If you often prepare one or two small portions and have a permanent spot free on your worktop, start by comparing single-drawer air fryers. A dual-drawer model is better suited to regularly cooking two things at once. For larger dishes or more varied cooking, keep your existing oven or consider a mini oven. In every case, usable cooking space, overall size, noise and the parts you need to clean matter more than the stated capacity alone.
You regularly cook for one or two people and want to avoid switching on a large oven for a small amount of food. A single-drawer model is worth considering if the cooking surface suits the dishes you make and you have room for it.
You want to cook a main and a side dish in parallel, with different cooking times. A dual-drawer model makes most sense if you do this often; check how much room both drawers take up.
You also make quiches, cakes or several portions at once. Depending on the shape of your dishes, the cooking space in a mini oven or your existing oven may matter more than the capacity shown for an air fryer.
Worth considering: for frequent small batches that fit in the drawer.
Bear in mind: a large dish or several portions may need a different cooking method or more than one batch.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook two dishes at once, with settings to suit each one.
Bear in mind: two cooking zones do not necessarily provide enough room for one large dish.
Worth considering: if your quiches, cakes or dishes need cooking space similar to that of an oven.
Bear in mind: the 19 L mini oven tested by Que Choisir used more energy than the air fryers for most of the small dishes compared. This finding does not apply to every appliance or recipe.
Keep it for: large dishes, bigger batches or if you only cook small portions occasionally.
Bear in mind: for some small recipes, the large oven cavity may be less suitable than a drawer. The difference in energy use depends on the appliances and quantities being compared.
| What matters to you | What to check before you buy | Consumers with this need |
|---|---|---|
| Small portions, often | Compare the drawer’s cooking surface with your portions, and check energy-use figures measured for the same quantity and recipe. | If I often cook a small amount, I want to avoid switching on the large oven without adding an appliance that takes up too much space. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the capacity of each drawer and whether the model has a synchronised cooking function. | When my main and side dish need different cooking times, I’d rather cook them together than run two cycles one after the other. Around 25% of consumers put this need first. |
| Dish size and shape | Measure the usable cooking surface and height, as well as the appliance’s external dimensions, including the handle. | I sometimes make a quiche or cook several portions, so I need enough room for the dish to actually fit—not just a high capacity in litres. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Noise and cleaning | Look for a noise measurement for the exact model and check which removable parts are dishwasher-safe. | In a small kitchen, I want to use the appliance without its noise or daily cleaning becoming a nuisance. Ease of use is a priority for around 17% of consumers. |
According to Que Choisir, usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook. A large stated capacity does not tell you whether your dish will fit flat or whether you’ll need to cook in several batches.
Measure the space you have, then compare the shape of the drawer with the food and dishes you prepare most often.
Que Choisir’s tests show that energy use varies depending on the recipe and appliance. The wattage alone cannot tell you how much energy a batch will need.
Compare test results for the same recipe and quantity, and keep the oven for dishes that need its larger cooking space.
A dual-drawer model’s capacity is split between the drawers. Even a high total capacity does not guarantee that one large dish will fit.
If you don’t regularly cook two things at once, compare a wide single-drawer model with your existing oven too.
Noise levels vary by model, and dishwasher compatibility applies to specific parts. Que Choisir’s test protocol includes measuring noise at 0.50 m.
Check a test of the exact model for noise, then separately confirm which drawers, racks and accessories are dishwasher-safe.
The Easy Fry range includes single-drawer models in different capacities. Compare individual models rather than assuming that features apply across the whole range.
Philips also offers models with two drawers, worth considering if you switch between cooking two things at once and preparing dishes in different shapes and sizes.
Ninja models feature in French comparisons, including tests looking at how an air fryer compares with an oven.
These air fryers are suited to small portions and cooking in two drawers. Compare their size with the space you have and the dishes you usually make. These models are not a substitute for comparing them with a mini oven or your existing oven.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for an air fryer for portions of different sizes. Check the cooking surface of the containers and the space you’ll need before choosing this format.
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The stated 4 L capacity is worth comparing with your usual small portions; check the drawer’s cooking surface too.
The product name lists eight pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two things at once. The total capacity does not mean you have one large cooking surface.
The product name lists two drawers, six functions and a stated total capacity of 7,6 L.
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A stated 2 L capacity is worth comparing with your smallest dishes. Measure the space you have and check that your food will fit.
The product name mentions a dishwasher-safe non-stick drawer and a 60-minute timer.
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Worth comparing if cooking two things at once is part of your routine. Check the cooking surface of each drawer rather than relying on the total capacity.
The product name lists two drawers and a stated total capacity of 9 L.
An air fryer can save you switching on the oven for frequent small dishes, but it may not suit larger ones. In a Que Choisir test comparing the same quantity of a small quiche, air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven. This finding does not apply to every recipe or appliance.
Que Choisir gives a single drawer of 3 to 4 L as a guide for everyday portions for one or two people. Still, check the usable cooking surface and height: the stated capacity does not guarantee that a particular dish will fit in the drawer.
Compare tests of the exact models and check the parts that need washing separately. Que Choisir measures noise at 0,50 m as part of its test protocol. For cleaning, the model’s product information should specify which drawers, racks or accessories are dishwasher-safe.
Yes. In France, the legal guarantee of conformity also applies to second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Check that the model, accessories and description match the appliance you receive.