If your meal consists of foods that can cook together using the same setting, consider a large single basket. If two dishes need different settings, a dual-drawer or flexible-basket model may be a better fit. A wide dish, tin or multiple shelves might point you towards a mini oven, or even a conventional oven if a countertop appliance’s cavity is too small. Whatever you choose, compare the usable dimensions with the meal you have in mind: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether everything will fit in one batch.
If your main dish and side need different settings, consider a dual-drawer or flexible-basket model. UFC-Que Choisir notes that dual-drawer models let you cook different foods at the same time. However, check how much room is available in each compartment.
For a quiche, chicken or a dish in a tin, usable width and depth matter just as much as the stated capacity in litres. The capacity guidelines UFC-Que Choisir publishes for families are no substitute for checking the dimensions of the dish you plan to use.
Allow room for the appliance, opening the drawers and the clearances specified in its instructions. Weight, storage and noise are worth considering too; UFC-Que Choisir highlights the noise made by air fryer fans in particular.
Start with the shape of the meal and which foods need to cook at the same time, then check whether the appliance will fit in your kitchen and be easy to maintain. The formats described by UFC-Que Choisir suit different needs:
Consider this: for a dish that fits in one basket and cooks using the same settings throughout.
Bear in mind: foods that need different settings may have to be cooked in separate batches.
Consider this: for cooking two different dishes at the same time, as this format allows according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split between two compartments, rather than forming one large, continuous cavity.
Consider this: if you switch between cooking one large dish and two separate dishes, provided the model offers both configurations.
Bear in mind: the usable space changes when the basket is divided, so check the dimensions in each configuration.
Consider this: if you use a tin, a wide dish or compatible shelves; UFC-Que Choisir describes mini-oven-style air fryers that come with shelves and trays.
Bear in mind: check the appliance’s external dimensions and how much room is actually available once the accessories are fitted.
Keep this in mind: if your dishes or planned quantities are larger than the usable dimensions of the countertop appliances you’re considering.
Bear in mind: don’t apply energy-use comparisons based on different recipes and quantities to a large family meal.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the internal width, depth and height with your dish or usual portions, rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone. | If the whole meal needs to fit without cooking in batches, I want to know whether the food will actually have enough room; around 36% of consumers prioritise this usable capacity. |
| Separate cooking settings | Check the space in each compartment and whether you can set the time and temperature separately. | If the side and main dish need different cooking settings, I want to prepare them at the same time; around 29% of consumers put separate cooking settings first. |
| Space and comfort | Measure the space with the drawers open, follow the clearances in the instructions and check the model’s noise rating if needed. | In a small or open-plan kitchen, I need to use the appliance without blocking the way or putting up with distracting noise; for around 21% of consumers, how well it fits into everyday life is the main concern. |
| Cleaning and cooking performance | Check the cleaning instructions and look for cooking tests on the model using a similar dish. | If I cook often, I want parts that are easy to clean and to know how the appliance performs before buying; around 14% of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
A large capacity may be split between two drawers, or the shape may not suit your tin. The capacity guidelines UFC-Que Choisir gives for different household sizes don’t guarantee that a particular dish will fit in the appliance.
Measure your dish and compare its dimensions with those of the cavity or each drawer.
Two compartments make it easier to cook different dishes, but each one limits the size of the container you can put inside.
If you mainly cook large dishes, look for a continuous cavity or check the dimensions of a flexible basket without the divider.
An appliance may fit on your worktop but leave too little room to open its drawers or meet the recommended clearances. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends taking fan noise into account.
Measure the space with the appliance in use, and check the model’s noise rating if your kitchen is open-plan.
UFC-Que Choisir finds that cooking results vary between air fryers. Its energy-use comparisons are based on specific recipes and quantities, not every kind of family meal.
When choosing between two appliances, look for tests of the exact model using a dish similar to yours.
These single-basket and dual-drawer models let you compare cooking in one compartment with cooking in two separate ones. Their stated capacity alone won’t confirm whether your family meal will fit in one batch, so compare the usable dimensions with the dishes you usually cook.
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Worth considering if your meal includes two dishes that need to go in separate drawers. The stated total capacity is 7.6 l, split between two drawers, so check that your dish or each portion will fit in its intended compartment. The product details list six cooking modes; compare their settings with the recipes you usually make.
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Consider this if you want to cook two dishes in separate baskets. The model name gives a total capacity of 9 l and a power rating of 2,400 W, and the temperature can be set independently. The two baskets don’t form one continuous cavity, so check the dimensions of each one to make sure your dishes will fit.
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Worth considering for a dish that can cook in one basket using the same settings throughout. This model has a stated capacity of 7 l, a digital display and a cooking window. Check the internal surface area and the room your portions need: the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that a whole meal will fit in one batch.
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Worth considering for a dish that can cook in one basket. The model has a stated capacity of 5 l, a window and a steam box; check the internal dimensions and whether the accessories suit your recipe. As a guide, UFC-Que Choisir recommends 7 to 9 l for 5 to 6 people. So, at 5 l, this model’s stated capacity doesn’t mean you can assume a meal for that number of people will fit in one batch.
Not necessarily: the total capacity doesn’t tell you the usable surface area or the dimensions of each compartment. Measure your dishes and check the available width, depth and height, especially if the capacity is split between two drawers.
Consider two drawers when two dishes need to cook at the same time using different settings. For one large dish, check the dimensions of a continuous cavity instead: the combined capacity of two drawers doesn’t create one large compartment.
Yes, particularly if you’ll use it in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir lists fan noise as a factor to consider when buying, so look for a noise rating for the model you’re considering.
For goods sold by a business to an individual in France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. Keep your proof of purchase and the product description, then contact the seller if the appliance you receive doesn’t match.
No. The DGCCRF explains that the CE marking is not a certification mark. Read the appliance’s instructions and warnings too, and check the alerts published on Safety Gate to see if it has been recalled.