An air fryer can be a useful addition to an oven if you often cook small portions separately or need to cook two dishes at the same time. If you mainly make large dishes or big batches, stick with your oven: an extra appliance could end up duplicating what you already have, while taking up space and adding noise and cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this overlap in what the two appliances can do.
Your oven remains free for larger dishes, while a smaller cooking chamber can be used for portions, side dishes or reheating food separately. Whether it is worthwhile depends on how often you would actually use it, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If two foods need different cooking times, a model with two cooking zones may be worth considering. However, compare the usable capacity of each drawer and the space the appliance will take up before deciding that you can use your oven less for larger meals.
In a small or open-plan kitchen, you need to be able to use the appliance and, if necessary, put it away without it getting in the way. The clearance required in the instructions and the noise from the fan matter just as much as its apparent size.
Start with the jobs your oven already does, then choose a format only if a complementary use comes up often enough to justify the space it takes up.
Worth considering: for small portions you prepare regularly without needing to use the oven.
Bear in mind: larger quantities may need to be cooked in batches.
Worth considering: if you often serve two separate dishes or several portions at once.
Bear in mind: a higher stated capacity doesn’t guarantee enough usable space for your food or a size that works for your kitchen.
Stick with it: if you mainly cook large dishes and don’t often need to cook something separately.
Bear in mind: a small dish will take up space in the oven rather than having its own cooking chamber.
Worth considering: if traditional deep frying is more important to you than having a small, versatile cooking chamber.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the oil, odours and cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that chips cooked in a deep fat fryer are different from those made in an air fryer.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A separate use from your oven | Identify the small dishes you make regularly and the occasions when independent cooking would be useful. | If you use your oven for large dishes, a portion you can cook separately may justify having a second appliance. Around 30% of consumers prioritise having a separate option for small-scale cooking. |
| Capacity and cooking at the same time | Compare each drawer’s usable capacity with your usual portions and check whether you need two separate settings. | If you want to serve several people without cooking in multiple batches, or finish two items at the same time, basket size becomes a key factor. Capacity or cooking multiple items at once is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Space and installation | Measure the available space, room to open the drawer and the clearance specified in the model’s instructions. | An already crowded worktop can make the appliance impractical, even if its capacity suits your portions. Around 20% of consumers prioritise available space and installation in line with the instructions. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe according to the instructions, and look for a noise measurement if you have an open-plan kitchen. | If you often use the appliance near your living area, the fan and cleaning after cooking may influence your choice. For around 20% of consumers, ease of cleaning and low noise come before other considerations. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can duplicate what an oven does. If you don’t often cook small dishes separately, it may be hard to justify the extra space it takes up.
Make a note of the meals when your oven is busy or inconvenient to use, then ask yourself how often those situations really come up.
The appliance will take up space on your worktop or in storage for the long term.
The stated capacity alone won’t tell you how much of the food you usually cook will fit in the basket without being packed too tightly.
Look at each drawer separately and compare its usable surface area with the portions you prepare most often.
A basket that’s the wrong size may mean extra batches, while a larger appliance will also take up more space.
The appliance’s dimensions don’t always account for all the space it needs to work safely. For example, the instructions for the Moulinex Easy Fry Max specify at least 15 cm of clearance around this model.
Measure the space and follow the instructions for the model you choose. Don’t assume that the same clearance applies to every appliance.
UFC-Que Choisir identifies fan noise as a factor to consider, particularly in an open-plan kitchen. Removable, washable parts don’t mean you can skip the instructions for cleaning the inside.
Look for a review that includes a noise measurement, and check the cleaning instructions for each part of the model.
Allow time to remove food residue after use, and consider whether the noise during cooking could be disruptive.
The range includes single-basket and dual-drawer models, so compare them based on your portions and the space you have available.
The range includes single-basket models and dual-drawer options for cooking different dishes separately.
Dual-drawer models are worth considering if your main requirement is to prepare two items separately.
These Joybuy models cover small portions, large-capacity baskets and dual-drawer appliances. Choose one based on what your oven doesn’t already do, then check that you have enough space and read the installation instructions for the model you’re considering.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare two items separately from your oven or cook several portions. The model name indicates two drawers and six functions. Before buying, check the space needed to open the drawers, the specified clearance and whether the stated voltage is compatible with your installation.
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Worth considering if you’re more interested in cooking two separate dishes than preparing a single small portion. The model name indicates two drawers, a total capacity of 7,6 L and six functions. Check the DZ300EU instructions for installation space and drawer care, including whether the drawers can go in the dishwasher.
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Worth considering for extra cooking capacity when you want to keep your oven free for larger dishes. If you want to cook two dishes at the same time, check specifically that this model’s configuration allows it: having several containers doesn’t necessarily mean it has two independent cooking zones. Also check where it will fit and follow the instructions for handling hot containers.
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Compare its 2 L basket with the small portions you’d like to prepare without using the oven, and check that it won’t mean cooking in several batches. The product name indicates a 60 min timer and a non-stick basket listed as dishwasher-safe. Measure the available space and check the installation and cleaning instructions.
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This 7,6 L basket is worth considering if you regularly need extra cooking capacity for several portions. If you mainly use your oven for large dishes, ask yourself whether this capacity really gives you a separate use for the appliance. Check the dimensions, supply voltage and required clearance before making room for it.
Not necessarily. Its main benefit is having a small, separate cooking chamber or being able to cook two things at once. UFC-Que Choisir points out that it overlaps with an oven in terms of function. For large dishes and big batches, first consider whether your oven already meets your needs.
Start with the portions you actually want to cook in the air fryer, rather than the size of your household alone. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people, 5 to 6 L for three or four people, and 7 to 9 L for five or six people. Also check the basket’s usable space and how many batches you’ll need to cook.
Follow the clearance specified in the instructions for your chosen model, and allow room to open the drawer. For the Moulinex Easy Fry Max, the instructions require at least 15 cm around the appliance and advise against placing it in a corner or beneath a cupboard. Don’t automatically apply this distance to every model.
No. Even if some removable parts are dishwasher-safe, you still need to clean the inside according to the instructions. For its Airfryers, Philips advises letting the appliance cool for around 30 minutes before cleaning and avoiding abrasive utensils on the coating. Check the instructions for your model.