Cooking in a small kitchen
You prepare small portions and need to balance worktop space, usable capacity and whether you can store the appliance away. UFC-Que Choisir lists capacity and ease of handling among the factors to consider.
Who is this choice for?
Avoiding deep-fat frying
You want to cook roasted or crispy food regularly without filling, filtering or storing a vat of oil, while bearing in mind that the results may differ from traditional deep-fat frying. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that the smell of oil can influence your choice.
Preparing two parts of a meal
You often cook two dishes at the same time and want to know whether two cooking zones are worth the space they take up compared with your oven. Usable capacity and footprint are still worth assessing against the meals you usually make.
What to consider before you buy
UFC-Que Choisir highlights capacity, cleaning and ease of handling among the key factors for air fryers. Its guides to deep-fat fryers also recommend considering oil smells and how you plan to use the appliance.
| Factor | What to check before buying | Who considers it most important |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint and usable capacity | Measure the space available and the clearance needed to pull out the drawer. Compare the basket with the food and portion sizes you usually prepare. | If my worktop is small, I want the basket to fit my portions without having to cook in several batches. Around 33% of consumers prioritise footprint and usable capacity. |
| Deep-fat frying, smells and cleaning | Check which parts are removable and how they should be washed. If you still want to deep-fry food, consider the handling and maintenance of the oil. | I want to avoid filling, filtering and storing a vat of oil, while knowing that a basket still needs cleaning. Around 27% of consumers prioritise avoiding deep-fat frying. |
| Two dishes and cooking consistency | For a dual-zone appliance, check the capacity of each drawer and how the synchronisation works. Look for cooking tests of the specific model you’re considering. | When I prepare a main dish and a side at the same time, I check that they fit in their respective zones and can finish at the right moment. Around 20% of consumers prioritise cooking two dishes at once. |
| Usefulness compared with an oven, and noise | Compare the dishes and portion sizes you usually prepare with what your oven can already cook. Look for noise measurements taken under clearly stated conditions. | If my oven already meets my needs, I don’t want to add an appliance that takes up space without offering a distinct use. Noise also matters in an open-plan kitchen. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the extra usefulness compared with an oven. |
Mistakes to avoid before choosing
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Relying solely on the litre capacity or an ‘XXL’ label
The stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much food can cook at once. A basket that’s too small may mean cooking in several batches, while an oversized appliance can take up unnecessary worktop space.
Measure the space available, check the clearance needed to open the drawer and compare its usable surface area with the size of the food you usually prepare.
If food needs to be arranged without overcrowding the basket, you may need to cook it in several batches.
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Expecting air frying to give the same results as deep-fat frying
Hot-air cooking and deep-fat frying aren’t the same. UFC-Que Choisir reports that chips may cook unevenly in some models.
Choose based on the food you actually cook and look for tests of the model you’re considering. If deep-fat-fried results are your priority, keep that option in the comparison.
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Assuming a brand’s claims mean you’ll save on your energy bill
The benefits of an air fryer depend on your recipes, the quantities you prepare and the oven you already own. A general claim doesn’t, by itself, reflect how you’ll use the appliance.
First decide whether it meets a distinct need. To compare energy use, you need measurements taken under comparable conditions for the same dishes.
An extra appliance can take up space without replacing your oven.
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Overlooking noise in an open-plan kitchen
Operating noise can matter in a small or open-plan space, and measurements vary between models. UFC-Que Choisir describes a measurement protocol that specifies the distance used.
If available, compare noise measurements taken under clearly stated conditions rather than relying on how the appliance sounds in a shop.
Brands to consider, depending on the model
Philips
The 1000 Series NA120/00 is an example of a straightforward 4.2 L drawer-style air fryer. The 3000 Series NA352/00 has two asymmetrical baskets that can be synchronised.
- Philips says the bowl and cooking plate of the NA120/00 are dishwasher-safe, and that the model can hold up to 500 g of chips.
