For one or two small portions prepared regularly, a single-basket air fryer can offer a useful alternative to a large oven, as long as the basket suits your recipes and you have room for it. If your oven already does the job with ease, keeping it avoids adding a redundant appliance. Two drawers are mainly worthwhile if you regularly prepare two items at the same time. Any difference in energy use should be assessed using comparable recipes and quantities, while the space you need to leave around the appliance depends on its instructions.
You want to cook a small amount without always switching on the large oven, while keeping the appliance easy to store and clean. For one or two people, UFC-Que Choisir suggests a single basket with a capacity of 3 to 4 L as a guide. You should also check the basket’s shape and the appliance’s dimensions.
You often cook two foods that need different settings and want to serve them at the same time. Two drawers may suit this use, provided each one is the right size for the quantities you actually prepare.
You need to be able to open the drawer, allow air to circulate and live with the noise while food is cooking. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering fan noise before you buy. Check the space you have and the specific model, rather than looking at capacity alone.
Choose this: for one or two portions cooked regularly, if a single basket is enough for your recipes.
Bear in mind: you may need to cook in batches when foods need different settings.
Choose this: if you regularly prepare two different items at the same time.
Bear in mind: it will generally take up more space when you’re only cooking one small portion.
Keep yours: if it already has room for your larger dishes or batches of several portions.
Consider: whether a second appliance is worthwhile depends on how often you cook small batches, not on any general promise of lower electricity use.
Consider this: if you specifically want to cook food in hot oil.
Bear in mind: an air fryer uses circulating hot air and may not offer the same results for every recipe.
To compare these options, start with the portions you usually cook, then check the space available and how much cleaning your chosen model will need.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s shape and the maximum quantity listed in the instructions with the portions you usually cook. | When I cook one or two portions, I want them to fit in the basket without having to cook multiple batches; around 31% of consumers would prioritise a suitable capacity. |
| Space and noise | Measure the appliance with the drawer open and follow the ventilation instructions in the manual. If noise matters, look for a measurement for the specific model. | In a small kitchen or open-plan room, I want to be able to position the appliance and cook without disruptive noise; around 25% of consumers would put space or noise first. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable and which the instructions say are dishwasher-safe. | If I cook small batches often, I don’t want washing up to put me off using it; around 25% of consumers would prioritise ease of cleaning. |
| How it compares with your oven | For your recipes, compare quantities, preheating, cooking time, results and measured energy use, rather than just the stated power ratings. | If my oven or mini oven already cooks these dishes, I want to know what another appliance would change in my routine; avoiding a redundant appliance would be a priority for around 19% of consumers. |
An “XL” label doesn’t tell you how much of the food you usually cook will fit in the basket. A basket that’s too small may mean cooking several batches, while a large capacity isn’t necessarily useful for a single portion.
Check that the basket shape suits your recipes and look at the maximum recommended quantity in the instructions.
Two cooking zones are mainly useful if you actually use their separate settings. If you’re cooking just one food, the appliance’s size may weigh more heavily in your decision.
If you rarely cook two items together, start by comparing single-basket models that suit your portions.
A comparison based on one food and a specific test method doesn’t let you draw conclusions about your other recipes. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing process, for example, records the cooking time, temperature and energy used for each dish.
If energy use is a factor in your decision, compare the same recipe using similar quantities and aiming for a similar result. Take preheating and measured energy use into account.
The fan may be a consideration in an open-plan kitchen. The space to leave around the appliance and which parts can be washed depend on the model you choose.
Before you buy, check the instructions, measure the space with the drawer open and find out which parts are dishwasher-safe.
The range includes models with two drawers. Tefal also describes the EY846HE0 as a 7 L model with a removable front panel.
The Easy Fry range lets you compare a 3,5 L single-basket model with a two-drawer model offering 5,2 L and 3,1 L, according to Moulinex product information.
The 3000 Series includes the double-basket NA352/24, for which Philips provides model-specific manuals and support.
These two appliances are worth considering for small portions. Compare the space their containers or basket will take up, then check the cleaning and ventilation instructions for the model you choose.
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If you cook small batches of varying sizes, compare its containers with the portions you prepare most often.
Before deciding where to put it, check the manual for the required clearances and cleaning instructions for the containers and accessories.
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If you cook one or two small portions, compare its 2 L basket with the quantities you usually prepare.
Rated power of 1 150 W, non-stick basket and 60-minute timer. This product is described as dishwasher-safe; check the instructions to see which parts this applies to and how much clearance is needed.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests a 3 to 4 L single-basket air fryer as a guide for one or two people. Also check the basket’s surface area, the quantities allowed in the instructions and the recipes you plan to make. The stated capacity alone isn’t enough to help you choose.
Follow the clearance guidance in your model’s manual rather than using a measurement from another appliance. Measure the space you have, taking the drawer opening and air outlet into account.
No. The DGCCRF explains that CE marking is not a certification mark. So don’t take it as proof that the model has undergone independent testing; also check its manual and the information that identifies the seller.
If it still works, consider repairing or reusing it before getting rid of it. At the end of its useful life, find out about an appropriate collection scheme for electrical equipment. The Ministry for Ecological Transition points out that these appliances may contain components that are hazardous to the environment.