For frequent small batches
You often prepare a single portion or a crispy side, without needing to cook two foods with different settings. A single-drawer model is a good place to start. Compare the usable capacity with the space it will take up.
Who are these formats suitable for?
For meals with two separate dishes
You regularly serve a main and a side that need different cooking times or temperatures. Two separate drawers could suit your needs, provided each one can hold the amount you usually cook.
For anyone who already owns an oven
You want to avoid buying an appliance that duplicates what you already have. UFC-Que Choisir points out that space and noise are important factors, so an air fryer’s usefulness also depends on how often you really cook small batches and how much cleaning you’re prepared to do.
What should you look for before buying?
Start with the meals you actually prepare. Your existing oven remains an option, a single drawer is enough for one batch, and two drawers let you cook different foods separately. If you prefer racks and trays to baskets, compare a mini convection oven with the oven you already own, too.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A different use from your oven | Meals you would cook in the appliance each week; the space you’ll need on your worktop or in a cupboard. | I only want to add an appliance for small batches I’ll genuinely cook regularly, rather than replace an oven I’m already happy with. Avoiding duplication would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Cooking two foods at once | Independent settings and the capacity of each drawer; synchronised finish times if that would be useful to you. | When the main and vegetables need different settings, I want to be able to prepare them for the same meal. Coordinating the cooking would come first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Portion size and space | Usable capacity or dimensions of each basket; the appliance’s external dimensions. | For a small portion, I want enough room for the food without taking up unnecessary space in my kitchen. Nearly 25% of consumers would prioritise this balance between capacity and size. |
| Everyday considerations | Noise test results; parts to clean and model-specific dishwasher compatibility. | In a small kitchen, I want to know whether the fan will bother me and how many parts I’ll need to wash. I wouldn’t choose an appliance based on a promise that it eliminates odours. These considerations would be a priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Pitfalls to avoid
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Expecting it to replace your oven completely
An air fryer can bake, roast and grill, overlapping with some of the things your oven can do. For this kind of choice, its appeal is more about cooking small batches regularly than replacing it for every dish.
Think back to your recent small meals: which ones would you genuinely have cooked in a basket rather than the oven? If that rarely happens, sticking with your oven makes sense.
An extra appliance also needs storage space and cleaning after use.
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Choosing two drawers based on the total capacity
Two baskets may not be the same size. Moulinex’s Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20, for example, has one 5.2 L drawer and another with a capacity of 3.1 L. The combined capacity doesn’t tell you how much room there is for a single dish.
Check which drawer would hold your main dish and whether you’ll regularly use both drawers to cook separate foods.
If your main dish won’t fit in the basket intended for it, you may need to cook it in several batches.
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Assuming it will be quiet or odour-free
UFC-Que Choisir draws attention to fan noise. A claim about frying odours doesn’t prove that an air fryer reduces odours compared with your oven, either.
Look for a noise test of the model you’re considering, and don’t make odour elimination your only reason for buying.
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Assuming you’ll always save energy
Energy use depends on the appliance, food, quantity and cooking method being compared. A smaller basket alone isn’t enough to establish that you’ll save energy with every meal.
If this matters to you, look for a comparison that specifies the same food and quantity, and sets out the cooking conditions for both the oven and the air fryer.
Brands to consider
These examples show different formats. Always compare the specifications of the exact model with the meals you make and the space you have available.
Philips
Philips offers the 4.2 L single-drawer NA120/00 and the dual-basket NA352/24, among other models.
- Philips says some removable parts of the NA120/00 are dishwasher-safe. The NA352/24 can synchronise the cooking time of its two drawers.
- These features apply to the models mentioned. Check the exact version you choose: the brand name alone doesn’t tell you how noisy it is or how well it cooks.
Moulinex
The Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20 is an example of a model with two different-sized drawers: one 5.2 L basket and one 3.1 L basket, according to Moulinex.
- Moulinex says the drawers and racks on this model are dishwasher-safe.
- The second basket is only useful if you regularly prepare two separate foods. Check the usable dimensions of each one.
Ninja
The Ninja SL451EU Double Stack XL is an example of a model with two stacked drawers and a probe, listed by UFC-Que Choisir.
- The stacked design is worth considering if you want two drawers without placing them side by side.
- Compare the appliance’s dimensions and test results for the specific model you’re considering. Don’t assume it will be quiet or easy to clean just because of this design.
Air fryers for smaller meals
These Joybuy models let you compare single-basket appliances with a Crispi format for different portion sizes. To choose between them, compare the capacity of the specific version, how easy it is to clean and the space it needs in your kitchen with the meals you already cook in your oven.
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Midea Air Fryer 2 L, 1150 W, black
Worth considering if you usually cook one small batch at a time. The model name indicates a 2 L capacity, a non-stick basket, a 60-minute timer and dishwasher-safe parts. Check the usable capacity and external dimensions against your needs before making room for it.
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Ninja AF110EU, 4.7 L digital air fryer
Compare it with the 2 L model if your usual batch needs more room in a single basket. The model name indicates a 4.7 L capacity, 2000 W, a non-stick basket and a format designed for one to two portions. Check its external dimensions if storage space is limited.
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Ninja FN101EUGY Crispi Air Fryer
Worth considering if you’d rather match the container to the size of your meals than choose an appliance with two drawers. Check which containers and accessories come with this version, their usable capacities and how much storage space they need.
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Midea Air Fryer 4 L, 1500 W
Consider it for cooking a single batch if a 2 L basket seems too small for your meals. The model name indicates a 4 L capacity, eight programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check how much food the basket can actually hold, as well as how to clean the removable parts.
Frequently asked questions
Can an air fryer replace your oven for small meals?
Not necessarily: its cooking, roasting and grilling functions overlap in part with what an oven can do. If you often cook a small batch, a dedicated basket may get regular use. If you mostly cook on trays or make varying quantities, keep your oven in the running.
Why check the capacity of each drawer?
Because the total capacity of a dual-drawer model doesn’t tell you how much room there is for a single food. Moulinex’s Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20 has one 5.2 L drawer and another with a capacity of 3.1 L. Compare the basket intended for your main dish with its actual dimensions.
How can you assess noise and cleaning?
Look at a noise test and the cleaning instructions for the specific model separately. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 0.50 m away in its test procedure and identifies the fan as something to consider. Dishwasher compatibility, meanwhile, should be checked for the parts supplied with the version you choose.