An air fryer is worth considering if you often cook portions that fit in its basket and have a suitable place to use and store it. A single basket is designed for cooking one thing at a time; two baskets make sense if you regularly cook a main and a side separately. If your oven already handles your usual meals, especially larger dishes and batches, use it as your benchmark before adding another appliance.
For a meal or side for one or two people, start with the foods you actually cook. The basket’s usable area, the space on your worktop and how often you’ll use the appliance matter more than its stated capacity alone.
Two cooking zones may appeal if your dishes need different settings. But check the size of each basket: the total capacity won’t tell you whether the main will fit in the larger one.
Think about which dinners you’d genuinely use an air fryer for instead of your oven. The space it takes up and the risk of leaving it unused are part of the decision; UFC-Que Choisir advises looking at how useful the features on offer really are.
Start with your usual portions and how many things you need to cook. Then compare the appliance you’re considering with the space you have and your cleaning routine.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Internal dimensions and basket shape; whether there’s room for your usual meal. | If your dinner won’t fit in the basket, cooking in batches can make serving more complicated. For around 36% of consumers, fitting their usual portion is the top priority. |
| Cooking two dishes in sync | The settings for both zones and the dimensions of each basket. | If your main and side need different cooking settings, you may want to serve them hot at the same time. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Space and usefulness compared with an oven | The appliance’s dimensions where you plan to put it; which meals you’d cook in it instead of the oven. | If your oven already suits your dinners, another appliance may simply take up worktop space. Avoiding duplication is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and ease of use | Which parts need washing and whether the exact model’s parts are dishwasher-safe; tests covering its noise level. | If you regularly cook dinner in it, you may prioritise easy cleaning and a noise level you’re comfortable with. Around 14% of consumers put this ease of use first. |
A capacity in litres doesn’t tell you on its own how much room there is for food, or what shape that space is. To assess cooking performance and ease of use, look for tests of the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol covers several types of food, as well as ease of use and safety.
Two baskets with similar stated capacities can fit foods of different shapes. A separate basket may also be too narrow for the dish you want to cook in one piece.
Compare the baskets’ usable dimensions and shape with the meals you usually cook. If you’re considering a model with two baskets, check each one separately.
The results of a comparison with an oven depend on factors such as the food being cooked and the test conditions. UFC-Que Choisir has studied this with different appliances; a manufacturer’s claim based on a particular test won’t necessarily apply to every dinner.
If energy consumption is a key factor in your decision, look for an independent comparison that applies to the amount of food you’ll cook and the model you’re considering. Don’t assume you’ll save energy based on the type of appliance alone.
Two zones let you cook separate dishes, but the divider between them can get in the way of a large dish. Some models have a removable divider, but this depends on the model.
Think about what you cook most often: two separate components, or one dish that needs to fit whole in the basket.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that the legal guarantee of conformity applies to second-hand goods sold by a business to an individual, but not to private sales. This distinction doesn’t cover every possible course of action if something goes wrong.
When buying a second-hand appliance, identify the seller and check the model, the condition of the cable, controls and cooking components, and which accessories are included.
The Easy Fry range includes models with two baskets, designed to cook a main and a side separately.
The range lets you compare separate baskets and, on some models, a reconfigurable cooking space.
Ninja is one of the air fryer manufacturers featured by UFC-Que Choisir in its coverage of the French market.
These models suit different dinner needs, from small portions and a choice of containers to cooking two components. Compare their configurations with the meals you cook before deciding whether another appliance would be useful.
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Worth considering if you often cook a main and a side separately. The stated capacity is 9 L; check the usable space in each basket against your portions, and whether the settings will let you finish both dishes at the same time.
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If you cook meals of different sizes, check which containers are included with this model and whether they’ll suit the food you prepare. If you need to cook two components at the same time, confirm that this is possible before choosing it.
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The stated 2 L basket capacity is worth comparing with the small portions you cook in the evening. The stated power is 1150 W; also check the basket’s usable area and the appliance’s dimensions before deciding where to put it.
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If you’d like to cook two parts of dinner, check the basket configuration and settings for this model. The stated capacity is described differently depending on the configuration, so ask for clarification about the space you can actually use before buying.
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The stated 7.6 L capacity may appeal if your meals need more space than small individual portions. Still, compare the basket’s usable shape and the appliance’s footprint with the dishes you usually cook and the space you have available.
It can handle some meals if the portions fit in its basket, but it won’t necessarily replace your oven for larger dishes or batches. Make a list of the meals you usually cook and check which ones you could prepare without cooking in several batches. Don’t assume you’ll save time or electricity with every dish.
Look for independent tests of the exact models, using foods similar to the ones you cook. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol covers several types of food, ease of use and safety; capacity and the number of programmes aren’t enough to establish how well a model performs. For noise, look for an assessment of the specific model too.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity covers a second-hand appliance sold by a business to an individual; it doesn’t apply to private sales. Before buying, identify the seller and check the model, the appliance’s condition and what’s included. Bear in mind that this guarantee is not the same as all the other remedies that may be available.
In France, an unusable electrical appliance can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre, following the guidance of the ministry responsible for the ecological transition. A retailer may also offer a take-back scheme. Check the terms that apply to your purchase and the retailer concerned.