In a small kitchen that already has an oven, choose an air fryer based on the meals you’ll make regularly and how much space it will take up, including room to open the drawer. A single basket is best suited to smaller batches; two drawers are more useful if you often cook two different foods separately. If your oven already meets these needs, make sure an extra appliance will genuinely make things easier rather than add another complication.
The stated capacity isn’t the only thing to consider when choosing an air fryer: UFC-Que Choisir also recommends thinking about its size, ease of use and cleaning.
If you want to keep the appliance within easy reach without getting in the way of other food preparation, compare its external dimensions, the space needed to open the drawer and the clearances specified in the manual. Also think about where you’ll store it.
If the two foods need different settings, two cooking zones can be useful. Compare the capacity of each drawer separately and check whether the model can synchronise the cooking times. One large basket meets a different need: cooking a bigger batch of one food.
If your oven already handles the cooking you normally do, an air fryer’s value will depend largely on how often you make small batches and how much extra cleaning it involves. Even an appliance you rarely use will take up space on the worktop or in a cupboard.
Start with the space available and the meals you usually cook, then compare the benefits of a single basket, two drawers or the oven you already own. A larger capacity only helps if the basket shape suits the food you plan to cook.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and storage | Measure the space available, the drawer opening and the clearance required in the manual. If your kitchen is open-plan, also look for an assessment of the model’s noise levels. | When I already use the worktop to prepare meals, I want to be able to open and put away the appliance without blocking that space; around 42% of consumers would put this constraint first. |
| Usable capacity for your meals | Compare the basket’s surface area with the dishes you plan to cook. For a model with two drawers, check each one’s capacity separately and see whether it has a synchronisation function. | If I regularly cook several portions or a main and a side, I want to avoid cooking in successive batches; around 33% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| How it compares with your oven and cleaning | Think about which small batches you would genuinely cook in an air fryer, and check the cleaning instructions for each part of the model. | My oven already meets most of my needs: I want to make small-batch cooking easier without adding more parts to clean. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this balance. |
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you how much surface area there is for food. UFC-Que Choisir points out that some stated capacities are optimistic: the shape of the cooking compartment and the dishes you plan to put in it matter too.
Compare the basket with the portions and dishes you have in mind, then measure the appliance itself. A large stated capacity doesn’t necessarily mean you can avoid cooking in several batches.
Air fryers and ovens can be used for many of the same types of hot-air cooking. If you rarely move a dish to the new appliance, you’ll still need to find space for it and clean it.
Before choosing, identify a few everyday meals you’d cook in the air fryer instead of your oven.
UFC-Que Choisir reminds shoppers to consider fan noise before buying. It can be particularly important if you cook near your living space.
Look for an independent noise assessment of the model you’re considering rather than relying on claims that it’s quiet.
Dishwasher compatibility can vary between the basket, rack and other parts. Moulinex says that some parts of its Easy Fry Deluxe and Essential models are dishwasher-safe, but this doesn’t apply to every model.
Check the cleaning instructions for each part in the manual for the exact model, including any accessories supplied.
These ranges are examples of configurations to compare. The features mentioned apply to the models named, not every appliance from that brand.
The Easy Fry range includes single-basket models in various capacities, as well as models with two drawers.
Philips Airfryers let you compare, among other options, a single basket and stacked-basket configurations.
Some Ninja models are designed for households that want to cook two different foods in separate zones.
These appliances mainly offer options for small batches or cooking in a single basket. The Ninja Crispi comes with containers in different sizes: don’t assume these work like two drawers that can cook at the same time without checking the instructions.
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Worth considering if you switch between small and larger batches using the containers provided. Check the manual to see how much space the appliance needs around it and whether both containers can be used at the same time.
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A single-basket option to consider for cooking one dish at a time and making modest portions. Its stated capacity is 3,2 L; compare this with the shape of your dishes and check the installation guidance in the NA210/00 manual.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook small quantities rather than a whole meal in one batch. The basket has a stated capacity of 2 L; compare the appliance’s external dimensions with your available space before assuming it will fit.
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You can compare this 4 L single basket with your usual portions if you cook one food at a time. The title states a temperature range of 35 °C to 200 °C; also check the clearance needed and the cleaning instructions in the manual.
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Worth comparing for everyday cooking in a single basket. Before giving it a permanent place, confirm its external dimensions and the clearance required in the HD9252/70 manual, as well as the cleaning instructions for its parts.
First choose a capacity that suits your portions, then check the appliance’s dimensions. For four people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L, but the basket’s surface area and shape still matter for the dishes you cook. Also measure the space needed to open the drawer.
Yes, if you often cook two foods that need different settings and want to serve them together. Check the capacity of each drawer and whether the specific model has a synchronisation function. If you only cook one dish at a time, a single basket may be a less cumbersome option.
Only if the manufacturer says so for the parts of the model in question. Moulinex lists some dishwasher-safe parts for the Easy Fry Deluxe and the basket of the Easy Fry Essential; check the instructions for your appliance’s drawer, rack and accessories separately.
Not necessarily: the two appliances can be used for many of the same types of hot-air cooking. In a test published in October 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity with the air fryers it tested than with a mini oven when cooking a small quiche of the same size; this result doesn’t apply to every meal. If your oven already meets your needs, weigh up this potential use for small portions against the extra space and cleaning involved.