of each type, and the authors described it as not very precise.
In France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies, subject to its conditions, to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer. You make a claim through the seller. The Ministry of the Economy and the DGCCRF state that the claim must be brought within two years of the goods being delivered. An optional commercial warranty doesn’t replace this statutory guarantee.
For equipment covered by the European Low Voltage Directive, including according to its rated voltage, the regulations require a conformity assessment and CE marking before it is placed on the market. The DGCCRF points out that this marking reflects the manufacturer’s commitment; a product listing alone doesn’t prove that a particular model has passed every check.