Smaller households that rarely use a full-sized oven
If you mainly make one dish or a side in small quantities, compare a single basket with using your current oven. The actual size of your portions matters more than the stated capacity alone.
Who is an air fryer for?
Households that cook two parts of a meal
If your main and side need different settings, two zones let you cook them separately. If you want to serve them together, also check whether the appliance has a synchronisation function.
Households that cook several portions
A large capacity can save you from cooking in batches, provided your dishes really do fit inside. You’ll also need to set aside space on your worktop and check whether it would duplicate what your oven can do.
What makes the difference when choosing?
Single basket
Consider it: for everyday portions and cooking one item at a time.
Bear in mind: two dishes that need different settings may have to be cooked in separate cycles.
Two zones
Consider it: when your main and side need different cooking times or temperatures.
Bear in mind: the capacity is split between the drawers, which can make them less suitable for one large dish.
Large capacity
Consider it: if you need to fit several portions or a bulky item in one batch.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to find a suitable spot for it and check the internal dimensions, not just the stated capacity in litres.
You already have an oven
Keep using it as your first choice: if your meals mainly include wide dishes or cooking on several shelves.
Weigh it up: an air fryer can still complement your oven for some smaller recipes, without replacing everything it does.
| What to consider | What to check before you buy | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and dish shape | Compare the basket’s surface area and internal dimensions with the dishes you usually use. For four people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends starting with at least 6 L, though this does not guarantee usable capacity. | If the whole dinner won’t fit in one batch, you may have to cook in several cycles; around 33% of consumers would put usable capacity at the top of their list. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check whether the settings can be adjusted independently, the size of each zone and whether there’s a function to synchronise the cooking times. | If you want to serve your main and side together despite their different cooking times, you may prefer to cook them in parallel; around 27% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space, allowing for the clearances stated in the instructions. If noise matters to you, look for comparable sound measurements. | In an open-plan or small kitchen, you may want to keep the appliance within easy reach without it getting in the way; around 20% of consumers would prioritise space or noise. |
| Cleaning and how it compares with your oven | Check which parts are washable and follow the care instructions, then compare the recipes you’d genuinely make in each appliance. | If you cook often, cleaning and whether a second cooking appliance is worthwhile could influence your choice; around 20% of consumers would put this need first. |
Common mistakes to avoid
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Relying only on the litre capacity or the ‘XXL’ label
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the stated volume doesn’t always tell you how much usable space there is: a wide dish may not fit, even in an appliance marketed as large.
Measure the dishes you make regularly and compare them with the basket’s surface area, the maximum dish diameter and, for two-zone models, the size of each drawer separately.
An unsuitable basket may mean cooking the same dinner in several batches.
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Choosing two drawers for every family meal
Two zones let you cook dishes separately, but they don’t necessarily create a cavity wide enough for a large quiche or a whole joint.
Choose two zones if cooking two things at once is essential. For one large dish, look instead at a large-capacity cavity and check its internal dimensions.
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Assuming you’ll always save electricity
In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by air fryers than by a mini oven when cooking a small quiche. This result won’t apply to every dish, quantity or appliance.
Make your decision based on the recipes and portions you’ll cook, rather than assuming an air fryer will always use less electricity than your oven.
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Forgetting about noise and cleaning up after a meal
UFC-Que Choisir recommends factoring in the noise from the fan. Non-stick parts also need to be cared for in line with the instructions; Philips, for example, advises against using metal utensils and abrasive cleaning products on the relevant models.
If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a sound test of the model you’re considering. Also check which parts can be removed, how to clean them and whether the areas that need cleaning are easy to reach.
A few brands to know
Moulinex
Moulinex offers both basket-style models and air fryer ovens. Compare the two formats based on the size of your dishes and the space you have available.
- Moulinex lists a 4.2 L capacity and dishwasher-safe parts for its Easy Fry Deluxe. The brand says its 20 L Easy Fry oven has three levels and two trays.
- These features alone don’t tell you how the models compare for noise or cooking results. Check whether the air fryer oven offers something different from your current oven.
Tefal
Tefal’s two-drawer models are designed for cooking two parts of a meal separately.
- Tefal lists two drawers of 6.5 L and 4.5 L for its Dual Easy Fry XXL EY9428E0, and says the baskets are dishwasher-safe.
- The total capacity of 11 L doesn’t tell you what size dish will fit in each drawer; compare their dimensions with your recipes.
Philips
Philips offers both single- and dual-basket models. Your choice will depend in part on how many dishes you want to cook at the same time.
- Philips describes a synchronisation function for its NA352/24 dual-basket model, which is useful if you want two dishes to finish cooking together.
- This feature is listed for the NA352/24 and shouldn’t be assumed to be available on another model. Philips also recommends keeping metal utensils and abrasive cleaning products away from its non-stick coatings.
Air fryers for different meals
These Joybuy models include single-basket appliances, two-drawer designs and larger capacities. Start by choosing one to suit your portions and the shape of your dishes, then check the model details that matter in your kitchen.
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Midea Air Fryer 2 L, 1150 W, black
Worth considering for small portions cooked in a single basket.
The product name states that it has a 60-minute timer and a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket. Check the internal dimensions to see whether your dishes will fit, and look into the noise level if you cook in an open-plan room.
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Cuisinart Compact Max AFS8OBLE, 7.6 L
Worth looking at if you want to cook several portions in one batch.
Its stated capacity is 7.6 L. Compare the internal dimensions with your dishes and measure the space available on your worktop; capacity alone doesn’t guarantee that a wide dish will fit.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7.6 L
The two-drawer design suits a main and a side cooked separately.
The product name lists six functions and a total capacity of 7.6 L. If you want both dishes to finish cooking at the same time, check that the DZ300EU has a synchronisation function; also check the size of each drawer.
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Philips 3000 Series NA351/00, dual basket, 9 L
Worth considering for cooking two parts of a meal in separate baskets.
The product name states a total capacity of 9 L. Check the dimensions of each basket against your dishes. If you plan to serve both parts of the meal at the same time, check the features of the NA351/00 rather than assuming they’re the same as those of another Philips model.
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COSORI Dual Blaze Twinfry TF101S, 10 L
Worth looking at if you alternate between cooking one large dish and preparing two separate items.
Its stated capacity is 10 L. Make sure you have enough space for its stated dimensions of 33.8 × 51.8 × 31.3 cm, plus the clearances required in the instructions. Also check the cleaning guidance if that could affect your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Can an air fryer replace an oven for weeknight meals?
Not for every meal. An air fryer can complement your oven for smaller dishes, while wide dishes or cooking on several shelves may mean you still need your oven. In a test using a small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by air fryers than by a mini oven; this result doesn’t apply to every recipe.
How do you clean the basket without damaging its coating?
Let the appliance cool down and follow the instructions for washing its removable parts. Philips advises against using metal utensils and abrasive cleaning products on the non-stick surfaces of the relevant models; check separately which parts are dishwasher-safe.
Should you take an air fryer’s noise level into account?
Yes, particularly if you cook in an open-plan room. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the fan makes a noise; look for a sound measurement of the model you’re considering, taken under comparable test conditions, rather than assuming all appliances are equally noisy.
What should you do with an old air fryer in France?
An old air fryer is an electrical appliance, so it should go to a suitable collection point rather than into your household rubbish. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition lists collection points, recycling centres, retailers and social and solidarity economy organisations among the options for handing one in.