A single-drawer air fryer can be useful if you often prepare small portions, while a dual-drawer model lets you cook two parts of a meal separately. Keep your oven if it already suits your dishes and batch sizes. If you’re specifically looking for deep-frying, a traditional deep fryer is a different way to cook. Before adding another appliance, check the space available, the usable basket size, noise levels and cleaning requirements.
A single drawer can be a good fit for cooking, roasting or reheating one or two portions. However, compare the space it takes up with how you already use your oven, and consider noise levels and cleaning, too.
A dual-drawer model lets you cook a main and a side separately. Check the size of each compartment: the stated total capacity doesn’t tell you whether each one will fit your portions.
If your oven covers your usual cooking needs, consider whether frequent small batches would justify another appliance. Que Choisir advises against buying more appliances than you need when your oven already does the same jobs.
Worth considering: for frequent small batches in a dedicated basket.
Bear in mind: two dishes that need different settings may have to be cooked one after the other.
Worth considering: for cooking a main and a side separately; some models offer a feature to synchronise the end of cooking.
Bear in mind: two compartments don’t make up one large cooking cavity.
Best for: large dishes, baking trays or when your existing oven already suits your meals.
Consider: an additional appliance should meet a regular need, not simply duplicate a cooking method you already have.
Worth considering: if you’re looking for food to be deep-fried in oil rather than cooked with hot air.
Bear in mind: using and handling oil are part of this cooking method.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| How it compares with your oven | Compare the dishes you usually make, your batch sizes and how often you cook small portions. Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can do jobs your oven already handles. | Does my oven already suit most of my meals, or do I often need to prepare small portions separately? |
| Capacity and space | Look at the shape and usable size of each basket, then measure the space you have available. For a dual-drawer model, don’t rely on the total capacity alone. | I want to prepare my usual portions without cooking multiple batches or cluttering the worktop. |
| Cooking performance and noise | Look for tests covering a range of foods and, if noise matters, a measurement that specifies the distance. Que Choisir notes that cooking results vary between models and highlights the noise from the fan. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise matters as much to me as the food on my plate. |
| Cleaning | Check which removable parts get dirty and whether they’re dishwasher-safe for the specific model. Also read the cleaning instructions. | After an everyday meal, I want to be able to clean the parts I’ve used without any hassle. |
| Cooking method | Know the difference between hot-air circulation and deep-frying in oil. Don’t assume they’ll give the same results for every food. | Am I mainly looking for deep-frying in oil, or do I also want to cook, roast and reheat with hot air? |
| Energy use | Compare measurements for the same recipe and quantity, with preheating conditions clearly stated. Don’t assume results for a small batch apply to every meal. | I want to judge energy use based on the dishes I actually make, rather than a general claim. |
It cooks with hot air, but its basket may not be suitable for large dishes or baking trays. Another appliance also takes up space if you rarely use it.
Make a note of the dishes and quantities you prepare over a week. Then identify which ones would genuinely benefit from a separate basket.
The compartments may be different sizes. A total capacity in litres doesn’t guarantee that your largest ingredient will fit in the compartment you plan to use.
Check the dimensions of each basket and measure the space around the appliance.
If the baskets are too small for your portions, you may have to cook several batches.
Que Choisir has found differences in results between models, particularly when cooking chips, and notes that the fan can be noisy.
If these points matter to you, look for independent tests covering a range of foods and noise measurements taken at a specified distance.
Comparisons with an oven vary according to the recipe, quantity, preheating and the appliances being compared.
Check the conditions used for energy measurements before comparing them with your own batches.
The Easy Fry range includes different formats and, depending on the model, options with two cooking zones.
The Airfryer range includes single-basket and dual-basket appliances, with features that vary by model.
When choosing a Ninja air fryer, compare the specifications of the exact model with your portion sizes and available space.
This selection on Joybuy includes dual-drawer air fryers, single-basket models in different capacities and an appliance with interchangeable containers. Start by choosing the format that suits your batch sizes. These products are not ovens or deep fryers of the kind discussed above.
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The two drawers let you prepare a main and a side in separate compartments. The product name states a total capacity of 9,5 L and dishwasher-safe baskets. Check that each basket is the right size for your dishes and that the appliance will fit in your kitchen; don’t assume it has a feature to synchronise the end of cooking.
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The dual baskets are designed for meals made up of two dishes. The stated capacity is 9 L in total, so check the usable size of each basket for the food you plan to cook. If you want both cooking cycles to finish at the same time, check how this feature works on the NA351/00 model.
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The 2 L basket makes this model better suited to small batches, so compare its capacity with your usual portions. Its name specifies a 60-minute timer and a non-stick, dishwasher-safe basket. Measure the space where you plan to put it before choosing this size.
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The stated capacity of 7,6 L is worth considering if you cook larger batches than a small basket can hold. Check that the basket shape suits the food you usually cook and that the outer dimensions fit your worktop; capacity in litres alone doesn’t determine how many portions you can make.
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This model may suit households that want to switch between container sizes depending on the batch. Check which container is right for your portions and how it’s used with the appliance: having two containers doesn’t mean you can cook two batches at the same time.
No, not for every use. An air fryer can cook, roast or grill with hot air, but its basket size limits the large dishes and baking trays it can accommodate. Que Choisir recommends avoiding an extra appliance if your oven already does what you need; focus on how often you cook small batches.
No. Check the basket shape, the size of each compartment in a dual-drawer model and the appliance’s outer dimensions. Que Choisir warns that stated capacities can be misleading and some larger models take up a lot of space. Philips, for example, says that the NA352/04’s 9 L capacity is split between 6 L and 3 L compartments. Don’t assume other models have the same layout.
Look for a test that specifies the measurement distance and covers the model you’re considering. Que Choisir measures noise at 50 cm and notes that the fan is worth bearing in mind in an open-plan kitchen or small space.
Check the instructions for the specific model to see which removable parts get dirty and are dishwasher-safe. A dishwasher-safe basket doesn’t mean every part of the appliance can go in the dishwasher.