For small portions cooked one at a time, a single-drawer air fryer is worth considering; two zones can be useful if you regularly cook a main and a side separately. A mini oven may be better for larger tins and dishes, while a deep-fat fryer is the right choice if you specifically want to deep-fry. Before choosing, compare the recommended load, the size of your dishes and the space the appliance needs with the meals you usually cook.
If you mainly cook small amounts of vegetables, fish, chicken or chips, look at the usable basket area as well as its stated capacity. Also measure how much room the appliance will take up in your kitchen.
Two zones can be useful for cooking foods separately when they need different settings. Check that each compartment can hold your portions, and that the model can synchronise the cooking times if that matters to you.
For quiches, gratins, cakes or pizzas, the size of your tins and dishes may matter more than the number of programmes. Compare their dimensions with the cooking cavity and check how many cooking levels are available.
Start with the meals you cook most often: a small batch, two separate cooking tasks, a dish in a tin or deep-frying all come with different requirements.
| What to consider | What to check | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and space | Compare the recommended load and basket area with your portions; measure the space available with the drawer open. | If I mainly cook small amounts, I want a suitably sized basket that won’t take over my worktop. Around 36% of consumers would make this fit their priority. |
| Two synchronised cooking zones | Check the size of each zone and whether there’s a function to synchronise the cooking times. | When a main and a side need different settings, I want to serve them together. This would be the main requirement for around 29% of consumers. |
| A variety of dishes and tins | Check your dishes and tins will fit in the cavity, then see which cooking levels you can use. | If I often cook quiches, gratins or cakes, I don’t want the shape of the dish to limit my recipes. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this versatility. |
| Deep-frying in oil | Check the amount of food the appliance can take, which parts can be removed and how the oil is handled. | To get the results of deep-frying, I’m happy to store and replace the oil. This cooking method would be a priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The capacity of the basket alone doesn’t tell you how much food it can cook under the recommended conditions. In its tests on chips, UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the amount described as optimal in the instructions and a basket filled to two-thirds.
Compare the recommended load, the basket area and the dimensions of your dishes with what you usually cook.
Energy consumption depends on the recipe, quantity and appliance, among other things. UFC-Que Choisir measured lower consumption for the air fryers it tested than for a mini oven when cooking a small quiche; that result doesn’t settle the choice for every meal.
To compare two appliances, use the same recipe and a similar quantity rather than relying on their wattage or an advertising claim.
Two compartments keep foods separate, but each one still needs to fit the portion you plan to cook. A removable divider and two fixed drawers don’t work in the same way if you need space for one large dish.
If you mainly cook one large dish, first check the size of a model with a configurable basket, a large drawer or a mini oven.
A removable bowl doesn’t remove the need to store, filter or replace the oil.
Before choosing to deep-fry, check which parts can be washed and how you’ll dispose of used oil.
Tefal also says that the carbon filter on the Tefal Super Uno can be replaced.
The range includes single-drawer and two-drawer air fryers.
Some models let you choose between two zones and one larger basket.
The Super Uno represents the other cooking method to consider here: electric deep-frying.
These Joybuy models include air fryers with one basket or two zones, suited to different portion sizes and cooking styles. To choose between them, focus on the space available and how much each basket or compartment can hold.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook small portions and space is at a premium in your kitchen. Check the recommended load and the clearance needed around the appliance.
The product name specifies 1 150 W, a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket described as dishwasher-safe.
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Consider it if you alternate between small meals and larger quantities. Compare the usable size of the containers with your portions; having two sizes doesn’t mean you can cook in both at the same time.
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Worth comparing if the size of your batches varies. Its stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you the right load for every recipe: check the usable cooking area and overall dimensions before deciding where to put it.
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Its two drawers are useful when you want to cook a main and a side separately. Check how much food each can hold and how much clearance you need to open them; this format is less suited to cooking one large dish.
The product name specifies two drawers and six functions.
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The two chambers are worth considering if you want to cook foods separately. Before relying on being able to serve everything at once, check the capacity of each chamber, the space needed and whether there’s a synchronisation function.
The product name specifies a total capacity of 9 L and ten functions.
No. It doesn’t tell you the recommended load or the size of your portions. In its chip tests, UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the optimal quantity stated in the instructions and a basket filled to two-thirds. So compare the recommended load and basket area with the meals you cook.
No, this doesn’t apply to every recipe. In tests published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir found that the air fryers it tested used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven when cooking a small quiche, with the same quantity. To help you choose, compare the appliances using the dishes and portions you actually cook.
It depends on the parts and the model. Some of the Moulinex and Tefal appliances mentioned are advertised as having removable, dishwasher-safe parts; check the instructions for the model you choose to find out exactly which ones.
If you buy an item from a professional seller in France, the legal guarantee of conformity may apply. The Ministry of the Economy explains that it covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to an individual. Keep the product description and proof of purchase so you can raise the issue with the seller.