Choose an air fryer if your weekday meals mainly involve roasting or browning food; consider a two-drawer model if you need to cook two dishes at the same time. If you want to make rice, saucy dishes or slow-cooked meals with less need to keep an eye on them, look at programmable multicookers instead. In either case, check the usable capacity, the space you’ll need and what’s involved in cleaning the appliance.
If your main and side dishes need different settings, consider an air fryer with two drawers or a versatile basket. UFC-Que Choisir notes that two drawers let you cook different foods at the same time; also check how much space the appliance takes up.
For rice or slow-cooked dishes, a programmable multicooker may suit you if you’d like to keep an eye on the cooking less often. Check that it has programmes suited to your recipes, and don’t expect it to deliver the same crisp results as an air fryer.
If you need an appliance to complement your oven and hob by preparing one part of a meal, a single-basket air fryer is worth considering. Still, measure the space available and check whether the basket can cook your portions without requiring multiple batches.
Start by choosing the kinds of meals you want to make, then find a format that can hold your portions and fit the space you have. Air frying and programmable cooking in a pot don’t meet exactly the same needs.
Consider it: if you want to cook one roasted or crispy dish at a time.
Bear in mind: a single basket may mean cooking several batches for a meal with different dishes.
Consider it: when two parts of a meal need to cook at the same time with different settings.
Bear in mind: each compartment may be too small for a large family dish, even if the total capacity looks sufficient.
Consider it: if the shape of your dishes or the use of racks matters more than having two separate drawers.
Bear in mind: measure the cooking cavity and the space around the appliance. A large advertised capacity doesn’t tell you how much you can cook at once.
Consider it: for rice, slow-cooked dishes or saucy recipes suited to cooking in a pot.
Bear in mind: you can’t always fill the pot to its stated capacity, and some recipes still need attention.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount cooked at a time | Compare the usable surface area or capacity with the maximum quantities recommended for your recipes. UFC-Que Choisir points out that you need to leave room in a multicooker pot to prevent food from boiling over. | If you need several portions ready without cooking multiple batches, the amount you can actually cook matters more than the stated capacity. Around 27 % of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check the size of each drawer and whether you can set the cooking programmes separately. See if there’s a synchronisation function, if that matters to you. | If your main and side dishes need different cooking times, being able to prepare them together becomes the top priority. This would be a priority for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Keeping an eye on your food | Check that the model has programmes suited to your recipes, a delayed start and a keep-warm function. | For a dish cooked in a pot while you’re getting ready for a busy evening, being able to leave the cooker unattended matters more than a crispy finish. Around 26 % of consumers would prioritise this feature. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space, allowing for the clearances specified in the manual, then check which parts can be removed and how they should be washed. | In a kitchen where you need to keep the worktop clear, how easy the appliance is to set up and clean after use can determine your choice. This would come first for around 20 % of consumers. |
A large basket doesn’t tell you how much food you can cook without overcrowding it. With a multicooker, the limit also depends on the recipe and how much room you need to leave in the pot.
Compare the available cooking area, the maximum quantities in the manual and the portions you usually make.
Two compartments make it easier to cook different dishes at the same time, but a large dish may need one spacious cavity rather than two separate areas.
Check the capacity of each drawer and, if you need it, whether the specific model has a removable divider or a large-zone mode.
An air fryer is mainly suited to roasting or browning; a multicooker’s pot-based programmes suit different recipes, including rice and slow-cooked dishes.
Think about the weekday meals you make most often before deciding which of these two types of cooking you need.
Energy comparisons vary depending on the recipe, the quantity, the cooking time and the appliance used as a comparison with the air fryer.
To assess an energy-saving claim, look for a comparison using the same recipe and similar quantities, rather than a promise that applies to every meal.
These appliances cover both sides of the choice: air fryers with one or two baskets for hot-air cooking, and multicookers for dishes made in a pot. Compare each model’s design with the meals you make, then check the quantities allowed in its manual.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal in separate drawers. The model name indicates six functions and a total capacity of 7.6 L. Check the space you’ll need and the usable capacity of each drawer for your recipes.
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Worth considering for dishes made in a pot if you’d also like an air-frying lid. The stated capacity is 6 L; check the quantities allowed for your recipes and how much space you’ll need with the lid in place.
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Worth considering if you need to cook two dishes with hot air at the same time. The model has eight programmes and independent temperature settings; check how much of each food will fit in the baskets rather than relying on the 9 L total capacity alone.
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Worth considering for programming dishes cooked in a pot. The model name indicates a 24-hour timer, nine menus and two pressure settings; check the maximum quantities for your recipes and the language of the manual.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook one roasted or browned dish at a time. For a meal with several dishes, check how much fits in its single basket and whether you’ll need to cook in batches.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a 6 L air fryer is a starting point for four people, but that capacity doesn’t guarantee you can cook the whole meal in one batch. Check the basket’s surface area and the recommended quantities for the foods you cook.
Not necessarily — the permitted quantity depends on the recipe and how much room you need to leave in the pot, among other things. UFC-Que Choisir points out that you can’t always use a multicooker’s full stated capacity; check the limits in the manual.
For a dish suited to cooking in a pot, a programmable multicooker is worth considering if you don’t want to stay by the hob. Check the programmes and keep-warm function, and whether your recipe needs stirring; always follow the appliance’s instructions.
No, you can’t assume that it will save energy for every meal. UFC-Que Choisir’s comparisons use specific recipes and appliances; when choosing, take into account the quantity you’re cooking, the cooking time and the oven used as a benchmark.
Check its dimensions and the clearances required in the manual before deciding where to put it. Follow the model’s instructions for plugging it in, hot surfaces and cleaning. The DGCCRF notes that the CE marking is not a certification mark.