Singles and couples
A single drawer may be enough for small portions of roasted or crispy food. Above all, check that its shape and capacity suit the foods you usually prepare.
Who might each format suit?
Households cooking two parts of a meal
If your main and side dishes often need different settings, two drawers let you cook them separately. A sync function can help finish both at the same time, if the model you choose has one.
Families weighing up an air fryer against their oven
For family-sized portions, compare what will actually fit in the basket with the size of the dishes you usually use. The space it takes up and how often you’ll use it matter too: a large air fryer won’t necessarily do anything your oven can’t.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the meals you usually cook, then check whether the format you’re considering can hold them and will fit in your kitchen.
A compact single drawer
Worth considering: for small portions you prepare regularly, when you don’t need two separately controlled cooking zones.
Trade-off: with a single basket, you may need to cook a meal in successive batches.
Two drawers
Worth considering: if you often cook two parts of the same meal that need different temperatures or cooking times.
Trade-off: the total capacity is split between two compartments, so it won’t necessarily give you one continuous space for a large dish.
A large basket
Worth considering: if you regularly cook a large quantity in one compartment rather than making multiple batches.
Trade-off: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you which cuts of meat or dishes will fit in the basket.
Stick with your oven
Worth considering: if you mostly cook large dishes, use sizeable tins or already rely on your oven for the meals you make.
Trade-off: you won’t have a separate small basket for the portions where one might come in handy.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| A use that’s different from your oven | Compare three meals you actually cook each week, including the quantities and dishes you use. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can duplicate what your oven already does. | I often cook small portions and would like a dedicated basket; otherwise, my oven may already meet this need. |
| Usable capacity | Look at the basket’s shape, the space available for food and the load stated in the instructions—not just the advertised capacity in litres. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for households of over five, while distinguishing between advertised and usable capacity. | My portions should fit without needing multiple batches, but a large capacity is only useful if I’ll fill it regularly. |
| Number of cooking zones | Check the capacity of each drawer, whether the settings can be controlled separately and whether there’s a sync function. If you want to cook one large dish, check the dimensions of a single continuous cooking zone. | If I often cook two foods that need different cooking times or temperatures, two drawers appeal more than one large basket. |
| Noise and set-up | Measure the available space, allowing for the clearances specified in the instructions. For noise levels, look for an independent test of the exact model; UFC-Que Choisir highlights how important this can be in an open-plan kitchen. | In a small kitchen or open-plan room, I want to use the appliance without it becoming a nuisance or taking over the worktop. |
| Cleaning and heat | Check which parts of the exact model can go in the dishwasher. Also read the instructions on hot surfaces, air outlets and letting the appliance cool before cleaning. | After frequent use, I want a basket that’s easy to clean and enough room to handle the appliance in line with its instructions. |
What should you avoid when buying and using one?
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Assuming an air fryer will automatically replace your oven
UFC-Que Choisir warns against buying more appliances than you need: both can be used for the same types of cooking. If you rarely need a separate basket for your meals, an air fryer may simply be one more appliance to store and clean.
Make a note of three meals you cook each week and check whether the quantities and dishes would fit in the basket you’re considering.
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Choosing based only on the advertised capacity
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you the shape of the basket or how much room there is for a large cut of meat. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between advertised capacity and the amount you can actually cook.
Compare the dimensions of your food and dishes with those of the cooking area, then follow the load guidance in the instructions.
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Forgetting about fan noise
The fan can be particularly noticeable in an open-plan kitchen or small space, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If noise matters to you, look for an independent measurement for the exact model and consider where you’ll use it at home.
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Setting up or cleaning the appliance without reading the instructions
The basket, cooking drawer and air outlet may stay hot after cooking. Check the required clearances for each specific model rather than assuming they’re the same as for another one.
Choose a stable, heat-resistant surface, follow the specified clearances and let the appliance cool down before moving or cleaning it.
Which brands and ranges should you consider?
