In a small kitchen that already has an oven, an air fryer is worth making room for if it makes it easier to organise small portions or meals with two components. A single-drawer model suits cooking one item at a time; two zones are useful when you need separate settings, though they won’t necessarily replace a large drawer. Before adding another appliance, check how much room it needs when in use, its usable capacity and which meals your oven doesn’t quite suit.
If the appliance will stay out on the worktop, allow for the space it takes up when in use, with the drawer open and ventilation unobstructed. Noise is also a consideration in an open-plan kitchen, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
A single drawer may be enough for your usual portions; two zones are most useful if you regularly need to cook two items with different settings. Compare the size of each drawer, not just the total capacity.
Air frying serves a different purpose from deep-frying. If your main aim is to avoid handling hot oil and dealing with splashes, which UFC-Que Choisir highlights as drawbacks of traditional fryers, still check that the dishes you want to cook are suitable for the appliance.
Start with the meals you already make and the space you have, then decide whether one or two zones offer something your oven doesn’t.
Consider this if: you mainly cook a small batch or one part of a meal at a time.
The trade-off: you’ll need to cook items that require different settings in separate batches.
Consider this if: you regularly cook two items at different temperatures or for different lengths of time.
The trade-off: the total capacity is split between the drawers; also check whether the model can synchronise the end of cooking.
Stick with this if: your oven already suits your everyday meals, particularly dishes or tins that need more space.
The trade-off: if you want a separate appliance for small batches, compare how each would fit into your routine before using up more worktop space.
Consider this if: you specifically want to deep-fry and are happy to handle a bath of hot oil.
The trade-off: hot oil and splashes are still things to consider in a small kitchen, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and positioning | Dimensions with the drawer open; clearance and positioning requirements in the model’s instructions. | When I use the worktop to prepare meals too, I want to be able to use the appliance without losing that space. Around 29% of consumers rank positioning as their main concern. |
| Portions it can really handle | Usable basket dimensions and the recommended quantity for your food, not just the capacity in litres. | If one batch won’t cover my usual meal, I’ll need to cook another batch or use the oven. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Two separate cooking settings | Independent settings, any synchronisation feature and the size of each drawer. | If I want to serve two items together that cook differently, I’m looking for separate zones. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this setup. |
| How useful it is alongside the oven | The meals you actually make each week and the space needed if you’ll still be using the oven. | My oven already does the job: I’d only add an air fryer for meals it genuinely makes easier. Avoiding a duplicate appliance is the top consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and noise | Cleaning instructions for removable parts; noise levels assessed under comparable conditions. | In an open-plan kitchen, a noisy or hard-to-clean appliance may end up unused. Around 12% of consumers prioritise this everyday convenience. |
The capacity in litres alone doesn’t tell you how much room there is for food. In its test procedure, UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the optimal and maximum quantities, among other things.
Compare the recommended quantity, the basket dimensions and the portions you need for your usual meals.
Two zones make it easier to cook different items at the same time, but each drawer may be too small for a larger dish.
Check the size of each zone and choose this format only if you’ll regularly use both drawers for your meals.
You need to allow for more than the appliance’s dimensions: it must also be set up in line with the ventilation instructions. Moulinex advises against using its air fryers near a wall or water source.
Measure the space with the drawer open, then check the instructions for the model you’re considering to confirm its exact requirements.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer can perform some of the same functions as an oven. If your oven already suits your meals, another appliance will take up space without necessarily making them easier to prepare.
Think of the everyday meals you’d be more likely to cook in an air fryer, then decide whether that use justifies giving it space in your kitchen.
These single-drawer, interchangeable-container and dual-zone appliances illustrate different ways to cook everyday meals. How well they fit into a small kitchen depends on their dimensions, installation instructions and the portions you prepare.
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A single-drawer option if you mainly prepare small portions for one or two people. The product name lists a capacity of 2 L and a power rating of 1150 W. Compare the usable capacity with your meals, and check the dimensions and clearance requirements in the instructions.
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Its two glass containers, with capacities of 1.4 L and 3.8 L, let you choose a container to suit what you’re cooking, but they’re used one at a time, not as two independent cooking zones. Check which portions suit each container and how much space you’ll need to set up the appliance.
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This 4 L single-drawer model is worth considering if 2 L seems too small for your usual meals. The product name lists a power rating of 1500 W, eight pre-set programmes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Also check the usable capacity and the ventilation space required.
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Worth considering if you often cook two items with different settings. Its two 3.8 L drawers share the total capacity of 7.6 L. Check that each drawer can fit your food and that the appliance, with the drawers open, fits in a space that meets the instructions.
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This drawer, with a stated capacity of 7.6 L, is worth comparing with your portion sizes if you’d rather cook more in one container than split a meal between two drawers. The name “Compact Max” alone doesn’t tell you how much worktop space it needs: measure the area and check the ventilation instructions.
Don’t plan to position it there without checking the instructions for your model. Moulinex says its appliances should be set up on a flat, stable, heat-resistant surface, away from walls and water sources. Follow the clearance requirements for the model you choose.
It depends on your portion sizes and the basket’s usable surface, not just its stated capacity. Moulinex says its 3.5 L Easy Fry Essential can serve up to four people. Check the recommended quantity for this model and compare it with the food you actually cook.
Not for every dish: the zones keep different items separate, but they also divide up the available capacity. For example, the Dual Easy Fry & Grill documented by Moulinex has drawers of 5.2 L and 3.1 L. Compare the dimensions of the larger zone with those of the dishes you usually use.
Let it cool and follow the instructions for each removable part. Only put a part in the dishwasher if the manufacturer says it is suitable for the model in question. For the inside of its appliances, Moulinex recommends using a soft, slightly damp cloth and advises against abrasive cleaners.
Take this electrical appliance to an appropriate collection or reuse scheme rather than putting it in household rubbish. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition describes the country’s collection and recycling system for waste electrical and electronic equipment.