An air fryer is worth making space for if you often cook small batches or want to prepare two parts of a meal while your oven is busy with something else. If it would simply do the same jobs your oven already does, sticking with the oven saves you adding another appliance. Then choose between a single basket and a dual-drawer model based on your portions, available space, noise and cleaning needs.
If you regularly roast or grill small portions, a separate appliance could save you from having to use the oven for those meals. However, UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can do many of the same things as an oven. If your oven already suits the way you cook, an extra appliance may not get much use.
A main course and a side dish may need different cooking times or temperatures. A dual-drawer or flexible-basket model can be useful in that case, provided each compartment is large enough for your usual portions.
In a small or open-plan kitchen, measure the space needed for the appliance and to pull out its drawers. Noise is also worth checking for each model: UFC-Que Choisir includes it in its testing process.
First decide whether a second appliance would be useful for something you do regularly. Then choose the format and capacity that suit your meals.
Worth considering: for one or two people who usually cook one dish at a time.
Drawback: a larger meal or one with several components may need to be cooked in batches.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook two foods that need different settings; some models let you synchronise their finish times.
Drawback: two separate compartments may not fit a large dish in one piece.
Worth considering: if the shape of your dishes or cooking on multiple levels matters more than a compact design.
Drawback: compare its capacity and footprint with those of the oven you already own.
Stick with: your oven if it already handles your larger dishes with ease. An electric deep fryer, meanwhile, is a different choice for cooking by immersing food in oil.
Drawback: don’t assume an air fryer will use less electricity for your own cooking without comparing appliances, loads and programmes.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usefulness compared with an oven | Think about how often you cook small batches and when your oven is already in use. | When my oven usually does the job, I don’t want another appliance to get out and clean for the same dishes. Around 36% of consumers would put this distinct benefit first. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the space available for food and the size of each compartment, not just the advertised total capacity. | To serve a main course and a side dish together, I need both to fit in their compartments without cooking in batches. Around 29% of consumers would make capacity their top priority. |
| Space and noise | Measure the worktop space and drawer clearance, and look for a noise test of the specific model. | In an open-plan kitchen, an appliance that takes up too much worktop space or makes too much noise would get in the way of everyday cooking. Around 21% of consumers would put these considerations first. |
| Cleaning and aftercare | Check which parts are removable, how to clean them and the terms of any warranties on offer. | If I plan to use the appliance often, I want to be able to clean its parts without making every meal more complicated, and to know who to contact if something goes wrong. For around 14% of consumers, aftercare would come before the other criteria. |
UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer can do many of the same things as an oven. A different name alone isn’t enough to justify buying an extra appliance.
Think about the small dishes you cook often, as well as the meals for which your oven is already in use.
Even an appliance you rarely use still needs to be stored and maintained.
The shape of the baskets matters as much as their advertised capacity: two separate compartments may not fit a large dish. UFC-Que Choisir gives 6 L as a minimum guide for a household of four, but this figure doesn’t guarantee enough room for every recipe.
Compare the size of your food and dishes with the usable space in each compartment.
A compartment that’s too small may mean cooking in batches.
The fan can be disruptive in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise in its tests, so you can look for information on a specific model rather than judging how loud it might be by its format.
Look for a noise test of the model you’re considering and check the seller’s returns policy.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between the legal guarantee of conformity, which applies to goods sold by a business to a consumer, and a commercial warranty, which has its own terms.
Keep your proof of purchase, read the terms of any additional warranty and contact the seller if the product is not as described or is faulty.
The Easy Fry range includes models with two drawers. For the EZ901820, Moulinex lists compartments of 5,2 L and 3,1 L.
Philips offers single, dual and flexible-basket models. According to Philips France, the NA565/02 can be set up with 3 L and 6 L compartments or as a single basket of around 10 L.
The brand offers dual-zone air fryers, as well as the portable Crispi FN101.
Cosori offers the Dual Blaze Air Fryer range, as well as models designed for family-sized portions.
These models with two drawers or chambers are best suited to meals where you want to cook two foods at the same time. Before choosing, check that each compartment is large enough for your portions and that the appliance will fit in your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at the same time. The model name indicates a total capacity of 9,5 L and six functions. Check that you have enough room for both drawers, and look for noise information specific to the DZ400EU if you have an open-plan kitchen.
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This format is worth considering for a meal made up of two separate dishes. The model is listed with two drawers, a total capacity of 7,6 L and six functions. The drawers don’t make up one large, continuous space, so compare their dimensions with your dishes and check the DZ300EU’s noise level if that matters to you.
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Worth considering if you need to cook two foods separately for the same meal. The product title lists a total capacity of 9 L, a power rating of 2400 W and eight programmes. Check the usable basket size, external dimensions and cleaning instructions for the QZG-F24F1 before choosing.
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This dual-chamber model is worth considering if you want to cook two foods as part of the same meal. Its advertised total capacity is 9 L, and the product title lists ten functions. Check how much worktop space it needs, the size of each chamber and the model’s cleaning instructions.
Not for every meal. UFC-Que Choisir points out that it can do many of the same things as an oven, so it’s most useful for frequently cooking small batches or when your oven is already in use. If your oven can easily accommodate the larger dishes you make, keeping it may make more sense.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends using 6 L as a minimum guide for a family of four. Also check the usable cooking area and, with a dual-drawer model, the size of each compartment: total capacity doesn’t guarantee that your meal will fit in one batch.
Not necessarily. A dual-drawer model is mainly useful for cooking two separate dishes, particularly when they need different settings. If you mostly cook one dish in a single piece, compare its size with that of a single basket or a flexible compartment.
If you bought the product from a business, contact the seller under the legal guarantee of conformity if the fault is covered by it. The Ministry of the Economy states that this guarantee is mandatory. Any commercial warranty is additional and subject to its own terms; it does not replace the legal guarantee.
Search RappelConso by brand, model and, if you have it, GTIN. If you find a recall notice that matches your appliance exactly, follow its instructions before using it.