An air fryer is worth adding alongside your oven if you often cook portions that fit in its basket and have a suitable place for it. If you mainly cook large dishes or would only use it occasionally, keeping your oven as your main appliance avoids adding unnecessary equipment. A single drawer is a good fit for smaller batches; two zones are more useful if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at the same time.
How often you cook smaller portions matters just as much as the size of your household: an extra appliance should serve a purpose that’s different from your oven’s.
If your oven handles the dishes you usually make, think about which smaller portions you’d genuinely use an air fryer for each week. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two appliances have similar uses and advises against buying more equipment than you need.
For side dishes, snacks or smaller meals, start by checking how much space you have in the basket. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people, while highlighting that usable capacity determines how much you can cook.
Two zones can be useful when a main dish and its side need different settings but should be ready at the same time. Check the capacity of each zone and how the synchronisation function works on the model you’re considering, rather than relying on the total capacity alone.
Start with the meals you cook regularly, then consider their quantity and shape alongside the basket, the space available and how easy the appliance is to clean.
Consider this: if you regularly cook smaller batches that fit in one basket.
The trade-off: two dishes that need different settings will have to be cooked one after the other.
Consider this: if you often cook two parts of a meal at the same time.
The trade-off: two baskets don’t necessarily give you enough room for one large dish; a removable divider serves a different purpose from two fixed drawers.
Keep this: as your main appliance for large dishes and big batches, or if you only cook smaller portions occasionally.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir’s measurements show that electricity use varies depending on the food being cooked and the appliance used for comparison.
| Criteria | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| How you’ll really use it | Identify the smaller dishes you’d cook regularly. Check whether your oven already handles them and whether the basket can hold the amount you need. | I mainly cook large dishes, or only make a small portion now and then: keeping my oven may be enough. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s capacity and surface area with the food and dishes you use. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people, 5 to 6 L for three or four, and 7 to 9 L or more for five or six; usable capacity is still what matters most. | To avoid cooking several batches, I want to know how much of my usual meal will actually fit in the basket, not just read the advertised capacity. |
| Cooking different dishes | For a model with two zones, check each zone’s capacity, settings and synchronisation function. If the divider is removable, check how the larger basket is configured. | I want a main dish and its side to be ready together: two zones appeal to me more than a large capacity that’s permanently divided. |
| Available space | Measure the appliance and the space where you plan to put it; check the manual for the clearances required around the model. Also consider whether you have room to open and store the basket. | In a kitchen where the worktop is already full, I need to be able to set up and use the appliance without getting in the way of other food preparation. |
| Noise and cleaning | Look for a test that explains how noise was measured. Check which parts can be removed, how to wash them and the model-specific instructions; UFC-Que Choisir assesses these points in its tests. | If I often cook near other people, noise and cleaning after each use will influence my choice. |
| Buying second-hand | Check the model number and seller, and inspect the cable, basket, accessories and how the appliance works. If it’s described as refurbished, ask for written details of the checks carried out. | Before choosing a used appliance, I want to be able to check its condition and know exactly what’s included in the sale. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two appliances have overlapping functions. If you don’t have smaller dishes to cook regularly, an air fryer could simply mean another appliance to store.
Make a note of a few things you’d cook each week and check that the quantities you want will fit in the basket you’re considering.
An appliance you use often will also need a suitable place on your worktop.
The advertised capacity doesn’t tell you how much surface area there is for a quiche, pizza or food spread out in the basket. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the stated capacity and the volume you can actually use.
Compare the shape and dimensions of the basket with the food you usually cook, then work out whether you’d need to cook it in several batches.
Noise, cleaning and storage are among the factors assessed by UFC-Que Choisir. They matter particularly if the appliance will need to stay out on the worktop for frequent use.
Measure the space available, read the model’s installation and cleaning instructions, and check a test with measured noise levels if noise is important to you.
A basket that’s awkward to clean adds extra work after meals.
Simply being sold second-hand doesn’t tell you what checks have been carried out. The DGCCRF states that an item sold as refurbished has undergone full functionality tests and has been restored to working order if necessary.
Ask for the exact model number, a list of the accessories and written details of the checks carried out. Inspect the appliance and see how it works before deciding.
These examples help you compare specific configurations; a brand’s inclusion here doesn’t indicate how all its models perform or whether they’re available.
Philips’ French range includes a single basket, a basket with a removable divider and two stacked baskets.
The Easy Fry Compact EZ866HF1 is an example of a single-basket model with a larger capacity.
Ninja’s multi-zone models are worth looking at if cooking two parts of a meal at the same time is your main priority.
These single-drawer and dual-zone models let you compare different formats with the portions you cook. If your oven already covers these needs, it’s worth reconsidering whether you need another appliance.
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The two drawers suit meals with components that need to be cooked separately. The model name lists six functions and a total capacity of 7,6 L; check the manual for the clearance needed around the appliance, and look for a test with measured noise levels if noise matters to you.
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The flexible basket may suit households that alternate between cooking one large dish and preparing two separate dishes. The product name lists Sync and Dual modes, as well as 50 cooking sheets; measure the space you have and check the required clearances in the manual.
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The dual basket and independent temperature controls are worth considering if you cook two foods at the same time. The title lists eight programmes; check the manual for the dimensions, installation clearances and basket cleaning instructions.
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This single-basket model has a viewing window so you can keep an eye on your food as it cooks. Leave enough space around it: at least 15 cm at the back and 10 cm at the sides and above. Check the cleaning instructions if basket maintenance is an important part of your decision.
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Compare this single basket with the smaller portions you usually cook. The title lists eight modes, an adjustable temperature from 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer; check the basket’s usable surface area and care instructions before choosing.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people, but capacity alone doesn’t guarantee that your usual portions will fit. Also compare the basket’s surface area and the quantities listed for the specific model. For example, Philips says its 4,2 L NA120/00 can hold up to 500 g of chips, but that amount won’t necessarily apply to other appliances with the same capacity.
Not necessarily: two zones are useful if you regularly cook two dishes that need different settings and want to serve them together. For one large dish, compare the usable space in a large basket with that in your oven instead. A model with a removable divider gives you both configurations to consider, provided its dimensions suit the meals you cook.
No. In tests published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured average electricity use that was 36 % lower for the air fryers tested than for a mini oven when cooking a small quiche. For chicken drumsticks, however, some models used more. These results don’t apply to every recipe or oven, so compare similar dishes and quantities to the ones you usually cook.
Check the model number, the condition of the cable and basket, which accessories are included and whether the appliance works as expected. Find out who the seller is, and ask for written details of the checks carried out if the product is described as refurbished. The DGCCRF states that a refurbished item has undergone full functionality tests and has been restored to working order if necessary.