Choose an air fryer if its basket suits your usual portions and you’d like a separate countertop cooking option alongside your oven. Stick with your oven if its features and capacity already meet your needs. Before deciding, check the capacity of each compartment, the space needed when the appliance is in use, how easy it is to clean and how noisy it is. The advertised capacity or number of programmes alone won’t tell you whether it’s right for you.
You want to know whether a countertop appliance would offer something different from your oven. Moulinex and Philips product descriptions can help you spot overlaps between hot air circulation, fan-assisted cooking and grilling, but they don’t establish that the results or energy use are the same.
You’d like to split a main dish and a side between two baskets. Compare the capacity of each compartment with your portions rather than relying on the total capacity alone. Philips offers several basket configurations, including 6 L + 3 L and 5 L + 5 L.
Before setting aside space for the appliance, consider the portions you cook, its dimensions, how it opens and the airflow it needs. Bosch provides the dimensions of its models, while Labo Maison advises against blocking the ventilation, and Moulinex gives an example of how a basket’s usable shape affects capacity.
Consider this if: your oven already accommodates your dishes and can cook the way you want.
Bear in mind: you avoid adding another appliance, but you won’t gain a separate cooking station.
Consider this if: you usually cook one dish at a time and it fits in the basket.
Bear in mind: a single basket can’t divide two dishes between separate compartments.
Consider this if: you often split a meal between two baskets or want to set each zone separately.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is divided between the compartments rather than forming one large cavity.
Consider this if: you’re looking for a door-style appliance with several accessories or cooking functions.
Bear in mind: check that it includes the accessories you need, that your dishes fit inside and that you’re happy with how they need to be cleaned.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| A different use from your oven | List the ways you usually cook, the features your oven has and the situations where a separate appliance would be useful. | If your oven already meets your needs, you’ll want to avoid adding an appliance for tasks it can already do. Around 25% of consumers prioritise avoiding duplication. |
| Portions that fit | Check the capacity of each basket, the stated food quantities for the foods in question and, if needed, whether separate settings or synchronisation are available. | If you cook one or two portions, you’ll want the food to fit the format you choose and the basket configuration to suit your meal. Around 25% of consumers prioritise portion size and how food is arranged. |
| Space when in use | Measure the available space and check the opening clearance and ventilation gaps specified in the model’s instructions. | If your kitchen has limited worktop space, you’ll need to be able to use the appliance without blocking access or ventilation. Around 19% of consumers prioritise how well it fits into their kitchen. |
| Easy enough to maintain | Check which parts are removable, whether they’re dishwasher-safe if this is specified, and how to clean the interior. | If you want to keep post-meal cleaning to a minimum, you’ll want to know which parts are easy to clean and how to care for the interior surfaces. Around 19% of consumers put ease of cleaning first. |
| Noise in the kitchen | Look for a noise measurement for the exact model and check that the measurement conditions are comparable. | If your kitchen is open-plan or near a workspace, operating noise may influence your choice. Around 12% of consumers prioritise quiet operation. |
Two compartments divide the capacity; they don’t necessarily create one large cavity. The shape of the interior also matters for some dishes.
Check the capacity of each basket, its usable dimensions and the stated food quantities for the exact model.
A format that doesn’t suit your needs could mean changing how you divide portions or cooking in batches.
You need to be able to open the drawer or door and let air circulate without blocking the ventilation.
Check the dimensions when in use and the positioning instructions in the model’s manual.
Choosing the wrong spot could mean moving the appliance or rearranging your worktop.
Dishwasher compatibility applies only to the parts specified; the interior and heating element may need to be cleaned separately.
Check the instructions for your model. Philips recommends unplugging the appliance and letting it cool before cleaning. It also advises avoiding abrasive products where the manufacturer specifies this.
Cleaning the interior surfaces and accessories that aren’t dishwasher-safe can also take time.
Having an air fryer or hot air function doesn’t, by itself, prove that it will save time or energy in every situation.
Compare your oven’s features with the way you actually cook, then choose according to your portions, available space and need for a separate cooking station.
The documented French models include single-basket air fryers, models with two compartments and stacked baskets.
The documented range includes a drawer-style air fryer whose usable cooking area is worth checking, as well as a 20 L air fryer oven with accessories.
The MAF671C0 Series 6 is a documented example of a single-basket model with an illuminated window.
This Joybuy selection includes basket-style and container-style air fryers, including models with two compartments for cooking separate dishes.
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Its single basket could suit you if you mostly cook one dish at a time. The specifications list a capacity of 4.7 L, digital controls, an adjustable temperature of 30 to 210 °C and a dishwasher-safe basket. They also specify up to 500 g of chips and say it’s designed for 1–2 people.
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Its two containers in different sizes could suit you if you want the choice of cooking a smaller or larger amount. The description lists capacities of 1.4 L and 3.8 L, as well as dishwasher-safe parts. The containers and trays may be hot during or after cooking, so handle them with suitable protection.
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The two independent zones could suit you if you want to cook two dishes with separate settings. The total capacity of 9.5 L is divided between two 4.75 L drawers; the drawers and crisping plates are listed as dishwasher-safe.
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Its two independent zones could suit you if you want to cook two dishes, each with its own settings. The 7.6 L capacity is divided between two 3.8 L drawers; the drawers and plates are listed as dishwasher-safe.
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Its configuration could suit you if you want to switch between cooking one dish in a single basket and cooking two dishes separately. The description lists a 10 L capacity that can be divided into two 5 L zones and an adjustable temperature of 35 to 240 °C. Check the model’s dimensions to make sure you have enough space.
There’s no universal rule: check the food quantities specified for the model and how its capacity is divided between baskets. Philips states that the 6.2 L NA231/00 can cook up to 800 g of chips, but this manufacturer’s figure doesn’t apply to every food or model.
The amount of space needed depends on the model, so check its manual. Don’t block the ventilation and leave enough room to open the drawer or door. The external dimensions alone aren’t enough to confirm that a spot is suitable.
No, it applies only to the parts specified as dishwasher-safe. Philips support distinguishes between cleaning the basket and cleaning the interior and heating element; it recommends unplugging the appliance and letting it cool. For another model, follow its manual.
Describe cooking with hot air and the amount of oil added, depending on the food, without claiming it affects weight or offers nutritional benefits. Que Choisir points out that some frozen chips intended for oven cooking already have a light coating of fat: added oil and the fat naturally present in food are two different things.
The legal guarantee of conformity lets you take action if a defect was present when the product was delivered and appears within the following two years. Service Public distinguishes this compulsory guarantee from an additional commercial guarantee, which is optional. Keep your proof of purchase and check the seller’s identity.