If your small kitchen already has an oven, add an air fryer if you expect to use it regularly for batches that are less convenient to cook in the oven. One drawer may be enough for simple meals; two compartments make more sense if you often cook two foods with different settings. Either way, compare your usual portions with the usable capacity, and check the space required, noise levels and cleaning needs before buying.
If you often cook one or a few portions, compare the effort involved with using your oven before making room for another appliance. Que Choisir warns against buying more equipment than you need when appliances have overlapping uses.
In a small kitchen, measure the space you have in mind with the drawers open, and check the model’s installation instructions. Noise is worth considering too, especially in an open-plan kitchen, as Que Choisir points out.
A main course and a side dish that need different settings may justify having two cooking zones. However, check that this suits the meals you cook regularly and that you’re happy to clean the extra parts.
Start with the meals you usually cook and what your oven already does, then compare each format with the space you have available.
| Consideration | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| How it compares with your oven | Make a note of the dishes and quantities you cook each week. Compare the number of batches and the effort involved with using your oven; Que Choisir points out that the two appliances have overlapping functions. | I’d rather keep using my oven if an air fryer wouldn’t make any of the meals I regularly cook easier. |
| Usable capacity | Compare your portions with the quantities recommended in the manual, not just the capacity in litres. In its testing method, Que Choisir distinguishes between the optimum quantity and the maximum load, tested with the basket two-thirds full. | My usual portions should fit without needing to cook multiple batches. |
| Cooking setup | One drawer cooks one batch at a time; check whether two zones with separate settings would genuinely save you from cooking in successive batches. Also look at the controls and how many parts need washing. | I often cook two parts of a meal at the same time, or almost always cook just one. |
| Space and noise | Measure the appliance and the space needed to open the drawers. Check the clearances specified in the manual and look for noise measurements taken on a comparable basis; Que Choisir particularly highlights this in open-plan kitchens. | In my small kitchen, the appliance needs to fit according to its manual without getting in the way of my food preparation space. |
| Cleaning | Count the drawers, racks and accessories that need cleaning. Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and how to care for the rest of the appliance. | I want it to be easy enough to clean so I can use it every day. |
Que Choisir warns against having more appliances than you need: an air fryer may do jobs your oven already handles, while taking up valuable space in a small kitchen.
Keep a note of the meals you cook over a week and ask yourself which ones you’d regularly make in an air fryer rather than the oven.
The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you how much food you can cook in one batch. Que Choisir’s testing method distinguishes between an optimum quantity and a maximum load tested with the basket two-thirds full.
Before deciding whether one or two drawers would suit you, compare the quantities recommended in the manual with your usual portions.
The space it takes up isn’t limited to the dimensions of the appliance with the drawers closed. You need room to open the drawers and must follow the model’s installation instructions; noise matters in an open-plan kitchen too.
Measure the space, check the exact manual for clearance requirements, and look for noise measurements taken using a clearly stated method.
Two zones let you cook different foods at the same time, but also mean more parts to handle and clean.
Choose this format if you often cook two foods that need different settings; otherwise, compare it with a single drawer and your oven.
These models cook using two drawers, two baskets or two zones. If you mostly make one small batch at a time, compare this format with a single-drawer model and your oven before choosing.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at once. This model has six functions and a stated total capacity of 7.6 L across two drawers. Check the recommended quantities per batch and the space required according to the manual.
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Compare it with your portion sizes if you’re considering cooking two batches in separate drawers. It has a stated total capacity of 9.5 L and offers six functions. Remember to check the recommended load and the space it will take up in your kitchen.
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Its two baskets may suit a household that cooks two parts of a meal at once. The stated total capacity is 9 L; compare the recommended quantities for each basket with your portions, and check the clearance requirements in the manual.
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Worth a look if your meals vary between one larger dish and two separate dishes. It has a stated capacity of 10 L; check the manual for usable quantities in each configuration, as well as cleaning instructions and space requirements.
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Measure its vertical, dual-zone design in the kitchen where you plan to use it. It has a stated total capacity of 12 L and ten programmes; check the dimensions, clearance requirements and cleaning instructions in the manual.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the model you choose, rather than relying on a distance that may not apply to every appliance. Moulinex’s usage advice recommends a stable, heat-resistant surface and advises against using the appliance near a wall or water source. Also allow enough room to open the drawers.
No. Compare your portions with the recommended cooking quantity for the model. In its testing method, Que Choisir distinguishes between an optimum quantity and a maximum load tested with the basket two-thirds full.
It depends on the parts and the model, so check the manual before buying. Once the appliance has cooled, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the rest of it too.