An air fryer can come in handy if you often make small portions and don’t want to use a full-sized oven. A single drawer suits cooking one batch at a time, while two drawers let you cook a main and a side separately. If your oven already meets your needs, weigh up whether an extra appliance is worthwhile, taking into account the space available, usable capacity, noise and cleaning.
You cook for one or two people, or reheat small portions, and don’t want to use a full-sized oven for every meal. A drawer-style appliance could suit you, provided its usable capacity fits your dishes and you have a suitable spot on your worktop.
You want to cook a main and a side with separate settings. A dual-drawer model could be a good fit; check the size of each drawer and whether it has a synchronisation function if you want to serve both dishes at the same time.
In a small kitchen or open-plan space, the room needed to open the drawer, how easy the parts are to clean and the fan noise can matter just as much as the stated capacity. UFC-Que Choisir highlights noise as one of the criteria to consider.
First decide whether you need one cooking cavity, two separate cooking zones or rack-style cooking. Then compare the usable space and installation requirements rather than relying on the stated capacity alone.
Choose this if: you usually cook just one small batch.
Bear in mind: you may need to cook separate dishes in more than one batch.
Choose this if: you regularly cook a main and a side with different settings.
Bear in mind: two compartments don’t necessarily combine to make one large cavity for a bigger dish.
Consider this if: your dishes call for racks or trays rather than drawers.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to find space for it on your worktop.
Stick with it if: it suits the dishes you usually make and an extra appliance would mostly duplicate what you have.
Weigh this up: tests by UFC-Que Choisir show that, for some small recipes, an air fryer can use less electricity than a mini oven, but this won’t apply to every type of cooking.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Small batches | Compare your usual portions with the usable capacity and the dishes the appliance can hold. | If I often cook a small portion, I want to avoid using a full-sized oven for every meal. Around 36% of consumers put this need first. |
| Two cooking zones | Check for independent settings, synchronisation and the capacity of each drawer. | If I want to serve a main and a side together, I’m looking for two zones suited to their respective cooking requirements. This is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Usable capacity | Check the internal dimensions and the maximum amount recommended for your recipes. | When I make larger dishes, I prefer a cavity that can hold them without needing several batches. This is the main priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Everyday use | Measure the space needed with the drawer open, and consider cleaning and noise. | In a compact or open-plan kitchen, I don’t want an appliance to block the way, be a pain to clean or drown out conversation. Around 14% of consumers prioritise these considerations. |
A capacity in litres doesn’t tell you whether your tin will fit in the cavity or how much food you can cook in line with the instructions.
Compare the internal dimensions and recommended quantities with the dishes you usually make. For a dual-drawer model, check each compartment separately.
An uneven split can work well for a main and a side, but not for two dishes of the same size. Fixed drawers also won’t let you fit one large dish across both.
Check how the capacity is divided, the settings for each zone and, if you need it, whether there’s a synchronisation function or a removable divider.
A small cavity won’t suit every dish size. The differences in energy use observed by UFC-Que Choisir also depend on the recipe and the models being compared.
Start with the dishes you make often; keep your oven for anything that’s too large or too much for the appliance’s usable capacity.
An appliance may fit on your worktop but still not have enough clearance to pull out the drawer. Its fan may also be disruptive in an open-plan kitchen.
Measure the space with the appliance in use, check the clearance required in the instructions and see which removable parts can be washed in the way that suits your routine.
The Easy Fry range includes single- and dual-drawer formats; compare how the cooking zones are divided to suit the dishes you make.
The brand offers dual-basket models with different layouts; the right choice depends on the size of each dish and whether you need one large cooking zone.
Compare Ninja models individually rather than assuming how they’ll perform or how noisy they’ll be based on the brand alone.
The Turboblaze Chef Edition features in UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer comparison; check the results and specifications for the particular model you’re interested in.
These Joybuy models are mainly suited to small batches in a drawer or container, while the last one lets you cook in two drawers. Compare the format with your usual portions before choosing; an oven-style appliance or your existing oven will suit other types of dishes.
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Worth considering if you want to match the container to the size of your small batches. Check that each one fits the dishes you usually make and, if you have an open-plan kitchen, look up the noise information for this variant.
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A single-basket model to consider for small portions. Its stated capacity is 3,2 L; check how much you can actually fit inside and how much clearance the appliance needs.
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Worth considering for a small batch if your dishes fit in its 2 L basket. The title lists a power rating of 1150 W and a 60-minute timer; check which parts are covered by the stated dishwasher compatibility.
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The single 4 L basket is worth comparing with your usual portions if the 2 L format feels too small. The title lists a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer; check the recommended quantities and how to care for the removable parts in the instructions.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal. The stated total capacity is 7,6 L: check the space available in each drawer, the external dimensions and whether it has a synchronisation function if you want to serve both dishes together.
No. The recipe, quantity and appliances being compared all affect the result. For a small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by the air fryers tested than by a mini oven. This doesn’t predict the result for every dish or for your oven.
One drawer is suited to cooking a single small batch; consider two drawers if you often cook a main and a side separately. If so, check the capacity of each zone and whether the model has a synchronisation function, rather than relying on its total capacity alone.
Unplug the appliance and let it cool before following the instructions in its manual. Moulinex recommends avoiding metal scouring pads and hard brushes on non-stick coatings; check which removable parts are dishwasher-safe for each model.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies to a new air fryer bought from a professional seller if it has a lack of conformity. The French Ministry of the Economy states that you have two years to exercise this right; keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller.