If you often cook smaller portions, start by comparing a single-drawer air fryer with your oven. Check that your dishes fit in the basket and that you have room for the appliance in your kitchen. A dual-basket model is better suited to meals that regularly involve cooking two separate items. If your oven already does the job, avoiding an additional appliance can prevent unnecessary duplication — a risk highlighted by UFC-Que Choisir.
A single drawer may suit you if your usual ingredients fit without needing to cook in several batches. For an idea of the size, Philips describes its 4.1 L HD9252/90 as suitable for two people and able to prepare up to four portions. This applies to that specific model, not all baskets of the same capacity.
Two baskets can be useful if you regularly cook a main and a side dish with different settings. If so, compare the capacity of each basket, not just the total volume, with the space you have for the appliance.
Before adding another appliance, consider which meals your oven can’t already prepare conveniently. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the overlap in what these appliances can do, and recommends considering fan noise too, particularly in an open-plan kitchen.
Think of two or three meals you cook often, then compare the quantities involved with the basket, your oven and the space you have available.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s shape and surface area with the food or dishes you use. Check the recommended quantities in the instructions: UFC-Que Choisir notes that cooking space can limit portion sizes. | I want to cook my usual portions without having to make several batches. |
| How it compares with your oven | Think about which types of cooking your oven already handles and how often you make smaller dishes. For a small quiche of the same quantity, the air fryers tested by UFC-Que Choisir used 36% less electricity on average than a mini oven. This result won’t apply to every recipe. | If my oven handles these meals easily, I’d rather avoid buying another appliance. |
| Number of cooking zones | Will a single drawer suit your meals, or do you need two settings at once? For a dual-basket model, check the capacity of each basket and how much worktop space it takes up. | Two zones would be useful if I often cook a main and a side dish at the same time. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space available, the room needed to pull out the drawer and the clearances specified in the instructions. If you have an open-plan kitchen, check model-specific information about noise: UFC-Que Choisir notes that the fan can be heard. | In a small kitchen, I need to be able to place and use the appliance without disrupting other activities. |
| Cleaning | Find out which parts can be removed and check whether each one is dishwasher-safe. Also check that the basket and rack are easy to reach for handwashing. | Easy cleaning matters to me if I use the appliance several times a week. |
The stated capacity won’t tell you whether your dish fits in the basket or whether there’s enough room for the food to cook properly. UFC-Que Choisir considers the quantities loaded in its tests and highlights the limitations of a small cooking cavity.
Choose two or three meals you make regularly, then compare the ingredients, dishes and quantities with the guidance for the specific model.
The second zone may end up underused, while the appliance still takes up space.
Choose this format for meals where you often cook two separate items. Otherwise, compare a single drawer with your oven first.
The two appliances can cook many of the same foods, but an air fryer’s smaller cavity may mean cooking larger dishes in several batches. UFC-Que Choisir warns about this overlap in what the appliances can do.
Keep your oven in the running if you often cook several portions or use large dishes.
You’ll need enough room to open the drawer where you plan to put the appliance. In an open-plan kitchen, fan noise can also affect everyday use, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Measure the space needed for the appliance and to open it, check the ventilation instructions in the manual, and look for a noise rating for the specific model you’re considering if this matters to you.
These models show some of the formats available; a feature of one model won’t necessarily apply to every product from the same brand.
Philips offers models including the 4.1 L HD9252/90 with a single drawer and the NA352/04 with two baskets of 6 L and 3 L.
The Easy Fry range includes appliances with two drawers. Moulinex describes the EZ901820 as having one 5.2 L basket and another of 3.1 L.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands mentioned by UFC-Que Choisir in the French market.
This selection includes appliances for smaller dishes, as well as a dual-basket model to consider if you regularly cook two parts of a meal. Compare them with your oven too, before setting aside extra space.
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For smaller dishes, check which cooking container will hold your usual portions. Also allow for the space needed and clearances specified in the instructions.
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This single-drawer model is worth comparing if you cook smaller quantities. Its stated 3.2 L capacity alone won’t tell you whether the basket’s shape suits your dishes.
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Compare the 2 L basket with your portions to see whether one batch will be enough. The product name mentions a 60-minute timer and a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket; follow the instructions for care.
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A dual-basket model is suited to cooking two foods for the same meal. The stated 9 L is the total capacity, so check the space available in each basket and how much room you have in your kitchen.
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To compare this model with your oven, start with the foods you want to cook or reheat in it. Check the recommended portions and care instructions for this HD9252/70 model, rather than applying guidance for a different version.
Yes, if your usual portions fit in the basket without needing to cook several batches. Philips describes the 4.1 L HD9252/90 as suitable for two people and able to prepare up to four portions. However, that doesn’t guarantee your dishes or foods that need to be spread out will fit in one go. Check their dimensions and the recommended quantities.
It’s most useful if you regularly cook two foods with different settings, such as a main and a side dish. If you only cook one item at a time, also compare the space taken up by a single-drawer model and how you use your oven.
No. It depends on the recipe, the quantity and the appliances being compared. For a small quiche of the same quantity, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by the air fryers tested than by a mini oven. This result won’t automatically apply to other types of cooking or a different oven.
Leave the clearances specified in the instructions for your chosen model, and make sure there’s enough room in front to pull the basket all the way out. Measure the space before buying rather than applying a clearance from a different model to every appliance.
No, it depends on the model and the part in question. Check the instructions for the exact model before putting the basket, rack or any other removable part in the dishwasher.