Households that often cook small portions
You regularly cook a single portion or a small side dish and want to know whether an air fryer could replace some of your oven cooking, without opting for an unnecessarily large family-sized model.
Who are these appliances for?
Households with a compact or open-plan kitchen
Worktop space, storage, fan noise and cleaning matter just as much as the advertised capacity. UFC-Que Choisir specifically recommends considering noise levels before you buy.
Households that cook two items at once
You regularly cook two parts of a meal using different settings and want them to be ready at the same time. In that case, it’s worth comparing a dual-zone appliance with a single drawer, while taking its overall size into account.
What should you compare?
Air fryer
Worth considering: if you often cook, roast or grill small quantities, and the appliance will genuinely replace some of your oven cooking.
Bear in mind: it takes up extra space, and drawer-style, dual-drawer and oven-style models cannot all accommodate the same dishes.
Your existing oven
Stick with it: if your usual tins, dishes and quantities already fit without a problem.
Compare carefully: using less electricity for a small recipe than a mini oven does not mean an air fryer will use less than every oven for every meal.
Traditional deep-fat fryer
Worth considering: if you regularly cook foods fried in oil, such as doughnuts or breaded foods.
Bear in mind: handling hot oil, odours and cleaning are all part of using one, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
For everyday small meals, first decide whether a new appliance will replace a use you genuinely have for your oven. Then compare the usable dimensions and any practical limitations in your kitchen, rather than looking only at the stated capacity in litres.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicating your oven | Think of the meals for which you would use an air fryer instead of your oven, and check that your dishes fit inside it. | If my oven already works for my small recipes, I want to avoid adding an appliance that will end up in storage. Around 33% of consumers put avoiding duplication first. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the internal surface area and height with your portions, tins and dishes, whether the appliance has a basket or shelves. | When I often cook a small portion, I want it to fit without having to cook several batches; around 27% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the capacity of each zone separately and whether it has a synchronisation function, if you need one. | If the two parts of my meal need different settings, I want to serve them together. This is the top priority for around 13% of consumers. |
| Space, noise and cleaning | Measure the space needed with the drawers open, then check the published noise level and which parts of the specific model are washable. | In a compact or open-plan kitchen, I want to be able to position, use and clean the appliance without it getting in the way every day; around 27% of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Buying an air fryer without deciding what it will replace
UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer performs many of the same functions as an oven and advises against owning more appliances than you need. Having one on your worktop won’t make it useful if your usual recipes are still better suited to the oven.
Make a note of the meals you cook most often, how much you make and the dishes you use, then compare them with the model you’re considering.
Even if you rarely use it, the appliance will take up space on your worktop or in a cupboard.
-
Choosing based on the stated capacity in litres or number of portions
Two cooking compartments with the same volume may fit dishes of different shapes. UFC-Que Choisir also distinguishes between the quantities used in its tests and the stated capacity alone.
Check the internal dimensions, available height and fill-level guidance in the instruction manual.
If the cooking compartment isn’t right for your meal, you may have to cook several batches or use a different dish.
-
Assuming it will use less electricity for every meal
The result depends on the recipe, quantity and appliance being compared. For a small quiche of the same size, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less energy used by the air fryers it tested than by a 19 L mini oven. This result does not apply to every type of cooking.
To put a figure into context, check which recipe, quantity and reference appliance were used in the comparison.
-
Overlooking noise and the space needed to open the drawers
The fan may be disruptive in an open-plan kitchen, while an appliance that fits on your worktop may not have enough room for its drawers to open. UFC-Que Choisir found that noise levels vary between models.
Measure the space with the drawers open, and check the noise measurement for the model you’re interested in if quiet operation matters to you.
Brands to know
Philips
The range includes models in several sizes. Philips describes the HD9255/80, for example, as a 4,1 L model that can prepare up to four portions.
- Philips says the removable parts of the HD9255/80 are dishwasher-safe.
- The advertised number of portions for this model doesn’t guarantee that your tins or dishes will fit inside.
Moulinex
The range includes single-drawer and dual-drawer appliances, including the Easy Fry Mega EZ8558F0 and Easy Fry Dual XXL EZ942BF0.
- Moulinex says the Easy Fry Mega’s basket is dishwasher-safe, while the Dual XXL has two drawers of 6,5 L and 4,5 L with a synchronisation function.
- These large capacities should be considered in light of the small quantities you actually cook and the space you have available.
Ninja
Ninja is one of the air fryer brands featured by UFC-Que Choisir in its coverage of the French market.
- Its appliances can be compared by size and intended use, rather than by brand alone.
- Check the dimensions, accessories, noise levels and cleaning instructions for the model you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir has found that performance varies between appliances.
Tefal
The range includes the Dual Easy Fry & Grill EY905B10, designed to cook two dishes in separate drawers, according to Tefal.
- Tefal says the drawers and grill plate of this model are dishwasher-safe.
- For small portions, check the capacity of each drawer and the appliance’s overall size before choosing a dual-zone model.
Air fryers for small meals
These air fryers come in different sizes to consider for small meals. Their inclusion here doesn’t replace comparing them with your oven or, if you fry food in oil, with a traditional deep-fat fryer.
Image unavailable
Midea 2 L air fryer, black
Worth considering if you cook small quantities in a single basket; check that your dishes fit in the usable space.
Stated power: 1 150 W. The product title lists a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket. Check the instruction manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe.
Image unavailable
Ninja Crispi FN101EUGY
If you’re considering this model for small meals, compare the dimensions of its cooking compartments with your usual portions and dishes. Also check its overall size and noise levels if you cook in an open-plan space.
Image unavailable
Philips NA210/00 2000 Series Airfryer, 3,2 L
If you regularly cook small portions, compare the 3,2 L capacity with the shape of your food and dishes: volume alone doesn’t tell you how much surface area is available.
Image unavailable
Midea 4 L air fryer, 1 500 W
Compare this 4 L model with the quantities you usually cook. Check the internal dimensions before choosing it for small meals.
The product title lists eight pre-set programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. If easy cleaning matters to you, check the instruction manual to see which parts are washable.
Image unavailable
Philips HD9252/70, black
To decide whether this model suits your small meals, compare the basket’s usable surface area with your dishes. Also check its external dimensions, noise level and cleaning instructions if these are important in your kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
Does an air fryer always use less energy than an oven?
No. It depends on the recipe, quantity and oven being compared. For a small quiche of the same size, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less energy used by the air fryers it tested than by a 19 L mini oven. This figure doesn’t automatically apply to your oven or other meals.
How do you choose the right capacity for a small household?
Start with the size of your portions and the shape of the dishes you use, rather than simply converting litres into a number of people. Check the cooking compartment’s surface area and height, as well as the fill-level guidance in the manual for the model you’re considering.
Is a dual-drawer model useful for small meals?
Yes, if you regularly cook two items that need different settings and want them to finish at the same time. If you usually cook just one item, compare the space taken up and the capacity of each drawer with those of a single-drawer model before you choose.
Does ‘dishwasher-safe’ apply to the whole appliance?
Not necessarily. Check which removable parts are covered in the manual for the exact model. Philips says the removable parts of the HD9255/80 are dishwasher-safe, while Moulinex says this applies to the basket of the Easy Fry Mega EZ8558F0.