An air fryer can complement an oven if you often cook small portions or want to cook two parts of a meal at the same time. If you rarely do either, or your dishes need a large cooking area, sticking with your oven means you won’t have another appliance to find space for and clean. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir found that some small recipes used less electricity in an air fryer than in a mini oven. However, this doesn’t mean the same will be true for every dish or your oven.
You regularly prepare meals for one or two people and want a cooking compartment suited to those amounts. UFC-Que Choisir suggests a simple 3 to 4 L basket as a useful guide for everyday portions for one or two people.
You want to cook two foods at the same time, possibly using different settings. Dual-zone models are designed for this, as long as each zone can actually fit what you want to cook.
You rarely cook small items separately and are unsure about making room for another appliance. The overlap with your oven, fan noise and cleaning all come into play, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If you already have an oven, start by thinking about how often you cook small portions. Then consider whether two zones would give you a distinct benefit. Finally, check how much space the appliance would take up and what cleaning it involves.
Worth considering: if you often prepare modest portions without wanting to use the oven.
Bear in mind: you may need to cook in batches if you’re making a larger dish.
Worth considering: if you want to cook two foods at the same time, particularly with different settings.
Bear in mind: each zone has less room than one large compartment, and the appliance takes up more space than a small basket model.
Stick with it: if you only cook small portions occasionally or your dishes need a large cooking area.
Bear in mind: you won’t have a separate small compartment for these jobs.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking small portions regularly | Compare the usable basket area with your usual portions and, where possible, check electricity use for comparable recipes. | When I regularly cook a small portion, I want to avoid running several batches. Around 45% of consumers may put small-batch cooking at the top of their list. |
| Cooking two dishes at the same time | Check the capacity of each zone and whether there’s a synchronisation function if you want both dishes to finish together. | If the two parts of my meal need different settings, I want to cook them at the same time. This could be a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Adding another appliance | Consider how much space you’ll need to use and store the appliance, as well as how easy it is to clean and how noisy it is in use. | My oven already handles everyday meals, and I’d rather not clutter the kitchen for the odd separate cooking job. Avoiding a duplicate appliance could be a priority for around 22% of consumers. |
An air fryer shares many uses with an oven. If you’d only use it occasionally, the space it takes up and the cleaning it needs may outweigh the convenience.
Before you decide to add another appliance, note which small cooking jobs you actually do in a typical week.
Two zones let you cook different foods at the same time, but each one might be too small for a wide dish or a large piece of food.
Check the usable capacity and dimensions of each zone, and whether the compartments can be combined if that feature matters to you.
The fan makes noise, and UFC-Que Choisir found differences between models. This can be especially noticeable in an open-plan kitchen.
Look for a noise measurement from an independent test rather than judging by the appliance’s size or a brief listen in a shop.
UFC-Que Choisir found that some small recipes used less electricity in an air fryer than in a mini oven. The result depends on the quantity, recipe and model.
Look for measurements that match the way you cook, and factor in any extra batches a small basket might require.
The range includes single-basket models and the NA154/00 with a flexible basket. It may suit you if you switch between cooking separate foods and using one larger compartment.
The Easy Fry range includes dual-drawer models for cooking two parts of a meal in the same appliance.
The Easy Fry range includes the Easy Fry Silence EY846HE0, which is presented with a focus on noise and cleaning.
These Joybuy models cover two possible reasons to buy an air fryer even when you already have an oven: cooking small portions and preparing two foods at the same time. Start by choosing the use you’ll genuinely repeat, then check how much space you have.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at the same time. The model name indicates two drawers and a total capacity of 7.6 L. Check the usable space in each drawer and whether the cooking times can be synchronised if you want to serve both dishes together.
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Consider it for regularly cooking small portions rather than larger oven dishes. It has a stated capacity of 2 L and a 60-minute timer. Check that the basket area suits your recipes and that you have room for the appliance in your kitchen.
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Worth a look if you want an appliance for small cooking jobs to complement your oven. Check the capacity and supplied containers for your portions; don’t assume that having several containers means you can cook two dishes at the same time.
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Worth considering if cooking two dishes at the same time makes another appliance worthwhile. The model has a stated total capacity of 9 L, two baskets and independent temperature controls. Check the usable space in each basket, the overall size and how to clean it.
Not for every job. An air fryer shares many functions with an oven, but its cooking compartment may not be large enough for wide dishes or big batches. It’s best viewed as an addition if you often cook small portions or want to prepare two foods at the same time.
No. Results depend on the dish, quantity and appliances being compared. UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven when cooking a small quiche of the same size. However, that result won’t automatically apply to your oven or all your recipes.
For everyday portions for one or two people, UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for a single basket. Check its surface area and internal dimensions too: a capacity in litres doesn’t guarantee your dish will fit.
Measure the space where the air fryer will sit, allowing room to handle the drawer, then look for a noise measurement taken while the appliance is running. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a quick listen in a shop may not reflect how noticeable the noise will be at home, especially in an open-plan kitchen.