If you often cook just one small batch, a drawer-style air fryer could complement your oven, provided its basket fits the dishes you use and you can keep it within easy reach. UFC-Que Choisir found that some small recipes tested used less energy in an air fryer than in a mini oven, but this doesn’t apply to every appliance or to your existing oven. Keep your oven as your main appliance if you regularly cook large dishes or use several shelves.
You regularly make a single portion or a small meal: chips, vegetables, drumsticks or a small quiche. An air fryer is worth considering if these recipes fit in its basket and you make them often enough to justify another appliance.
The question is whether a second appliance would genuinely change the way you cook. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer overlaps with some oven functions. How often you cook small batches, the size of your dishes and the space available matter more than any general promise that it can replace your oven.
In a small kitchen or open-plan space, check how noisy the model you’re considering is, how easy its removable parts are to clean and where you’ll keep it. UFC-Que Choisir has found differences in results between the models it tested.
Worth considering: for a regular small batch that fits in a single basket.
Bear in mind: it takes up extra space, and cooking results vary by model, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Worth considering: if you often cook two dishes at the same time using different settings.
Bear in mind: two baskets offer no obvious benefit for a single portion; each compartment needs to be large enough for the dish you want to cook.
Worth considering: if you don’t already have an oven and want a small appliance with a door and shelves.
Bear in mind: in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests, air fryers used less energy than the 19 L mini oven tested for some small recipes, but this doesn’t necessarily apply to all models.
Keep it: as your main appliance for large dishes, wide tins or cooking on several shelves.
Consider: if you only cook small portions occasionally, an air fryer may simply add an appliance that gets little use.
| Criteria | What to check | Who might prioritise it? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s width and height with your food or tins, then check the maximum quantities in the manual. The stated capacity in litres alone doesn’t tell you how much usable space there is. | If I make one or two portions, I want them to fit in one batch without having to choose an oversized appliance; around 42% of consumers might make capacity their priority. |
| Benefits compared with your oven | Think about the small recipes you actually make and look for tests covering the model and similar quantities. Energy savings found compared with a mini oven won’t necessarily apply to your oven. | When I already have an oven, I want a clear reason to use a second appliance regularly; around 33% of consumers might prioritise this distinct benefit. |
| Space and everyday use | Measure the space, allowing for the clearances specified in the manual. Also check how easy the parts are to clean and look for noise-test results for the specific model. | In a small kitchen or open-plan space, I don’t want storage, noise or washing up to put me off using it; around 25% of consumers might put these considerations first. |
It covers some of the same uses as a fan oven, but its basket may not suit large dishes or cooking on several shelves. UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying more appliances than you need.
Think about the meals you make most often. Keep your oven as your main appliance if most of them need its cooking space, and consider an air fryer for a regular small batch you can clearly identify.
A stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that your tin will fit or that food will cook evenly if the basket is too full. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes different quantities of chips depending on how full the basket is.
Check the internal dimensions and the limits set out in the manual against the food you cook. If you want to make two dishes, check the size of each basket rather than looking only at the total capacity.
If a recipe doesn’t fit properly, you may need to cook it in several batches.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, cooking results, energy use and noise levels vary between models and recipes. A brand’s stated features won’t necessarily reflect how you’ll use the appliance.
Compare tests of the exact model using the recipes you’re interested in, and check the testing conditions before you decide.
Electrical appliances must be installed and used in line with their instructions. The DGCCRF highlights potential risks, including burns, fire and electric shock. In France, the statutory conformity guarantee applies to goods sold by a business to an individual, according to the Ministry of the Economy.
Before buying, check who the seller is and read the instructions for the model. Keep your proof of purchase and the exact model reference afterwards.
UFC-Que Choisir lists the Ninja Crispi FN101 among the air fryers it has tested recently.
The range includes the Easy Fry Smart & Silence EZ572DF0, one of the models recently tested by UFC-Que Choisir.
UFC-Que Choisir lists the NA462/70 Dual Stacked 4000 Series among the appliances it has tested recently. Philips also offers the NA352/00, with two baskets of 6 L and 3 L.
The Cosori Turboblaze Chef Edition is one of the models to compare in the range reviewed for the French market.
UFC-Que Choisir lists the Braun MultiFry 3 HF3030 and MultiFry 5 HF5073 among the models it has tested recently.
These three single-basket appliances are options to consider for cooking small recipes in an air fryer. Above all, compare the space available in each basket with the dishes you usually make: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you what will fit in one batch.
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Worth considering if you make small batches in a single basket. The product title lists a 2 L capacity, 1150 W power, a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer.
Check that the basket dimensions suit the food you cook and that you have space for the appliance in your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you want a single basket advertised for one or two portions. The product title lists a 4.7 L capacity, 2000 W power, a non-stick basket and a digital 3-in-1 appliance.
Before choosing it for a particular tin or dish, check the basket’s internal dimensions. If you cook in an open-plan space, compare noise levels too.
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Worth considering if you want a single basket for a range of small recipes. The product title lists a 4 L capacity, 1500 W power, eight pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer.
Before buying, check the internal dimensions against the food you cook, along with the cleaning and installation instructions.
Not if you regularly rely on large dishes or cooking on several shelves. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer covers some oven functions. If you often cook small recipes that fit in the basket, consider it as an addition instead.
Start with the basket’s usable dimensions, not just its capacity in litres. Cuisine Pratique suggests 3 to 5 L as a guide for one or two people, but this isn’t a universal rule: measure your tins and check the quantities allowed in the manual.
No. The recipe, quantity and appliances being compared all affect the result. For a small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by the air fryers it tested than by the mini oven it compared them with. This figure doesn’t apply to every dish or to your domestic oven.
Read the manual for your model to find out how to connect it, how much clearance it needs and how to avoid burns. The DGCCRF notes that electrical appliances can pose risks of electric shock, fire and burns. Also check whether your model has been recalled.
Contact the seller and keep your proof of purchase and the exact model reference. In France, according to the Ministry of the Economy, the statutory conformity guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. It is separate from a retailer’s returns policy for change of mind.