Smaller households cooking small quantities
If you often roast, grill or reheat one or two portions, start by looking at a single-basket model. Check that its usable cooking area can hold your food without forcing you to cook in multiple batches.
Who is each option best suited to?
Households preparing several parts of a meal at once
If you want to cook two parts of a meal at the same time, a dual-drawer model is worth considering. UFC-Que Choisir describes this use, while noting that results can vary between zones. For four people, the organisation recommends at least 6 L, but you should still check how much of that capacity is actually usable.
Households that already have an oven
If your oven can handle the dishes you usually make and you rarely cook small batches, a second appliance may simply take up worktop space. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering how much the appliances’ uses overlap before buying one.
What should you compare before choosing?
Start with the recipes you make and the quantities you cook. This will help you decide whether to stick with your existing oven or consider a single basket, dual drawers or a mini-oven-style model.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| How you use your oven | Which recipes you already cook in the oven; how often you make small batches; and how much room another appliance would need. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the risk of doubling up. | My oven already handles my larger dishes. I’d only consider an air fryer if I’m likely to cook smaller quantities regularly. |
| Capacity and shape | Usable capacity, basket width and the dimensions of your dishes. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people, but notes that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook. | I want to cook my usual portions without making several batches. For a quiche or pizza, the available cooking area matters just as much as the stated capacity in litres. |
| Planning your meal | A single basket for cooking one dish at a time; two zones for cooking different foods in parallel; or racks and trays if your recipes call for them. With a dual-zone model, check the settings and results for each drawer. | If my two dishes need different settings, two drawers could be useful. For large dishes or cooking on several shelves, I’ll keep my oven as the main option. |
| Results and energy use | Tests using the same recipe and a comparable quantity; evenness of cooking; and the electricity used during cooking, rather than just the stated power. | I’m looking for results that suit the dishes I cook. In a test published in October 2024, UFC-Que Choisir found that air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven when cooking a small quiche, with the same quantity. This result doesn’t apply to every recipe. |
| Space and cleaning | Dimensions with the drawer open; ease of handling; removable parts and cleaning instructions; and how noisy the model is. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 0.50 m away as part of its testing process. | In a small kitchen or open-plan living space, I need to be able to open, use and clean the appliance without getting in the way of other worktop tasks. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Adding an air fryer without thinking about how you use your oven
The two appliances can be used for similar types of cooking. If you rarely make small batches, a new appliance may simply take up space and create extra cleaning.
Make a note of the dishes and quantities you cook during a typical week. If your oven already handles them easily, keep it as your main option rather than planning to replace it.
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Relying on the litre capacity or an “XXL” label
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether a quiche, pizza or your usual portions will fit inside. UFC-Que Choisir stresses the importance of usable capacity when assessing how much you can actually cook.
Compare the internal width, depth and height with the dimensions of your dishes. For flatter recipes, pay particular attention to the cooking area.
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Assuming every recipe will deliver the same results or energy savings
Results depend on the recipe, quantity and appliance. The difference in energy use UFC-Que Choisir observed when cooking a small quiche doesn’t guarantee the same savings for other meals.
Look for tests covering the recipes and portions you’re interested in, rather than choosing between appliances based only on their power rating or a general claim.
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Forgetting about noise and cleaning
An appliance you use often will be close at hand and need regular cleaning. Noise can also matter in an open-plan living space.
Measure the space with the drawer open, check the instruction manual to see which parts can be removed and are dishwasher-safe, and look for a noise test for the exact model.
A guide to the brands
Philips
The NA154/00 is an example of a flexible design: according to Philips France, its removable divider lets you use two 3,55 L baskets or one 7,1 L cavity.
- Philips says the removable parts for the NA154/00 are dishwasher-safe.
- These features don’t indicate how other Philips models perform or how noisy they are.
Moulinex
The Easy Fry Surface XL AL4018F0 focuses on drawer surface area. Moulinex France states that it has a 4 L capacity and can fit pizzas, tarts or quiches up to 27 cm wide.
- This design is worth considering if the width of your dishes matters more than a high stated capacity.
- Check separately whether it can hold the portions you want to cook: the stated surface area alone doesn’t tell you the usable capacity.
Ninja
The Ninja models featured below include dual-drawer appliances and a single-basket model, offering different ways to prepare meals.
- Two drawers let you cook two dishes at the same time. Check the controls on the model you choose.
- UFC-Que Choisir says results can vary between the zones of a dual-drawer air fryer, so the design alone doesn’t guarantee even cooking.
Air fryers available from Joybuy
These single-basket and dual-drawer models are designed for cooking in batches. Compare them with your existing oven, taking into account your portions, dishes and available space.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU — 2 drawers, 9,5 L
Worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal at the same time. The model name lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. Check the internal dimensions of each drawer to make sure they’ll suit your portions, and allow enough room for the appliance on your worktop.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU — 2 drawers, 7,6 L
Another dual-drawer option for cooking different foods at the same time, with six functions listed in the product name. Check what will fit in each drawer: the total stated capacity alone isn’t enough to tell you whether your dishes will fit.
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COSORI P651 Premium II Chef Edition — 6,2 L
This single-basket model is worth considering if you cook one dish at a time. Before deciding whether its stated 6,2 L capacity suits your meals, compare the basket’s shape and internal dimensions with your usual portions.
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Ninja MAX PRO AF180EU — 6,2 L
Consider this model if a single basket suits the way you prepare meals. Its stated 6,2 L capacity doesn’t guarantee that your dishes will fit, so check the basket’s usable dimensions before choosing.
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Cuisinart Compact Max AFS8OBLE — 7,6 L
With a stated capacity of 7,6 L, this air fryer may suit a household that cooks several portions in one cavity. Measure the space you have available and check the internal dimensions to make sure it will fit your dishes.
Frequently asked questions
Can an air fryer replace my oven?
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two appliances have similar uses and recommends avoiding unnecessary extra equipment. If your oven already handles your larger dishes and you rarely cook small batches, keep it as your main appliance.
What capacity should I look for if I’m cooking for four?
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four. Check the usable capacity and the shape of the basket too: the stated capacity in litres doesn’t tell you whether your usual dishes and portions will fit.
When are two drawers useful?
Two drawers are useful if you often cook two foods at the same time using different settings. Check the capacity of each zone and whether the model has a sync function. UFC-Que Choisir notes that cooking results can vary between zones.
Does an air fryer always use less energy than an oven?
No. The comparison depends on factors such as the recipe, quantity and appliances used. In a test published in October 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by air fryers than by a mini oven when cooking a small quiche, with the same quantity. This result can’t predict how all your meals or all ovens will perform.
What should I check to make cleaning easier?
Check the manual for the specific model to find out which parts can be removed, how they should be washed and whether there are any hard-to-reach corners. UFC-Que Choisir includes cleaning in its assessments. If one model is described as dishwasher-safe, that doesn’t automatically apply to other models.