An air fryer is worth making room for in your kitchen if you often cook portions that fit in its basket and want to roast or brown food without deep-frying it in oil. A single drawer is suited to cooking one dish at a time; two drawers are mainly useful for cooking a main and a side together. If you mostly cook large dishes, your oven saves you from adding another appliance. And if you’re after the texture of deep-fried food, an air fryer may not be able to recreate it.
If you usually cook one or two portions, compare the basket size with your usual meals, then measure how much room the appliance will take up. In an open-plan kitchen, fan noise may also influence your choice. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people, and recommends considering noise before you buy.
A dual-drawer model can cook a main and a side with separate settings. Check the capacity of each drawer rather than the total volume: two dishes may not fit if the compartments are different sizes.
If you’re mainly looking for the texture of food cooked in hot oil, don’t assume an air fryer will replace your deep fryer. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the difference in results for people who love chips; your most frequently cooked recipes should guide your decision.
Choose this if: you mainly cook one dish at a time, in an amount that fits the basket.
Bear in mind: a meal with several components may need to be cooked in batches.
Choose this if: you regularly cook two dishes that need different settings or cooking times.
Bear in mind: the stated capacity is split between the drawers, and each one needs to be large enough for your portions.
Choose this if: deep-frying in hot oil is your main use, and you value its texture more than having a range of cooking options.
Bear in mind: hot oil needs careful handling and the fryer requires maintenance.
Stick with it if: you mostly cook large dishes or would only use an air fryer occasionally.
Consider: for small recipes, compare the appliances using the same quantity before drawing conclusions about their energy use.
To compare these options, start with the recipes you cook regularly, then check whether the quantity will fit in one basket, two drawers or your oven. The table below can help you identify what matters most to you.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and cooking dishes at the same time | Compare your portions with the basket’s usable capacity. For a dual-drawer model, check each drawer’s capacity, not just the total. | I need compartments that suit the food I cook, so I can serve a meal without cooking several batches. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this capacity. |
| Space, noise and cleaning | Measure the space available and the clearance required in the instructions; check a noise test and the list of parts that can be washed. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to leave the appliance in place without its fan getting in the way of everyday use. Space and ease of use come first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Deep-fried texture | Bear in mind the difference between hot-air cooking and deep-frying in oil, and look for cooking tests using recipes you’re interested in. | If I mainly cook chips, I don’t want to replace my deep fryer without knowing whether I’ll be happy with the result. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this texture. |
| Whether it adds anything to your oven | Compare how often you cook small recipes and how many batches they need. For electricity use, only compare tests using similar recipes and quantities. | My oven already covers some of my meals, so a second appliance needs to suit regular use. Avoiding this duplication is the main concern for around 26% of consumers. |
With a dual-drawer air fryer, a large combined capacity doesn’t guarantee that your main dish will fit in either compartment.
Compare the dimensions of the food you usually cook with those of each drawer, and check that you can arrange it without piling it up too much.
Results vary depending on the recipe, quantity and appliances being compared. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests of small dishes don’t allow you to draw conclusions about every oven and air fryer.
Look for a comparison that specifies the recipe, quantity and oven used. Also allow for extra batches if your dish won’t fit in the basket.
An air fryer uses hot air rather than a bath of oil. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a traditional deep fryer still has its place for people who value the taste and crispness of chips cooked in oil.
If deep-fried food features heavily in your meals, compare cooking results before switching appliances. If you mainly want to roast or grill, assess an air fryer using those recipes instead.
You may hear the fan in an open-plan kitchen, and the appliance needs the clearance specified in its instructions.
Measure the worktop space available, check the installation instructions for the model and look for a noise measurement taken while it’s running.
The Easy Fry Deluxe EZ401D10 and Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20 show the brand’s single- and dual-drawer formats. Moulinex lists a capacity of 4,2 L for the first model and two drawers of 5,2 L and 3,1 L for the second.
Philips includes the NA352/00, with drawers listed at 6 L and 3 L, and the NA462/70R1, which has two stacked 5 L baskets.
Ninja is one of the air fryer brands included in UFC-Que Choisir’s model comparisons.
These Joybuy models include a single-basket appliance for cooking one dish at a time and dual-compartment appliances for cooking two dishes in parallel. Start by choosing based on your portions and the space available: their inclusion here doesn’t, by itself, settle the choice between an air fryer, your oven and a deep fryer.
Image unavailable
The two baskets let you cook a main and a side at the same time. The stated total capacity is 9 L; check the space in each basket to make sure it suits your portions.
Image unavailable
This dual-basket design is suited to meals with two dishes. The product name lists a total capacity of 9 L, a power rating of 2 400 W and eight programmes; compare the basket sizes with the dishes you usually cook.
Image unavailable
The 4 L basket matches UFC-Que Choisir’s recommended guide for everyday portions for one or two people, provided your food fits inside. The product name lists eight preset modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C; check the external dimensions if space is limited.
Image unavailable
The two compartments are suited to cooking a main and a side at the same time. The stated 9 L capacity is for the appliance as a whole: check the capacity of each compartment and the external dimensions before choosing.
For one or two people, UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a starting point for everyday portions. Then check the size of the food you cook in one batch; with a dual-drawer model, look at each drawer separately.
No. Energy use depends on the recipe, quantity and appliances being compared. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show an advantage for some small dishes, but they don’t guarantee the same result against every oven, particularly if you need to cook several batches.
Look for a noise test of the exact model, especially if you’ll use it in an open-plan kitchen. Also check which parts are removable and which are dishwasher-safe: this can vary from one model to another.