If you already have an oven and often cook small portions, a single-basket air fryer could be a useful addition. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people. A dual-drawer model is better suited to regularly cooking two items at once, while an oven remains useful for larger dishes or cooking on multiple shelves. Don’t assume you’ll save energy: this depends on what you’re cooking and which appliances you’re comparing.
For a small household, how often you cook small portions and the space you have available matter just as much as the stated capacity.
A single-basket model can complement your oven for smaller meals. UFC-Que Choisir puts the everyday portions for one or two people in the 3 to 4 L range. However, check that the basket’s shape suits the dishes you make.
Before leaving an appliance on your worktop, compare its dimensions with the space available and consider where you’ll store it and how you’ll clean it. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends paying attention to noise, particularly in an open-plan kitchen or a small space.
A dual-drawer model is worth considering if you regularly use two cooking zones. If your meal consists of just one item, check whether the extra space the appliance takes up is really worthwhile for the way you cook.
Start with the meals you cook most often, then compare usable capacity, installation requirements and cleaning with those of your current oven.
Worth considering: for frequent small portions, alongside an oven you already own.
Downside: a single cooking space may mean cooking in batches when you need to make more.
Worth considering: if you often cook two foods that need different cooking settings.
Downside: its total capacity may not offer any extra benefit when you’re making just one small dish.
Worth considering: if you need an oven cavity and accessories without using your existing oven.
Downside: it may duplicate many of the functions of an oven you already have.
Keep it as: your main appliance for large dishes or cooking on multiple shelves.
Worth considering: if you rarely cook small portions, an extra appliance may simply take up space.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s surface area and height with your usual portions. UFC-Que Choisir suggests a single-basket capacity of 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people; this doesn’t guarantee that a particular dish will fit. | I mostly make small meals and want to avoid cooking them in several batches. |
| What you use your oven for | Make a list of the large dishes, trays and multi-shelf cooking you already do. Check which of these uses you would genuinely switch to the new appliance. | I regularly use my oven for family meals, so a basket shouldn’t be seen as a complete replacement. |
| Cooking two things at once | Think about how often you make meals that need two separate cooking zones. Check the capacity of each drawer individually, not just their combined capacity. | I often make a main dish and a side that need different settings. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space available to use or store the appliance. If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a noise measurement for the specific model you’re considering. | The fan noise might bother me during meals, or the appliance would have to stay on a small worktop all the time. |
| Cleaning | Check the manual for the exact model to see which parts are the basket, tray and other accessories. Check whether each part is dishwasher-safe and read its care instructions. | If I use it almost every day, I want to know which parts I’ll need to wash after each meal. |
| Energy | Only compare like-for-like cooking, taking the quantity, temperature, cooking time and preheating into account. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol records the time and energy used for each cooking test, among other things. | I want to compare my oven with an air fryer for the dishes I actually cook, rather than assume I’ll save energy on every meal. |
For one or two people, a large appliance can take up permanent worktop space without being necessary for your usual small portions. The stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much room there is for a dish.
Start with the quantities you cook each week. The 3 to 4 L single-basket guide from UFC-Que Choisir is a starting point; choose a larger capacity if your cooking needs call for it.
A result quoted for a particular recipe and specific appliances doesn’t reflect every type of cooking compared with your oven.
To make an informed choice, compare the same dish and equivalent quantities, including temperatures, cooking times and any preheating.
The fan can affect comfort in a small space. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this as a particularly important consideration for open-plan kitchens.
If possible, check the noise measurement for the model you’re considering and think about when you’ll use it.
Whether a part is dishwasher-safe and which care instructions apply to its coating depend on the model and the part in question.
Check the instructions for the basket, tray or rack individually, along with which cleaning products are suitable. Follow the cooling instructions before cleaning.
These examples show different formats. Choose based on the specific model and its features, rather than the brand alone.
According to Moulinex France product information, the range includes the 3.5 L Easy Fry Essential, a dual-drawer model with 5.2 L and 3.1 L drawers, and a 20 L air fryer oven.
Philips France describes the 4.1 L HD9252/90 as suitable for two people and capable of making up to four portions. This description applies to this model, not every Philips air fryer.
Ninja is among the air fryer manufacturers featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s French tests.
These three single-basket models are suited to using an extra appliance for small portions. Compare their capacity with your usual meals and the space you have available. They don’t include dual-drawer models or mini ovens.
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Its stated capacity of 4 L falls within UFC-Que Choisir’s guide for everyday portions for one or two people. Check that the basket’s surface area suits the dishes you make.
The product name lists 8 pre-set programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the dimensions, noise level and cleaning instructions before finding it a place in your kitchen.
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If you’re cooking smaller meals, check that the HD9252/70’s basket can fit your usual portions without having to cook in multiple batches.
Check the dimensions and care instructions for the parts in this model’s manual, rather than relying on the HD9252/90’s specifications. The Joybuy listing for the HD9252/70 warns that the basket, pan and air outlet get very hot during use.
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The 2 L basket is worth considering for a very small portion: its capacity is below UFC-Que Choisir’s 3 to 4 L guide for one or two people.
The product name lists a 60-minute timer and a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket. Check the manual for the care instructions for this basket, as well as the appliance’s dimensions.
Not necessarily. It can complement your oven for small portions, but its functions overlap with cooking you can already do in an oven, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. If you often cook large dishes or use multiple shelves, keep your oven for those jobs.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests a single-basket capacity of 3 to 4 L as a guide for everyday portions for one or two people. Also check the basket’s usable surface area and height: its stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that your usual dish will fit.
It’s most useful for meals where you regularly cook two different items at the same time. UFC-Que Choisir describes using both drawers this way. If you usually make just one small dish, compare the space it takes up with the practical value of having a second cooking zone.
Don’t assume that every model is. Check the product information and manual for the exact model, then check the basket, tray and other accessories individually.
Read the manual for information about hot surfaces, opening instructions, and approved materials and cleaning products. The Joybuy listing for the Philips HD9252/70 specifically warns that its basket, pan and air outlet get very hot during use. Check the instructions for any other model you’re considering.