If you often cook small portions, a 3 to 4 L single-drawer air fryer is a good size to consider. UFC-Que Choisir gives this capacity as a guide for one to two people, provided the basket shape suits your dishes and you have room for the appliance in your kitchen. A dual-drawer model is better suited to regularly cooking two foods with different settings. If your oven already covers occasional or larger meals, and a frying pan works for your hob cooking, another appliance may simply duplicate what you already have.
If you regularly cook for one or two people without switching on the large oven, a single-drawer model is worth considering. UFC-Que Choisir suggests starting at 3 to 4 L; also check the shape of the drawer interior, as this determines which dishes will fit.
If your meals often include two foods that need to cook at the same time with different settings, a dual-drawer model could save you from cooking in batches. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this benefit, but be sure to measure how much space the appliance will take up.
If your oven already handles the same dishes and you only cook small portions occasionally, consider what extra use an air fryer would offer. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the two appliances have some overlapping cooking functions.
Start with the meals you actually make, then consider whether the portion size, the space you have and how often you’ll use it justify buying an appliance separate from your oven and hob.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Basket capacity and shape | Compare the internal dimensions with the size of your food or dishes. The 3 to 4 L suggested by UFC-Que Choisir for one to two people is a guide, not a guarantee that a particular dish will fit. | When I cook one or two portions, I want them to fit in the basket without having to cook in several batches; around 33% of consumers would put this useful capacity at the top of their needs. |
| Space, handling and noise | Measure the space needed to position the appliance, open the drawer and meet the clearance requirements in its instructions. If noise matters, look for a sound test of the exact model. | In a small kitchen, I want to use the appliance often without it getting in the way on the worktop or making irritating noise; around 27% of consumers would prioritise how easy it is to position and use. |
| How useful it is alongside your oven | Think about your usual meals: which could go in a drawer, and which still need the oven? For food that needs direct cooking, stirring or a sauce, consider your frying pan and hob too. | My oven and hob already cover some meals. Before adding another appliance, I want to know whether I’ll use it often enough for small portions. Avoiding duplicated use would be a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Regular cleaning | Check the model’s instructions to see which parts are removable, which are dishwasher-safe and what care the coating requires. | After cooking a small meal every day, I don’t want to spend too long cleaning up; around 20% of consumers would prioritise easy cleaning. |
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you how wide the bottom of the basket is or how much room there is for a dish. UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking beyond claims of a large capacity.
Measure the dishes and foods you use often, then compare them with the drawer’s usable dimensions.
Two compartments let you cook different foods at the same time, but take up more space than a small single drawer. This feature may offer little benefit if you usually cook just one thing at a time.
Think about which meals would genuinely benefit from two settings running at once before choosing this style.
UFC-Que Choisir found that air fryers used less energy than a mini oven for some of the small recipes it tested. Results depend on the food, the quantity and the appliances being compared.
Don’t base your purchase on a general promise of energy savings. Instead, consider how often you cook small portions, and keep using your oven for dishes that won’t fit in the drawer.
Removable parts and their care instructions vary from model to model. Philips, for example, advises against using metal utensils and abrasive cleaners on the non-stick parts covered by its guidance.
Check the instructions for your chosen model to confirm whether the basket, bowl, rack and accessories can be removed, then follow the cleaning guidance.
The Series 3000 HD9252/90 is worth considering for small portions: Philips France lists a 4.1 L capacity for this specific model.
The Easy Fry Max 5 L EZ2468F0 is worth considering if basket cleaning is important to you.
The brand offers different styles to consider model by model, particularly if you’re looking for something other than a single drawer.
These two Midea single-drawer models are aimed at small portions. Their stated capacities differ, so focus on whether the basket you choose suits the meals you usually make.
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Worth considering for regular small portions; compare its stated 4 L capacity with the size of your dishes. The product name lists eight pre-set modes, an adjustable temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the basket’s internal dimensions, cleaning instructions and noise level if these factors will influence your decision.
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Consider this for modest portions if a 2 L basket is big enough for your meals. This is below the 3 to 4 L guide UFC-Que Choisir gives for one to two people. The product name lists a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check the basket shape, appliance dimensions and the instructions to see which parts are dishwasher-safe.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a starting point for everyday portions for one or two people. Also measure the dish or food you plan to cook: two baskets with the same capacity can have different shapes.
It makes sense if you often cook two different foods at the same time using separate settings. If you usually cook one thing at a time, compare the space taken up by a single drawer with that of a dual-drawer model before deciding.
Not if you regularly cook dishes or quantities that won’t fit in its drawer. The appliances can handle some of the same types of cooking. For certain small recipes, UFC-Que Choisir measured lower electricity use with the air fryers it tested than with a mini oven, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get the same result with every meal.
Check the instructions for the exact model to find out which parts are removable and which are dishwasher-safe. For the non-stick parts covered by its guidance, Philips advises against metal utensils and abrasive cleaning products. Follow the instructions for the appliance you buy.