Cooking one dish at a time for one or two people
If your meals usually fit in one basket, a single-drawer air fryer may suit the way you cook without adding extra cooking zones. Just measure the space you plan to use, with the drawer open.
Which format is right for you?
Preparing a main and a side dish
Two cooking zones can be useful when your food needs different settings and you want everything ready at the same time. Check the space available in each drawer: the total capacity won’t tell you whether your portions will fit.
Often cooking flat dishes
For pizzas, gratins or toast, the cavity and rack of a mini oven may be better suited to your dishes than a deep basket. You’ll also need to allow for the appliance’s depth and the space required to open its door.
What should you compare when choosing an appliance?
Single-drawer air fryer
Consider it: if you usually cook one dish or a small batch at a time.
The trade-off: a single basket can’t offer two independent settings for the same meal.
Dual-drawer air fryer
Consider it: if two parts of your meals regularly need different cooking settings.
The trade-off: the total capacity is split between the drawers, which may be different sizes.
Convection mini oven
Consider it: if you often use a rack or cook wide, flat dishes.
The trade-off: its door and depth take up space, even in a small kitchen.
Traditional electric deep fryer
Consider it: if your main requirement is still deep-frying in oil.
The trade-off: you’ll need to handle and maintain hot oil, unlike the oil-free cooking option discussed here.
| What to consider | What to check | What matters to consumers |
|---|---|---|
| Space required | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with your worktop space. Allow for the drawer or door to open, as well as the clearance specified in the manual. | When my worktop is already used for meal prep, I don’t want an appliance to get in the way of everyday use. Around 36% of consumers would put this space consideration first. |
| Usable capacity | Compare your portions and the shape of your food with the dimensions of the basket or cavity. For two drawers, check each one separately. | If I’m cooking a main and a side, both need to fit without having to cook in multiple batches. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise capacity for a complete meal. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe, and look for a noise measurement for the exact model. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to be able to clean the appliance after frequent use without having to put up with distracting noise while it’s cooking. For around 21% of consumers, cleaning and noise would be the priority. |
| Cooking method | Compare your usual recipes with the formats that fit in a basket or on a rack, and take into account the appliances you already own. | If I often cook flat dishes or already have an oven, I want to choose an appliance that suits my recipes rather than doing the same thing twice. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this suitability. |
What to avoid before you buy
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Relying on the stated litre capacity alone
On a two-drawer appliance, the total capacity may be split between drawers of different sizes. A bulky piece of food or a wide dish may not fit in either one.
Compare the food you usually cook with the dimensions and capacity of each drawer. For pizzas and gratins, check the cavity and rack of the mini oven you’re considering instead.
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Measuring the appliance but not the space it needs to open
Que Choisir highlights how much space air fryers take up. An appliance may fit on your worktop but still be awkward to use if there isn’t enough room in front of it for the door or drawer to open.
Measure the space, room to handle the appliance and clearance beneath your cupboards. Then check the manual for the clearance required for that particular model.
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Assuming it will be quiet and easy to clean
Que Choisir describes air fryers as relatively noisy. Knowing that some parts are dishwasher-safe doesn’t tell you how easy it is to clean the rest of the appliance.
Look for a test of the exact model and check the manual to see which parts can be removed and how they should be cleaned.
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Overlooking the exact model when checking for safety notices
In France, RappelConso has published recalls for specific air fryer models, including those involving a risk of electric shock and problems with overheating or temperature control.
Check your appliance’s full model reference and GTIN on RappelConso. If they match a recall, stop using the appliance and follow the instructions in the official notice.
Brands and ranges to know
These models show different formats to compare based on your meals and available space. The specifications mentioned apply to the models listed, not every product in each brand’s range.
Philips
The range includes single- and dual-basket models. According to Philips, the NA154/00 can switch from two 3,55 L baskets to one 7,1 L compartment using a removable divider.
- Philips says the removable parts of the NA154/00 are dishwasher-safe.
- For this model, compare both configurations with the food you cook, and check the space required and noise level separately.
