An air fryer can complement your oven if you often cook small portions that fit its basket and would rather not heat a large oven cavity. If you mainly cook large dishes or several portions at once, keep your oven as your main appliance. For two dishes cooked simultaneously, check the size of each drawer before choosing a dual-drawer model. A traditional deep fryer meets a different need: cooking food in hot oil. Any potential electricity savings compared with an oven or mini oven depend on the recipe, quantity and appliances being compared.
For side dishes or individual meals, a compact air fryer can save you from using the full-size oven. Make sure the basket fits the portions you usually cook and that you have room for the appliance in your kitchen.
If your main dish and side need different settings, two drawers can help you serve them together. For this kind of use, the capacity of each drawer matters more than the total capacity alone.
For quiches, cakes, pizzas or large batches, the space available in each appliance may determine which one you buy. Compare your usual dishes with an air fryer's cooking space before adding another appliance to your worktop.
For everyday meals, start with the quantities and recipes you actually make. Your existing oven is still the best choice for large dishes. If you're considering a mini oven instead, compare the two smaller cooking spaces using the same recipe. A traditional deep fryer is a separate option if frying in hot oil is what you need most.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and batches | Compare the usable volume and the space the food needs in the basket. Que Choisir recommends 6 L as a minimum guide for a household of four, depending on the dishes you prepare. | When I cook for my household, I want my portions to fit without having to cook several batches. Around 31% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| A different use from the oven | Think about the small dishes you make often, then compare any preheating time and the number of batches with your oven or a mini oven. | If I often make a small portion, I want to avoid heating my full-size oven without buying an appliance that simply duplicates what I already have. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space available, including room to open the drawer. Check the manual for removable parts and reviews of the specific model for information about noise. | In a kitchen with limited worktop space, I want to keep the appliance accessible, clean it easily and be able to live with its noise day to day. Around 23% of consumers put these practical considerations first. |
| Cooking two dishes | Check the size of each drawer, whether the settings can be controlled independently and, if needed, whether the model has a synchronisation function. | To serve a main dish and side together, I need two cooking zones that suit the portions I want to make. This is the top priority for around 15% of consumers. |
Even a generously sized basket may mean cooking in several batches if the food needs to be spread out. The XXL label alone doesn't tell you how much room there is for your dishes.
Compare the internal dimensions, the guidance in the manual and the portions you usually cook. For four people, Que Choisir's 6 L recommendation is a starting point, not a guarantee that everything will cook in one batch.
Que Choisir's published results vary depending on the recipe, quantity and appliance used for comparison. A result based on cooking a small dish in an air fryer versus a mini oven won't apply to every meal.
Before buying for this reason, compare cooking the same quantity in each appliance, taking preheating and any extra batches into account.
A smaller drawer may limit the side or main dish you want to cook, even if both drawers have separate settings.
Check the capacity of each drawer and whether the model has a synchronisation function. If you mainly cook one dish at a time, compare it with a single-basket model too.
An appliance you use regularly should be easy to open, handle and clean without getting in the way in your kitchen. Que Choisir also assesses air fryer noise in its tests, as this can vary by model.
Measure the available space, including room for the drawer when open, then check the manual and reviews of the specific model for cleaning and noise information.
The Easy Fry range includes single-basket models as well as larger-capacity options.
The Airfryer range includes models with two baskets of different sizes.
The range includes single-basket appliances and DualZone models designed for cooking two dishes.
These appliances are options for buying an air fryer for meals at home. Some have two drawers to keep dishes separate; others have a single basket for everyday portions. Compare their size with your oven and the dishes you usually make before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two dishes separately in one appliance. The model name indicates six functions. Check the manual for the usable space in each drawer and whether the cooking times can be synchronised, if that's important to you.
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The two baskets may suit a meal with a main dish and a side. The 9 L figure is the stated total capacity, so check the space available in each basket and the features specific to the NA351/00 before relying on synchronised cooking.
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Compare this single-basket model with the portions you usually cook, rather than just the size of your household. Check the internal surface area and loading guidance to see whether your food will fit in one batch.
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Worth considering for cooking two parts of a meal at different temperatures. The product name lists 2,400 W and eight programmes. Before buying, check the appliance's dimensions, the usable space in each basket and the cleaning instructions.
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This single-basket model is worth considering if you're looking for a stated capacity of 7.6 L without opting for two drawers. Don't assume it's small just because of the name “Compact Max”: measure the space you have and check the basket's usable surface area against the dishes you want to cook.
It can handle some smaller dishes, but may not be suitable for your larger meals or big batches. Que Choisir points to the limited cooking space and the risk of duplicating an oven. Compare your recipes and portions with the basket of the model you're considering.
Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people, 5 to 6 L for three or four, and 7 to 9 L for five or six as starting points. Check the shape and usable surface area of the basket too: its stated volume doesn't guarantee your dish will fit in one batch.
No. The difference depends on the recipe, quantity and appliances being compared. For the models it tested, Que Choisir found that cooking a small quiche in an air fryer used less electricity on average than in a mini oven, when cooking the same quantity. This result doesn't predict what will happen with a large meal or a different type of cooking.
Check the manual for the model to find out which parts are removable and which can go in the dishwasher. Also make sure you can easily access the basket and cooking cavity, especially if you plan to use the appliance regularly.
According to the French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a consumer in France. If the product doesn't match its description or stated specifications, keep your proof of purchase and the product description so you can assert your rights with the seller.