A drawer-style air fryer is best suited to individual portions or small side dishes, while a dual-drawer model makes more sense when you regularly prepare two foods with different cooking times. For quiches, gratins, cakes and dishes cooked in a tin, a mini oven or oven-style air fryer may be more practical, provided you check the available space, the required clearances and the noise level of the model you choose.
You regularly prepare a meal or side dish without wanting to preheat the main oven. Choose a cavity and cooking surface suited to your actual portions, without taking up unnecessary worktop space.
When space is limited or noise matters, the appliance’s footprint, the clearances specified by the manufacturer, storage, cleaning and the fan are just as important as its stated capacity.
If you prepare a main dish and a side, or switch between crispy foods and recipes cooked in a tin, compare dual-drawer synchronisation, the usable surface of a basket and the versatility of a mini oven.
Start with the recipes you make most often, then check the usable shape of the cavity, installation requirements and maintenance before comparing programmes.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity and recipes | Compare the internal width, depth and height with your tins, pizzas and usual quantities. Also check the included accessories, number of zones and synchronisation. | I want a quiche, dish or two preparations to fit without having to run several cycles. The litre capacity alone does not describe the shape that can actually be used. |
| Results for different foods | Look for tests covering the foods you cook: chips, chicken, bread rolls, quiche or cake. Check the cooking modes and the temperature suited to your recipes. | My meals are not limited to crispy foods: I also want to know whether the appliance is suitable for the tins, gratins or baked goods I prepare regularly. |
| Energy use for small batches | Compare the energy used for a similar recipe and quantity, rather than looking only at the rated power. Take into account how many batches are needed. | I want to limit my use of the large oven for small quantities. In October 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36 % less electricity with air fryers than with a 19 L mini oven for a small quiche; this result does not automatically apply to every recipe or model. |
| Noise, cleaning and installation | Check the external dimensions, opening direction, safety clearances and removable parts. Look for an operating noise measurement if you have an open-plan kitchen. | In a small kitchen, I want an appliance that is easy to store and clean, without a fan that becomes too distracting during meals or in the evening. |
A large capacity does not guarantee that a quiche, tin, pizza or two separate preparations will fit properly. Drawers, baskets and oven-style cavities offer very different usable surfaces.
List three recipes you make regularly, measure their dishes or tins, and compare them with the width, depth, height and accessories of the exact model.
UFC-Que Choisir recorded an average advantage for air fryers over a 19 L mini oven when cooking a small quiche, but results vary depending on the recipe and appliance.
If energy use is a deciding factor, compare independent measurements for preparations and quantities close to the batches you usually cook.
The fan supports convection cooking and can become intrusive in a small space. UFC-Que Choisir measures the noise of its tests at 0.50 m.
Look for a measurement taken while the appliance is running, and consider a trial or suitable returns policy if sound levels are important in your home.
A dishwasher-safe basket or tray makes everyday use easier, but the cavity, heating elements, door and greasy areas still need cleaning according to the format.
Check the removable parts separately, their dishwasher compatibility, access to greasy areas and the maintenance instructions in the manual.
The brand offers drawer-style air fryers and compact mini ovens, making it possible to compare two cooking formats for different recipes.
Philips is one of the air fryer manufacturers featured in French tests, including models with two drawers for preparing a main dish and a side at the same time.
UFC-Que Choisir lists Ninja among the manufacturers active in the French air fryer market.
This selection brings together Joybuy options for small portions, meals with a side dish and recipes that require a mini-oven cavity.
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An option worth considering for small portions and everyday side dishes.
Before buying, check the internal dimensions, compatibility with your tins and the noise level if you have an open-plan kitchen.
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Worth considering if you often cook a main dish and a side at the same time.
The dual basket and total capacity of 9 L mean you should check the overall footprint, the size of each basket and whether it suits your usual portions.
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This format is better suited to quiches, gratins and baked goods prepared in a tin.
Advertised capacity of 23 L. Check the required clearances, the internal surface available for your tins and access for manual cleaning.
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A 2 L capacity may suit one person or a couple cooking small batches.
The title states that it has a 60-minute timer, a non-stick basket and dishwasher-safe components. Check the temperature range, dimensions and usable basket shape for your recipes.
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This capacity may suit a couple or a more generous portion of chips, vegetables or simple dishes.
The title states that it has touch controls and six automatic programmes. Allow for the advertised 30 cm clearance from flammable objects and check the available space before installation.
Not always. It can cook, roast or grill many small dishes and reduce energy use for some preparations, but results vary depending on the model and recipe. Keep an oven, or choose a mini oven, if you often cook quiches, gratins, cakes or dishes that require a tin.
They are mainly useful for cooking two foods with different cooking times simultaneously and serving them together. If you usually prepare just one food or a small portion, a single drawer suited to your quantity may be simpler and take up less space.
Look for an independent measurement taken while the appliance is operating, rather than relying solely on a quick listen in a shop. This deserves particular attention in an open-plan kitchen or small space; UFC-Que Choisir measures the noise of its tests at 0.50 m.
Measure the appliance’s width, depth and height, the space needed to open the drawer or door, and the clearances around the air outlets specified in the manual for the exact model. The internal capacity in litres describes neither the space occupied nor the ventilation requirements.
These appliances come under electrical and electronic equipment. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition states that France has a collection and treatment system for household waste electrical and electronic equipment: use a take-back scheme or an appropriate collection point rather than putting it in household waste.