People who often cook small portions
You regularly prepare roasted vegetables, chicken, frozen food or crispy leftovers for one or two people, and want a practical compact cooking space without adding several appliances.
Who this choice suits
Households preparing two parts of the same meal
You often cook a main dish and a side with different cooking times or temperatures. A dual-drawer model could suit you if this is a regular requirement and you have enough worktop space.
Users who already have a working oven
Before adding another appliance, check whether the air fryer offers a genuinely different use. UFC-Que Choisir recommends avoiding over-equipping your kitchen when the oven already performs the same functions.
Buying priorities
Start by measuring the available space, then match the format to the meals you prepare most often rather than focusing solely on the stated capacity.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Size and redundancy | Measure the width, depth, height and clearance needed to open the appliance. Compare the functions you actually use with those of your oven. A vertical two-basket format also requires precise measurements. | I want to keep my worktop usable and avoid adding an appliance that rarely does anything my oven does already. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s shape and surface area with your usual portions, not just its litre capacity. Check whether food needs to be shaken and whether you need two independent cooking zones. | My portions should cook without overfilling the basket or requiring several batches. For a main dish and a side, two zones can help without creating one large cooking cavity. |
| Cleaning | Check whether the basket, drawer and rack are removable and dishwasher-safe for the exact model. Also look at access to the cooking chamber and any areas where residue may collect. | I want an appliance I can use several times a week without cleaning becoming a chore. |
| Noise | Where available, prioritise an operating noise measurement from an independent test. Consider the other appliances being used at the same time. | In an open-plan or compact kitchen, I want to minimise the disturbance caused by the fan near the living area. |
| Energy use and safety | Compare measurements taken with the same recipe, quantity and cooking time. Look for tests that assess electrical and thermal safety, as well as the instructions for the model you are considering. | I want to assess the appliance using my usual recipes, without assuming that every model has the same energy use or behaves in the same way. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Choosing a multifunction appliance without checking what it adds compared with your oven
UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can take up considerable space and duplicate functions already provided by an oven. In a small kitchen, that space should earn its place through a use that is genuinely part of your routine.
List three meals you would prepare at least once a week. If your oven already handles them without significant compromises in time, volume or texture, keep that space for another purpose.
Brand guide
Moulinex
A brand featured in French product comparisons, offering compact, straightforward, dual-drawer and air-fryer oven formats.
- According to Moulinex product specifications for particular models, some baskets or racks are dishwasher-safe, while capacity may be split between two drawers.
- The brand’s claims do not allow conclusions to be drawn about the noise, size or cooking results of the entire range.
Philips
Philips offers single-basket, dual-basket, flexible-basket and stacked-basket air fryers on the French market.
- According to Philips, certain specific models offer asymmetrical cooking zones, synchronisation or a vertical design intended to reduce the amount of worktop space required.
- Check these features on the exact model you choose: they do not on their own tell you about noise, cleaning or performance.
Ninja
Ninja is among the manufacturers mentioned by UFC-Que Choisir in the French air-fryer market.
- The range includes single-basket and dual-drawer appliances, suited to different meal-preparation routines.
- UFC-Que Choisir notes that performance, energy use, ease of use, safety and noise vary between models, so compare a specific model rather than the brand as a whole.
Joybuy options
Joybuy options for small portions, two-zone meals and everyday cooking in a kitchen where space needs to be kept under control.
Image unavailable
NINJA FN101EUGY Crispi Air Fryer
Two containers, measuring 1.4 L and 3.8 L, can suit small portions and meals of varying sizes.
Stated dimensions: approximately 30 × 34.5 × 34 cm; four functions and a stated temperature range of approximately 70 to 185 °C. The containers and accessories are stated to be dishwasher-safe. The glass containers become hot: use oven gloves or tea towels when removing them, and check the clearance around the appliance.
Image unavailable
Midea Air Fryer 2 L 1150 W
The 2 L basket is presented as suitable for one or two people and smaller everyday portions.
Stated power: 1150 W, 60-minute timer, adjustable temperature and non-stick basket. The removable parts are stated to be dishwasher-safe. More than one or two portions may require several batches; check the external dimensions and the space needed to open the basket.
Image unavailable
Ninja Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer DZ300EU, 7.6 L
Its two independent 3.8 L drawers are suited to cooking a main dish and a side with separate settings.
Six functions, digital controls and stated dimensions of 31.5 × 38 × 26.5 cm. The drawers and non-stick crisper plates are stated to be dishwasher-safe. The two drawers do not create one single cooking cavity, so also check the front clearance needed to open them.
Image unavailable
Cuisinart Compact Max Air Fryer 7.6 L AFS8OBLE
This single-basket format is designed for a variety of meals, with cooking, roasting and grilling functions.
Stated capacity: 7.6 L; seven functions, automatic keep-warm function and shake reminder. The baskets and trays are stated to be dishwasher-safe. The stated capacity does not confirm even cooking when fully loaded, so check the dimensions and basket clearance before buying.
Image unavailable
Ninja Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer DZ400EU, 9.5 L
Two independent 4.75 L drawers can be used to cook two foods with different settings at the same time.
Six functions, digital controls and stated dimensions of 32.5 × 41.5 × 27 cm. The drawers and non-stick crisper plates are stated to be dishwasher-safe. At 41.5 cm wide, this format requires careful checks of your worktop space and does not replace one large cooking cavity.
Frequently asked questions
Does an air fryer automatically replace my oven?
No. An air fryer can cook, roast or grill like a fan oven, but UFC-Que Choisir recommends avoiding over-equipping your kitchen when an oven already performs the same functions. It is most useful if you regularly prepare small crispy portions or quick reheated meals for which a compact cooking space is convenient.
How should I interpret the stated litre capacity?
Treat it as an initial guide, not a promise of how much food will cook to a crisp. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses chips using the quantity stated in the instructions and then with the basket filled to two-thirds of its capacity. You should therefore also check the basket’s shape and your usual portions.
Is a dual-drawer model useful in a small kitchen?
Yes, if you regularly cook two foods at different temperatures or for different lengths of time, and synchronising the end of cooking saves you from preparing two batches. However, measure your worktop, the appliance depth and the clearance needed to open the drawers.
Does an air fryer always use less energy than an oven?
No. In UFC-Que Choisir tests, air fryers used less energy on average than a 19 L mini oven when cooking a small quiche in the same quantity, but the result depends on the recipe, quantity, cooking time and model. Compare appliances using preparations similar to those you make at home.
How can I reduce the risk of buying an appliance that is not durable or is difficult to dispose of in France?
Before buying, check whether spare parts are available, review the stated repairability information and look for French-language documentation. At the end of its life, the appliance falls under the waste electrical and electronic equipment system. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition states that take-back may follow the “1 for 1” principle when buying equipment of the same type, while some shops also offer “1 for 0” take-back subject to their own terms.