For small portions cooked one at a time, start by looking at a single-drawer air fryer. Two cooking zones are better suited to meals where different ingredients need to cook separately, while an oven-style model is more suitable for dishes cooked on a tray or rack. Before adding another appliance, compare what it can do with your oven or combination microwave: according to UFC-Que Choisir, an air fryer performs many of the same functions as an oven. Cooking surface, clearance for opening, noise and cleaning matter just as much as the stated capacity in litres.
If you mainly cook a single portion or a side dish, a small appliance may be enough without taking up valuable worktop space all the time. Do check that the basket’s surface suits the food you cook: its capacity alone won’t tell you how much you can spread out inside it.
If you want to cook a side dish and another food separately, two zones can save you from cooking in batches. Their usefulness depends on how much each zone holds and, if you want to serve both dishes together, whether there’s a synchronisation function.
An air fryer is worth considering if you often cook small portions and find your existing appliances inconvenient for the job. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers perform many of the same functions as ovens, so in a small kitchen, the space taken up by another appliance is an important factor.
Start with the dishes you cook most often, then measure the available space with the appliance open. A single drawer, two cooking zones and an oven-style model each solve a different problem.
Consider it: for cooking one small portion at a time when worktop space is limited.
Bear in mind: a single basket may mean cooking a meal in two batches.
Consider it: if two foods regularly need different settings and you want to serve them together.
Bear in mind: two zones mean more parts to clean, and the total capacity won’t tell you how much each drawer holds.
Consider it: if trays, racks or wider dishes feature regularly in your meals.
Bear in mind: this style comes closer to the way you use an existing oven, increasing the risk of duplication.
Keep using it: if its cooking modes already handle your usual dishes and quantities with ease.
Check: what your combination microwave can actually do, and how easy it is to use for small batches.
| Factor | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and footprint | Compare the usable cooking surface with the external dimensions, allowing room to open the appliance. | I want to cook one or two portions while keeping enough worktop space to prepare the rest of the meal. Around 33% of consumers say small portions and a compact size are their top priorities. |
| Shape of dishes | Check the maximum diameter and height for your tins or food, and see whether trays or racks are included. | If I often make quiches or cook food that needs to be spread out, a deep basket may not suit my needs. Dish shape is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Two cooking zones | Check the capacity of each zone, whether the settings can be controlled independently and whether synchronisation is available. | When the two parts of my meal need different cooking settings, I want to serve them together without cooking in batches. Around 25% of consumers prioritise cooking two items at once. |
| Everyday use | Look for noise measurements taken at a stated distance, check the cleaning instructions and consider which oven-cooked dishes the appliance would replace. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise and washing up matter as much to me as cooking. I also don’t want another appliance that ends up unused. These day-to-day considerations are the main priority for around 17% of consumers. |
A large stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that a pizza, tin or spread-out portion will fit inside. UFC-Que Choisir highlights that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Measure the dishes you usually use, then compare them with the internal dimensions and the space needed to open the drawer or door.
Results vary depending on the recipe, quantity and appliances being compared. Tests published by UFC-Que Choisir show that a result for a small portion can’t be applied to every type of cooking.
For this factor, look for a comparison based on recipes and quantities similar to yours.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, an air fryer performs many of the same functions as an oven. If it won’t change how you cook small batches, it may simply take up space.
Think about which dishes you’d use it for regularly. If your current oven handles them easily, ask yourself what this purchase would actually change.
The fan can be distracting in a living space. UFC-Que Choisir says that trying an appliance in a shop doesn’t give you a good idea of its noise level, and notes that it measures appliances from 50 cm away.
Where possible, compare measurements taken from the same distance rather than relying on descriptions such as ‘quiet’.
The Easy Fry range includes models with different capacities. Compare specific models rather than assuming the whole range has the same features.
The brand offers models with two stacked baskets, which are worth considering when width is limited.
The Easy Fry models mentioned here show the difference between a small basket and a cooking surface designed for wider foods.
These Joybuy models include options for small portions, a two-drawer appliance and larger capacities. For a small kitchen, compare each capacity with your usual meals and the space available. This selection doesn’t include ovens or combination microwaves.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook small portions in a single basket. The product name specifies a 2 L capacity and a 60-minute timer, and describes the non-stick basket as dishwasher-safe. Measure the space available and the clearance needed to open it. If your kitchen opens onto a living space, look for comparable noise measurements too.
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Worth considering if you’d rather choose a container to suit what you’re cooking than opt for two fixed drawers straight away. If cooking two foods at once is your priority, check that this model can do so before buying. Also check how much space you’ll need around the appliance and its containers.
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The two drawers are suited to meals with two separate dishes. The product name specifies a total capacity of 9,5 L and six functions. Check that each dish will fit, and look for a synchronisation function if you want both to finish cooking at the same time. Measure the appliance with the drawers open: this capacity may be more than you need for small portions.
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This 7,6 L model is worth considering if your usual portions call for more capacity. For meals for one or two, check the actual usable cooking surface and external dimensions before choosing this size. Remember to allow space to open it and clean the parts.
Not for every dish. According to UFC-Que Choisir, an air fryer performs many of the same functions as an oven, so it can handle some small batches. However, its limited interior space restricts the size of dishes, tins and quantities you can cook. Before removing or adding an appliance, compare it with the food you actually make.
No. Also measure the basket’s width, height and usable capacity, along with your most-used tins and ingredients. UFC-Que Choisir highlights that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Look for removable parts and check the instructions to see which ones are dishwasher-safe. For example, Moulinex says the Easy Fry Essential 3,5 L basket is dishwasher-safe and the front panel of the Easy Fry Compact 7,5 L is removable. These features don’t automatically apply to other models.
The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) points out that the CE marking is not a certification mark. Before buying, also check who the seller is and read the model-specific instructions for use and care.