An air fryer could suit you if you often cook small batches and want an appliance dedicated to hot-air cooking, provided you have space for it and don’t mind the noise from its fan. If your fan oven already meets your needs, compare your usual portions and dishes before adding another appliance: Que Choisir points out that the two serve similar purposes. If you want to cook two dishes at once, check the capacity of each drawer rather than relying on the total capacity alone.
If you mainly cook small portions, it’s worth comparing a drawer-style appliance with your oven. Check the usable space in the basket: Que Choisir notes that a limited cooking capacity restricts how much you can cook.
If you’ll use the appliance near your living area, pay attention to how noisy it is when running. Ventilation is part of convection cooking, so look for a noise measurement for the specific model rather than relying on a ‘quiet’ claim alone.
A dual-drawer model could be a good fit if you want to cook a main and a side separately. Check the capacity of each zone, any cooking coordination features advertised for the model, and the space needed to open the drawers.
Start with the dishes and quantities you already cook, then compare the size of each appliance, the space it takes up in your kitchen and how easy it is to clean.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook small batches in an appliance dedicated to hot-air cooking.
Bear in mind: the basket size may mean cooking in several batches; Que Choisir highlights this limitation on quantity.
Worth considering: if you want to cook two foods separately and coordinate when they finish using a dedicated feature.
Bear in mind: each zone needs to fit your portions, and you’ll need enough room on your worktop to open the appliance.
Worth considering: if your dishes are better suited to a small oven cavity than a basket.
Bear in mind: compare the internal dimensions, compatible dishes and worktop space required with those of your current oven.
Stick with it: if it already handles your quantities and dishes without making your usual meals more complicated.
Compare first: a dedicated appliance may be handy for frequent small batches, but it will take up extra space. Que Choisir warns against buying more equipment than you need.
| Criteria | What to check | Based on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and space | Compare the usable basket area with your usual batch sizes, then measure the appliance and the clearance needed for its drawers. For a dual-drawer model, check each zone separately. | I want to cook my usual portions without making several batches or permanently cluttering my worktop. |
| Noise | Look for a test of the exact model that explains how the noise was measured. Que Choisir’s testing protocol, for example, measures noise at 0,50 m from the appliance. | In an open-plan kitchen, I’d rather know how noisy it is before deciding where to put it. |
| Cleaning | Check the instruction manual to find out exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe and what cleaning instructions apply to the basket and accessories. | After cooking, I want to know which parts will be easy to clean, without assuming the whole appliance is dishwasher-safe. |
| How useful is it alongside your oven? | Compare the dishes, tins and quantities you use in a typical week, as well as how often you cook small batches. Que Choisir points out that an air fryer serves similar purposes to an oven. | If my oven already suits the meals I cook, I don’t want to add another appliance unless it has a distinct, regular use. |
The total capacity doesn’t tell you how much food fits in one batch. Que Choisir notes that limited cooking space can restrict portion sizes.
Compare the space available in the basket with the dishes you usually cook. If there are two drawers, check the capacity of each one.
Convection cooking needs ventilation, which makes some noise. A brand’s claim that a product is quiet is no substitute for a noise measurement of the model you’re considering.
Look for a test that specifies the measurement conditions, and think about where you’ll use the appliance.
An air fryer cooks by circulating hot air. As Les Numériques explains, its cooking method is closer to that of a fan oven than a traditional deep fat fryer.
Choose one based on the foods you want to cook or roast, without assuming it will recreate every texture you get from deep-frying.
According to Que Choisir, an air fryer overlaps with an oven in terms of function, so buying one could clutter your kitchen without changing how you cook.
For a week, keep track of your small batches, larger meals and the sizes of dishes you use before deciding what a new appliance would add.
You’ll also need to set aside space to use and store it.
The range includes basket and dual-basket models, which you can compare based on your portion sizes and available space.
The Easy Fry range includes drawer-style appliances and different formats to compare based on the space you have and how you want to clean them.
Its drawer and dual-zone models are worth comparing based on the quantities you actually cook and the space they take up.
These models, with containers, two drawers or a single basket, can be compared for small batches and separate dishes. Their inclusion here doesn’t settle whether your current oven is all you need.
Image unavailable
If you want to use different containers for different batch sizes, check which containers are included and their usable capacity. To cook two dishes at once, make sure the model supports simultaneous use.
Image unavailable
The two drawers let you cook a main and a side separately. The stated total capacity is 7,6 L; check that each drawer can hold your portions and that you have enough room to open them.
Image unavailable
The dual basket may suit a household that wants to cook a main and a side separately. The 9 L is the stated total capacity: check the space in each basket and the appliance’s dimensions before choosing.
Image unavailable
Compare its 2 L basket with the small batches you usually cook: larger quantities may need several cooking cycles. The product title lists a 60-minute timer and a dishwasher-safe basket; check the model’s cleaning instructions.
Image unavailable
If you need to cook larger batches than a 2 L basket can handle, compare its 4 L capacity with the amount you actually cook. The title lists eight pre-set programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C, a 60-minute timer and a reminder to shake the food. Check the manual if cleaning the basket is important to you.
No. Que Choisir points out that an air fryer serves similar purposes to an oven and advises against buying more equipment than you need. Compare your frequent small batches, larger quantities and the dishes you already use before deciding whether a dedicated appliance would be useful.
Look for a noise measurement for the specific model rather than relying solely on a ‘quiet’ claim. Que Choisir’s testing protocol measures noise at 0,50 m; also consider where you’ll use the appliance.
Don’t assume this applies to every model or all its parts. Philips says that the basket and removable plate of some of its dual-basket models are dishwasher-safe; check the manual for the model you choose to see which parts this applies to.
ADEME lists local options for repairing, reusing, reselling and recycling electrical and electronic equipment. First check the condition of your appliance so you can choose the right option.