People living alone or couples
A single basket may be enough for one portion, leftovers or a side dish. Before relying on it for a whole meal, compare its shape and capacity with the quantities you usually cook.
Which format is right for you?
The right format depends first and foremost on how many things you want to cook and how much room they need in the appliance.
Households that cook two items at once
If your main dish and side need different settings, two zones let you cook them at the same time. Check the space available in each compartment, and look for a synchronisation function if you want both to finish cooking together.
People who often cook in oven dishes
For baking tins, quiches, pizzas or gratins, consider a mini oven and check the dimensions of its cavity. Also check which trays are included and how much worktop space it needs.
What should you compare before buying?
Start with the meals you want to cook without using your main oven. Then check whether they will fit in the appliance and consider what it will be like to use day to day.
| Criterion | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and format | Compare the usable shape of the basket or cavity with your food and cookware. For a model with two zones, check each compartment rather than just the total capacity. | I want to cook my portion or dish without having to split it into several batches. |
| Cooking two items | Check that the zones have independent settings. If you want the food to be ready at the same time, look for a synchronisation function on the specific model. | The main dish and side need different cooking settings, but I want to serve them together. |
| Available space | Measure the appliance and the space you have in mind; check the manual for the required clearances. A large stated capacity doesn't guarantee a compact appliance. | I’d rather keep an appliance on my worktop than have to put it away after every meal. |
| Noise and cleaning | For noise levels, look for tests of the model you’re considering: UFC-Que Choisir notes that air fryer fans are worth taking into account. Check exactly which parts are stated to be dishwasher-safe. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise matters just as much as the time it takes to clean the basket. |
| Meals cooked without the oven | Compare appliances using the same dish and quantity, rather than focusing only on their power rating or a general claim about speed. Check whether your dishes and trays will fit. | I want to know which meals I’ll actually be able to cook without switching on the oven I already have. |
What pitfalls should you avoid?
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Choosing two drawers based on total capacity alone
Two compartments let you cook different foods separately, but each one may be too small for a large item. UFC-Que Choisir also points out that some high-capacity air fryers take up a lot of space.
Measure the space you have available, then compare the shape and capacity of each basket. If you sometimes need one large cooking area, check whether the model can be configured that way.
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Assuming a basket can replace every oven use
A meal cooked in an oven dish or on a tray may not fit in a basket. Countertop mini ovens, such as the 39 L models from Moulinex and Tefal, are designed to hold two dishes; check their usable dimensions before buying.
Make a list of a few meals you’d like to cook without using your main oven. Compare the cookware you use for them with the internal dimensions of the appliances you’re considering.
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Taking claims about speed or savings at face value
A comparison based on one recipe and a set quantity won’t necessarily apply to your other meals. The power rating in watts alone also won’t tell you how long cooking will take or what the results will be like.
To compare two appliances, look for measurements based on dishes and quantities similar to your own.
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Overlooking the day-to-day details
The fan may be noticeable in an open-plan kitchen, while ease of cleaning depends on the parts included with your chosen model. UFC-Que Choisir includes noise and maintenance among its air fryer assessment criteria.
Check available tests for noise levels and consult the manual for cleaning, clearances and instructions for use.
Some brands to compare
These product ranges show different configurations. The features mentioned apply to the models listed, not every appliance from each brand.
Philips
The French range includes stacked baskets and a flexible configuration.
- Philips lists the NA565/02 as having one large basket of around 10 L or two baskets of 3 L and 6 L. It’s a configuration worth considering if you alternate between cooking one larger dish and preparing two items separately.
- These stated capacities alone don’t tell you how noisy the appliance is or how it will perform with your recipes.
Moulinex
The range lets you compare air fryers with two drawers and countertop mini ovens.
- Moulinex lists a synchronised cooking function on its Dual Easy Fry 8 L. Its Optimo 39 L mini oven is described as having room for two dishes.
- Compare the dimensions of each drawer or the cavity with your cookware: the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that a particular dish will fit.
Tefal
Its XL Cook mini oven is worth considering for meals cooked in oven dishes.
- Tefal says the XL Cook 39 L can cook two dishes at once.
- This stated capacity doesn’t mean it uses less energy than an air fryer.
Air fryers for different meals
These Joybuy models let you compare single baskets for cooking one dish at a time, containers in different sizes and a two-drawer appliance for cooking two items in parallel. If you cook food in flat oven dishes, keep a mini oven in the running too.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7.6 L
Worth considering if you often cook two parts of the same meal at once. This model is listed with two drawers, a total capacity of 7.6 L and six functions. Check how much space each drawer offers for your food, and whether it has a synchronisation function if you need one.
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Midea Air Fryer 2 L, 1150 W
Before considering it for a full meal, compare the 2 L single basket with the small portions you usually cook. The product name states that it has a 60-minute timer and a basket listed as dishwasher-safe. Check the dimensions and the clearance needed where you plan to put it.
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Ninja Crispi FN101EUGY
If you want to match the container to the amount you’re cooking, compare the containers available for this model with the meals you prepare. Check separately whether it can cook two items at once: having several containers doesn’t necessarily mean it can.
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Philips 2000 Series NA210/00, 3.2 L
This single-basket model is worth considering for cooking one dish at a time, provided its shape and 3.2 L capacity suit your portions. Also allow for the clearance around the appliance specified in its manual.
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Midea Air Fryer 4 L, 1500 W
Compare this 4 L single basket with the quantity you cook at a time. The product name lists eight pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check how much worktop space it needs and follow the cleaning instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Can an air fryer replace your main oven?
It can save you from switching on the oven for small quantities that fit in its basket, but it won’t suit every meal. If you often use baking tins, trays or large oven dishes, compare their size with the cavity of a mini oven instead.
When are two drawers useful?
They’re useful if you regularly cook two foods that need different settings. Depending on the model, a synchronisation function may let both finish cooking at the same time. Check that the model has this function and that each drawer is large enough before buying.
Are the stated capacities in litres enough to compare two appliances?
No. The shape and usable dimensions also determine what will fit in a basket or mini oven. For an appliance with two drawers, check each compartment, and measure the space you have available for the appliance too.
How can you work out how easy an air fryer is to clean?
Identify the removable parts and check which ones are explicitly listed as dishwasher-safe for the model you’ve chosen. Follow the manual for the other parts rather than assuming the whole basket can be cleaned in the same way.