An air fryer can earn its place alongside your oven if you often cook small portions and have somewhere to keep it within easy reach. In an open-plan kitchen, though, you’ll need to factor in fan noise and shouldn’t expect odour-free cooking. A dual-drawer model can be useful for cooking two things at once, provided each drawer suits the food you plan to cook and the appliance fits in the available space.
If your kitchen opens onto your living space, cooking smells and fan noise matter just as much as how the food turns out. UFC-Que Choisir recommends paying particular attention to noise in an open-plan kitchen or a small space.
An easy-to-position, easy-to-clean drawer can be a good fit if you often cook small amounts. Check that its usable cooking surface can accommodate the food you make, rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone.
Two cooking zones can let you prepare a main and a side dish with different settings. Some models can synchronise the finish times, but you’ll still need to check how much space the appliance takes up and whether each drawer is big enough.
Start by working out whether you mainly cook small batches, need two separate cooking zones or make the larger dishes your oven already handles. Then compare noise levels and space requirements with the spot where you’d use the appliance.
Consider it: for regular small portions and cooking one main item at a time.
Keep in mind: the basket’s surface area may mean you need to cook in batches.
Consider it: for two foods that need different settings and should be served together, if the model can synchronise their finish times.
Keep in mind: the total capacity is split between the drawers, and each one needs to suit the dishes you plan to cook.
Stick with it: if you mostly cook larger dishes or rarely make small portions.
Weigh up: an air fryer would take up space for cooking tasks that overlap with your oven.
Consider it: if you specifically want to fry in oil and are happy with the associated smells.
Keep in mind: in an open-plan living space, those smells may be the main drawback.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Odours and ventilation | How easy it is to clean greasy residue; fan noise while the appliance is running. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to stop cooking smells lingering in my living space, without expecting there to be no odour at all. Around 36% of consumers prioritise avoiding this nuisance. |
| Available space | Width, depth, height and the clearance needed to open the drawer. | With limited worktop space, I need to be able to set up the appliance without making other kitchen tasks difficult. Around 29% of consumers prioritise keeping this space free. |
| Usable capacity | The size of each drawer for the dish you plan to cook; whether there’s a synchronisation function if you need to cook two things at once. | When I’m making a main and a side dish, I want both to fit in their drawers and be ready to serve at the right time. This comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| How it compares with an oven | How often you cook small batches and whether you can keep the appliance within easy reach. | If my oven already suits the way I cook, I don’t want to add an appliance that will end up stored away. For around 14% of consumers, avoiding a redundant purchase is the main priority. |
UFC-Que Choisir lists reduced cooking smells as one potential benefit of air fryers, but that doesn’t mean food cooked in one won’t produce any odour in an open-plan kitchen.
Keep up your usual ventilation and choose a basket that’s easy to clean of greasy residue. A claim made about a specific model shouldn’t be taken as a promise about every dish you cook.
With a dual-drawer model, the stated capacity in litres is split between two drawers. UFC-Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Compare each drawer with the bulkiest dish you make, then measure the appliance’s external dimensions.
The fan can be disruptive if the appliance is close to your living room. UFC-Que Choisir notes that noise varies between models and deserves particular attention in a small space.
For the model you’re considering, look for a noise measurement taken under clearly stated conditions; don’t assume you know how loud it will be from the name of the range.
An air fryer and a fan oven can both cook and roast using hot air. If you mostly make larger dishes or rarely cook small portions, their uses may overlap.
Think about the small batches you’d genuinely cook each week before giving the appliance a permanent spot.
These ranges give you examples of formats and features to look at. The right choice depends on the specific model, its dimensions and the meals you cook.
The range includes single-basket models and dual-basket designs, including stacked models.
The 5 L Easy Fry Silence EZ552DF0 is a model for anyone who wants to look closely at noise and cleaning.
The dual-drawer range includes side-by-side designs, such as the AF300EU, and stacked designs, such as the Double Stack SL400EU.
These appliances are suited to cooking modest portions when space is at a premium. Before choosing one for an open-plan kitchen, also compare its noise, cleaning requirements and clearance needs: being featured here isn’t a promise of odour-free cooking.
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Worth considering if you make small portions and want to choose between the two containers described for this model. Check how much space you’ll need to set it up, as well as noise and odours during use if your kitchen opens onto your living space.
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Worth looking at for one or two small portions, if a 2 L basket suits the food you plan to cook. The product name states that it has a 60-minute timer and a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket. Measure the space available and find out how noisy it is before setting it up in an open-plan kitchen.
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Worth considering if you’d like to use a glass bowl and have enough worktop space. Check that its capacity suits your portions and that there’s enough clearance around it; let the bowl cool before washing it.
No, you shouldn’t expect it to eliminate all odours. UFC-Que Choisir mentions that it may reduce frying smells, while Philips makes a claim specifically about the enclosed basket on the HD9255/80. The food you cook, greasy residue, cleaning and ventilation all still matter.
Two drawers are useful if you regularly cook two foods that need different cooking times or temperatures, particularly with a model that synchronises when they finish. Check that each drawer can hold the food you plan to cook: the total capacity isn’t the same as the capacity of a single basket.
Not necessarily: both appliances can cook and roast using hot air. An air fryer may be handy if you often cook small batches and can keep it within easy reach. If you mostly make larger dishes or would rarely use it, sticking with your oven avoids taking up more kitchen space.
Check how easy it is to reach the basket, rack and corners, then see which parts of your chosen model are dishwasher-safe. Follow the instructions for cleaning removable parts.
Search for its exact model number and, if you have it, its GTIN on RappelConso. If your specific appliance is affected by a recall, stop using it and follow the instructions published for that recall.