An air fryer can complement your oven or deep-fat fryer if you often cook smaller portions and have a suitable place for it. It won’t necessarily replace your oven for large dishes, or your deep-fat fryer if you’re looking for the particular result you get from freshly cut chips cooked in hot oil. Que Choisir points out that cooking results and ease of use need to be assessed model by model.
If you mainly cook for one or two people, a single-basket model may suit your portions without taking up the space of a larger appliance. Still, check that its usable capacity works for the food you actually cook.
If you want to cook a main and a side with different settings, two zones can save you from cooking in successive batches. Que Choisir describes this use of dual-drawer models; check the capacity of each zone, not just the total.
If your oven already handles the dishes you usually make, think about how often you’d use a second appliance. Que Choisir notes that an air fryer can perform some of the same functions as an oven. If you’d only use it occasionally, it may be hard to justify the space it takes up.
Start with the food you cook most often. The results you want and the portions you make will help you choose a size; then available space and cleaning may help you decide between appliances.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking results | Compare tests on the foods you cook, especially fresh chips. Que Choisir distinguishes between the results of hot-air cooking and those achieved in hot oil. | When I make fresh chips, I want to know whether I’ll be happy with a different result from deep-fat frying; around 27% of consumers prioritise cooking results. |
| Portions and mealtime routine | Check the usable capacity and, for a dual-drawer model, the capacity of each drawer. Que Choisir recommends a minimum of 6 l for a family of four, for example. | If I often cook a main and a side, I need to know whether they’ll fit without having to cook in several batches. Capacity and how the meal is organised come first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Space and overlap with your oven | Measure the available space, how far the drawers open and the dimensions of the dishes you usually use. Compare this with how you use your current oven. | My oven already handles larger meals, and I don’t want an appliance I rarely use taking up space on the worktop. Avoiding clutter or duplication is a priority for around 26% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check which parts can be removed and how each one should be cleaned. If noise matters to you, look for a test of the specific model: Que Choisir assesses appliances individually. | For everyday use, I’d rather keep cleaning to a minimum and consider noise and handling hot oil. These practical concerns come first for around 20% of consumers. |
Hot-air cooking won’t necessarily produce the same results as deep-fat frying. Que Choisir notes this difference with chips and finds that results also vary between appliances.
Decide whether you’re happy with this difference before replacing your deep-fat fryer. When choosing an air fryer, look for a test of the model and the foods you’re interested in.
The stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much food will cook well in one batch. With two drawers, how the capacity is divided matters just as much as the total.
Compare your portions and the size of your dishes with the internal dimensions and usable capacity. If you plan to cook two dishes, check each drawer separately.
An appliance that works well for frequent meals can be bulky if you only use it occasionally. Que Choisir recommends considering which functions your oven already performs.
Measure the space you’ll need to position, open and put away the air fryer. If your oven already suits the dishes you cook most often, keeping your current setup is still an option.
An appliance that needs to stay within easy reach can take up worktop space for good.
In a test published in 2024, Que Choisir recorded lower energy consumption than with a mini oven when cooking a small quiche, using the appliances tested. This doesn’t prove that the same applies to every dish or model.
To compare with how you cook, look for a test that specifies the recipe, quantity and appliance used as a benchmark.
The Easy Fry range includes dual-drawer models designed for meals with several dishes.
Some Philips models let you switch from two cooking spaces to one combined cavity.
Ninja offers dual-zone air fryers for meals that need different cooking settings.
These air fryers cater for different needs: cooking two items in separate drawers, or choosing a size to compare with your usual portions. Whichever you choose, check that you have enough space and that the results will meet your expectations compared with your oven or deep-fat fryer.
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Worth considering if you often cook two parts of a meal at once. The title lists two drawers, a total capacity of 9.5 l and six functions. Check the capacity of each drawer and the space needed to open them. If chips or noise levels will influence your choice, look for a test of this model.
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Compare it with the portions you usually cook for meals with several dishes. The title lists two drawers, a total capacity of 7.6 l and six functions. Check the capacity of each drawer. The claim about washing the baskets also needs to be confirmed for the specific parts before you buy.
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Worth considering if you want to divide a meal between two baskets. The title lists a total capacity of 9 l. Check the capacity of each basket against your portions, as well as the appliance’s dimensions to make sure it will fit.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for an alternative to a large dual-drawer appliance. Check which containers are included, their capacity and how much space they’ll take up in your kitchen. If you want to cook two foods at once, confirm that this layout allows you to do so before choosing.
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Worth a look if you want to cook a batch in one appliance. The title lists a capacity of 7.6 l, but that alone doesn’t tell you how much food will cook well. Check the external dimensions, basket size and available space before buying.
Start with your portions and the size of the food you want to cook, then check the usable capacity. Que Choisir recommends at least 6 l for a family of four, for example. If the model has two drawers, check the capacity of each one too.
It can handle some smaller dishes, but it won’t necessarily suit larger meals or every batch you cook. Que Choisir points out that it performs some of the same functions as an oven. If your oven already meets your needs and you’d rarely use an air fryer, keeping it avoids adding an appliance you seldom use.
Consider which parts are likely to get dirty and check whether each one can be removed and how it should be cleaned. Que Choisir says many air fryers have removable parts that can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher, but this doesn’t necessarily apply to every accessory on a particular model.
Distinguish between your statutory rights and any additional commercial warranty, and read the terms of the latter. The DGCCRF explains that CE marking is not a certification mark: it doesn’t demonstrate an air fryer’s cooking quality or performance.
In France, you can take it to a collection point or recycling centre, or ask about take-back at a retailer, following the guidance from the ministry responsible for ecological transition. Before you dispose of it, also consider whether it could be repaired.