For frequent small meals, a drawer-style air fryer can save you from having to use your built-in oven. A dual-compartment model is better suited to preparing two dishes at once. If your food needs a large dish or a rack, compare a mini oven with the oven you already own before buying: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you how many useful portions it can cook, and you’ll need to install and connect the appliance in accordance with its instructions. Philips, Que Choisir, Moulinex and Severin provide information on these different uses.
You already have an oven but want a convenient way to cook or reheat a small amount of food. Philips points out that the right quantity depends on the food and the model; Que Choisir recommends taking your actual needs into account.
You often cook two foods separately and want them to finish at the same time. Moulinex’s information about the EZ901820 shows why it’s worth checking both the size of each drawer and the synchronisation function.
You use large dishes or have limited worktop space. Compare the size and uses of a mini oven with your existing built-in oven, taking into account the clearances specified for each appliance.
Your choice mainly depends on what you do most often: the amount you cook at a time, whether you need to synchronise two dishes, the shape of your cookware or the space available.
Worth considering if: you regularly cook a small amount that fits in the basket without being packed in.
Bear in mind: a single drawer may mean cooking in batches to prepare a complete meal. Also check there’s enough room for air to circulate.
Worth considering if: you often cook two foods separately and want them to finish at the same time.
Bear in mind: each food needs to fit in its own drawer, and you’ll need enough room to remove and clean them.
Worth considering if: you use dishes or accessories that are better suited to an oven cavity.
Bear in mind: it may duplicate your built-in oven. Allow for the clearances specified in the instructions as well as the appliance’s external dimensions.
Worth considering if: your usual dishes fit inside and an extra appliance doesn’t justify taking up permanent worktop space.
Bear in mind: cooking small amounts separately may be less convenient if you’d rather not switch on the large oven for those dishes.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Small portions | Recommended quantity for the food, the base area and enough space to stir the ingredients. | When I often cook a small portion, I want to avoid using the oven for a small amount. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this everyday cooking need. |
| Two dishes at once | The capacity and dimensions of each drawer, cooking synchronisation and whether the parts are dishwasher-safe. | If I want to serve a main and a side together, I check that each dish fits in its own compartment. Around 27% of consumers prioritise cooking two dishes at once. |
| Shape and quantity of dishes | The dimensions of your usual dishes, the internal dimensions and the accessories included; compare useful portions rather than the stated capacity in litres alone. | If my dishes are large or an unusual shape, the cavity and internal dimensions matter more than the stated capacity. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the shape and capacity of their dishes. |
| Space and installation | External dimensions, door or drawer clearance, the clearances specified in the instructions and the model’s power rating. | If my worktop is already crowded, I’d rather avoid an appliance that’s rarely used or does the same job as something I already own. Around 20% of consumers prioritise limiting the number of extra appliances. |
According to Moulinex, the Moulinex EZ901820’s stated 8.3 L capacity is split between two drawers of 5.2 L and 3.1 L. A large item needs to fit in one of the two compartments.
Compare the dimensions of the largest item you cook with those of the drawer it needs to go in.
If it doesn’t fit, you’ll need to choose something else to cook or prepare it in batches.
The rated power alone doesn’t show how much electricity an appliance uses to cook a meal. Tefal says that the results quoted for the EY855BE0 are based on the brand’s tests in 2024 using frozen chips; they may not apply to other foods or quantities. Que Choisir treats energy consumption as something that needs to be measured.
When comparing available measurements, check that they cover the same food and quantity, and take cooking time and the number of batches into account.
You’ll also need room to open the door or remove the drawers, and to meet the clearances specified in the instructions. Promotelec points out that the combined power of appliances plugged into an extension lead must not exceed its rated capacity.
Check the full installation space and the model’s power rating before you buy. If you use an extension lead, check the total power and avoid connecting extension leads together.
The Series 2000 NA229/00 is a drawer-style air fryer with a stated capacity of 4.2 L, worth considering for small portions.
The Easy Fry Dual Essential EZ901820 has two drawers with stated capacities of 5.2 L and 3.1 L, plus cooking synchronisation.
The Easy Fry Mega EY855BE0 is a single-drawer model with a stated capacity of 7.5 L.
The TO 2068 fan-assisted mini oven has a stated 20 L cavity. Compare it with your built-in oven for oven-sized dishes and accessories.
This selection includes drawer-style and dual-compartment air fryers, as well as a mini oven-style appliance, so you can compare portion sizes, cooking two dishes at once and uses similar to an oven.
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The title states that it serves 1–2 portions, making it a size worth comparing for smaller meals.
Dishwasher-safe non-stick basket; stated power rating: 2,000 W.
The product information says not to use the appliance for deep-fat frying or with an extension lead.
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Two independent zones make this model worth comparing if you want to cook two dishes separately.
Stated total capacity: 9.5 L, split between two 4.75 L drawers; separate time and temperature settings.
The drawers and crisper plates are listed as dishwasher-safe.
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The dual-zone design may suit you if you want to cook two foods separately.
The title lists two 5 L compartments, a viewing window, a touchscreen and 10 automatic programmes.
The description says the divider can be removed to create a single 10 L compartment.
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Two independent baskets let you cook different dishes separately.
The product information lists separate time and temperature settings, as well as a synchronisation function.
According to the title, the appliance has an LED touchscreen and 10 automatic programmes.
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This mini oven-style appliance is worth comparing if you want an oven cavity and oven-style accessories on your worktop.
Stated capacity: 23 L; the description mentions two independent zones and a removable divider.
Stated power rating: 2,200 W. Accessories listed include racks, trays and a rotisserie kit.
No, not on its own. Philips says the maximum quantity depends on the model and the food; some foods need space around them or their mould. Compare your usual quantities with the guidance in the instructions for the specific model.
Measure the appliance, the clearance needed to open its door or drawers, and the clearances specified in its instructions. Don’t assume these will be the same as for another model. Check the power rating on the product information or rating plate. If you use an extension lead, make sure the combined power doesn’t exceed its rated capacity, as Promotelec recommends.
It depends on the model and the parts. Moulinex says the drawers and rack for the EZ901820 are dishwasher-safe; follow the relevant instructions for other parts and coatings.
You can’t tell from the power rating alone or from a general claim. Que Choisir treats energy consumption as something that needs to be measured. When comparing measurements, check that they cover the same food and quantity. The tests Tefal cites for the EY855BE0 were carried out by the brand in 2024 using frozen chips.
No: the food needs to fit separately in each drawer. Moulinex lists one 5.2 L drawer and one 3.1 L drawer for the EZ901820; check the dimensions of the compartment intended for your largest item.