Households cooking small portions
If you often cook just one part of a meal, compare the basket’s surface area and shape with your portions and dishes. The stated capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether your food will fit.
Who is this option for?
Whether an air fryer is worthwhile depends less on the size of your kitchen alone than on the portions you cook and what your oven can already do.
People with a small or open-plan kitchen
Measure the space you have in mind, including the clearance needed to pull out the drawer. Noise is also worth considering if you cook close to your living area.
Households that already have an oven
Work out which everyday cooking task your oven doesn’t handle well before adding another appliance. A dedicated basket or two independent cooking zones may suit a specific need; if you don’t have one, sticking with your oven is still an option.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the meals you actually cook, then see how each format fits your available space and your current oven.
Stick with your oven
Worth considering: your oven already suits the smaller portions you cook, and you don’t want to give another appliance a permanent home.
The trade-off: you won’t have a dedicated basket or two drawers with independent settings.
Single drawer
Worth considering: you usually cook one part of a meal or a small portion at a time.
The trade-off: two dishes that need different settings will have to be cooked one after the other.
Double drawer
Worth considering: you regularly cook two different parts of a meal at the same time, a use described by UFC-Que Choisir.
The trade-off: you’ll need to check whether you have enough room for both drawers and to open them.
Mini-oven format
Worth considering: your dishes call for an oven cavity, racks or trays rather than a basket.
The trade-off: check how much space it takes up and what it would genuinely add to your existing oven.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the internal dimensions with those of your dishes and food. Check the recommended load in the manual, not just the capacity in litres. | I want to cook my usual portions without overcrowding the food. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol includes four drumsticks or a dish up to 16 cm across, for example. These are test examples, not a guaranteed capacity for every model. |
| Number of zones | Check whether you need two independent settings and whether synchronisation is available. Look at the usable dimensions of each zone. | When two parts of a meal need to cook at the same time, I’d rather not run two consecutive cycles. If I mainly cook one dish, a second drawer may not meet any particular need. |
| Space and storage | Measure the appliance and the space available, including the clearance needed to open the drawers. Think about where it will go between uses. | I need to be able to use my worktop even when the drawer is pulled out. If I put the appliance away after each use, moving it also matters. |
| Noise | Look for a test of the specific model that explains how the noise was measured. Consider other appliances that might be running at the same time. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to know what the noise is like throughout a full cooking cycle. UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer’s fan can be an important factor when choosing one. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable, their cleaning instructions and how easy it is to reach the surfaces that need cleaning. Check these details for the exact model. | If I use the appliance often, I need to be able to clean the basket and accessories without the effort outweighing the convenience of cooking a small portion. |
| How useful it is compared with your oven | Identify the specific cooking task your oven doesn’t make easy. Then compare the steps and space needed for each appliance. | I’d rather keep just my oven if the air fryer would mainly do the same cooking while taking up extra space. UFC-Que Choisir warns against buying more equipment than you need. |
What should you watch out for?
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Assuming an air fryer will always replace your oven
Their uses overlap, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. In a small kitchen, an extra appliance could take up permanent space without changing the way you cook.
First, make a note of the smaller dishes your oven struggles with. Only choose a format if its basket or zones would help with one of them.
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Choosing based only on the stated capacity in litres
The capacity won’t tell you the size of the basket’s base or how much height there is for a dish or food.
Compare the internal dimensions and the recommended load in the manual with the dishes you cook. If you’re considering two drawers, check each one separately.
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Forgetting about noise in an open-plan kitchen
The fan runs while food is cooking, and UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering how noisy it is before buying.
Look for a test of the exact model that explains its method, rather than judging it based only on a short demonstration.
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Not noting the appliance’s exact model number
The model number helps you distinguish between versions and check whether a recall notice applies to your appliance. For example, RappelConso has published a notice for a specific model due to an electrical risk; this does not apply to all air fryers.
Keep your proof of purchase and the product’s model number. If a RappelConso notice matches your appliance exactly, follow the instructions provided.
Which brands and formats should you consider?
The brand alone won’t tell you how much space an appliance needs, how noisy it is or how easy it is to clean. Compare specific models and formats instead.
Philips
The Philips NA150/00 Series 1000 is worth considering if you’re deciding between one large cooking area and two separate ones.
- This configuration may suit meals that don’t always need the same number of cooking zones.
- Check the dimensions and cleaning requirements of the model you choose; its configuration isn’t representative of other Philips appliances.
Ninja
The Crispi FN101 format and the dual-drawer models show the different cooking setups available from the brand.
- Compare the size and shape of the containers or drawers with your usual small portions and storage space.
- Check the noise and footprint of the exact model rather than assuming they’re the same across the range.
Moulinex
The Easy Fry Silence Smart, Easy Fry XL Surface and Cookeo Infinity models come in different formats to compare based on your available space and the dishes you plan to cook.
- You can start by considering the cooking surface and the type of dish you want to prepare.
- A model being part of a range doesn’t mean it’s suitable for a small kitchen: check its dimensions and intended use.
Air fryers to compare on Joybuy
This selection mainly features appliances for cooking one dish at a time, along with a dual-drawer model and a Crispi format. Compare them with your oven and the space you have before adding another appliance.
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Ninja FN101EUGY Crispi
The Crispi format is worth considering if you mainly cook small portions and want to compare its containers with the portions you usually make. Check how much space it needs during use and for storage, as well as how noisy it is when running.
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Midea Air Fryer 2 L, 1150 W, black
This single-basket model is designed for cooking one dish at a time and has a stated capacity of 2 L. Its product description mentions a non-stick basket, dishwasher-safe parts and a 60-minute timer. Measure the space available and check that the basket’s usable surface area suits your portions.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7.6 L
The two drawers let you cook two parts of a meal at the same time, with separate settings. The stated total capacity is 7.6 L; also check how much space each drawer needs when open and whether you’ll use both zones regularly.
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Midea Air Fryer 4 L, 1500 W
This single-basket model is worth comparing with your usual portions if you cook one dish at a time. Its product description lists a 4 L capacity, eight pre-set modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check the basket’s usable surface area and the clearance needed to remove it.
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ROUNY T3 Air Fryer 5 L with viewing window
This single-basket model has a stated capacity of 5 L and a viewing window so you can keep an eye on your food as it cooks. Check that the basket shape suits your dishes, then measure the worktop space and clearance needed to open it.
Frequently asked questions
Will an air fryer always replace an oven in a small kitchen?
No. UFC-Que Choisir points out that their functions overlap and advises against buying more equipment than you need. An air fryer is worth considering if its basket or zones help with a regular cooking task that your oven doesn’t handle as easily.
How can I tell whether the basket will fit the meals I usually cook?
Compare its internal dimensions with your food, portions and dishes, then check the recommended load in the manual. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol includes four drumsticks and dishes up to 16 cm across, for example. These examples show why the capacity in litres alone isn’t enough to help you choose.
Are two drawers useful for everyday cooking?
They’re useful if you regularly cook two items at once with different settings. If you mainly cook one small portion, compare a single drawer with your oven instead and check how much space each option would take up.
How can I assess the noise before buying?
Look for a test of the exact model that explains how its noise was assessed. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the fans in air fryers; in an open-plan kitchen, also think about which other appliances will be running at the same time.
What should I do if my appliance is included in a safety recall?
First, compare its exact model number with the one in the RappelConso notice, then follow the instructions for the product concerned. A recall for a specific model doesn’t automatically apply to other air fryers.