An air fryer could be a good choice if you often cook small portions and would rather not switch on the oven for them. If you mainly cook large trays of food, keeping your oven means you won’t need another appliance. Otherwise, choose a format based on the portions that will actually fit in each cooking area, the space you have, noise levels and cleaning.
A single drawer is worth considering if you regularly cook vegetables, chips or other small dishes without wanting to switch on the oven. Just make sure your portions fit in the basket without needing to cook them in several batches.
Two drawers can be useful for cooking, for example, a side dish and a main course separately, with different settings for each. The total capacity matters less than the space in each drawer for the food you plan to cook.
Before adding another appliance, compare the meals you usually cook with what your oven can already do. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer performs many of the same functions. The worktop space it takes up, its noise and the effort involved in cleaning it should all be justified by frequent enough use.
Start with the dishes you cook most often and the quantities you make. These will help you decide between your existing oven, a single-drawer air fryer, a dual-drawer model and a countertop oven-style model.
Consider it: for small portions you regularly cook in one compartment.
Limitation: a meal with two different foods may need to be cooked in batches.
Consider it: if you often need different settings for two parts of the same meal.
Limitation: the capacity is split between two compartments, rather than forming one large basket.
Consider it: if the trays or extra shelves suit the dishes you plan to cook in it regularly.
Limitation: it may duplicate what your existing oven can do.
Keep it: if you mainly cook large quantities or dishes on a baking tray.
Worth bearing in mind: for a particular small recipe, it won’t necessarily use more energy than an air fryer.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and capacity | Check the dimensions of the cooking area and how much of your recipe will fit, rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone. With a dual-drawer model, check each compartment separately. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a household of four. | My usual portions should fit without me having to cook several batches. If I’m making two different foods, each one needs to fit in its intended compartment. |
| How it compares with your oven | Compare similar recipes and quantities, as well as the number of batches needed. In tests using a quiche Lorraine, UFC-Que Choisir found that air fryers used 36% less electricity on average than a mini oven. This result won’t apply to every dish or every oven. | I’d like to avoid switching on the oven for the small dishes I often cook, without buying an appliance that simply duplicates how I already cook. |
| Available space | Measure the space available and allow room to open the drawer or door fully. Also check the clearance required for the model you choose. | Once the appliance is in place, I still need to be able to use my worktop and remove food easily. |
| Cleaning | Check which baskets, racks and trays need washing. Read the instructions for the exact model before assuming it is dishwasher-safe. | If I use it often, the number of parts to clean after each meal matters just as much as the cooking functions. |
| Noise | When comparing measurements, check how and at what distance they were taken. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 0,50 m as part of its testing procedure; a simple “quiet” label doesn’t give you the same basis for comparison. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to know whether the fan is likely to be disruptive while the appliance is running. |
UFC-Que Choisir highlights how much their functions overlap. If you mainly cook large dishes on trays, an air fryer may simply mean another appliance to store and clean.
Make a note of the three dishes you cook most often, along with the quantities and how frequently you make them. If your oven already does the job, use it as a point of comparison before choosing a countertop appliance.
The total volume doesn’t tell you the shape of the basket or how much room there is for a dish. With a dual-drawer model, capacity is split between the two drawers: Moulinex, for example, lists 6,5 L and 4,5 L for its Easy Fry Dual XXL 11 L.
Check each compartment, the dimensions of the dishes you use and the space needed to open the appliance.
The result depends on the dish, the quantity and the appliances being compared. The difference UFC-Que Choisir found for a quiche Lorraine compared with a mini oven doesn’t describe every type of cooking, particularly when several batches are needed.
Check the recipe and conditions behind any energy-saving figure, then compare them with the dishes you actually cook.
The fan can be a consideration in an open-plan kitchen, while a basket, racks or trays mean extra cleaning after cooking.
Look for a noise measurement that explains how it was taken, and check the instructions for the exact model to see which parts are removable and how to clean them.
These models illustrate different formats; their features won’t necessarily apply to other models from the same brand.
Philips describes the Série 3000 Airfryer L HD9252/90 as a compact 4,1 L model, particularly suited to two people.
Moulinex lists models including the 3,5 L Easy Fry Essential, the 11 L Easy Fry Dual XXL with two drawers, and the oven-style 20 L Easy Fry.
Les Numériques describes the Ninja Combi SFP700 as a large-format model worth considering if you’re thinking of moving some of your cooking from the oven to a countertop appliance.
These Joybuy models include a single drawer for small portions and dual drawers for cooking two different dishes. Before adding one to your kitchen, compare it with your existing oven and the space you have available.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal. The stated 9 L capacity is split between the baskets, so check that each one can hold your portions and that the appliance will fit on your worktop.
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Two drawers let you cook separate dishes for the same meal. The stated 9,5 L capacity isn’t one single cooking compartment, so check the size of each drawer against the dishes and portions you usually make.
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This format is designed for cooking two foods in separate drawers. Rather than treating the stated total capacity of 7,6 L as space for one dish, check it against the size of each portion you plan to cook.
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Its 3,2 L single drawer is worth considering for small portions. Check the usable cooking surface for your recipes and allow for the 100 mm clearance specified around the appliance.
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This single-drawer model is worth considering for smaller dishes. Before making room for it, check its dimensions and the required clearance, then make sure the basket suits your recipes.
Start with your portion sizes and the shape of your dishes, then check the usable space in each basket or compartment. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a household of four, but this is only a guide and doesn’t guarantee that a particular recipe will fit.
No. It depends on the recipe, the quantity and the appliances being compared. For a quiche Lorraine, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity with the air fryers tested than with a mini oven. This result shouldn’t be applied to every dish or to a full-size oven.
Identify which parts get dirty each time you cook, then check the instructions for the exact model to see which are removable and dishwasher-safe. If a basket is listed as dishwasher-safe, that doesn’t necessarily apply to the racks, trays or other accessories.
Yes, if the appliance runs near where you eat or work. Its fan may be audible. To compare models, look for a measurement that includes details of the method and distance, such as the 0,50 m measurement used by UFC-Que Choisir.