For small portions and limited worktop space, start by comparing single-drawer air fryers, checking their footprint and usable capacity. Two drawers are mainly worthwhile if you often cook two foods with different settings; a deep-fat fryer is still an option if this cooking method matters more to you than reducing odours and making oil easier to manage. A mini-oven-style model is worth considering if you need racks or wider dishes, but it could duplicate an oven that already suits your meals.
If you mainly cook small portions, start by comparing single-basket models. Measure the appliance and check how much usable space there is inside the basket: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you how much food you can cook.
A dual-drawer air fryer makes sense if you often want to serve two foods that need different cooking times or temperatures with the same meal. Remember to allow enough room to open both drawers, too.
If you regularly prefer this cooking method, an electric deep-fat fryer is worth considering. Odours, cleaning and disposing of the oil after use are all part of the decision.
Think about the meals you actually cook, then compare each format with the space you have and the practicalities of using it.
Consider it if: you want to fry food in oil and use this cooking method regularly.
Bear in mind: the odours, handling hot oil and disposing of it once it has cooled.
Consider it if: you usually cook one thing at a time and want to reduce frying odours.
Bear in mind: capacity is limited by the basket, and you can’t use separate settings for two foods at once.
Consider it if: you often need two different foods to be ready at the same time.
Bear in mind: check the footprint, including the space needed to open the drawers. The total capacity doesn’t tell you the usable capacity of each compartment.
Consider it if: racks, trays or wider dishes suit the food you cook better than a deep basket.
Bear in mind: it may be wide or deep, and could duplicate your oven.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Odours | Compare hot-air cooking with deep-fat frying, bearing in mind the result you want. UFC-Que Choisir says an air fryer reduces the risk of frying odours, which can be particularly noticeable in a small kitchen. | Cooking smells bother me, but I also want to know whether I’ll be happy with the results from hot-air cooking. |
| Available space | Measure the appliance’s external dimensions, the space around it and the clearance needed to pull out one or two drawers. Also consider what your oven can already cook. | I don’t want to leave an appliance on the worktop if it would mainly duplicate what my oven can do. |
| Quantity and meals | Compare the usable surface area and volume of each basket with your usual portions. UFC-Que Choisir suggests a 3 to 4 l single basket as a guide for one or two people, but you should also consider the foods you cook. | One drawer may be enough for my usual portions; if I often cook two different foods, I’ll check the capacity of each compartment. |
| Everyday use | Look for comparable tests covering the foods you cook, noise, safety and cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol, published in January 2026, includes measuring noise at 0.50 m and checking electrical and thermal safety. | Noise and maintenance matter to me as much as the cooking results, especially if I use the appliance often. |
| Oil maintenance | For a deep-fat fryer, plan how you’ll let the oil cool, store it in a sealed container and dispose of it through a local collection scheme. ADEME advises against pouring used oil down the sink or toilet, or into the environment. | I want to be able to deal with the oil after each use, not just find somewhere to put the appliance. |
The total capacity doesn’t tell you how much fits in each compartment. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of usable capacity, while the appliance also needs to fit in your kitchen.
Measure the space with the drawers open and compare each basket with the quantities you regularly cook.
A drawer-style model takes up space, and some mini-oven-style formats are wider or deeper. UFC-Que Choisir recommends avoiding unnecessary extra appliances when your oven already covers the same uses.
Think about which recipes you’d genuinely cook in the new appliance before giving it a permanent place in your kitchen.
Hot-air cooking is different. UFC-Que Choisir’s guides point out some limitations, particularly when cooking fresh chips or large quantities, and results vary between models.
Look for tests covering the foods you cook and stick to the recommended quantities for the basket.
A deep-fat fryer means storing used oil and disposing of it properly. ADEME says it must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or into the environment.
Let it cool, put it in a sealed container and check what collection options are available locally.
The details below apply to the models mentioned, not to every appliance made by each brand.
The range includes the dual-drawer Easy Fry Dual XXL EZ942BF0.
The NA154/00 shows another way to cook two things in an air fryer.
Ninja offers a range of air fryer formats, including dual-zone models and the Crispi range.
This selection includes single-basket air fryers, a dual-drawer model, a Crispi-style model and a deep-fat fryer. Compare each appliance with your portion sizes and available space rather than choosing on stated capacity alone.
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This single-basket model is worth comparing if you cook small portions. It has a stated capacity of 2 l, and the product title lists a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket. Check that your usual portions will fit and measure the space you’ll need before buying.
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If you cook in one basket, compare its stated 4 l capacity with the amount of food you usually prepare. The product title lists eight pre-set programmes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check the dimensions and clearance needed for where you plan to put it.
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If the Crispi format appeals to you, check the capacity of the containers and how much space they’ll take up in your kitchen. If you want to cook two things at once, make sure the FN101EUGY supports this.
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This dual-drawer format is worth considering if you often cook two things for the same meal. The product title lists a total capacity of 7.6 l and six functions. Check the usable capacity of each drawer, the settings available and the space needed to open them.
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This deep-fat fryer is designed for a different kind of cooking from the air fryers in this selection. The product title lists a 1.5 l capacity and 900 W power. Check how much you can cook in one batch and how much space it takes up. You’ll also need to plan for handling and disposing of used oil.
They’re useful if you often cook two foods that need different cooking times or temperatures and want them to finish together. If you usually cook just one thing, compare a single-basket model instead. Either way, measure the space needed to open the drawers.
Look for tests that explain their methods and cover the models you’re considering. In its test published in January 2026, UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0.50 m and checks electrical and thermal safety. It also assesses cleaning and ease of use.
No. They use different cooking methods. UFC-Que Choisir’s guides note that results vary depending on the model and quantity, particularly for fresh chips. If you prioritise the results you get from deep-fat frying, keep a deep-fat fryer on your shortlist.
Let it cool, then store it in a sealed bottle or container and check what local collection options are available. ADEME says it must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or into the environment.