Who are they for?

Households that often cook small portions

You regularly cook a single portion or side dish and want an appliance that’s easy to load and clean, without taking over your worktop.

Households that cook two parts of a meal

You want to cook a main and a side at the same time, even when they need different cooking times, so you can serve them together.

Households that already have an oven

Your oven takes care of most of your cooking. Before adding another appliance, you want to identify the smaller dishes that might be easier to cook in a different format.

What sets the different formats apart?

If your oven already handles the meals you usually cook, start by thinking about which cooking tasks make life more difficult. The air fryer’s format only becomes a deciding factor once you’ve identified what you need it for.

Compact, single-drawer

Worth considering: for cooking one small dish at a time, when space is at a premium.

Bear in mind: you may need to cook a main and its side in two batches.

Two drawers

Worth considering: if two parts of your meals regularly need different settings or cooking times.

Bear in mind: each drawer has its own capacity, so the total capacity doesn’t tell you whether your main dish will fit in either one.

Mini oven

Worth considering: if you’d rather handle food on racks or trays than in a basket.

Bear in mind: check that you have room for it in your kitchen, and don’t assume how much energy it will use for your recipes.

Your existing oven

Stick with it: if it already has room for the dishes you usually cook and there’s no regular cooking task that calls for another appliance.

Bear in mind: you won’t have a small dedicated cooking space for occasional portions.

Factor What to check Who it matters to
Portions and usual dishes Compare the internal dimensions and the maximum quantity stated in the manual, not just the capacity in litres. If my portions mean cooking in several batches, I’ll first look for a cooking area that can fit my usual dish. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise this.
Cooking different foods at the same time Check the capacity of each cooking area, whether the settings can be controlled independently and whether there’s a synchronisation function. To serve a main and its side together despite different cooking times, I need two suitable cooking areas. This would be the priority for around 31% of consumers.
Space and usefulness alongside your oven Measure the space available, the clearance needed to open the appliance and where you’ll store it. Also compare what it can do with your oven. My worktop space is limited and I already have an oven, so I want to avoid an appliance I’d rarely use. Around 23% of consumers would put this first.
Cleaning and maintenance Find out which parts are removable, how they should be washed and whether you can access the manual and relevant spare parts. If I cook often, the time it takes to clean the drawers and racks matters. For around 15% of consumers, this would be the main priority.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming an air fryer always replaces an oven

    As Que Choisir points out, the two appliances can be used for similar types of cooking. If you don’t often cook small dishes or need two cooking areas, an air fryer may simply take up extra space and create more cleaning.

    Think about the meals you cook in a typical week that your oven makes difficult, then choose a format only if you’d use it often enough.

    An extra appliance also needs storage space and takes time to clean.

  • Choosing based only on the number of litres

    According to Que Choisir, usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook. The shape of the basket matters too, especially if you’re making a quiche or cooking a large piece of food.

    Compare the internal dimensions with your usual dishes and check the maximum recommended quantity in the manual.

    If your dish doesn’t fit in the cooking area, you may have to cook it in several batches.

  • Expecting both drawers to cook in exactly the same way

    Two cooking areas let you prepare different foods at the same time, but having two drawers doesn’t guarantee identical results in each one. Que Choisir has found differences in performance between models.

    Check the independent settings, the capacity of each drawer and how the synchronisation function works for the meals you cook.

Brands to consider

These examples show different configurations. Check the specifications of the exact model you’re considering.

Philips

An option if you’d like the choice of one large cooking area or two separate ones.

  • Philips describes the NA154/00 as a 7.1 L model with a removable divider that creates two 3.55 L cooking areas, plus a synchronisation function.
  • This configuration doesn’t guarantee how your recipes will turn out or how much worktop space the appliance will take up, so check its dimensions.

Moulinex

Worth a look if a large drawer for your main and a smaller one for your side suit the meals you cook.

  • Moulinex lists the Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20 as having 5.2 L and 3.1 L drawers, with dishwasher-safe drawers and racks.
  • Check the washing instructions and dimensions for this model. Dishwasher compatibility is only one part of how easy an appliance is to look after.

Tefal

An option for small portions if you’re looking for a single-drawer model.

  • Tefal describes the Easy Fry Compact as a 1.6 L single-drawer model for smaller households.
  • Its single drawer won’t let you cook two things independently, so make sure its capacity suits the size of your meals.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does an air fryer always use less energy than an oven?

No. It depends on the recipe, the quantity and the appliances you’re comparing. When cooking a small quiche in the same quantity, Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity for the air fryers it tested than for the mini oven in its test. This result won’t apply to every type of cooking or every oven.

What capacity should I choose for everyday meals?

Start with the size of your dishes and how many batches you’re happy to cook. 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 for five or six. Then check the usable dimensions and the maximum quantity specified in the model’s manual.

Is a dishwasher-safe basket enough to make cleaning easy?

No. Also check how easy it is to remove the racks, whether there are hard-to-reach areas and what the cleaning instructions say. Que Choisir assesses cleaning and ease of use separately in its air fryer tests.

What should I check about the CE marking?

For a new appliance that requires this marking, check that it’s present and that the model has the associated compliance information. The European Commission explains that the CE marking is the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the relevant legal requirements. It doesn’t replace reading the instructions for use.

What should I do if my air fryer is recalled?

Search for the brand and exact model on RappelConso, the official recall publication platform referenced by the DGCCRF. If your model is affected, follow the instructions on the recall notice.