Choose a drawer-style air fryer for frequent small or medium-sized portions, provided you have a properly ventilated space for it. A dual-compartment model is more suitable when you often cook two foods with different cooking times; if your oven already meets your capacity and cooking needs, a countertop appliance may simply duplicate what you already have. According to UFC-Que Choisir, useful capacity, footprint, noise and cleaning should all be considered before buying.
You are mainly looking for a countertop appliance for everyday portions, without having to cook multiple batches or permanently occupy your worktop. A single-drawer air fryer is a good starting point to compare with your existing oven. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of capacity, ease of handling and maintenance.
You regularly prepare two foods with different cooking times and want to serve them at the same time. A dual-compartment model can suit this scenario if each zone genuinely accommodates your portions; UFC-Que Choisir points out that results may differ from one zone to another.
Fan noise, the space around the appliance, overall dimensions and ease of storage all determine whether you will use it regularly. UFC-Que Choisir considers noise a particularly important criterion in an open-plan kitchen or small space.
Consider it: for one or two people and limited everyday portions, when you want a straightforward format that is easy to handle.
Check: the basket’s surface area and permitted fill level, as the stated capacity does not guarantee a large batch in a single layer.
Consider it: if two dishes with different temperatures or cooking times regularly feature in your meals.
Check: the available space in each drawer, the external dimensions and the results delivered by each zone.
Keep it: when its capacity already meets your usual portions and your needs do not go beyond its baking, roasting or grilling functions.
The trade-off: you do not add another countertop appliance or any extra cleaning or storage.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Useful capacity | Compare the cooking surface, available height and permitted fill level. UFC-Que Choisir uses 3 to 4 L for 1 to 2 people and 5 to 6 L for 3 to 4 people as a guide. | I want to prepare my usual portion without overfilling the basket or having to cook several batches. |
| Worktop space | Measure the overall dimensions, handle and drawer or door opening. Also follow the clearances specified in the instructions for the model you choose. | The appliance must remain accessible, open fully and ventilate without having to move other equipment. |
| Noise during operation | Give preference to a measurement taken while the appliance is running, with the distance and testing method specified. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 50 cm away in its tests. | In an open-plan kitchen or small home, I want to know whether the fan will remain acceptable during repeated cycles. |
| Cleaning and safety | Check the removable parts, cleaning instructions and ventilation requirements. Never cover the air inlets or outlets while the appliance is in use. | I am looking for an appliance that remains easy to maintain after frequent cooking and whose installation suits my kitchen. |
| Duplication of the oven | Compare the functions you actually use: baking, roasting and grilling. Take into account the space, storage and additional parts that need cleaning. | If I would only rarely prepare small batches, my existing oven may remain the most sensible option. |
Useful capacity determines how much you can actually cook. UFC-Que Choisir states that single-layer cooking can limit the amount a single basket can handle.
Define your largest usual portion, then check the surface area, usable height, permitted fill level and whether two items can be cooked at the same time.
The instructions specify positioning requirements and prohibit blocking the air inlets and outlets. An appliance placed incorrectly may also be inconvenient to use.
Measure the space behind, beside, above and in front of the appliance, then follow the clearances and restrictions in the manual for the model you select.
The two zones make simultaneous cooking and synchronisation easier, but UFC-Que Choisir specifies that results are not necessarily the same in each zone.
Choose this format to meet a genuine need for two coordinated dishes and consult tests that assess both baskets with different foods.
Air fryers and ovens perform some of the same cooking functions, while a countertop appliance adds the considerations of space, noise and cleaning.
For one or two weeks, note the small batches you would genuinely have prepared in the appliance. If they remain infrequent, keep your existing oven as the main solution.
Joybuy options for preparing portions at home with a single-drawer or dual-compartment air fryer.
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Suitable for households that often prepare two parts of a meal with separate settings.
Two independent 4,75 L drawers, six functions and baskets stated to be dishwasher-safe. Stated dimensions: 32,5 × 41,5 × 27 cm; stated weight: 8,8 kg.
In an open-plan kitchen, check the operating noise and the clearances specified in the instructions. Results may vary between zones.
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Worth considering for varying portions when simultaneous cooking in two zones is not required.
1,4 L and 3,8 L glass containers, four functions, a stated temperature range of 70 to 185 °C and parts stated to be dishwasher-safe.
The glass containers become hot: use the protection provided in the instructions. Also check the model’s noise level and ventilation clearances.
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Worth considering for larger meals if your worktop can accommodate the appliance.
Stated 7,6 L capacity, with air frying, roasting, grilling, baking, dehydrating and keep-warm functions. Baskets and trays stated to be dishwasher-safe.
Before buying, check the dimensions, weight, ventilation clearances and the basket’s useful surface area.
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Designed for meals where two dishes with different cooking times are prepared regularly.
Stated configuration with one 10 L basket or two 4,5 L baskets, independent settings, a range of 40 to 200 °C and ten programmes.
Check the dimensions, weight, noise, clearances around the appliance and basket cleaning instructions before installation.
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Worth considering for family-sized portions prepared in a single basket.
Stated 7 L capacity, digital display, cooking window, seven programmes and a removable non-stick basket.
The stated capacity alone does not indicate how much can be cooked without overfilling: check the basket’s surface area, maximum fill level and installation requirements.
As a guide, UFC-Que Choisir associates 3 to 4 L with one or two people and 5 to 6 L with three or four people. Also check the cooking surface, maximum fill level and the model’s internal dimensions: the stated capacity does not guarantee a large, evenly cooked batch.
Not reliably. UFC-Que Choisir states that how noise is perceived in a shop differs from at home and measures noise from 50 cm away while the appliance is running. For an open-plan kitchen, look for a measurement that specifies the distance and testing method rather than simply claiming the appliance is quiet.
Follow the instructions for the model you choose. For the Philips NA230/NA231, the manual states that the air inlets and outlets must not be covered, that the appliance must not be placed on or near a hob or hot oven, and that it must be connected to an earthed wall socket. The same manual requires at least 10 cm of clearance behind, beside and above the appliance; check the instructions specific to your model.
No. It can bake, roast or grill, so its functions partly overlap with those of an oven. Keep your oven as the main solution if it already meets your portions and cooking habits; a countertop appliance is mainly worthwhile for frequent small batches when you have space for it.