A drawer air fryer is best suited to small and medium everyday batches when you are looking for a compact cooking chamber. A dual-compartment model makes more sense for two dishes requiring different settings, while an oven remains the logical choice for large dishes or several items cooking at once; a deep-fat fryer serves a different purpose, involving the handling of hot oil and cleaning.
You mainly prepare chips, roasted vegetables, drumsticks or small portions, and want a more compact cooking chamber than an oven for these uses. Usable capacity and noise are also important considerations.
You need to cook two foods with different cooking times or temperatures and coordinate when they finish. A dual drawer is most useful when this kind of simultaneous cooking is a regular occurrence.
You often prepare large dishes, several items at once or family-sized quantities. Check whether an additional appliance would genuinely avoid extra batches rather than duplicating your oven’s functions.
Start with the quantities and recipes you usually prepare, then check the available space, noise level, cleaning requirements and how many items you need to cook at the same time.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the internal volume, basket surface area and depth, as well as the maximum quantity stated in the manual. As a guideline, UFC-Que Choisir associates 3 to 4 L with 1 or 2 people, 5 to 6 L with 3 or 4 people, and 7 to 9 L with 5 or 6 people. | I want to prepare my usual portions without having to cook multiple batches, but I do not want an oversized appliance taking over my worktop. |
| Cooking results | Look for tests covering comparable recipes and stick to the recommended quantity. An overfilled basket may require you to shake the food to minimise uneven browning. | I want crispy food for my everyday recipes, without assuming that every model or every load will produce the same results. |
| Noise and space | Measure the available space, including room for removing the drawer and storing the appliance. For an open-plan kitchen, look for a noise measurement or independent test: UFC-Que Choisir measures this criterion at 0.50 m in its testing protocol. | My appliance should be able to operate without excessively disturbing meals, working from home or other kitchen equipment. |
| Cleaning and installation | Check whether the basket, rack and drawer are removable, as well as the cleaning and clearance instructions provided in the manual for the exact model. | I want to be able to clean the parts after their intended uses and install the appliance with the necessary clearances. |
| Use compared with an oven | Compare the quantity, cooking time, preheating and number of cycles recipe by recipe. In a test published in October 2024, UFC-Que Choisir recorded an average of 36% less electricity for the same quantity with the appliances tested; this result does not apply to every recipe or every oven. | For small preparations, a smaller cooking chamber may suit the way I use it. For a large batch, I would rather avoid several cycles if my oven can cook everything together. |
Usable volume determines the quantities you can actually cook. A large format may still be insufficient for certain bulky foods or require several batches, while also taking up more space.
Compare the usable volume, external dimensions, depth and basket surface area, along with the maximum quantity stated in the manual for the foods you usually prepare.
Comparisons depend on the recipe, quantity and appliances tested. Results obtained for small preparations cannot be taken as representative of every type of cooking.
Assess energy use recipe by recipe: quantity, cooking time, any preheating and number of batches. Keep using the oven for large volumes when it avoids running multiple cycles.
The fan needed for convection can be audible, with differences between models. This matters more in an open-plan kitchen or a small home.
Look for a noise measurement or an independent test of the model, and choose its location with other appliances that may be running at the same time in mind.
An air fryer handles cooking, roasting and grilling tasks that can also be carried out in an oven. It may see little use if your portions are large or several dishes need to cook together.
List your most frequent recipes, their quantities and the number of items you cook simultaneously before choosing a single basket, a dual drawer or keeping your current equipment.
In France, Philips offers dual-basket air fryers, including models with a large and small drawer and a synchronisation function.
The Easy Fry range includes compact formats, large baskets and dual-drawer appliances sold in France.
Ninja is among the manufacturers featured in French tests covering air fryers.
These Joybuy options include single-drawer and dual-compartment air fryers for everyday portions, meals with a side dish and larger batches.
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Worth considering when serving a main dish and side with different settings.
Two baskets, advertised total capacity of 9 L, synchronisation, settings from 40 to 200 °C, timer of up to 60 minutes and eight programmes. The removable parts are advertised as dishwasher-safe. Its advertised dimensions are 382.5 × 443.9 × 314.2 mm and its weight is 7.85 kg, so make sure you have a suitable worktop.
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Suitable for meals where two recipes need to be set separately.
Two independent 4.75 L drawers, advertised total capacity of 9.5 L, six functions and separate controls for each zone. The drawers and crisper plate are advertised as dishwasher-safe. Advertised dimensions: 32.5 × 41.5 × 27 cm; advertised weight: 8.8 kg.
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Its format is aimed at households alternating between two separate preparations and one large single preparation.
Advertised configuration of two 4.5 L baskets or a 10 L volume, independent temperature and time settings, a range of 40 to 200 °C, digital timer and ten programmes. Check the dimensions, clearances and care instructions before installation.
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A single mid-sized basket for everyday portions for several people.
Advertised capacity of 6.5 L, window with lighting, eight programmes and removable non-stick basket. Its advertised dimensions are 287 × 386 × 323 mm. Allow at least 15 cm behind it and 10 cm at the sides and above, in accordance with the instructions provided.
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Worth considering for family-sized batches prepared in a single cooking chamber.
Advertised capacity of 7.6 L, Air Fry, Roast, Grill and Bake functions, shake reminder and automatic keep-warm function. The baskets and trays are advertised as dishwasher-safe. A single basket cannot separate two recipes requiring different settings.
As a guideline, UFC-Que Choisir associates 3 to 4 L with 1 or 2 people, 5 to 6 L with 3 or 4 people, and 7 to 9 L with 5 or 6 people. Above all, check the maximum quantity stated in the manual and the space available for the food.
No. An air fryer performs cooking functions that are already possible in an oven, and is most useful for quantities suited to its cooking chamber. If your oven already meets your needs for capacity and simultaneous cooking, an additional appliance may simply duplicate it.
Not necessarily. It becomes useful when you regularly prepare two different foods that need to finish at the same time. For a small portion, a single drawer may make more sense if two zones offer no practical benefit.
Prioritise tests that provide a noise measurement or assessment during operation. This criterion deserves particular attention in an open-plan kitchen or a small space.
No. Check the manual or product details for the exact model. For example, Moulinex states that the drawers and racks for the Easy Fry Dual EZ901H20 are dishwasher-safe, but this does not automatically apply to other models.