Households that cook smaller portions
If you mainly prepare one dish or side in smaller quantities, compare the space an air fryer needs with how often you already use your oven. It’s more worthwhile if its basket suits the meals you usually make.
Who could benefit from an air fryer?
Households that serve two dishes together
A dual-compartment model is worth considering if your main dish and side need different settings. Check that each fits in its own drawer, then see whether the model can coordinate the cooking times if you need both dishes ready to serve together.
Open-plan kitchens or limited worktop space
The space it takes up, the room needed to open the drawer and the fan noise can matter just as much as its stated capacity. UFC-Que Choisir notes that noise levels vary between models, so check the specific model rather than relying on its format alone.
How do the different formats compare?
Before adding another appliance alongside your oven, think about the dishes you cook most often and how much space you can make for it.
Single-basket air fryer
Consider if: you cook one dish or small portions at a time.
Limitation: a single basket can’t cook two foods at different settings at the same time.
Dual-compartment air fryer
Consider if: your main dish and side need different cooking times or temperatures.
Limitation: the total capacity is split between the drawers, so a large dish needs to fit in one compartment.
Convection mini oven
Consider if: your recipes need a baking tray, rack or cavity that can fit a large dish.
Check: its internal dimensions and how much space it will take up in your kitchen.
Existing oven
Keep using it on its own if: large dishes and big batches make up most of your meals.
Trade-off: you avoid storing and maintaining another appliance, but won’t have a smaller appliance dedicated to everyday portions.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Small portions | Compare the amount you cook per meal with the basket’s usable surface area, not just its stated capacity. | When I cook a small portion, I want to avoid using my large oven without having to cook multiple batches; around 33 % of consumers would put this need first. |
| Two dishes | Check the size of each drawer and whether there’s a synchronisation function if both dishes need to finish cooking together. | To serve a main dish and its side at the same time, I need compartments suited to each; around 25 % of consumers would prioritise this coordination. |
| Large dishes | Measure the cavity and check that your usual dishes, trays or racks will fit inside. | If I often make a quiche or a large batch, I’d rather have enough space for the recipe; around 25 % of consumers would make this their main criterion. |
| Noise and cleaning | Look for a noise measurement for the specific model and check which parts are removable and how they should be cleaned. | In an open-plan kitchen, I don’t want the fan and cleaning to make every meal more of a chore; nearly 17 % of consumers would prioritise these considerations. |
Buying mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the stated capacity tells you how much usable space there is
Capacity alone won’t tell you whether food can be arranged without too much overlap, or whether your dish will fit inside. An overfilled basket may mean you have to cook several batches.
Start with the foods and quantities you prepare. For a model with two drawers, check the size of each compartment rather than just the combined capacity.
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Choosing two drawers without measuring your main dish
Two compartments let you separate different foods, but the divider can make it harder to cook one large dish.
Check that your main dish fits in one drawer. If it doesn’t, compare a model with a wider cavity or keep using your oven.
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Forgetting about the fan in an open-plan kitchen
UFC-Que Choisir reports differences in noise levels between air fryers. So a marketing claim that a model runs quietly isn’t enough to judge all models in the same way.
If you’ll use the appliance in a living space, look for a noise measurement for the model you’re considering and weigh it up alongside its capacity.
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Assuming you won’t need to do anything while it’s cooking
UFC-Que Choisir’s test method involves shaking the chips at least once, and more often if the instructions say to. The quantity and arrangement of the food affect the result.
Check the appliance’s instructions on filling and shaking, then adjust the amount you cook to suit its basket.
Brands to consider by model
These ranges illustrate different formats. Choose based on the features of the specific model, rather than the brand name alone.
Philips
The range includes side-by-side dual baskets and stacked baskets, which are worth considering if you want to prepare two dishes separately.
- Philips describes coordinated cooking times on the Series 3000 NA352/24 and two stacked 5 L baskets on the Series 4000 NA462/70.
- Philips’s claimed space-saving design for the NA462/70 depends on its vertical layout; also measure the available height and the space needed to use it.
Moulinex
Easy Fry includes both single-basket and dual-drawer models, which are worth comparing if cleaning and noise are important to you.
- For the Easy Fry Silence EZ552DF0, Moulinex highlights a design aimed at reducing noise and a system for storing parts that can go in the dishwasher.
- These stated features apply to this model; they don’t mean that every model in the range has the same noise level or dishwasher-safe parts.
Ninja
The Foodi DualZone AF300EU is an example of a two-zone option for meals where different components need different settings.
- Darty describes two independent zones on the AF300EU; Amazon France lists two 3.8 L dishwasher-safe drawers for the same model.
- The AF300EU’s total capacity of 7.6 L doesn’t mean a dish of that size will fit in one drawer. Check that you have enough worktop space too.
Air fryers for everyday meals
These appliances are suited to adding an air fryer for everyday portions and, for dual-basket models, cooking two parts of a meal. Compare their usable dimensions with the dishes you usually make before deciding whether they’ll complement your oven.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7,6 L, metallic grey
Worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal in separate drawers. The title lists six functions and a total capacity of 7,6 L; check the usable space in each drawer and whether cooking times can be synchronised if you want to serve both dishes together.
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Philips Series 3000 NA351/00, dual basket, 9 L, black and silver
The dual basket may suit households that cook a main dish and a side. The stated total capacity is 9 L: check the dimensions of each basket to see where the larger dish will fit.
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Cuisinart Compact Max AFS8OBLE, 7,6 L
If you’d rather cook portions in an air fryer than use your large oven, compare its stated capacity of 7,6 L with the size of your food and dishes. Check the internal dimensions before relying on it for a large batch.
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Bear QZG-F24F1, two baskets, 9 L, matt black and stainless steel
Its two baskets suit meals made up of two dishes, provided each fits in its compartment. The title lists a total capacity of 9 L, 2 400 W and eight programmes; check the basket-cleaning instructions before buying.
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Ninja Crispi FN101EUGY
Worth considering for smaller batches, rather than assuming it will replace your oven. If your meal includes two dishes you want to cook together, check whether this configuration can actually cook them at the same time. Also consider the noise if you have an open-plan kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
Can an air fryer replace my oven?
Not for every meal: an air fryer can be handy for smaller portions, while large dishes and bigger batches may still need your oven. UFC-Que Choisir also reports that cooking results vary between models. Start with the recipes you usually make before deciding whether you’ll use a second appliance regularly.
What size air fryer should I choose for my household?
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people, 5 to 6 L for three or four people, and 7 to 9 L or more for five or six people. These capacities don’t replace checking the available surface area or, for a dual model, the size of each drawer.
How should I factor in noise and cleaning?
Compare the noise level of the specific model and check which parts the instructions say are dishwasher-safe. UFC-Que Choisir reports differences in noise between appliances; in an open-plan kitchen, also check where you can place it and open its drawer.
What should I do with an old air fryer in France?
To find a collection point for an old electrical appliance, use the Ecosystem collection-point search tool recommended by Service Public. Ecosystem also lists repair, donation and recycling options depending on the appliance’s condition.