If you often cook small portions, a single-drawer air fryer is worth considering if its basket genuinely makes cooking and cleaning easier than using your oven. A dual-drawer model is better suited to cooking two items at once, while a mini-oven air fryer is closer to the way you already use your oven. Before adding another appliance, think about the space you have and the meals you actually cook.
You mainly cook a single portion, a side dish or a small batch. A basket that’s easy to handle and clean may matter more to you than a large quoted capacity. Remember to measure how much space the appliance would take up, too.
You want to cook a main and a side dish using different settings, then serve them together. Two cooking zones can help, provided each one fits the amount you plan to cook and the model offers the settings you need.
Your oven works well, and you’re wondering whether to add another permanent appliance. If it already makes small meals easy to prepare, keeping the equipment you have may make more sense. A mini-oven air fryer is especially likely to duplicate what your oven already does.
If you cook small meals and already have an oven, start with the dishes you make most often: a single portion in a basket, two dishes cooking at once, or food on racks and trays. Then consider what each format would actually change in your kitchen.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Small portions and cleaning | Overall dimensions, usable basket area and which removable parts can be washed. | If I cook a small amount almost every day, I want to be able to find a place for the appliance and clean its basket without any hassle. Around 42% of consumers prioritise this convenience for small portions. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Each drawer’s capacity, independent settings and whether there’s a synchronisation function. | If I want to serve a main and a side dish together, I need two zones suited to different cooking requirements. Cooking two dishes at once is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Dishes cooked on racks and trays | Usable levels, dimensions, included accessories and how to clean them. | If I regularly cook dishes on a tray or rack, I’m looking for a cavity that can fit them. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Duplication of your oven and noise | How often you expect to use it, how much permanent space it needs and how noisy it is in comparable testing conditions. | If my oven already meets my needs, I don’t want to add a bulky appliance that I’ll rarely use, especially in an open-plan kitchen. Avoiding duplication comes before other considerations for around 16% of consumers. |
UFC-Que Choisir highlights capacity, ease of handling, cleaning and noise as key factors to consider. Its tests also show that results vary between models, so the format alone can’t tell you how well an air fryer will cook or how easy it will be to use.
The two appliances can be used for many of the same types of cooking. If your oven already handles your usual meals, an air fryer may simply take up extra space.
Think of a few meals you cook each week and ask yourself what a basket would actually change for each one.
Also consider how much space the appliance would permanently take up on your worktop.
Two zones are most useful when you regularly cook different foods in them. UFC-Que Choisir notes that cooking results can vary from one zone to another.
Compare the size of each drawer with the dishes you usually cook, and check for a synchronisation function if you want to serve both dishes at the same time.
The fan can be audible in an open-plan kitchen or a small home. UFC-Que Choisir includes noise in its air fryer tests.
For the model you’re considering, look for a noise measurement that specifies the distance and testing conditions, rather than assuming that a smaller appliance will be quieter.
The number of programmes tells you which settings are available, not how good the results will be. UFC-Que Choisir tests factors including cooking performance, energy consumption, ease of use and cleaning.
Check results for the exact model and for foods similar to the ones you cook before drawing conclusions about its performance.
The Easy Fry range includes both drawer models and mini-oven-style appliances. They offer different answers to the question of how much space you have and what you want to cook.
Philips offers dual-basket models for meals made up of different dishes.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands covered in French product tests. The Crispi FN101 is a different format from a classic basket-style model.
These models include a Crispi-style format, single-basket appliances and dual-drawer models. Compare them based on the size of your meals and whether adding another appliance to your oven would genuinely be useful.
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Worth considering if you want to compare the Crispi format with a classic basket-style air fryer for small dishes. If cooking two things at once is essential, check explicitly that the model can do this. Having several containers doesn’t necessarily mean it can.
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Its stated 2 L capacity makes it an option to consider for small portions. The product title lists a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Measure the available space before choosing this model for a compact kitchen.
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This single-basket model is worth comparing if you regularly cook more than a very small portion. Consider its stated 6.2 L capacity alongside the size of your dishes and the space you can set aside for it.
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The two baskets are designed for cooking two parts of a meal at the same time. Check that each basket is suitable for the portion you have in mind and that you have room for the 9 L model in your kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir reminds shoppers that results can vary between zones.
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The two drawers are worth considering if you regularly cook two different dishes rather than a single small portion. The title lists a total capacity of 7.6 L and six functions. If finishing both dishes at exactly the same time is important, check that this specific model has a synchronisation function.
It can be if you often cook small portions and the basket genuinely makes preparation or cleaning easier. If your oven already handles these jobs without any real inconvenience, UFC-Que Choisir advises considering whether you might end up with more appliances than you need.
Choose this format if you regularly cook two different foods using separate settings. Check the dimensions of each zone and whether there’s a synchronisation function if you want both dishes to finish at the same time. UFC-Que Choisir notes that results can vary from one zone to another.
Look for a test of the model that explains the measurement conditions. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 50 cm away and has three experts assess it as part of its testing procedure. A brief demonstration in a shop may not reflect how it sounds in your kitchen.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering to see which parts can be removed and how they can be washed. Think about the basket or drawers, as well as any trays and accessories you’ll use regularly.