If you mainly cook one batch at a time, start by looking at drawer-style air fryers. Two drawers are worth considering if you want to cook a main and a side separately, while an oven-style model may suit dishes that need trays or multiple shelves. In a small open-plan kitchen, also compare the space needed to open the appliance, the usable size of each compartment and noise levels measured under comparable conditions. The capacity in litres won’t answer these questions.
If your kitchen opens onto the living room, you’ll be able to hear the fan while the appliance is cooking. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking this noise into account in an open-plan kitchen or small space, and states that its testing protocol measures it from 50 cm away.
A drawer-style appliance can handle batches cooked one after another. Before choosing a capacity, check the recommended quantities in the manual and make sure the basket dimensions suit the dishes you prepare.
A dual-drawer model lets you cook a main and a side separately. For example, Philips says the NA352/24 has a function that lets both sides finish cooking at the same time. Each dish still needs to fit in its own drawer.
Start with the meals you cook, then check that your chosen format fits the available space and works for how you use your living area.
| Consideration | What to check | For my meals |
|---|---|---|
| Noise | Compare noise levels for the exact model, measured from the same distance and under the same operating conditions. UFC-Que Choisir measures the appliances it tests from 50 cm away; a quick listen won’t tell you what it’s like throughout a full cooking cycle. | As the kitchen opens onto the living room, I need to be comfortable with the fan running while I prepare and eat a meal. |
| Usable capacity | Check the basket’s shape, the dimensions of your dishes and the quantities recommended in the manual. For a dual-drawer model, look at each compartment rather than just the combined capacity. | I want to cook a batch that suits the amount I’m serving, without finding that my dish won’t fit in a drawer. |
| Cooking style | A single drawer holds one dish at a time; depending on the model, two zones let you set separate cooking programmes. For an oven-style model, check the trays, shelves and dimensions of the dishes it can accommodate. | Depending on the menu, I might cook one batch, a main with a side, or a recipe that needs a tray. |
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height of the worktop space. Allow room in front for the door or drawers to open, and follow the clearances specified in the manual. | I want to open the appliance and move around the kitchen without taking up the whole worktop. |
| Cleaning | Check exactly which parts are removable and dishwasher-safe. An oven-style model means extra trays to clean; a traditional deep fryer also means dealing with oil. | After cooking, I need to be able to clean and put away the parts I’ve used without leaving them cluttering the living area. |
| Deep-frying in oil | If you want to deep-fry food, compare a traditional deep fryer with an air fryer specifically for this type of cooking. Make sure you have a plan for storing, handling and disposing of the oil properly. | If most of my meals rely on deep-frying in oil, I won’t choose a hot-air appliance just because of its name. |
In an open-plan kitchen, the fan runs close to the living area. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this noise and measures the appliances in its testing protocol from 50 cm away.
To compare two models, look for measurements taken from the same distance and under similar conditions, rather than judging their noise from a quick listen.
The basket’s shape and the way the drawers are divided determine what you can fit inside. The combined capacity of a dual-drawer model isn’t the same as one large compartment.
Check the dimensions of each compartment, the size of your dishes and the quantities recommended by the manufacturer.
An oven-style model has trays and shelves to clean; a traditional deep fryer means dealing with oil. Which parts are dishwasher-safe varies between models.
Check which accessories are included, where you’ll store them and the cleaning instructions for the specific model you’re considering.
With a traditional deep fryer, you’ll also need to buy and store frying oil, then dispose of it properly.
On 13 March 2026, RappelConso published a recall for a SYMEX 6.5 L air fryer due to a risk of electric shock linked to possible moisture in the heating element. The recall applies to the specific product named, not all air fryers.
Check your appliance’s model number and, where relevant, batch number on RappelConso. If it’s affected, follow the official recall instructions.
The range includes the 4.2 L Easy Fry Deluxe drawer-style model, the 8.3 L Dual Easy Fry & Grill with two drawers, and the 20 L Easy Fry oven-style model.
The brand offers air fryers with a single basket and dual-basket models, depending on whether you’re cooking one dish or two.
Tefal’s traditional electric deep fryers are worth comparing if you prioritise deep-frying in oil over hot-air cooking.
This selection of worktop models includes dual-drawer appliances and options designed to cook one batch at a time. In an open-plan kitchen, check the space required and noise levels for the model you choose, whatever its stated capacity.
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The two drawers are worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal separately. The stated capacity is 7,6 L in total: check the usable size of each drawer and how much space you’ll need to open them.
The model name mentions six functions. For an open-plan kitchen, look for noise measurements for the DZ300EU taken under conditions comparable with those used for other appliances.
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The dual basket lets you consider cooking a main and a side in separate zones. The stated 9 L is the total capacity, so check the size of each basket against the food you plan to cook.
Check the NA351/00 product details for the cooking functions you’re interested in, the clearance needed when opening it and the conditions for any noise measurements. Don’t assume it has features listed for a different Philips model.
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This 2 L model is worth considering for smaller dishes, as long as the basket’s shape and the quantities stated in the manual suit the meal you have in mind.
The product name mentions a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket. Measure your available space and check the external dimensions and noise levels for the exact model.
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This 4 L basket model is worth considering if you cook one batch at a time. The product name lists eight modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer.
Compare the basket’s shape and recommended quantities with the dishes you cook. Also check the clearance needed for installation and look for noise measurements for this model.
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The stated 7,6 L capacity can be compared with the quantities you cook, but it won’t tell you by itself how large a dish will fit inside.
Before making room for it in a small kitchen, check its external dimensions, the basket’s usable surface area and the conditions for any noise measurements taken on this exact model.
Compare measurements taken from the same distance and under similar operating conditions for both models. UFC-Que Choisir says its testing protocol measures noise from 50 cm away; a quick listen in a shop may not reflect a full cooking cycle next to the living area.
No, not on its own. Check the basket’s surface area and shape, the dimensions of your dish and the quantities recommended in the manual. For a dual-drawer model, check each zone separately: the combined capacity doesn’t make one large compartment.
Not for every meal. A dual-drawer model lets you cook two dishes separately; an oven-style model with trays and multiple shelves offers a different way to cook. Compare the size of your dishes, the accessories you’ll need to clean and the space required to open the appliance.
Only the parts listed as dishwasher-safe in the manual for the exact model. Check the basket, drawers, trays and other accessories individually before putting them in the dishwasher.
Look up its exact model number and, if needed, its batch number on RappelConso. If the appliance is affected, follow the official instructions. The recall published by RappelConso on 13 March 2026 for a SYMEX 6.5 L air fryer applies to a specific product and does not cover the whole category.