Smaller household that cooks often
If you cook one or two portions at a time, check the recommended amount per batch as well as the drawer size. An appliance you use frequently should also be easy to fit into your kitchen and simple to clean.
Who are these appliances suited to?
Household that cooks two parts of a meal together
A main and a side may need different cooking times or temperatures. Two zones can be useful if they have independent settings and you want to coordinate when cooking finishes. This is one benefit of dual-drawer appliances noted by UFC-Que Choisir.
Open-plan kitchen or limited worktop space
Before setting aside space for an appliance, allow for the drawer when open, the room needed for ventilation and the parts you’ll need to wash. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends considering fan noise when buying.
How do the different formats compare?
To choose between a single drawer, two zones, a compact fan oven and a deep-fat fryer, start with the meal you cook most often: one portion, two separate dishes or food deep-fried in oil. Then check that the appliance will fit in your kitchen and that you’re happy with the cleaning involved.
Single-drawer air fryer
Worth considering: if you usually cook one dish at a time, in an amount that suits the basket.
Limitation: a single drawer can’t use separate settings for two dishes cooking at the same time.
Dual-zone air fryer
Worth considering: if two parts of a meal regularly need different settings and should be ready to serve together.
Limitation: the capacity of each zone matters as much as the total volume, and two compartments mean more parts to clean.
Compact fan oven
Worth considering: if you mainly want a small cooking cavity and can use it in place of an existing oven.
Limitation: “compact” alone doesn’t tell you how much space you’ll need. Measure the clearance for the trays and the ventilation space too.
Traditional deep-fat fryer
Worth considering: if what matters most to you is the result of deep-frying, particularly for fresh chips.
Limitation: you’ll need to handle hot oil, deal with smells and clean the bowl.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and usable capacity | Compare the amount recommended in the manual and the basket’s surface area with the portions you cook. Don’t rely on the stated litre capacity alone. | When I cook for my household, I want to make my usual portions in one batch without overfilling the basket. Around 36% of consumers would put this need for suitable portion sizes first. |
| Two separate cooking tasks | Check the capacity of each zone, whether the settings can be adjusted independently and, if useful to you, whether the cooking times can be synchronised. | If my main and side need different cooking times, I want to prepare them at the same time so they’re ready to serve together. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Space, noise and cleaning | Measure the appliance and the drawer when open, then check the manual for ventilation and cleaning instructions for each part. Also consider fan noise. | In an open-plan or compact kitchen, I want to be able to fit the appliance in and clean it regularly without the fan being too intrusive. Around 21% of consumers would put how well it fits into everyday life ahead of other factors. |
| The cooking result you want | Consider the difference between food browned, grilled or roasted with hot air and the particular result you expect from deep-frying. | When it comes to fresh chips, the taste and texture of deep-fried food matter most to me. This would be the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
What should you watch out for before buying?
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Choosing by litre capacity alone
The bowl’s volume isn’t the same as the recommended amount for each batch. In its test protocol, UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between an optimum amount of chips and a maximum amount, the latter being when the bowl is two-thirds full.
Compare the manual’s guidance with your usual portions. Also look at the basket’s surface area and whether you’ll be able to shake or stir the food.
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Allowing space for the appliance only
You’ll also need room to open the drawer and keep the air inlets and outlets clear. The manual for the Domoclip DOC142 specifies at least 10 cm of clearance at the back and sides of this model.
Measure the space with the appliance in use, then follow the clearances specified in the manual for the model you’re considering.
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Assuming every part is dishwasher-safe
Cleaning instructions vary by part and model. Philips advises against using metal utensils and abrasive cleaners on the non-stick coating of its Airfryer models.
Check the instructions for the basket, bowl, rack and accessories individually, as well as the cleaning steps that will work for your routine.
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Expecting the taste of deep-fried food
An air fryer cooks by circulating hot air, not by immersing food in oil. UFC-Que Choisir notes that fresh chips don’t taste the same as chips cooked in a deep-fat fryer.
If that taste is your deciding factor, compare an air fryer with a traditional deep-fat fryer rather than assuming they’ll produce the same result.
Brands to know
There are no brand profiles to display in this section.
Air fryers available on Joybuy
These single-drawer and dual-zone models are suited to regular hot-air cooking. Choose between them based on your portion sizes and whether you need to cook two dishes separately. For each model, compare the stated capacity with the recommended amount per batch and the space available.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, two drawers, 9,5 L
Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal with different settings.
The product name lists six functions and baskets said to be dishwasher-safe. Check the recommended amount per batch and the clearance specified in the manual before choosing a place for it.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7,6 L
Worth a look if you want to cook two dishes in separate drawers and compare their capacity with your usual portions.
The product name lists six functions and baskets said to be dishwasher-safe. Check the manual for the recommended amount per batch and the ventilation clearance required.
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Midea air fryer, 2 L, 1 150 W
A single-basket option to consider if you cook small portions rather than two separate dishes.
The product name mentions a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket said to be dishwasher-safe. Measure the space and check the manual for ventilation requirements and the recommended amount per batch.
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Air fryer with adjustable 12QT basket, two zones and 50 cooking liners
Worth considering if you alternate between cooking a larger dish and two separate batches. Check the manual to see how the basket configuration works.
The product name mentions a viewing window and SYNC and DUAL modes. Check the dimensions, ventilation clearance and recommended amount for each configuration.
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Midea air fryer, 4 L, 1 500 W
A single-basket option to compare with your portion sizes if you don’t need to set two independent cooking times.
The product name lists eight programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C, a 60-minute timer and a reminder to stir the food. Check the manual for cleaning instructions for removable parts, ventilation requirements and the recommended amount per batch.
Frequently asked questions
Does a larger capacity always mean more crispy portions?
No. The stated volume alone doesn’t tell you how much food to cook in one batch. Compare your portions with the amount recommended in the manual. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol also distinguishes between the optimum amount and the maximum amount the bowl can hold.
When should you choose a dual-zone air fryer?
Two zones are useful when you often cook foods at the same time that need different settings or cooking times. Check the capacity of each compartment, whether the controls work independently and whether there’s a synchronisation function if you want both dishes ready together.
How can you clean the basket without damaging its coating?
Follow the instructions for your model and check how each part should be washed. For its Airfryer models, Philips advises against using metal utensils and abrasive cleaners on the non-stick coating. Don’t assume that every part is dishwasher-safe.
How much space should you leave around an air fryer?
Leave the clearance specified in the manual for your chosen model and don’t cover its air inlets or outlets. For example, the manual for the Domoclip DOC142 specifies at least 10 cm of clearance at the back and sides for this appliance. This distance isn’t a rule for every model.