Keep your oven if its capacity and cooking speed already suit your meals: an air fryer overlaps with some of its uses. A single-drawer model is worth considering if you often prepare small portions, provided you’re happy with its basket, cleaning, noise and the space it takes up. A dual-drawer model is better suited to regularly cooking two dishes at the same time.
If you regularly use your large oven to cook a small dish, compare the amount an air fryer basket can hold with your usual meals. Also check how much space you have and which parts need cleaning after cooking.
If you often cook two foods at different settings and want them to finish cooking at the same time, look at the features offered by a dual-drawer model. Bear in mind that it may take up more space than a small single-drawer model.
If your oven already meets your needs, think about which meals you’d genuinely use an air fryer for. Noise from the fan, storage and cleaning matter just as much as having a second way to cook.
For smaller meals, start with the dishes you cook most often before choosing a format: single drawer, dual drawer or your existing oven. It’s also worth comparing a mini-oven-style air fryer with your current oven, taking into account the shape of your dishes and the accessories you use. Don’t assume it will cook faster.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A use that’s different from your oven | Compare the dishes you cook most often with the basket’s usable surface and the model’s cooking instructions. Don’t assume you’ll save time or energy in general based on a single recipe. | If my oven already does the job, I want a second appliance to be genuinely useful for cooking small portions regularly. Around 36% of consumers would make this distinct use their priority. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space available, the room needed to open the drawer and the clearances specified in the manual. Look for a noise measurement taken while the appliance is running. | In a small kitchen or open-plan room, I want to keep my worktop usable without being bothered by the fan. Space and quiet operation would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Everyday cleaning | Check exactly which parts are removable and which the manual says are dishwasher-safe. | After a quick meal, I don’t want cleaning the basket and its accessories to outweigh the appliance’s convenience. Around 21% of consumers would put ease of cleaning first. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check the capacity of each compartment and whether there’s a synchronisation function, then consider how often you cook meals with two dishes. | When my meal includes two items with different cooking times, I want to be able to finish them together. This would be a priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Comparisons published by manufacturers depend on factors such as the food, the programme and the oven used. They don’t necessarily reflect the results you’ll get with every meal you cook.
If energy use is influencing your choice, compare tests using the same recipe and portion size, and take the cooking results into account too.
A large capacity or two drawers can be useful for cooking several dishes, but may be excessive for a small meal. On the other hand, a smaller basket may mean cooking in batches, depending on the shape of the food.
Compare your usual portions with the basket’s surface area, the capacity of each drawer and the appliance’s external dimensions.
The fan can still be heard while the appliance is cooking. UFC-Que Choisir particularly highlights this as a consideration in open-plan kitchens and small spaces.
If noise matters to you, look for a test carried out while the appliance is running, with the measurement distance stated.
A commercial warranty extension doesn’t replace the statutory guarantee of conformity that applies in France to goods sold by a business to an individual.
Compare the duration, exclusions and claims process for the extension with the legal protection described by the French Ministry of the Economy and the DGCCRF.
The Easy Fry range includes a small single-drawer model as well as dual-drawer models designed for larger meals.
The range lets you compare single-drawer models, adjustable compartments and stacked baskets, depending on how you put your meals together.
The single-drawer AF100EU can be compared with Ninja’s larger models with adjustable cooking zones.
These two single-drawer models are worth considering if you regularly want to cook small portions while keeping your oven for the dishes it already suits. Compare their capacity with your recipes, then check where they’ll fit and how they need to be cleaned before choosing.
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Worth considering for regularly cooked small portions if a 2 L basket suits the dishes you usually make.
The product details list a power rating of 1,150 W, a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket described as dishwasher-safe. Check the dimensions and clearances in the manual before choosing a spot for it.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a 3.2 L single drawer for smaller cooking tasks, but don’t assume this capacity will suit every dish.
Compare the shape and quantity of your portions with the basket, then check the manual for installation clearances and cleaning instructions for the parts.
Not necessarily. The two appliances have some overlapping uses, but a basket’s capacity may limit the size of the dishes you can cook or mean you have to cook in batches. If your oven already suits larger meals, consider an air fryer as an extra for the small portions you cook regularly.
Check the manual for the exact model and look for parts that are explicitly described as dishwasher-safe. Instructions for the basket or a rack don’t apply to the heating unit or automatically to other parts.
Yes, especially if you’re cooking near a living area. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the fan can be disruptive and that noise levels vary between models. To compare appliances, look for a measurement taken while cooking and check the distance at which it was recorded.
Read your model’s manual to find out how much clearance to leave around the air outlets and follow the handling instructions. A Joybuy product listing for the Philips HD9252/70 warns that the basket, drawer and air outlet get very hot. Avoid touching them during cooking and just afterwards.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual, as explained by the French Ministry of the Economy. It covers whether the goods conform to the contract and their description, among other things. A commercial warranty extension is a separate form of protection.