An air fryer can earn its place if you often cook small portions. If your oven already handles the dishes you usually make, keeping it avoids adding another appliance. To choose between a single basket and two compartments, think about your portions and whether you cook different foods at the same time. Then measure the space you’ll need with the drawer open, allowing for the clearances specified in the instructions.
If you mostly cook one or two portions, a single-basket model is worth considering before a larger appliance. Just check that you have enough room to open the drawer and allow for the ventilation specified in the instructions.
Two compartments meet a specific need if you regularly cook foods that require different settings. If that’s unusual for you, their footprint and the extra parts to wash should weigh more heavily in your decision.
If you mostly cook large dishes or rarely make small batches, compare how you expect to use an air fryer with how you use your oven. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer also performs some of the functions of an oven, and advises against buying more appliances than you need.
In a small kitchen, first decide whether the meals you make justify having a second appliance. A single basket suits modest portions. Two cooking zones offer a distinct benefit only if you use them together, while a large drawer needs to be practical without crowding the room.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space when in use | External dimensions, the depth needed with the drawer open, and the clearances required in the model’s instructions. | When my worktop is already crowded, I want to be able to pull out the drawer without blocking the space I use. Around 31% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Portions and cooking at the same time | The shape and usable capacity of the drawer; whether two independent zones would be useful for your usual meals. | If I have to cook in several batches or regularly prepare two foods with different settings, the basket size changes how I use the appliance day to day. Around 25% of consumers would put portion size and cooking needs first. |
| How useful it is compared with your oven | The dishes and quantities you cook most often; whether a smaller cooking cavity would be useful alongside the oven you already have. | I don’t want to give space to an appliance that would cook the same dishes as my oven. Around 25% of consumers would make avoiding duplication a priority. |
| Cleaning, ease of use and noise | The parts that need washing, how easy the drawer is to handle, and noise test results for the model you’re considering. | If I often use the appliance in a living area, I want to be able to handle and clean it without too much hassle. Nearly 19% of consumers would prioritise these practical considerations. |
An air fryer might fit on your worktop, but still not have enough depth for the drawer to open or enough space for ventilation.
Measure the appliance in position for use and follow the clearance guidance in its own instructions. The 10 cm clearance required behind and at the sides of the Cecotec Cecofry & Grill Duoheat 10000 applies to that model only; it isn’t a rule for every air fryer.
Two zones are useful for regularly cooking different foods at the same time, but they also mean more parts to handle and wash.
Think about the meals you usually make: if you only cook two things at once occasionally, start by comparing single-basket models suited to your portions.
A large drawer doesn’t guarantee that your food will fit without being piled up, or that you’ll only need one batch.
Look at the basket’s shape and how your portions will fit inside. UFC-Que Choisir tests cooking with baskets filled to two-thirds capacity, which is a useful reminder to look beyond the stated volume.
A comparison based on one small recipe and a set quantity won’t predict how much electricity your oven uses for all the dishes you make.
Compare similar recipes and quantities to the ones you actually cook; don’t base your purchase on the assumption that it will always save energy.
These models come in a range of sizes, from a small basket to two drawers and a large cooking compartment. Compare how well each suits your portions, and measure the space it needs when in use before deciding whether it’s a useful addition to your oven.
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Worth considering if you’d like to use different containers for smaller dishes. Check how much room it needs when in use and the clearances specified in the instructions. Having two containers doesn’t mean it can cook two dishes at the same time.
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Compare the 2 L basket with your smaller portions, without assuming they’ll all fit in one batch. The product name lists a non-stick basket, a 60-minute timer and parts described as dishwasher-safe. Measure the space available and check the instructions for ventilation guidance.
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The two drawers are designed for regularly cooking two foods at the same time. The total stated capacity is 7.6 L and the appliance has six functions. Remember to allow space to open the drawers and wash the parts you use.
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Compare it with your usual portions if a 2 L basket means cooking too many batches. The product details list a 4 L capacity, eight preset modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check the basket’s shape and how much room you’ll need to open it and allow for ventilation.
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Its stated 7.6 L capacity is worth considering if cooking repeated batches is your main concern. The name “Compact Max” alone doesn’t tell you how much space it takes up. Check the dimensions, how the basket opens and the ventilation clearances before setting aside a spot for it.
Follow the clearances in the instructions for the model you choose, and also measure the room needed to open its drawer. As an example for one specific model, the instructions for the Cecotec Cecofry & Grill Duoheat 10000 require 10 cm behind the appliance and on each side.
Not for every use. It can be useful for frequently cooked small quantities, but an oven still makes sense if you usually cook large dishes. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two appliances perform similar functions, so think about the recipes you make rather than assuming one has to replace the other.
No. The shape of the basket and the space left for the food also affect whether your portions will fit in one batch. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people and 5 to 6 L for three or four. Check the external dimensions and the space needed when the appliance is in use separately.