Frequent small batches
You regularly cook, roast or grill small portions. A dedicated drawer is worth considering if you cook this way often enough to justify the space it takes up and the extra cleaning.
Who is this choice for?
Family meals with two components
You often prepare a main and a side at the same time, or cook several portions for one meal. Two drawers or a large basket could suit your needs, provided the usable space and overall dimensions work for your kitchen.
Kitchens where noise and cleaning matter
In an open-plan kitchen or a small home, the fan, washable parts and storage can all influence your decision. UFC-Que Choisir also takes noise and ease of use into account when testing air fryers.
What should you look for?
First decide whether your small-batch cooking justifies buying an appliance separate from your oven. Then choose the number of drawers and their capacity based on the portions you usually cook.
Drawer-style air fryer
Consider this: for small portions you cook often, when you don’t regularly need to cook two things separately.
Bear in mind: the drawer size may mean cooking in batches for a larger meal.
Two drawers or a larger capacity
Consider this: if you often cook two components or family-sized portions.
Bear in mind: a larger appliance takes up more space, and its total capacity alone won’t tell you how much fits in each drawer.
Your existing oven
Stick with this: if you rarely cook small portions separately or mostly prepare larger dishes.
Bear in mind: you won’t have the extra cooking space an air fryer would provide.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Use alongside your oven | Think about the recipes and small portions you cook regularly. To compare energy use, look at the same recipe and quantity rather than just the stated power ratings. | If I often cook a small portion, I want to know whether a dedicated appliance will genuinely be useful alongside my oven. Around 42% of consumers in this group would put this separate use first. |
| Capacity and drawers | Check the shape and usable space of the drawers against the foods you usually cook, as well as the space available on your worktop. | If I regularly serve several people or cook two foods for the same meal, I want to avoid cooking in multiple batches. Capacity or the ability to cook two foods at once would be the priority for around 33% of consumers in this group. |
| Noise and cleaning | Check noise ratings and the instructions for washable parts. Also think about where you’ll put or store the appliance. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to be able to use and clean the appliance without these practicalities becoming a drawback. Around 25% of consumers in this group would prioritise this everyday convenience. |
What to avoid before you buy
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Choosing by litres alone without considering the shape of your food
A drawer that’s too small means cooking in batches, while a large appliance can take up worktop space without suiting the meals you make. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four, but that doesn’t guarantee every dish will fit in the basket.
Measure the space you have and compare the basket’s internal dimensions with the portions you cook most often.
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Assuming the stated power means you’ll save electricity
Rated power alone doesn’t tell you how much electricity a cooking session will use. The recipe, quantity and cooking time also need to be considered when comparing an air fryer with an oven.
To assess a claim about energy savings, look for a test of the specific model and a dish similar to the one you’d cook.
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Forgetting about the fan, cleaning and storage
An appliance you use often still needs a place to live between cooking sessions. UFC-Que Choisir highlights fan noise as a buying criterion and measures it from 0,50 m away in its testing protocol.
If you have an open-plan kitchen, check noise ratings. Read the instructions to see which parts can be removed and which are dishwasher-safe.
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Confusing a retailer’s guarantee with your statutory rights
An optional commercial guarantee does not replace the statutory guarantee of conformity that applies to purchases from professional sellers in France.
Keep your proof of purchase. Before taking out an extended guarantee, check its duration, exclusions and what it offers in addition to your legal rights.
Brands to consider for this type of appliance
Philips
The Airfryer range includes single-basket models and two-drawer models, including the 3000 Series.
- Philips says some 3000 Series models can synchronise the finish times of two cooking programmes.
- Check that this feature is available on the model you’re considering, along with the usable space in each drawer and which parts are washable.
Tefal
The Easy Fry range includes single-drawer, large-capacity and two-drawer models.
- Tefal lists two drawers with capacities of 6,5 L and 4,5 L for its Dual Easy Fry XXL.
- These capacities don’t remove the need to check the shape of your food and the appliance’s dimensions against the space available in your kitchen.
Moulinex
The Easy Fry range includes a selection of single-drawer models in different capacities.
- Moulinex says the basket of its Easy Fry Essential 3,5 L is dishwasher-safe.
- Whether parts are dishwasher-safe depends on the model. The brand recommends avoiding abrasive cleaning tools on the coating.
Air fryers available on Joybuy
These models cover small-batch cooking in a single drawer, as well as larger portions or preparing two dishes at once. Choose based on your portions and the space available, without assuming that a larger capacity or extra functions will replace all the ways you use your oven.
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Midea Air Fryer 2 L, black
A drawer to consider if you mainly use your extra cooking space for small portions.
Stated capacity of 2 L, power of 1 150 W and a 60-minute timer. The product name describes its non-stick basket as dishwasher-safe.
Check that your portions fit in the basket and that you have space for the appliance in your kitchen.
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Philips NA210/00 2000 Series Airfryer, 3,2 L
This single-drawer model is for shoppers who want an appliance sized for occasional extra cooking rather than preparing two dishes at once.
Stated capacity of 3,2 L. Check the clearance needed around the appliance and the basket’s usable size before deciding where to put it.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7,6 L
Its two drawers are best suited to regularly preparing two components of a meal at the same time.
The stated total capacity is 7,6 L and the product is described as a 6-in-1 model. If you need both dishes to be ready at the same time, check whether this model has a synchronisation function.
Also check the space available and what each drawer can hold separately.
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Cuisinart Compact Max AFS8OBLE, 7,6 L
This size is worth comparing with the meals you usually make if a smaller basket would mean cooking in several batches.
Stated capacity of 7,6 L. If you usually cook modest portions, check that this capacity and the appliance’s footprint really suit your needs.
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Midea Air Fryer 4 L, 1 500 W
Consider this single-basket model for extra cooking space if your portions need more room than a small drawer can offer.
The product lists a 4 L capacity, eight pre-set programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer.
If ease of cleaning is important, check the care instructions for this specific model.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if an air fryer will genuinely complement my oven?
Think about the small recipes you’d cook regularly in a separate cooking space. If you mainly make large dishes or can’t identify a regular, separate use for an air fryer, keeping your oven means you won’t have another appliance to store and clean.
Are two drawers useful when cooking for several people?
Yes, if you often prepare two foods at once, but the number of people you’re cooking for isn’t the only factor. Philips describes a synchronisation function on one model in its 3000 Series. Check that the model you’re considering has this feature and that each drawer has enough usable space.
Does an air fryer always use less electricity than an oven?
No, you can’t assume you’ll save energy for every type of cooking. UFC-Que Choisir has compared the energy use of air fryers and ovens. For your decision, look for a comparison using a similar recipe, quantity and model to what you’d use.
How do I clean a non-stick basket?
Unplug the appliance, let it cool and follow the instructions for removing the parts. Moulinex recommends avoiding metal scouring pads and hard brushes. Check whether the exact model is dishwasher-safe rather than relying on the brand’s general guidance.
What are my rights in France if my air fryer is faulty?
When you buy from a professional seller, the statutory guarantee of conformity may cover an appliance that is faulty or doesn’t match its description. The French Ministry of the Economy states that the guarantee lasts for two years for both new and second-hand goods. An optional commercial guarantee is an extra and does not replace it.