Households serving two dishes together
If your main course and side need different settings, consider models with two drawers. Check how much space there is in each drawer and whether the model has a function to synchronise the cooking times.
Who are these sizes suitable for?
Households cooking large quantities
To avoid cooking in multiple batches, compare the cooking compartment’s surface area and shape with your usual portions. Que Choisir suggests at least 9 L as a starting point for more than five people, while advising shoppers to look beyond the stated capacity.
Households that already have a large oven
If your trays and family-sized dishes already fit in your oven, think about which dishes you would actually cook in an air fryer. Que Choisir points out that the two appliances can serve similar purposes; a small dish and a large family meal present different capacity challenges.
How do the different sizes compare?
Large single basket
Worth considering: if you mainly want to cook one large quantity at a time.
Limitation: it can’t cook two dishes separately using different settings.
Two drawers
Worth considering: for cooking a main course and a side dish separately.
Limitation: the total capacity can be misleading if one drawer is too small for your portions.
Air fryer mini oven
Worth considering: if your dishes’ shape or the option to use shelves matters more to you than baskets.
Limitation: its size and functions may overlap with those of your oven.
Your existing oven
Worth keeping: if it already fits your large dishes and multiple trays.
Worth considering: for smaller quantities, compare energy use across appliances and recipes.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the cooking surface and internal dimensions with your portions. For more than five people, the 9 L recommended by Que Choisir is a starting point, not a guarantee that everything will cook in one batch. | When I’m cooking a large quantity of the same food, I want it all to fit without needing multiple batches. Around 36% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check the capacity of each drawer, whether the settings can be controlled independently and whether the model has a synchronisation function. | If my main course and side need different settings, I want to be able to serve them together. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Dish shape | Measure your dishes and check the usable shelf levels; check which accessories come with an air fryer mini oven. | Quiches, baking trays and wide dishes make me favour a suitably sized cavity over baskets. Nearly 21% of consumers would prioritise this flexibility of format. |
| Space and having two appliances | Measure the space available and compare what you would cook in the appliance with what you can already cook in your oven. | With limited kitchen space, I don’t want to add an appliance that would mostly duplicate what my oven does. Around 14% of consumers would make this their top consideration. |
Mistakes to avoid before you buy
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Relying on an “XXL” label alone
Que Choisir warns that the stated capacity may give a misleading impression of how much food you can cook. A deep but narrow compartment may not have enough surface area to spread out your food.
Before choosing a capacity in litres, compare the internal dimensions with the space your usual portions need.
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Treating the capacity of two drawers as one large space
A total capacity of 9 L split into 6 L and 3 L, as on the Philips NA352/00 according to Philips, doesn’t mean you can put a large dish in either drawer.
Decide which dish will go in each drawer, then check its size and the features of the exact model.
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Assuming it will save electricity for every meal
Que Choisir’s tests cover specific recipes and appliances, so results for a small dish don’t predict how a large family meal will perform.
When comparing energy use, take the recipe, quantity and oven you actually use into account.
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Forgetting about the oven you already have
According to Que Choisir, an air fryer can overlap with some of an oven’s functions. If you still need your oven for large dishes, you’ll also need to find space for the new appliance and maintain it.
Think about which dishes you would cook in the air fryer regularly. If there aren’t many, your oven may be all you need.
Brands to know when comparing sizes
Philips
The range includes asymmetrical dual baskets and stacked drawers, offering two ways to organise a main course and a side dish.
- According to Philips, the NA352/00 splits its 9 L capacity between a 6 L drawer and a 3 L drawer, and includes a synchronisation function.
- The 3 L drawer may limit the size of your second dish, so check the portions you plan to put in it.
Moulinex
The models featured here let you compare a large basket with an air fryer mini oven without confusing their different uses.
- Moulinex lists a capacity of 7.5 L for the Easy Fry Compact EZ866HF1 and 20 L for the AL605820 mini oven.
- The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your dishes will fit, so check their dimensions. The EZ866HF1’s 7.5 L is below the 9 L starting point recommended by Que Choisir for more than five people.
Ninja
The Double Stack XL SL451EU is an example of the stacked two-drawer format mentioned in Que Choisir’s tests.
- Que Choisir describes the SL451EU as a model with a capacity of over 6 L, two stacked drawers and a probe.
- To see whether it suits your kitchen, check the available height and the size of each drawer rather than assuming how well it performs based on its stacked design.
Air fryers for different family meals
These Joybuy models cover two uses: cooking separate dishes in two drawers or preparing a large dish in a single basket. Compare their stated capacity with the shape of the food you cook; the products featured here don’t include mini ovens or your existing oven.
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Philips NA351/00 3000 Series, dual basket, 9 L, black and silver
Worth considering if you’d like to use one basket for the main course and the other for a side dish.
Stated total capacity: 9 L. Check the dimensions of each basket and whether this exact model has the cooking functions you need.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, two drawers, 9.5 L, metallic grey
Worth comparing if you’re preparing two parts of a meal in separate drawers.
The stated total capacity is 9.5 L and the product title lists six functions. Check the surface area of each drawer and whether you can synchronise the cooking times if you want to serve both dishes together.
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Bear QZG-F24F1, dual basket, 9 L, matte black and stainless steel
The dual-basket design is worth considering if you want to prepare two different dishes for the same meal.
The title lists a total capacity of 9 L, a power rating of 2,400 W and independent temperature control. Check the usable space in each basket before deciding on your portions.
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KitchenCook AIRFLOW12 LED Dual Tower, 12 L
Worth considering if you’re looking for a vertical design to organise two dishes.
The title lists a capacity of 12 L and ten programmes. Measure the height available where you plan to put it and check the usable dimensions of the compartments: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much room each dish has.
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Breville Halo XL, single basket, 9 L, grey
Worth considering if you mainly cook one large dish at a time rather than two separate dishes.
The title lists a capacity of 9 L and a power rating of 1,700 W. Check the internal surface area for the food you usually cook: a single basket can’t control two dishes separately at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity should I look for if I’m cooking for five or more people?
For more than five people, Que Choisir recommends starting with at least 9 L. If you’re cooking for five, first check your portions and how much space they need. In every case, the cooking compartment’s surface area and shape matter as much as its stated capacity if you want to avoid cooking in multiple batches.
Are two drawers better than one large basket?
Two drawers are better suited to cooking separate dishes that need different settings, as long as each dish fits in its drawer. If you’re cooking one large quantity, compare the usable surface area of a single basket with the size of your portions instead.
Can an air fryer replace the family oven?
Not necessarily. An air fryer may suit some dishes, but your existing oven is still worth considering for large dishes and multiple trays. Que Choisir also highlights the risk of having two appliances that do the same job, so think about which meals you would genuinely cook in the new appliance.
Does an air fryer always use less electricity?
No. The comparison depends on factors including the recipe, the quantity and the appliances being compared. Que Choisir’s tests on small dishes can’t guarantee the same savings for a full family meal.
What guarantee applies to an air fryer bought in France?
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies, among other things, to new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. If the appliance doesn’t match the seller’s description, keep a copy of that description and your proof of purchase so you can assert your rights. This guarantee is separate from a return requested because you’ve changed your mind.