- For the NA352/00, check whether the two zones and their dimensions suit your space. The manufacturer’s product information alone isn’t enough to establish that it cooks better.
Moulinex
The Easy Fry range includes the Max EZ245320, a 5 L drawer-style model.
- Moulinex says the basket has a non-stick coating and is dishwasher-safe. The brand also offers spare parts for its oil-free fryers.
- The brand’s claims about speed, energy use or results don’t prove that it will perform better than the oven you use at home.
Tefal
The Filtra Pro FR516070 is an electric deep-fat fryer, worth comparing if you want to keep this cooking method.
- Tefal lists a 4 L bowl, a filtration mesh and removable parts.
- The heating unit isn’t dishwasher-safe, and filtration doesn’t remove the need to handle and maintain the oil.
Air fryers available on Joybuy
These Joybuy products include compact air fryers, single-basket models and dual-basket models, so you can compare portion sizes, cleaning and cooking two dishes at once. They don’t replace a comparison with your oven or a deep-fat fryer if you’re interested in that cooking method.
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Ninja AF110EU 3-in-1 Digital Air Fryer, 4.7 L
A 4.7 L basket, listed as suitable for 1 to 2 portions, may work well for smaller meals.
The product name lists a power rating of 2000W and a non-stick basket. The product information describes Air Fry, reheat and dehydrate functions, as well as a dishwasher-safe basket.
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Ninja FN101EUGY Crispi Air Fryer
Two containers in different sizes may suit you if you want to match the container to the amount of food you’re preparing.
The product information lists two glass containers of 1.4 L and 3.8 L, along with Air Fry, Roast, Keep Warm and Recrisp functions. The containers and accessories are listed as dishwasher-safe.
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Midea Air Fryer 2 L, 1150W, Black
The 2 L size is described as suitable for small kitchens and portions for one or two people.
The product name lists a power rating of 1150W and a non-stick basket. The product information describes hot-air cooking with little or no oil, a dishwasher-safe basket and a 60-minute timer.
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Philips HD9252/70 Hot Air Fryer Black
With a stated capacity of 4.1 L, this model can be compared with the portions you usually prepare and the space you have available.
The product information describes Rapid Air technology, cooking with little or no oil and a removable basket. Listed modes include roasting, reheating and keeping food warm.
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Philips NA351/00 Airfryer dual basket, 9 L
Two independent baskets and a synchronisation function may suit you if you want to prepare two parts of a meal, provided the appliance fits in your kitchen.
The product name lists a capacity of 9 L. The product information describes eight preset programmes, a keep-warm function and removable dishwasher-safe parts.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if an air fryer would duplicate what my oven does?
Compare the dishes and quantities you cook most often with the usable capacity of an air fryer drawer and the space it takes up. Air fryers and ovens both use hot air. If your oven already meets these needs, the air fryer should offer a practical benefit that genuinely matters to you.
Do you need to shake chips while air frying?
Follow the instructions for your model. In its test protocol, UFC-Que Choisir shakes the chips at least once, and more often if the instructions recommend it. A full basket doesn’t guarantee even browning.
What should I know about maintaining an electric deep-fat fryer?
Check the instructions for details of removable parts, filtration and how to handle the oil. For the Filtra Pro FR516070, Tefal says the parts are dishwasher-safe except for the heating unit. This doesn’t apply to all deep-fat fryers.
What warranty applies when buying from a professional seller in France?
The legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a consumer. The French Ministry of the Economy and Finance states that you have two years to make a claim. This is separate from a commercial warranty or a paid-for extended warranty.
Does the CE mark certify an air fryer’s cooking quality?
No. The DGCCRF explains that, for products covered by the relevant European legislation, the CE mark represents the manufacturer’s declaration that the product complies with the requirements; it isn’t a certification mark. It tells you nothing about how evenly the appliance cooks or how noisy it is.