If you often prepare small portions and can leave the appliance on your worktop, a single-drawer air fryer is a good option to consider first. Check how much food it can actually hold. Two cooking zones are handy for regularly preparing two dishes at once, but take up more space. If your oven already meets your needs, or you’re looking for deep-frying, an air fryer could be redundant or simply not right for you. Noise and cleaning matter too, not just the stated capacity.
You mostly prepare one dish or side at a time and want to check that your usual portion will fit in a single basket. Que Choisir Ensemble highlights the importance of usable capacity when working out how much you can cook in one go.
You need to weigh up adding another appliance, the space available and the oven you already own. Que Choisir Ensemble points out that an air fryer can overlap with some of an oven’s functions.
You regularly cook two parts of a meal that need different settings or cooking times. Que Choisir Ensemble notes that models with two drawers let you cook different foods at the same time.
Start with your usual portions and the dishes you cook, then check whether the appliance has a practical place in your kitchen without duplicating your oven.
| What matters | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| How much you can really cook | Compare the basket’s shape and dimensions with the food and portions you prepare; estimate how many batches you’ll need. | When I’m making a small portion, I want to know whether it will fit without having to cook another batch. Around 25% of consumers prioritise usable capacity. |
| Worktop space | Measure the space available, including the room needed to open the drawer or door. | If my kitchen is already cluttered, I want to be able to set up and use the appliance without giving up space I need for something else. Around 25% of consumers put available space at the top of their list. |
| Cleaning after use | Check the instructions for the exact model to see which parts are removable and dishwasher-safe. | If I cook often, I want cleaning to fit into my routine. Around 20% of consumers make ease of cleaning their top priority. |
| Whether it adds anything over an oven | Compare the meals you cook most often, taking into account the cookware, number of batches and cleaning involved with your current setup. | If my oven already handles the cooking I need, I want to avoid adding an appliance without a distinct purpose. Around 20% of consumers prioritise checking this before buying. |
| Noise while cooking | Look for a review of the exact model, especially if your kitchen is open-plan or close to your living area. | When I’m cooking near my living space, I want to take the fan noise into account. Around 10% of consumers put this at the top of their list of concerns. |
Capacity information for a specific model is more useful than litres alone, but it doesn’t guarantee that all your recipes will fit in one batch. For models with two cooking zones, check the capacity of each drawer separately. Bear in mind that results can vary between zones, as Que Choisir Ensemble points out.
An air fryer and an oven can cover some of the same cooking tasks. Adding another appliance won’t necessarily bring anything useful to your kitchen.
Before choosing a style, compare your most frequent meals with what your oven can already do.
The shape of the food and the usable capacity matter too; you may need to cook your usual dishes in several batches.
Check the information for the exact model and the foods you cook, and distinguish between the total capacity and that of each cooking zone.
Two drawers are useful for cooking different dishes at the same time, but they take up more space and mean more parts to clean.
Choose this style if you regularly prepare two separate dishes and have enough room for it.
Air frying and traditional deep-frying are different cooking methods. Deep-frying can also produce cooking smells.
First, decide which method suits the dishes you actually make.
The Easy Fry Compact EZ145A20 is an example of a 3 l single-basket model to compare for smaller portions.
The 2000 Series NA211/00 is an example of a 3.2 l single-basket model.
The TO 2067 mini oven offers a useful comparison with basket-style models if you’re looking for an oven cavity and wire racks.
This selection brings together single-basket air fryers with stated capacities of 2 to 5 l, so you can compare different sizes for everyday meals.
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Worth comparing if you’re cooking portions for one or two people. The product listing states that it has a non-stick basket and a power output of 2 000 W. This model isn’t designed for deep-frying.
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Consider this if you’d like to compare a 5 l basket with more compact models; measure the space available before choosing this capacity. The model name mentions a viewing window, touch controls and a non-stick basket.
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This 4 l basket gives you a mid-sized option to compare for everyday meals. The product title states that it has eight functions and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C; check that it has the settings you need for your usual dishes.
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Its 2 l capacity is worth comparing if you cook small quantities. The product title mentions a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket. The crisper plate may be hot when you tip the basket, and the pan must not be filled with oil.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a 3.2 l single-basket model. Check the clearance needed for installation and the cleaning instructions for the parts supplied with this specific model.
Start with the foods and quantities you actually cook, then compare them with the information for the specific model rather than relying on its capacity in litres alone. For the Philips NA211/00, Philips gives different quantities for different foods; these aren’t a universal guide to portion sizes.
Measure the space available, including the room needed to open the drawer or door. Check the instructions for the exact model for installation guidance and details of any dishwasher-safe parts: a part being dishwasher-safe doesn’t mean the whole appliance is.
The legal guarantee of conformity covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual. The French Ministry of the Economy and Finance states that the period is two years for new and second-hand goods. Any commercial warranty is in addition to the legal guarantee.
According to the DGCCRF, CE marking applies to products covered by relevant European regulations and represents the manufacturer’s declaration of compliance; it isn’t an independent certification. On its own, the mark doesn’t demonstrate the performance or safety of a particular appliance.
No: the appliance’s name isn’t a guarantee of nutritional value. Anses states that acrylamide can form when certain starchy foods are cooked at high temperatures, so don’t judge the nutritional quality of food by the cooking method alone.