An air fryer is most useful if you often cook small portions and want to avoid switching on your full-size oven for every batch. Your existing oven still has its place for large dishes, bigger batches or cooking on several shelves. Before adding another appliance, compare the usable space inside it, how much room it will take up and how often you really cook small batches.
If you mainly cook side dishes, roasted vegetables or portions for one or two people, a single basket can save you from using a large oven cavity. Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 l as a starting point for this kind of use; also check how much space the food will take up.
If a meal regularly includes a main and a side dish that need to cook separately, two independent zones let you prepare them at the same time. Each drawer still needs to fit its own portion, so the total capacity alone isn’t enough to judge.
If you’re looking for an extra cooking cavity, first consider how many small batches you actually make. Que Choisir points out that an air fryer overlaps with an oven in terms of function. Whether a second appliance is worthwhile also depends on the space you have and whether you need to cook large dishes or use several shelves.
If you already have an oven, start by choosing a format to suit the shape and quantity of the food you cook most often. The number of drawers, as well as space and cleaning requirements, can help you narrow down your choice.
Choose this if: your small batches fit in a single cooking cavity.
Bear in mind: a large quantity may need to be cooked in several batches, as Que Choisir points out.
Choose this if: you regularly prepare two separate parts of the same meal.
Bear in mind: two separate drawers don’t create one large cavity for a wide dish.
Consider this if: you need trays, racks or several shelves in an additional appliance.
Bear in mind: a second oven-style cavity takes up more space than a small basket and may duplicate the functions of your oven.
Keep it for: large dishes, bigger batches or cooking on several shelves.
Consider this: if you rarely cook small batches, adding another appliance may simply clutter your kitchen.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Frequent small portions | Compare the basket’s usable surface area with your usual portions and check the filling instructions. | For a side dish or a small meal, I want to avoid switching on the full-size oven without having to cook in several batches. Around 36% of consumers make small-batch cooking their priority. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check the capacity of each drawer and, if needed, whether it has a synchronisation function. | When the main and side dish need different settings, I want to be able to serve them together. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Large dishes and family meals | Measure the internal width and check how many shelves you can use, rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone. | For a quiche or a large meal, I’d rather have a cavity that suits the shape of the dish to keep the number of batches down. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this capacity above all else. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space you have available and check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe. | If my worktop is already full, I don’t want to add an appliance that’s difficult to store or clean. These considerations are the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
A capacity in litres doesn’t tell you whether a quiche, a chicken or your usual dish will fit inside. Que Choisir notes that some products labelled “XXL” can give a misleading impression of their capacity.
Check the internal dimensions and the load limits in the manual. For a dual-drawer model, look at each drawer separately.
An air fryer and an oven have similar functions. If your meals already cook easily in the oven, a new appliance may simply take up worktop space.
Before choosing a format, think about the small batches you’d genuinely cook in an air fryer during a typical week.
Energy-use comparisons depend on the recipe, the quantity and the appliances being compared. A result for a small dish won’t apply to every type of cooking.
If this matters to you, look for measurements based on recipes and quantities similar to yours rather than a general claim.
Two zones let you keep dishes separate, but their combined volume isn’t the same as a single cavity of the same size. A large dish may still need to go in the oven.
Choose two drawers for separate dishes. If you often cook one large dish, check the dimensions of a single cavity instead or keep using your oven.
These models show different layouts. Compare their dimensions and parts with the way you cook, and don’t assume that the features of one model apply to an entire range.
The Philips NA154/00 shows how you can choose between two separate zones and a single cavity by removing the divider.
The Easy Fry EZ401D10 and AL605820 models let you compare a 4,2 l basket with a 20 l oven-style appliance.
The Foodi DualZone AF300EU is an example of a dual-drawer model for cooking two separate dishes.
These models include a single basket for small batches and two separate-chamber models for cooking two parts of a meal. Compare their stated capacity with the size of your portions. For large dishes, remember to factor in your existing oven too.
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Worth considering if your small portions fit in a single basket rather than a large cavity.
The product name lists a 4 l capacity, eight pre-set modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check the internal surface area for your food, as well as the cleaning instructions for the parts.
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Worth considering if your meals often include two separate dishes.
The product name lists a total capacity of 9 l, split between two baskets. Check the capacity and dimensions of each basket for your portions, as well as the space the appliance needs.
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Worth a look if you want to cook two ingredients in separate chambers.
The product name lists a total capacity of 9 l and temperature control. Before choosing this format, check the space available in each chamber and the basket care instructions.
Not for every type of cooking. An air fryer can be useful for cooking small portions regularly, while an oven is still handy for large dishes, bigger batches or cooking on several shelves. Que Choisir points out that their functions overlap. If you rarely use a small cooking cavity, it’s worth thinking carefully before adding another appliance.
Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 l as a starting point for one or two people, 5 to 6 l for three or four, and 7 to 9 l for five or six. These capacities don’t guarantee that a particular dish will fit in the basket. Check its shape and dimensions, and the quantity you want to cook at once.
No, it depends on the model and the part. Moulinex says that some parts of the Easy Fry Deluxe EZ401D10 are dishwasher-safe. Check the manual for your model before washing its basket or accessories.
If you bought the product from a professional seller in France, contact the seller under the legal guarantee of conformity and keep your proof of purchase. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that this compulsory guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. It is separate from a standard return because you’ve changed your mind.