Moulinex
The Easy Fry range includes dual-drawer appliances. Moulinex lists one 5,2 L drawer and another 3,1 L drawer for the Easy Fry Dual 8,3 L.
- Moulinex says the drawers and racks on this model are dishwasher-safe.
- The two drawers won’t necessarily fit the same portions. Also check the space it takes up and the noise level of the specific model you choose.
Cuisinart
The TOA60E mini oven combines a door-fronted cavity with an air fryer function. Darty lists it at 17 L, with dimensions of 35 × 40 × 31 cm and space for a 30 cm pizza.
- The cavity and rack may suit flat dishes that are awkward to cook in a deep basket.
- Allow space to open the door and consider where you’ll store the appliance between uses.
Air fryers for these uses on Joybuy
These single- and dual-basket air fryers are suited to the everyday cooking needs covered here. To choose between formats, first check your portions and the space you have available. If you mainly cook wide, flat dishes, compare them with a mini oven too.
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Ninja Dual Zone Digital DZ400EU, two drawers, 9,5 L
Worth considering if you prepare two parts of a meal in separate drawers. The stated total capacity is 9,5 L. Compare the size of each dish with the drawers and check how much room they need to open. The product name indicates that the baskets are dishwasher-safe; if noise matters to you, look for a test of this specific model.
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Ninja Dual Zone Digital DZ300EU, two drawers, 7,6 L
Another two-drawer option for cooking different dishes separately. Its stated total capacity is 7,6 L. Check that the portions you want to cook will fit in each drawer, that there’s enough room to open them in your kitchen, and how noisy this specific model is. The product name indicates that the baskets are dishwasher-safe.
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Philips 3000 Series NA351/00, two baskets, 9 L
Worth considering if your meal needs two baskets. The 9 L figure is the total capacity, not the usable space for each type of food. Check the size of both baskets, the room needed to open them and the clearance specified in the manual. If you’ll use the appliance often, check its noise level too.
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Midea Air Fryer, single basket, 2 L, 1 150 W
Compare its 2 L basket with the portions you cook in one batch. The product lists a 60 min timer and a stated power rating of 1 150 W. Measure the space you have and check the clearance specified in the manual rather than trying to work out the appliance’s dimensions from its capacity alone.
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Cuisinart Compact Max AFS8OBLE, 7,6 L
This single-basket model is worth comparing with your needs if you want to cook several portions in one batch. Its stated capacity is 7,6 L. Check that the basket shape suits the food you cook and that the appliance fits in your chosen spot with the drawer open. If noise is a key consideration, look for a measurement for this specific model.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity should I choose for everyday meals?
Choose based on your portions and the shape of your food, not just the total capacity in litres. If you’re cooking two dishes, check each drawer: Moulinex, for example, lists 5,2 L and 3,1 L for the Easy Fry Dual 8,3 L. For a pizza, check the mini oven’s cavity instead; Darty says the Cuisinart TOA60E can fit a 30 cm pizza.
Can an air fryer replace a mini oven?
It can handle some of the same cooking tasks, but it may not fit the same wide, flat dishes as a mini oven with a rack. Compare your recipes and the usable dimensions of both appliances. In tests by Que Choisir involving a small quiche, the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven. This result doesn’t apply to every recipe or every model.
Are air fryer parts dishwasher-safe?
It depends on the parts and the model. Philips says the removable parts of the NA154/00 are dishwasher-safe; Moulinex says the same for the drawers and racks of the relevant Easy Fry Dual model. Check your model’s manual for guidance on other parts and accessories.
What statutory guarantee applies in France to an air fryer bought from a retailer?
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new and second-hand goods bought from a professional seller, with a two-year period according to the Ministry of the Economy. It covers issues with conformity. Any commercial guarantee offered by the seller or manufacturer is in addition to it, not a replacement.
How can I check whether an air fryer has been recalled?
Search RappelConso using the brand, full model reference and GTIN: the product’s general name alone isn’t enough to identify an affected appliance. If these details match a recall notice, stop using the appliance and follow the official instructions for that model.