A single-drawer air fryer is worth considering if you often cook small portions and would rather not use the full-size oven for every meal. A model with two compartments is better suited to cooking two dishes at once; for large dishes or big batches, your existing oven is still the more practical choice. Before adding another appliance, check how much space it will take up, how noisy it is and how easy its basket is to clean.
An air fryer’s usefulness largely depends on how much you cook and how easy it will be to use day to day alongside your oven.
For vegetables, a side dish or a small meal, a single basket can save you from having to use the full-size oven. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 l as a guide for everyday portions for one or two people; also check how much space there is inside the basket for the dishes you cook.
Two compartments let you cook separate dishes, such as a side and a protein. If both need to be ready at the same time, check whether the specific model has a synchronisation function, as well as the size of each compartment and how much worktop space the appliance takes up.
Size and noise matter just as much as capacity if the appliance needs to stay within easy reach. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the fan can be bothersome in a small or open-plan kitchen. Compare the appliance’s external dimensions and look for a noise test of the model you’re considering.
If your kitchen is already equipped, start with the dishes you cook most often. Small portions, meals with two separately cooked components and large dishes don’t necessarily call for the same appliance.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook small portions and using the full-size oven for them feels excessive.
The trade-off: the cooking space limits the size of dishes you can cook and may mean you need to cook in batches.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook two parts of a meal separately and want to serve them together.
The trade-off: each compartment has its own capacity, and the appliance generally takes up more space than a single-basket model.
Stick with it: for large dishes, multiple trays or meals that would need to be cooked in several batches in an air fryer basket.
Bear in mind: an air fryer could be redundant if your oven already meets your everyday needs.
Worth considering: if you specifically want to cook by immersing food in oil, rather than an appliance for cooking or roasting a variety of meals.
The trade-off: hot oil calls for precautions against splashes, and can cause odours and requires oil-related cleaning, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usefulness compared with your oven | Note the size and frequency of your smaller meals. Compare the dishes and quantities you cook with the basket’s usable area, rather than relying on its stated capacity alone. | I often cook a small portion and would rather not use the full-size oven every time. If my dishes are usually large, I might simply be adding an appliance that duplicates what I already have. |
| Capacity and cooking | UFC-Que Choisir suggests a single basket of 3 to 4 l as a guide for one or two people. Check the size of each compartment in a dual model and how much food the basket can hold without being overcrowded. | I’d like to cook my usual portions without having to make several batches. A large stated capacity isn’t enough if my dishes don’t fit in the usable space. |
| Cooking two dishes | Check the settings for each compartment and, if the dishes need to finish at the same time, whether the model you’ve chosen has a synchronisation function. | Sometimes a side dish and another part of the meal need to be cooked differently. Two compartments would only be useful to me if that happens often enough. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space you have in mind and follow the clearances specified by the manufacturer. For an open-plan kitchen, look for a noise measurement while the appliance is running: UFC-Que Choisir notes that the fan can be bothersome. | I want to keep the appliance within easy reach without cluttering the worktop or being disturbed by noise while it cooks. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable, the cleaning instructions and whether the specific model’s parts are dishwasher-safe. | If I use the appliance several times a week, I want to be able to clean the basket without it making every meal more of a chore. |
An air fryer can cook or roast small dishes, but its cooking space limits how much you can make. A family-sized dish may need several batches instead of going straight into the oven.
Measure three meals you typically cook and note the quantities, then compare them with the usable area of the basket you’re considering.
Two compartments can hold separate dishes, but the capacity of each one determines what you can fit inside. They don’t automatically replace a large oven dish.
Check the size of each drawer and choose this style if cooking two separate dishes suits the meals you usually make.
The fan can be audible, especially in an open-plan kitchen. An appliance that’s difficult to fit in or take out may also be less useful for quick, small meals.
Measure the available space, check the clearances required by the manufacturer and look for a noise test of the specific model.
Air frying and deep frying are two different cooking methods. UFC-Que Choisir advises, among other things, against assuming that fresh chips will turn out well in an air fryer.
If deep frying is your main reason for buying, compare a traditional deep fat fryer too, along with the drawbacks of hot oil, odours and cleaning.
The features mentioned below apply to specific models. A brand name alone won’t tell you how much space an appliance takes up, how noisy it is or how well it cooks.
The NA154/00 is worth a look if you switch between cooking two dishes and using one larger cooking space.
The Easy Fry Smart & Silence EZ5728F0, listed with a 5 l basket, is worth comparing if noise and cleaning are important to you.
Ninja’s dual-drawer models are worth comparing if you often cook two parts of the same meal.
These Joybuy models include single baskets in different capacities and two appliances with separate drawers. Compare them with the portions you cook and the space you have available. If your oven already meets your needs, an air fryer isn’t essential.
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Worth comparing if you regularly cook small portions: its stated capacity of 4 l matches UFC-Que Choisir’s guide of 3 to 4 l for one or two people. The product name lists eight pre-set modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. If noise matters in your kitchen, look for a noise measurement for this model.
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The two drawers let you cook two dishes for the same meal. The stated total capacity is 7,6 l, but check how much usable space there is in each drawer too. If you want both dishes to finish at the same time, check the DZ300EU’s synchronisation function before choosing.
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This dual-drawer model has a stated total capacity of 9,5 l. Before choosing it for quick meals, compare the quantities you actually cook with the size of each drawer and measure the space you have available. Check whether it can synchronise cooking times if that matters for your meals.
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The 2 l basket is worth considering for very small portions, but it’s below UFC-Que Choisir’s guide of 3 to 4 l for everyday portions for one or two people. The product name mentions a 60-minute timer. Check that your usual portions fit in the basket and that its dimensions suit your kitchen.
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This 7 l single-basket model has a cooking window and digital display. If you cook small portions every day, compare its capacity with the amounts you usually make rather than choosing by the stated volume alone. Also check its external dimensions and cleaning instructions if it will stay on your worktop.
It can take over for small dishes that fit in its basket, but not necessarily for large dishes or big portions. UFC-Que Choisir points out that it can cook, roast or grill, but takes up extra space in a kitchen that already has an oven. Compare it with the meals you usually cook before adding one.
Two compartments are useful if you regularly cook two separate parts of the same meal. Check the size of each zone and, if you want to serve the dishes together, whether the specific model has a synchronisation function. UFC-Que Choisir includes this function in its testing of dual-zone appliances, using dishes such as chips and chicken drumsticks.
Follow the quantities in the instructions and shake or turn the food when the recipe or appliance instructions recommend it. Don’t assume that a large batch will cook evenly just because the stated capacity is high: how much food you put in the basket and which model you choose also matter.
Yes, especially if you’ll use the air fryer in an open-plan kitchen or a small space. UFC-Que Choisir notes that fan noise is worth considering, so look for a noise measurement while the specific model you’re considering is running.