If you already have an oven, an air fryer can be a useful addition for regularly preparing small or medium portions without a bath of oil. It won’t automatically replace your oven for larger dishes. Choose based on the usable space in the basket, how many batches you’ll need to cook, noise levels and the upkeep involved in adding another appliance.
For roasted vegetables, breaded foods or a few portions of chips, compare using a small basket with using your oven. Tests by UFC-Que Choisir show that results depend on the recipe and the appliance, so you won’t necessarily save energy every time you cook.
If you cook for several people, check what will fit in the basket rather than relying on the stated capacity alone. If you plan to cook a main and a side, check the size of each drawer too: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of capacity for family meals.
Worktop space, storage, cleaning and noise may matter more than cooking programmes. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise levels in its tests, so look for the results for the exact model you’re interested in.
If you already have an oven, start with the dishes and quantities you cook most often. A deep-fat fryer has a different purpose: recreating traditional fried food, with all the handling of oil that involves.
Consider it: for regularly preparing small or medium portions without a bath of oil.
Be prepared for: limited basket space, fan noise and another appliance to clean and store.
Consider it: if the texture of traditionally fried chips is your priority; UFC-Que Choisir notes that hot air doesn’t necessarily produce the same result.
Be prepared for: handling, storing and disposing of oil, as well as the smell of frying.
Keep it: as your main appliance if you mostly cook large dishes or batches.
Bear in mind: for small portions, using it may be less convenient than a dedicated basket, but that doesn’t mean an air fryer will always use less energy.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Small portions | Whether your usual dishes will fit in the basket; cooking tests for the foods you want to prepare. | When I regularly cook a small portion, I want to know whether a dedicated appliance will be more convenient than my large oven. Around 33% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Capacity | Usable capacity and internal dimensions; for a dual-drawer model, the size of each drawer. | If I’m serving several people without cooking multiple batches, my dishes need to fit in the basket. This would be the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Noise and space | External dimensions and required clearance; a noise measurement for the exact model. | In an open-plan kitchen or with a narrow worktop, I don’t want the convenience of cooking to come at the expense of peace and quiet or space. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Oil and cleaning | Removable parts and their washing instructions; how easy it is to reach the surfaces that need cleaning. | I’d like to avoid dealing with a bath of oil without replacing that chore with a difficult clean. For around 20% of consumers, this would be the top criterion. |
Both appliances can be used for similar dishes. However, if the basket is too small for your larger meals, you’ll have to cook in batches.
Start with the meals you usually cook: check which ones will fit in the basket and keep your oven for larger batches.
You’ll also need to find somewhere to store and clean this extra appliance.
Total volume doesn’t tell you how much space there is to spread out the food, particularly in models with two drawers.
Compare the usable dimensions with the shape of your dishes, and check each drawer if you plan to cook two dishes at the same time.
If the containers aren’t suited to your portions, you may have to cook extra batches.
You may still hear the fan in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir has found differences between the models it tested.
Look for a measurement or test of the exact model, and think about where you’ll put it while it’s cooking.
Dishwasher compatibility and care instructions vary between parts and models. Philips, for example, advises against using metal utensils and abrasive cleaners with its Airfryer models.
Check the manual for the appliance you choose, including instructions for the basket, coating and interior.
The Easy Fry range is worth exploring if you’re choosing between a compact, family-sized or dual-zone design. Moulinex says that equipment and programmes vary by model.
For a comparison of different drawer sizes, Philips lists its Series 3000 NA352/04 model with one 6 L basket and another 3 L basket. These specifications apply to this particular model.
Ninja is among the brands featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer comparisons. Start by choosing the size and features that suit your portions.
These air fryer models cater for different needs: smaller dishes, larger portions or cooking in two compartments. Compare their capacity with the dishes you usually cook instead of estimating the number of portions from the stated capacity alone.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’d like to split two dishes between two drawers. The title states a total capacity of 7,6 L and six functions; check the usable space in each drawer for your dishes, and look for a noise test if you have an open-plan kitchen.
Image unavailable
Compare it with your needs if you cook several portions in one basket. Its stated capacity is 7,6 L; check the basket dimensions and the space available on your worktop before choosing this size.
Image unavailable
If you switch between small dishes and larger meals, check the usable dimensions of this model’s containers before choosing. Use suitable protection when handling hot containers and trays.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook two foods in separate baskets. The title states a total capacity of 9 L; check the usable capacity of each basket before planning a main and a side. This NA351/00 model is different from the NA352/04 featured by Philips.
Image unavailable
Consider it if you’d like to keep two dishes separate. The title states two chambers and a total capacity of 9 L; check the usable space in each, the external dimensions and the cleaning instructions before buying.
Not for every use: it can complement an oven for small, regular cooking tasks, while an oven remains useful for larger dishes. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured average electricity consumption for cooking a small quiche in the air fryers it tested. For the same quantity, consumption was 36% lower than with a mini oven. This result doesn’t automatically apply to other recipes, appliances or ovens.
Start with the number of portions and the shape of your dishes, then check the basket’s usable dimensions. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four, although this doesn’t guarantee that all your dishes will fit in one go. If the appliance has two drawers, check each one separately.
Follow the instructions for the model you bought, and avoid metal utensils and abrasive products on the coating. Philips gives this advice for its Airfryer models; check separately which parts of your model are dishwasher-safe.
Check that the instructions and warnings match the product you’ve bought, then follow the installation and handling instructions. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that electrical equipment can pose risks including electric shock, fire and burns.