An air fryer could be a good choice if you often prepare small or medium-sized portions and want a dedicated appliance close at hand. First, check how much space you have, the usable capacity and how easy it is to clean. If your oven or mini oven already meets your needs, especially for occasional meals or large batches, keeping it avoids adding another appliance with similar functions. A deep-fat fryer is another option, but it won’t help you avoid cooking in a bath of oil.
If you cook one small meal at a time, a simple basket sized for your portions could be a good fit. However, check how much space it will take up and how much food you can spread out in the basket. Que Choisir highlights the importance of usable capacity.
For family-sized portions or two dishes at once, compare the usable cooking surface and the benefits of having two drawers. Don’t forget to allow space around the appliance. According to Que Choisir, usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
If your oven already cooks, roasts and grills your usual quantities, ask yourself which regular task an air fryer would make more convenient. Que Choisir advises considering the risk of buying more equipment than you need before adding another appliance.
Worth considering: for regularly preparing roasted, grilled or crispy portions with little or no oil, if you have room in your kitchen for a dedicated appliance.
The trade-off: the advertised capacity doesn’t guarantee that you can cook a large batch in a single layer or get even results. Que Choisir also notes that some appliances are bulky and noisy.
Keep it if: it already handles your occasional dishes or the large quantities you usually cook.
The trade-off: if you find it inconvenient to cook small portions in your oven, keeping that appliance alone won’t solve the problem.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and cooking | Compare the basket’s internal dimensions with your food, and check the instructions for loading and turning it. | If I’m cooking several portions, I want to cook them without having to make multiple batches, while bearing in mind how much room they take up in the basket. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Usefulness compared with an oven | Before adding an appliance with similar functions, identify a dish you make often that your oven makes awkward to prepare. | My oven already handles most of my recipes; I only want to add another appliance if it genuinely makes a regular task easier. This would be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space and check the clearances required in the manual. If noise matters, look for a dB(A) measurement or an independent test of the model. | In a compact or open-plan kitchen, I need an appliance I can set up without it getting in the way, and whose noise level I’m happy with. Around 21% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Cleaning and precautions | Check which parts of the model can be washed and follow its cleaning instructions. With a deep-fat fryer, also consider handling hot oil. | After each use, I want to be able to clean the appliance without a lot of effort and avoid dealing with a bath of hot oil. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this. |
Que Choisir distinguishes between advertised capacity and how much you can actually cook. Its comparison also shows that, depending on the model, chips at the top and bottom of the basket may cook differently.
Compare the internal dimensions with your portions and check the loading instructions rather than choosing a model based on the “XXL” label alone.
An overfilled basket may mean cooking several batches and taking longer to prepare your meal.
Cooking, roasting and grilling overlap with what an oven can do; Que Choisir warns against buying more equipment than you need.
Identify a dish you make often that your oven isn’t convenient for. If you can’t think of one, keep the appliance you already have.
An extra appliance also needs storage space and cleaning.
A large-capacity model can be difficult to fit in a compact kitchen. Que Choisir also points out that air fryers can be somewhat noisy.
Measure the available space, check the clearances in the manual and, if quiet operation is essential, look for a dB(A) measurement or an independent test of the exact model.
Electric air fryers and traditional deep-fat fryers offer different ways to cook. Que Choisir’s guide highlights the issues associated with smells, cleaning and hot oil.
If you want to avoid cooking in a bath of oil, compare an air fryer with the oven you already have.
Deep-frying means handling, storing or disposing of oil after use.
Moulinex product listings include the 3.5 L Easy Fry Essential, the 5 L Easy Fry Silence and the 8.3 L Dual Easy Fry & Grill, which has two drawers.
Philips’ range includes the 6.2 L Airfryer Series 3000 and the dual-basket NA352/24.
Ninja is among the brands featured in Que Choisir’s French comparison, which includes the Crispi FN101.
These air fryers cover small portions, a single basket with a higher advertised capacity, and meals split between two drawers. Choose a format to suit the foods you usually cook, then check that it will fit in your kitchen and read the manual.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two dishes separately in different drawers.
The title lists six functions and a total capacity of 7.6 L. Check the internal dimensions, the space needed around the appliance and the loading instructions for your portions.
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Worth considering if two baskets suit the different parts of a meal you cook at the same time.
The title lists a 9 L capacity, 2,400 W and eight programmes. Compare the basket dimensions with your portions and check the manual for set-up and cleaning instructions.
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Worth considering if you prefer a single basket with a higher advertised capacity and want to see your food while it cooks.
The title lists a 7 L capacity, digital display and viewing window. Check the usable internal cooking surface, and don’t assume the advertised capacity means you can cook a large, evenly cooked batch.
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Its advertised capacity of 2 L makes this model more suited to small portions than large batches.
The title mentions a non-stick basket and dishwasher compatibility. Check the manual to see which parts this applies to, and how much space you’ll need to set it up.
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Worth considering if a 4 L single basket suits your portions and you’d find a reminder to shake the food useful.
The title lists eight modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the internal dimensions and cleaning instructions for the model before choosing.
Start with the portions you usually cook, then compare the basket’s surface area and internal dimensions: the number of litres alone doesn’t tell you how much you can cook. Que Choisir points out that a single basket may limit how much food you can spread out in one layer.
Not necessarily: it shares cooking, roasting and grilling functions with an oven. If your oven already handles your usual quantities and recipes, Que Choisir recommends considering whether you’d be buying more equipment than you need. A dedicated appliance makes most sense if there’s a regular task you find more convenient to do with it.
Follow the instructions for the exact model and let the appliance cool before cleaning. For Philips Airfryers, Philips Support recommends letting the appliance cool for about 30 minutes, using a non-abrasive sponge and avoiding metal utensils. Check separately which parts of your model are dishwasher-safe.
Read the model’s manual for installation clearances and instructions relating to hot surfaces and the power supply. The DGCCRF warns that electrical equipment can pose a risk of burns, electric shock or fire; always follow the instructions specific to your appliance.
Check whether spare parts are available and what repair options are offered for the model you’re considering. Moulinex says some of its models are repairable for 15 years, but this may not apply to its entire range. At the end of the appliance’s life, find out how to recycle electrical and electronic equipment rather than putting it in your general waste.