An air fryer can work well in an open-plan kitchen if your household is comfortable with the fan noise and you have enough room to install it with the required clearances. A single drawer is suited to meals you usually cook in one batch; two zones are most useful if you regularly prepare separate dishes. If your oven already handles the recipes you make, check that an additional appliance would serve a genuine purpose before giving it valuable space.
If worktop space is limited, measure the depth, drawer clearance and space needed around the appliance too. Capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether it will fit comfortably in your kitchen.
The fan runs while food is cooking. UFC-Que Choisir recommends paying particular attention to the noise it makes in an open-plan kitchen or small space. A test of the specific model can help you compare your options.
Two zones let you set each one independently, but they take up space in one way or another. If you only cook this way occasionally, weigh that need against the room the appliance will take up every day.
Start with the meals you usually make, then consider usable capacity, noise and installation alongside the space you actually have available.
Worth considering: if you usually cook a meal in one batch and don’t want to make room for a second drawer.
Limitation: a single basket can’t run two recipes independently when they need different cooking times or temperatures.
Worth considering: if you often prepare two different dishes for the same meal.
Limitation: whether the two baskets sit side by side or are stacked, you’ll still need to allow for depth and ventilation.
Worth considering: if the shape of your dishes or the option to cook on several levels matters more than having two separate drawers.
Limitation: this type isn’t necessarily compact, and its fan may be audible too.
Worth keeping: if it handles the dishes you usually make and you don’t want to use up more worktop space.
Limitation: it won’t give you the countertop format you’re looking for if that particular setup is what suits your needs.
| Factor | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Fan noise | Compare tests of the specific model, taking account of the measurement distance and cooking mode. A dB(A) reading taken in different conditions isn’t directly comparable. | I cook near the living room, so noise throughout the cooking time matters just as much as the appliance’s dimensions. |
| Space and ventilation | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the drawer clearance. Check the instructions for your chosen model to find out how much space to leave around the vents. | I need to be able to use my worktop once the appliance is in place, even if its width seems suitable. |
| Portions and recipes | Check the shape of the cooking cavity and the dimensions of compatible dishes, not just the capacity in litres. Consider whether you would regularly use two independent settings. | One batch may be enough for my usual meals. If I often cook two different recipes, I’ll compare dual-zone models. |
| Everyday use | Check how easy it is to clean the removable parts on your chosen model. Compare the recipes you have in mind with what your oven can already cook. | I’d rather keep the space than add an appliance I’d rarely use or find difficult to maintain. |
A vertical design may take up less width while still being deep. Les Numériques gives the tested Philips Vertical Duo a depth of 46.9 cm and notes the space needed for ventilation.
Measure the space, check how far the baskets open and follow the clearance instructions for the exact model.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the fan makes noise and that models vary in this respect. A brief demonstration won’t necessarily reflect how the appliance will sound in your living space.
Before comparing two appliances, look for a measurement or test that specifies the distance and cooking conditions.
Independent zones are handy for cooking different dishes, but they can take up more space. Les Numériques describes the tested Ninja Foodi Dual Zone as bulky, for example.
First check whether a single basket can hold your usual portions. Choose two zones for meals where you’ll genuinely use separate settings.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that air fryers and ovens can be used for many of the same things. In a small home, an extra appliance takes up worktop space every day and needs cleaning too.
Make a list of the dishes you plan to cook and how often, then check whether your oven already meets those needs.
These examples highlight the formats and installation considerations of the specific models mentioned. They don’t represent every appliance made by each brand.
The range includes single-drawer and dual-cavity models, as well as mini-oven styles, to suit different needs.
Convertible or stacked baskets cater for different uses, but don’t necessarily fit the same way on your worktop.
The Easy Fry Max EZ2468F0 is an example of a single-basket model with a mid-range capacity.
These models show the choice between a single drawer, two drawers and a large-capacity basket. For each one, consider the portions you plan to cook alongside the available space and installation requirements.
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Its single drawer is suited to cooking a meal in one batch, provided 6.2 L is enough for your portions. Les Numériques measured 46 dB(A) at 1 m and 240 °C for the AF180EU; this doesn’t indicate how noisy it will seem in your room. Check the required clearances before deciding where to put it.
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The two drawers are handy if you want to prepare separate dishes. Before choosing this 7.6 L model for an open-plan kitchen, compare an acoustic test of the exact model and measure the space it needs.
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This 9 L model with two baskets is worth considering if you regularly prepare a main and a side dish separately. If you have a small worktop, check the orientation of the dimensions, the ventilation clearances and the noise level of this specific model.
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Consider the two drawers and 9.5 L total capacity in light of the portions you actually cook. Measure the available space, including room to open the drawers, and look for a test of the DZ400EU if noise near your living room is a deciding factor.
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If you switch between cooking a large dish and preparing two separate dishes, check the TF101S basket configuration and how much room this 10 L model needs. Also check the clearances in the instructions and look for an acoustic measurement taken under clearly specified conditions.
Yes, if you’re happy with the fan noise while food is cooking and can meet the installation clearance requirements. UFC-Que Choisir recommends paying particular attention to noise in an open-plan kitchen or small space. Compare tests of the model you’re considering rather than assuming they all sound the same.
Compare measurements that specify the distance, temperature and cooking mode. Les Numériques recorded 46 dB(A) at 1 m and 240 °C for the Ninja Max Pro AF180EU, but that result doesn’t tell you the noise level of another model or how loud it will seem in your home.
Not necessarily: stacked baskets may take up less width without reducing the depth. Les Numériques gives the tested Philips Vertical Duo a depth of 46.9 cm. Also measure the space needed to open the baskets and follow the clearance instructions for the version you buy.
It depends on what you cook and the size and shape of your dishes. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two appliances can be used for many of the same things. Check that the basket can accommodate the recipes you usually make before deciding to do without your oven. If your oven already meets your needs, an additional air fryer will take up space every day too.