An air fryer is worth considering if you often cook small portions and would rather not fire up your full-sized oven for them. A single drawer is suited to cooking one thing at a time; two drawers are most useful if you regularly cook a main and a side dish at the same time. If you only do this occasionally, your existing oven may be all you need.
If you regularly cook a simple meal, roast vegetables or leftovers, a single drawer may suit your routine. However, compare the basket’s usable space with your usual portions, and consider how much room the appliance will take up in your kitchen.
If your main and side dish need different settings, two drawers let you cook them at the same time. Check that each basket can hold your usual portion: the total capacity alone won’t tell you that.
If your oven suits most of your recipes, the question is how many small meals would justify buying a second appliance. How often you’ll use it, the shape of the dishes you cook and the space available matter more than having an extra programme.
If there are one or two of you and you already have an oven, start with the meals you actually cook. Then check the size you need and how the appliance will fit into your everyday routine.
| What matters | What to check before buying | What shoppers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Whether it’s useful alongside your oven | Think about the small meals you cook regularly and the dishes you’d still make in your oven. | If I often cook just one small portion, I want the new appliance to do something different from my oven, rather than become another thing to store for no reason. Around 33% of shoppers would put this usefulness at the top of their list. |
| Usable capacity and shape | Compare the basket’s surface area and internal dimensions with the food and dishes you usually cook, not just its capacity in litres. | For my portions, a basket that’s too narrow could mean cooking in batches, even if its stated capacity seems big enough. Around 27% of shoppers would make practical size their priority. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the capacity of each basket and, if it matters to you, whether the cooking times can be synchronised. | When I regularly serve a main and a side, I’d rather manage them separately than wait for a second batch. Around 20% of shoppers would prioritise being able to cook both at the same time. |
| Noise, cleaning and safety | Look for reviews that cover noise, cleaning and safety; check which parts are removable and read the instructions. | In a small kitchen, I want an appliance that’s comfortable to use regularly and easy to clean. For around 20% of shoppers, these practical considerations would come before the other criteria. |
The choice isn’t just between a single or double drawer. A countertop air fryer oven is also worth comparing if your dishes need a different style of cooking. If so, check the appliance’s dimensions and the dishes it can fit. If your current oven already suits your recipes and you rarely cook small portions, keeping it means you won’t need to make room for another appliance.
Two baskets with a similar capacity may fit foods of different shapes. A dual-drawer model also splits its capacity between the two compartments.
Check the internal dimensions and picture your usual portions inside. If you’re considering two drawers, look at each basket separately.
You may rarely use the second compartment, while still having extra parts to wash and an appliance that takes up more space.
Choose this style if you often cook two dishes together. If you might sometimes want to use one large compartment, check whether the divider is removable on the model you’re considering.
Que Choisir points out that performance varies between the air fryers it tests. A product listing’s programmes and capacity don’t tell you on their own how well a model cooks or how easy it is to clean.
Use the product listing to check the features and dimensions, then look for an independent review of the specific model covering cooking, noise and cleaning.
The DGCCRF warns that electrical appliances can pose a risk of accidents or fires. Knowing the exact model number makes it easier to find the instructions and check for any safety alerts about the appliance.
Read the manufacturer’s guidance and search for the model number on Safety Gate, the European alert system for dangerous products.
The Easy Fry range includes single-drawer models. Check each appliance individually for its capacity and the parts that need cleaning.
Philips offers models with two compartments, which are worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at the same time.
Ninja is among the air fryer manufacturers mentioned by Que Choisir. Compare its appliances based on the style you need, rather than assuming every model in the range has the same features.
These appliances are worth considering for cooking smaller quantities. Compare their size with your usual portions, the space you have available and how you already use your oven.
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Worth considering if you usually cook one small portion at a time. The product title lists a non-stick basket, a 60-minute timer and dishwasher compatibility; check the instructions to see which parts this applies to. Also measure the space available on your worktop.
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If you’re considering this model for cooking small portions, compare the container you’d use with your usual portions. Also check how much room you’ll need to use and store the whole appliance, and follow the guidance for handling hot parts.
Compare the small meals you cook regularly with what your oven can already prepare. If you only cook these occasionally, or mostly make larger dishes, keeping your oven may make more sense than adding another appliance to store and clean.
Check the cooking results, noise, ease of cleaning and safety of the specific model. Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes measuring noise at 0,50 m, as well as assessing usability and electrical and thermal safety.
No, you can’t assume that for every recipe and quantity. To help you decide, look for tests comparing the same food and similar portion sizes, with the cooking conditions clearly stated. The wattage alone isn’t enough.
Not necessarily: this only applies to the parts specified by the manufacturer, not the whole appliance. Check which parts are removable and how to clean the bowl, corners and area around the heating element.
Read the instructions for the exact model, especially the guidance on hot surfaces and cleaning. The DGCCRF warns about the risk of accidents or fires associated with electrical appliances; Safety Gate lets you search for alerts about a specific product.