An air fryer can be a useful addition to your oven if you often cook small portions and its basket size, noise level and worktop footprint suit your kitchen. Keep your oven as your main appliance for larger batches or dishes that won’t fit in a basket. If you want to cook two things at once, check the capacity of each compartment rather than relying on the advertised total volume.
If you often make a small dish that needs roasting or grilling, it’s worth comparing a single-basket air fryer with your oven. Check that your usual foods will fit and that you have a suitable place for the appliance in your kitchen.
Two compartments let you set different cooking settings for separate dishes. However, check the space available in each zone: UFC-Que Choisir notes that cooking results can vary from one zone to another.
If your existing oven suits your dishes and portion sizes, an air fryer may simply duplicate some of its functions. Whether it’s worthwhile depends on how often you cook smaller portions and how much space you’re willing to give it.
Start with the dishes you cook most often. Their size and the number of portions will help you decide whether a basket can usefully complement your oven.
Worth considering: for small, regular meals that fit in one zone.
Limitation: a larger meal may need to be cooked in several batches.
Worth considering: for cooking two parts of a meal with different settings.
Limitation: each zone needs to be large enough for its dish; UFC-Que Choisir notes that results can vary between zones.
Keep as your main appliance: for larger batches and dishes that are too wide for a basket.
Consider: buying an air fryer means adding another appliance if its smaller cooking jobs overlap with what you already make in the oven.
Worth considering: if you need a small oven cavity with a rack or tray rather than a drawer.
Consider: check the size of your dishes and how much space it will take up before adding another cooking appliance.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Compare the internal dimensions with the dishes you usually cook. If it has two drawers, check each zone separately rather than adding their volumes together. UFC-Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook. | Will my portions fit in one batch, or will I need to cook the meal in stages? |
| Electricity use | Compare the same recipe and quantity, including the total number of batches. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir found that, for a small quiche of the same size, the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than the mini oven tested. This result does not apply to every type of cooking or every oven. | I want to compare electricity use for the small recipes I actually make, without applying the result of one test to all my meals. |
| Noise and space | Decide where the appliance will go and look for a test measuring its noise while in use. UFC-Que Choisir highlights ventilation noise in particular in open-plan kitchens and small spaces. | In my kitchen, noise and worktop space matter just as much as basket size. |
| Cleaning | Check the instructions for your specific model to see how to remove and wash its parts. Also consider how easy it is to reach the basket and the surfaces that need cleaning after cooking. | I’d prefer an appliance that’s easy to clean as often as I need to use it. |
| Cooking results | Look for tests covering the recipes you’re interested in. With a dual-zone model, don’t assume both drawers will give the same results: UFC-Que Choisir notes that this isn’t always the case. | My usual dishes matter more than the number of programmes on the display. |
An air fryer can cook, roast and grill foods that you may already make in your oven. UFC-Que Choisir warns that another appliance can take up valuable space.
Make a note of the small dishes you usually cook and how often you make them. This will help you decide whether a dedicated basket has a place in your home.
A total capacity in litres won’t tell you whether a wide dish will fit in the basket or how much each drawer can hold. You may need to cook in extra batches.
Measure the dishes you use and compare them with the internal dimensions of each compartment.
The electricity measurements published by UFC-Que Choisir relate to specific appliances, quantities and recipes; they can’t predict the energy use of every meal.
Compare tests using quantities similar to yours, and take account of all the batches you’ll need to cook.
Ventilation can be distracting in an open-plan kitchen, while the parts that need washing affect how easy the appliance is to use every day.
Check a noise test carried out while the appliance is running and read the cleaning instructions for the model. Then decide where you’ll use and store it.
According to Philips France, the NA154/00 has a removable divider, so you can switch from two zones with an advertised capacity of 3,55 l each to one zone with an advertised capacity of 7,1 l.
According to Moulinex France, the 8,3 l Easy Fry Dual has one drawer with an advertised capacity of 5,2 l and another with an advertised capacity of 3,1 l.
The Ninja range includes dual-zone air fryers, a format worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at the same time.
These air fryers give you options to consider if you’re buying an appliance for small portions or for cooking two dishes at once. Compare their format with the dishes you usually make before deciding whether they’ll complement your oven.
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Its two drawers may suit you if you want to cook two parts of a meal at the same time. The advertised total capacity is 9,5 l. Check the internal dimensions of each drawer to make sure your dishes will fit, as well as the appliance’s footprint and noise level while in use.
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This two-drawer model is worth considering if you want to cook different parts of a meal separately. Its advertised total capacity is 7,6 l. Check the space in each drawer rather than relying on the total alone, then make sure you have room for it on your worktop.
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The two baskets let you cook a main dish and a side in separate zones. The advertised total capacity is 9 l. Check the internal size of each basket to make sure it suits your portions and dishes.
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Compare its advertised 4 l capacity with the small portions you cook. The model name also specifies 1300 W and eight programmes; the rated power alone doesn’t tell you how much electricity a recipe will use. Check the internal dimensions and cleaning instructions.
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Its advertised 4 l capacity may suit smaller dishes you cook regularly. The model has eight pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check that the internal size suits your dishes, and read the instructions for cleaning.
Not for every meal: its capacity may limit the size of the dishes and the number of portions you can cook at once. An air fryer can complement an oven for small, frequent cooking jobs, but UFC-Que Choisir points out that it also performs several of the same functions.
No. You can’t apply the results to every recipe and appliance. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured average electricity use that was 36% lower for a small quiche of the same size cooked in the air fryers tested than in the mini oven tested. Your results will depend on the recipe, the quantity and the number of batches, among other things.
Start with the quantity and shape of the food you cook. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 l for a family of four, while emphasising that usable capacity matters more than the advertised volume. If the model has two drawers, check the capacity of each one too.
Check the noise level while the appliance is running and decide where you’ll put it. UFC-Que Choisir notes that ventilation can be particularly noticeable in an open-plan kitchen or small space, and measures noise at 0,50 m as part of its test procedure.
Check the instructions for your model to find out which parts can be removed and how they should be washed. Also check how easy it is to reach the surfaces you’ll need to clean after making your usual recipes, rather than relying on the number of programmes alone.