To avoid dealing with a vat of oil for everyday meals, start with a single-basket air fryer if you make small portions, a model with two drawers if you want to cook two items separately, or a mini-oven style if your recipes call for racks and trays. In every case, check the space you’ll need, which parts require cleaning and how noisy the specific model is. A traditional deep-fat fryer remains a separate option if you’re looking for food cooked by immersion in oil.
Portion size isn’t the only thing to consider when choosing a format: how you put your meals together and the space you have available matter too.
A single basket is a good starting point if you cook small portions and want to avoid the upkeep of a deep-fat fryer. Still, measure the space you have in mind and check which parts can be removed for cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir notes that air fryers can take up a lot of room, despite being designed for a worktop.
Two drawers let you cook, for example, a main dish and a side separately. If you want them to finish cooking at the same time, look for a synchronisation function on the model you’re considering. Philips and Moulinex list this feature on some models, but not all.
A mini-oven style air fryer is worth considering if your food is easier to arrange flat than in a deep basket. UFC-Que Choisir describes models supplied with racks and trays. Compare their overall size and the parts you’ll need to wash with those of a drawer-style appliance.
Start with the meals you usually make, then check that the format you’ve chosen suits your worktop and the level of upkeep you’re happy with day to day.
| Priority | What to check | Consider your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking method | An air fryer cooks with circulating hot air, without a bath of oil. A traditional deep-fat fryer cooks by immersion, so you’ll need to handle and maintain the oil. Hot-air cooking doesn’t guarantee an absence of odours. | I want to avoid dealing with frying oil after meals, or I’m specifically looking for food cooked by immersion. |
| Portions and compartments | Look at the basket’s shape and usable surface, not just its stated capacity. For a model with two drawers, check the size of each one and whether it has a synchronisation function if you need both dishes to finish cooking together. | Will my meals fit in one basket, even if I have to cook in batches? If I cook two items at once, will each fit in its own compartment? |
| Racks and trays | Check that a mini-oven style has the supports your recipes need and that they’re the right size for the food you plan to cook. Remember to factor in the racks and trays you’ll need to clean. | I often cook food that needs to lie flat rather than portions that can be arranged in a basket. |
| Available space | Compare the external dimensions, the space needed to open the drawers or door, and the clearance specified in the instructions. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a large air fryer can take up a significant amount of worktop space and needs room to release heat. | I want to use the appliance where it will stay, without blocking the opening or getting in the way of other kitchen tasks. |
| Cleaning | Find out which parts are removable and check whether they’re dishwasher-safe for the exact model. Also look at how easy it is to reach areas where grease can collect. | After an everyday meal, I’d rather remove and wash the parts I’ve used easily than put off a difficult clean. |
| Noise and cooking performance | Look for tests of the specific model rather than assuming how noisy it is or how well it cooks based on the number of programmes. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0.50 m as part of its testing, and has found differences in cooking performance between the models it tested. | In an open-plan kitchen or with frequent use, noise matters just as much as being able to cook my food well. |
| Energy use | If possible, compare measurements for the same recipe and a similar quantity of food. The wattage alone doesn’t tell you how much electricity is used during cooking, so don’t assume one format always uses less than another. | If my decision depends on electricity use, I need to compare cooking conditions that match the portions I actually make. |
Overall capacity doesn’t tell you how much room you have to arrange food or how big each drawer is. The two compartments may differ in size: for example, Moulinex lists capacities of 5,2 L and 3,1 L for a specific Easy Fry Dual model.
Compare each compartment with the food you cook regularly, then check the external dimensions and whether there’s a synchronisation function if you need one.
An air fryer’s fan can be audible, even on a compact appliance. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking noise into account and assesses it in its tests.
Look for a measurement or test of the specific model you’re considering. The brand, capacity and number of programmes can’t replace this information.
Energy use depends on factors including the appliance, cooking time, quantity and recipe. UFC-Que Choisir says a smaller cavity and shorter cooking time may help save energy compared with an oven, but this doesn’t mean every format will deliver the same results.
To compare two appliances on this basis, look for measured energy use under conditions similar to how you’ll use them.
How easy an appliance is to clean depends on which parts can actually be removed. Safety alerts apply to specific models: RappelConso, for example, published a recall over an electrical risk affecting a SYMEX 6,5 L air fryer. This isn’t a conclusion about other models.
Check the instructions for cleaning and use, then search RappelConso alerts by the exact brand and model before buying.
These brands are examples of formats to consider. The features mentioned apply to the models listed, not to their entire ranges.
Philips offers single-basket and dual-basket air fryers, including the NA352/00.
The Easy Fry Dual range includes appliances with two drawers of different sizes.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s comparison.
These single-basket and dual-compartment options are suited to meals cooked without a bath of oil. To choose between them, consider the compartment sizes, upkeep and overall dimensions in relation to how you’ll use the appliance. A deep-fat fryer and a mini-oven style remain separate options to consider.
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The two baskets let you cook a main dish and a side separately. Check that each one fits your usual portions, and make sure you have enough space around the appliance. Also consider how noisy this model is.
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The two drawers are useful if you want to cook two dishes separately. The title lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. If you need the cooking to finish at the same time, check that this model has the relevant function, and consider its dimensions and noise level too.
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The flexible basket may suit households that alternate between cooking one large dish and two separate items. The title mentions a viewing window, a synchronisation function and a pack of 50 liners. Check the external dimensions, required clearance and the usable space available for your food.
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Consider whether the 2 L basket is big enough for your smaller portions; larger items may need to be cooked in batches. The title lists a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket and a 60 min timer. Check the external dimensions before choosing it for a small space.
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The single 7,6 L basket is worth considering if you cook several portions but don’t need two independent cooking zones. The name ‘Compact Max’ doesn’t tell you how much space it needs, so check the external dimensions. If noise matters to you, look for a test of this specific model.
No. It avoids the bath of oil used in traditional deep-fat frying, but cooking can still produce odours. UFC-Que Choisir lists reduced odours as one reason to consider this type of appliance, but doesn’t promise they’ll disappear completely.
Check the size of each drawer, the external dimensions and the clearance specified in the instructions. If you want two dishes to finish at the same time, confirm that the specific model has a synchronisation function too. For cleaning, check which parts are dishwasher-safe.
No. On its own, wattage doesn’t tell you how much electricity an appliance uses to prepare a meal. Compare measurements taken for similar recipes and quantities. If you’re using an energy label to compare an air fryer with a small oven, first check that it applies: the European Commission lists small ovens among the exclusions from the rules presented for domestic ovens.
Contact the professional seller to make a claim under the legal guarantee of conformity, where the relevant conditions are met. The DGCCRF distinguishes this legal guarantee from any additional commercial guarantee that may be offered. Keep your purchase details and explain the fault to the seller.
Yes. Search RappelConso alerts using the exact brand and model. A recall applies to identified products and a specific risk: the one published for a SYMEX 6,5 L air fryer doesn’t mean that all air fryers have the same fault.