Philips
Philips offers compact single-drawer models as well as models with two baskets. The right choice depends on your portion sizes and whether you need to cook two parts of a meal separately.
- Philips France lists a 4.1 L capacity and removable dishwasher-safe parts for the HD9252/90.
- For the NA352/00, Philips France lists a total capacity of 9 L, split into 6 L and 3 L, with drawer synchronisation.
- These specifications alone don’t tell you how noisy the appliance is or how much of each food you can cook.
Moulinex
The Easy Fry range includes models with two drawers and models with one large drawer. Compare them according to the kinds of meals you prepare.
- Moulinex lists two drawers with capacities of 5.2 L and 3.1 L for the Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20.
- The Easy Fry Mega EZ855D20 is listed with a capacity of 7.5 L, a temperature range of 80 to 200 °C and a dishwasher-safe basket.
- Check the parts, dimensions and service options for the model you’re considering; one model’s specifications don’t apply to the whole range.
Ninja
Ninja is also worth considering if you’re looking for a larger appliance rather than a small basket for individual portions. Les Numériques describes the Combi SFP700 as a model designed for uses similar to those of an oven.
- This type of appliance may suit households that cook large dishes.
- Before comparing a specific model with your oven, check how much space it needs, its functions, which parts are dishwasher-safe and what the instructions say.
Air fryers for different everyday needs
These Joybuy models cover two different needs: cooking two parts of a meal separately in two drawers, or preparing small portions in a single drawer. Compare the baskets with the dishes you usually use before choosing.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, two drawers, 9.5 L
The two drawers let you cook two parts of a meal separately instead of using one large basket. The product title lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. Check the instructions for the space needed around the appliance and the right quantity for each drawer.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7.6 L
This model lets you cook two dishes separately, but its stated capacity of 7.6 L doesn’t make up one large cooking zone. The product title lists six functions. Check the instructions for the right capacity for each drawer, the required clearances and which parts can go in the dishwasher.
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Philips 3000 Series NA351/00, dual basket, 9 L
The two baskets are suitable for cooking a main and a side dish separately. The stated 9 L is the total capacity: check how much room each basket offers for your food, along with the installation clearances given in the instructions.
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Midea Air Fryer, 4 L, 1,500 W
Its single 4 L drawer is suited to modest portions rather than cooking two dishes separately. The product title lists eight modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the recommended load, clearances and care instructions for the parts in the manual.
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Philips 2000 Series NA210/00, 3.2 L
This single 3.2 L drawer is worth comparing with the small portions you usually cook. The Joybuy listing for this model specifies a flat, stable, heat-resistant surface, with at least 100 mm of clear space on all sides. Also check that the basket will fit the food you plan to cook.
Frequently asked questions
Can an air fryer replace my oven?
Not for every meal. A basket can be handy for frequent small batches, but an oven is still a good choice if you mostly cook in large dishes or on several shelves. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking that your purchase won’t simply duplicate an appliance you already have.
What capacity should I choose for everyday meals?
Start with the amount you cook at a time. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four and 9 L or more for households of over five, while reminding shoppers that usable capacity and basket shape determine what will actually fit.
Are two drawers useful for one large dish?
Not necessarily: two drawers are mainly for cooking separate dishes that need different settings. For one large dish, compare its dimensions with those of a single continuous cooking zone; the combined capacity of two baskets doesn’t tell you how much space there is for it.
How much space should I leave around an air fryer?
Follow the clearances given in the instructions for your model. For the Philips NA210/00, the Joybuy listing specifies at least 100 mm of clear space on all sides and a flat, stable, heat-resistant surface; don’t automatically apply this distance to other models.
Can all air fryer baskets go in the dishwasher?
No. Check each model and each part. Philips France lists removable dishwasher-safe parts for the HD9252/90; Moulinex specifies this for certain parts of the Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20 and Mega EZ855D20. The instructions for your chosen model explain how to care for it.