People who cook for one or two
If you often make small portions and would rather not use the full-size oven, start with the size of your usual meals. A single drawer may be enough, as long as its usable capacity and basket shape suit what you cook.
Who are these sizes suitable for?
Households cooking two items at once
If you want to cook a side dish and another part of your meal separately, two compartments can make things easier to organise. Check the space in each drawer, not just the stated total capacity.
People who already have an oven
If your oven works well for the dishes you usually cook, think about which small meals would genuinely justify another appliance. How often you would use it, where you would store it and how easy it is to clean matter just as much as its features.
Which factors should you prioritise?
To choose between an air fryer, a mini oven and your existing oven, start with your portions and cookware, then consider whether you need to cook two things separately.
Single-drawer air fryer
Worth considering: for one or two small portions that you regularly cook in a single basket.
Limitation: bulky ingredients or two separate dishes may mean cooking in multiple batches.
Dual-compartment air fryer
Worth considering: for cooking two items at once when they need different settings.
Limitation: the total capacity is split between the compartments, so it won’t fit the same as one large dish.
Mini oven
Worth considering: if you often cook meals in tins or dishes, or use several cooking levels.
Limitation: its capacity and footprint should still make sense for the small meals you prepare.
Existing oven
Worth keeping: if you only cook small portions occasionally or your usual dishes already fit in it.
Limitation: in tests by Que Choisir, some air fryers used less electricity than the ovens tested for the small dishes compared; this depends on the recipe and the appliances.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usual portion sizes | Compare the recommended load and the basket’s internal dimensions with your portions, not just its capacity in litres. | For meals for one or two, a basket that suits the food you usually cook matters more than a large stated capacity; around 33% of consumers prioritise this fit for their portions. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the size of each compartment and whether it has a synchronisation function if you want both dishes to be ready together. | When two parts of a meal need different settings, cooking them separately without making several batches is the main requirement for around 25% of consumers. |
| Dishes and tins | Measure your usual cookware and check the usable width, depth and levels. | If you often make meals such as quiche or a dish in a tin, being able to keep using that cookware comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Another appliance | Consider how often you would use it, where you would store it and how to clean its removable parts. | If your oven already meets your everyday needs, avoiding rarely used equipment and the extra cleaning is the main concern for around 17% of consumers. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Choosing based only on the stated capacity in litres
A basket’s volume alone doesn’t tell you how much food you can fit inside. Que Choisir distinguishes, in particular, between the load recommended in the instructions and the maximum load used in its test procedure.
Before relying on an «XXL» model to fit your dishes, compare the recommended load, the internal dimensions and the shape of the food you cook.
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Assuming two drawers are the same as one large compartment
Each compartment has its own limits. For example, the Ninja Double Stack XL SL400EU featured by Boulanger splits its 9.5 L between two 4.75 L drawers.
Choose this format for separate dishes. For one large dish, compare the dimensions of a flexible basket, a mini oven or your existing oven instead.
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Adding an appliance without thinking about how you’ll use it
An air fryer can do some of the same things as an oven, as Que Choisir points out. If you rarely use it, it still takes up space and needs cleaning.
Think about which small meals you would actually cook in it before deciding whether they justify another appliance.
You’ll also need to make room to store it and, eventually, manage another electrical appliance.
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Making general assumptions about cleaning or energy savings
Dishwasher compatibility depends on the parts and the model. Que Choisir’s energy results relate to specific dishes and appliances, not every type of cooking.
Read the cleaning instructions for the model you’re considering, and only compare electricity use for the recipes and appliances that were actually tested.
Brands and models to know
Philips
The models featured here let you compare a single basket, stacked baskets and a flexible format.
- Philips lists a capacity of 4.1 L and dishwasher-safe removable parts for the HD9252/90; the NA461/00 has two stacked 5 L baskets.
- These features apply to different models, so check the space required and the cleaning instructions for the one you choose.
Moulinex
The Easy Fry models mentioned here have different capacities, making it easier to compare basket size and cleaning requirements.
- Moulinex lists a capacity of 7.5 L and a dishwasher-safe basket for the Easy Fry Compact EZ8618F0; the Easy Fry Max EZ2468F0 has a stated capacity of 5 L.
- The stated capacity doesn’t replace checking that the basket suits your portions and fits in your kitchen.
Ninja
The Double Stack XL SL400EU is an example of an air fryer with two vertically stacked compartments.
- Boulanger lists two 4.75 L drawers, giving a stated total capacity of 9.5 L.
- Despite the total volume, you’ll still need to check the available height and the size of each item of food.
SEB
The Turbo Délice OF275800 mini oven is a useful comparison if you cook in dishes rather than a basket.
- SEB lists a 30 L interior that can hold two dishes at once.
- Measure the space you have available: this capacity doesn’t prove that it uses less energy for small portions.
Dual-zone air fryers on Joybuy
These models are best suited to meals where you cook two dishes separately, using dual drawers or a flexible basket. If you mainly cook one small portion in a single zone, compare their footprint with a single-drawer model and your existing oven too.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7.6 L
Worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal in separate drawers. The stated capacity of 7.6 L is split between them, so check the recommended load and make sure there’s enough room for the food you usually cook.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, two drawers, 9.5 L
An option to consider when you need more room for two separate dishes. Its 9.5 L stated capacity is split between two drawers, so check their internal dimensions before planning to cook a large dish.
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12QT air fryer with flexible basket and 50 liners
The flexible basket may suit people who alternate between cooking one dish and preparing two separate items. The title lists a viewing window and a pack of 50 liners; check the appliance’s dimensions, recommended load and usable space in each configuration.
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Bear QZG-F24F1, two baskets, 9 L, 2400 W
Its two baskets are designed for preparing two items at once. The title lists a total capacity of 9 L and independent temperature controls; measure the space you have available and check the basket cleaning instructions before buying.
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COSORI TF101S Dual Blaze Twinfry, 10 L
Worth considering if you want the option of one large cooking area or two separate dishes. Its stated capacity of 10 L may be more than you need for small portions, so compare its footprint, usable capacity and cleaning instructions with how you plan to use it.
Frequently asked questions
What size air fryer should I choose for one or two people?
Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people. Also check the load recommended in the instructions and the size of the food: the stated volume doesn’t necessarily match how much you can cook in one go.
Can a dual-drawer air fryer replace a mini oven?
Not for every meal. Two drawers let you cook separate dishes, while a mini oven may be better for certain dishes and tins. For example, SEB says the Turbo Délice OF275800 can fit a 35 cm round dish, a 40 cm oval dish or two dishes at once.
Does an air fryer always use less electricity than an oven?
No. For a small quiche of the same size, Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by the air fryers tested than by the mini oven they compared them with. The result depends on the appliances and dishes, so it won’t predict how much electricity all your meals will use.
Are all air fryer baskets dishwasher-safe?
No. Check the instructions for the exact model and distinguish between the basket, trays and other parts. Philips lists dishwasher compatibility for the removable parts of the HD9252/90, and Moulinex does so for the basket of the Easy Fry Max EZ2468F0.
What can you do in France if an appliance doesn’t match its description?
If you buy goods as an individual from a professional seller, the legal guarantee of conformity applies, including when the appliance doesn’t match its description. According to Service-Public.fr and the Ministry of the Economy, it covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods when the lack of conformity appears within two years of delivery.