For one small batch at a time, a single basket may be all you need. Two drawers are better suited to cooking a main and a side separately. A mini-oven format is only worthwhile if you’ll actually use its shelves and functions. If your oven already handles small batches well, make sure an air fryer would offer something different before adding another appliance to store and clean — and whose fan can be noisy.
You usually cook for one or two people and make one dish at a time. A small basket could suit you, provided it fits your portions and you have a suitable spot for the appliance. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends taking its size into account.
You regularly prepare a main and a side that need different cooking times. Two separate drawers can make this easier, but check that each one will fit the food you have in mind. Moulinex and Philips offer models with a synchronisation function.
You mainly want to know whether you’ll use a new appliance often enough. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the overlap between air fryer and oven functions, as well as the space and noise to consider before buying.
Choose this if: you mostly make one small batch at a time.
Bear in mind: dishes that need different cooking times or temperatures will have to be cooked one after another.
Choose this if: you often prepare two separate foods to serve together.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split between the compartments, so it won’t tell you whether a large item will fit in either one.
Choose this if: you plan to use several shelves or cooking accessories regularly.
Bear in mind: this format could duplicate what your oven already does.
Stick with it if: it already handles your usual small batches with ease.
Bear in mind: you won’t get the separate cooking zones offered by some two-drawer appliances.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Small batches and available space | Compare your portion sizes with the basket dimensions, then check the space required and clearance specified in the instructions. | I usually make just one small dish and don’t want to keep my worktop occupied. Around 31% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Coordinating two cooking tasks | Check the capacity of each drawer and whether your chosen model has a finish-time synchronisation function. | My main and side need different cooking times, but I want to serve them together. This would be a priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| What you can do with a mini-oven | Find out how many shelves it has, which accessories are included and which functions you’ll use regularly. | I make a variety of dishes and would genuinely benefit from having several cooking levels. Around 15% of consumers would prioritise this versatility. |
| Duplicating your oven | Think about which small batches your oven doesn’t handle well, then consider storage, cleaning and noise. | My oven already does most things; I want to be sure I’ll use an extra appliance often. Avoiding duplication would be a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer performs many of the same functions as an oven, including baking, roasting and grilling. Its size, noise and upkeep are also worth considering when deciding where it will fit into your everyday routine.
Before deciding to add another appliance, note the small batches you make regularly and what your oven can’t easily do.
Two drawers can be different sizes. For example, Moulinex lists compartments of 6.5 L and 4.5 L for the EZ9428F0. Their combined capacity doesn’t guarantee that each food will fit in the drawer you plan to use.
Compare the shape and usable dimensions of each compartment with the dishes you usually make, then check the recommended load in the instructions.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that noise levels can vary between models and may be more noticeable in an open-plan kitchen.
If this matters to you, look for a noise measurement or independent test of the specific model.
Any comparison of energy use or cooking speed depends on factors such as the dish, the quantity, whether you preheat and which oven you compare it with. A result achieved in certain conditions won’t apply to every recipe.
Only compare results when the test conditions are clear, and start by choosing a capacity that suits your portions.
The Easy Fry range includes basket models, two-drawer models and oven-style models.
The Airfryer range lets you compare, among other options, a 4.1 L basket model with a two-drawer model.
The FW501815 Easy Fry Oven & Grill is an example of the oven-style format in the brand’s range.
These models come in a range of stated capacities, from compact air fryers to two-basket appliances. Choose based on your portions and what your oven doesn’t already handle with ease.
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Worth considering if you make one small batch at a time: check that the basket will fit the foods you usually cook. The product title lists a power rating of 1 150 W, a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket described as dishwasher-safe. Also check how much space you’ll need to set it up.
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If you want to use different containers for different dishes, compare their capacities and check what comes with this model. If you want to serve two foods together, check specifically whether it supports simultaneous or synchronised cooking; having several containers doesn’t confirm that it does.
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If you want to cook two foods separately, check the capacity of each zone and how much space the appliance needs. The title lists a total capacity of 12 L and 10 programmes, but this overall figure doesn’t tell you the usable dimensions of each compartment. If you want both dishes to finish together, check for a synchronisation function.
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The two baskets are worth considering if you regularly cook a main and a side separately. The title lists a total capacity of 9 L, 2 400 W and eight programmes. Before choosing, check the inside dimensions of each basket and how synchronisation works for the meals you make.
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Compare this stated capacity with the portions you actually make, especially if you mostly cook small batches. Check the inside dimensions, the space it needs and what it can do that your oven can’t.
No. As UFC-Que Choisir points out, its baking, roasting and grilling functions overlap considerably with those of an oven. Its main benefit depends on whether you cook small batches or need to keep two cooking tasks separate. If your oven already does what you need, you can stick with it rather than add another appliance.
Think about how many things you usually cook at once. A single basket suits one dish, while two drawers let you cook a main and a side separately. For the latter, check the size of each drawer and whether the specific model has a synchronisation function.
Not on their own. The basket’s shape, its inside dimensions and the recommended load all matter too. For an appliance with two cooking zones, check each one separately rather than relying on the total capacity.
Yes, particularly if you have an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir notes that noise levels vary between models, so look for a measurement or independent test of the model you’re considering.
Read the instructions and safety guidance for the exact model, then search for it on the RappelConso public service. A recall applies to an identified product; it doesn’t automatically apply to every air fryer.