If you mainly cook one part of a meal at a time, start by looking at a single-drawer air fryer, checking how much usable space there is in the basket and on your worktop. A dual-drawer model is better suited to cooking two dishes at once, while an oven-style air fryer works well for food cooked on racks or trays. If your existing oven already handles the recipes you make, you may not need another appliance. Que Choisir reports that cooking results vary between models, and its energy-use comparisons depend on the recipes tested.
If you often cook just one roasted, grilled or crispy item, start by looking at the basket’s usable space, how easy it is to handle and how simple it is to clean between meals. Que Choisir includes capacity and ease of cleaning among its selection criteria.
A dual-drawer model is worth considering if you regularly need to serve two dishes together that require different settings or cooking times. If you almost always cook just one item in the appliance, check whether you would really use the second drawer.
If your usual dishes already cook well on a rack or tray, compare that with how you would use an air fryer. The space a new appliance takes up matters just as much as the portion size it can handle.
Start with the dishes you cook most often, then check the available space and how easy the format you’re considering is to clean. If you want to cook two things at once, check each drawer separately rather than relying on the total capacity alone.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and size | Compare the basket’s usable surface area with the food you usually cook, then measure the space needed for the appliance and to open the drawer. | I want to cook my portion without having to make several batches, but I have limited worktop space; around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check the capacity of each drawer and the settings available for cooking two items side by side. | To serve two parts of a small meal together, I need to be able to adjust their cooking separately. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Prepared dishes and results | Check which racks or trays your recipes need, and look for tests covering those foods. | I don’t just cook food in a basket: I want a format that suits the dishes I make regularly. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this range of uses. |
| How useful it is alongside your oven | Compare the recipes you currently make with those you would cook in an air fryer. For electricity use, look for tests involving comparable dishes and quantities. | My oven already works well, and I don’t want to add an appliance that makes the same dishes if I won’t use it regularly; this would be the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
The capacity in litres doesn’t tell you exactly how much food will fit in the basket. Que Choisir highlights the importance of usable capacity, and overcrowding the food can also mean cooking in several batches.
Compare the usable surface area with the size of the food you usually cook. If you’re choosing a dual-drawer model, check each compartment separately.
The comparisons published by Que Choisir are based on specific appliances and dishes, so the results won’t necessarily apply to every meal.
To compare an air fryer with your oven, look for tests using recipes and quantities similar to your own.
The benefit of two drawers is being able to cook two dishes at once. If one drawer is usually left empty, this format may not meet your main need.
Before choosing this format, think about which of your usual meals really need two things cooking at the same time.
Also check how much permanent worktop space the appliance will take up.
Que Choisir has found that cooking performance varies between the appliances it tested. So a result achieved with one recipe doesn’t guarantee the same result with another.
Look for tests covering the foods you cook regularly, rather than relying only on the list of cooking modes.
Consider these air fryers in light of the small portions you usually cook. The dual-drawer model is particularly suited to meals that need two things cooking at once. For each one, compare the stated capacity with the space you can actually use and the room you have at home.
Image unavailable
If you cook small portions, check the usable space in the cooking container and how much room you’ll need on your worktop before choosing this model.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you mainly cook one small portion at a time. The product name lists a capacity of 2 L, a power rating of 1 150 W and a 60-minute timer. Check that the basket’s surface area suits the food you cook, and read the model’s care instructions.
Image unavailable
Consider this model if you regularly cook two parts of the same meal at once. The product name lists two drawers, six functions and a total capacity of 7,6 L. Check the usable space in each drawer and the overall size of the appliance to make sure it suits your smaller portions.
Image unavailable
Worth a look if you want to cook one or two portions and would find a stated capacity of 4 L useful. The product name lists eight pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Before buying, check the usable surface area for your dishes and the cleaning instructions.
No, not for every recipe. The two appliances can be used in some of the same ways, but your choice also depends on the shape of the dishes and the quantities you cook. Compare what you already make in your oven with the meals you would genuinely cook in an air fryer.
No. You can’t assume it will use less electricity for every meal. Que Choisir’s comparisons depend on the models and recipes tested, so look for tests involving dishes and quantities similar to your own.
Read the instructions for the exact model before you buy. Check which parts can be removed, which are dishwasher-safe, and how to clean the basket or cooking cavity. The appliance’s format alone doesn’t tell you how easy it is to clean.
For an appliance sold by a business to an individual in France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies, among other things, to new, second-hand and refurbished goods, according to the French Ministry of the Economy. Keep your proof of purchase and the product description so you can report an appliance that is faulty or does not match that description to the seller.