A drawer-style air fryer can be useful if you often cook a small batch at a time, but it doesn’t automatically replace your oven. As UFC-Que Choisir points out, the two appliances have some uses in common. Before choosing a single or dual basket, compare your usual portions and dishes with the usable cooking space. Then consider how much room you have, the noise and how easy it is to clean. A dual-compartment model makes most sense if you regularly cook two things at once.
Whether an extra appliance is worthwhile depends less on how many people live in your home and more on what you cook and how often.
If you often cook a side dish, vegetables or a small quiche, compare the basket’s usable area with the dishes you normally use. Also check that the cleaning and fan noise are acceptable if you’ll be using it regularly.
A dual-compartment model can help you cook two different foods at the same time using separate settings, as described by UFC-Que Choisir. If your meals usually fit into one batch, check that the second cooking zone is worth the space it takes up.
First, think about the small dishes you’d genuinely cook in an air fryer. UFC-Que Choisir notes that it performs many of the same functions as an oven. You may still need your existing appliance for larger dishes or trays.
Start with a few meals you cook regularly. Their shape and portion size, along with how often you cook two things at once, will help you choose between a single drawer, a dual-compartment model and the oven you already have.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Basket and portion size | Compare the usable dimensions with the size of your dishes, not just the capacity in litres. Check the recommended load and instructions for shaking or turning food. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing, for example, includes chips with the basket two-thirds full. | I want to cook my usual portion, or fit a small quiche in the basket, without having to cook several batches. |
| Number of cooking zones | Think about whether two foods often need different settings and whether each zone can hold the quantity you need. UFC-Que Choisir describes dual drawers as a way to cook different foods at the same time. | When my side dish and the rest of the meal need to cook at the same time, a single basket would mean planning two separate cooking sessions. |
| Existing oven | Compare how often you cook small dishes with how often you make larger ones. In a UFC-Que Choisir test involving a small quiche, the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven. This result doesn’t apply to every recipe or oven. | I’d use the air fryer for small dishes I cook often, while keeping my oven for large trays and dishes that won’t fit in the basket. |
| Noise | Look for a test of the specific model and compare measurements taken from a similar distance. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering the noise from the fan needed for convection cooking. | In an open-plan kitchen, I’d rather know how noisy the appliance is while cooking than just read about its advertised features. |
| Cleaning | Check the manual to see which parts can be removed and how to wash them. Look up the care instructions for the coating and cooking area. | If I use it several times a week, I want to be able to clean the basket after each use without missing any awkward corners. |
| Space available | Measure the space on your worktop and allow room to remove the basket and put the appliance away. Don’t assume the outside dimensions from the stated capacity alone. | I don’t want to add a large appliance just to cook one small portion most of the time. |
| Cooking method | Know the difference between hot-air cooking and deep-frying in oil. If deep-frying is your main aim, compare a traditional deep-fat fryer too. UFC-Que Choisir presents it as a separate option for fried foods. | I’m looking either to roast and cook small dishes or to deep-fry in oil. They’re not the same thing. |
The stated capacity alone won’t tell you how much usable space there is for your dish. A dual-compartment model is most useful when you need to cook two things at once, as UFC-Que Choisir explains.
Make a note of the quantity and shape of three meals you cook regularly. Check that they fit in each basket before choosing a larger or dual-zone model.
For a small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average electricity use 36% lower with the air fryers tested than with a mini oven. The difference observed for this recipe isn’t a guarantee for other quantities, models or ovens.
If this matters to your decision, look for comparisons using recipes and portion sizes similar to yours. Also consider whether a dish would need to be cooked in several batches.
The fan helps circulate hot air. UFC-Que Choisir points out that it’s worth considering how noisy it is before buying, particularly if your kitchen opens onto a living area.
Look for an acoustic test of the exact model, and check the distance at which the noise was measured. Reviews of the same model can offer extra insight, but they aren’t a substitute for comparable measurements.
A safety recall applies to the specific models and batches listed in its notice, not to every air fryer. RappelConso has, for example, published a recall warning of a risk of electric shock due to possible moisture in a heating element.
Keep a note of your appliance’s model and batch number. If it’s recalled, follow the instructions published for the affected model.
These examples cover specific models or ranges. A brand name alone won’t tell you how much usable basket space you’ll get, how noisy the appliance is or how well it cooks.
In the Easy Fry range, Moulinex describes the Surface XL AL4018F0 as a 4 L model designed to offer a large cooking surface.
The range includes single baskets and flexible designs. According to Philips France, the NA156/60 can switch from two 3.55 L zones to one 7.1 L cooking space using a removable divider.
Ninja offers specialist models such as the Crispi FN101, as well as air fryers with two drawers. Consider how each model suits your needs individually.
This selection includes one model with two drawers and two single-basket models. Compare them based on the space you have and whether you cook one portion or two things at the same time. This selection doesn’t replace weighing up an air fryer against your oven.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal at the same time. This model has two drawers, a stated total capacity of 7.6 L and six functions. Check how much space it’ll take up and how much food you’ll actually put in each drawer when cooking small portions.
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A single basket is designed for cooking one batch at a time. The model name indicates a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. To check whether your dishes will fit, look at the basket’s usable dimensions rather than relying on the 4 L capacity alone.
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This 7 L single-basket model has a digital display and a viewing window. If you mainly cook small portions, compare its external dimensions with your worktop space and check how much usable room it offers for your usual quantities.
Compare the amount you usually cook and the dimensions of your food with the basket’s usable area, rather than looking only at its capacity in litres. In its testing, UFC-Que Choisir cooks chips using the recommended quantity and then with the basket two-thirds full. A quiche or pizza also needs a basket with a suitable shape.
Not for every dish. An air fryer can handle small, frequent cooking tasks, while an oven is still useful for large trays or dishes that are too big for the basket. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the two appliances perform similar functions. In its test of a small quiche, the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven, but that difference shouldn’t be assumed for every recipe.
Two drawers are most useful if you regularly cook two different foods at the same time using different settings, as UFC-Que Choisir explains. If you’re cooking just one thing, compare the usable size of each basket and the overall footprint with a single-basket model instead.
Unplug the appliance and let it cool before cleaning, following Moulinex’s care advice. Check the model’s manual for instructions on removable parts and whether they’re dishwasher-safe. Avoid abrasive cleaning tools on a non-stick coating.
Check its model and batch number against the details in the RappelConso notice, then follow the instructions for the product concerned. A recall applies to the specific models listed; it doesn’t mean that every air fryer poses the same risk.