For one or two people who usually cook one dish at a time, a single-drawer air fryer is a sensible choice if the appliance, its open drawer and the clearances specified in its manual all fit in your kitchen. Multiple functions or two compartments are most useful if you regularly prepare separate items; keeping a mini oven may be a better fit for dishes that need its particular cooking format or internal space.
You mainly cook small portions and need to be able to use or store the appliance without cluttering your worktop. Tefal describes a 1.6 L model as suitable for up to two people, while Philips positions its 4.1 L model for two people: compare these manufacturers’ recommendations with the meals you usually make and the space available.
You’d sometimes like to cook a main and a side dish with different settings. Moulinex says the compartments in its dual-drawer models can be programmed separately; do check, though, that the whole appliance will fit in your kitchen.
If you clean the basket after every meal and often put the appliance away, look at the parts you’ll need to wash as well as the cooking modes. Philips and Tefal state that some models have dishwasher-safe parts; the manual for your chosen model will tell you which ones.
In a small kitchen, start by checking the space available and what you’ll need to fit in the basket. Then compare the functions and cleaning requirements: a single-drawer air fryer, a multifunction model and a mini oven may not be suited to the same dishes.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Space and set-up | Measure the appliance, the space needed to open the drawer and the available location. Check the model’s manual for clearance requirements and which socket to use. | In a narrow kitchen, I need to be able to open the drawer without compromising the position specified in the manual. Around 40 % of consumers would prioritise space and a safe set-up. |
| Portions and basket shape | Compare the meals you usually cook with the basket’s internal surface area, not just its capacity in litres. If you’re cooking two dishes with different settings, also consider a model with two compartments. | If I’m cooking a large dish or several items, I want to avoid having to cook in multiple batches. Useful portion size would come first for around 30 % of consumers. |
| Functions and cleaning | Choose the modes you’ll actually use and check exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe. Refer to the manual for cleaning instructions. | When I cook often, useful settings only matter if the appliance is still easy to clean and put away. Around 30 % of consumers would prioritise this balance. |
Capacity doesn’t tell you the shape of the basket or the size of the food it can hold. Tefal describes a 1.6 L model as suitable for up to two people, while Philips positions its 4.1 L model for two people: these recommendations don’t guarantee that your own dishes will fit in one batch.
Start with the meals you cook most often and, where possible, check the basket’s internal surface area.
Even an appliance described as compact needs enough room for its drawer and must comply with the instructions in its manual. For example, Darty lists dimensions of 360 × 264 × 295 mm for the Philips HD9252/90.
Measure your worktop and the space in front of and around the appliance, then check the required clearances for the model you’re considering before choosing where to put it.
Moulinex says that two compartments let you set different cooking times and temperatures for two dishes. This is less useful if you usually cook just one item at a time.
Think about how often you cook two dishes at once and compare that with the space the appliance will take up; a single basket may be enough if you’re happy to cook in successive batches.
In France, the DGCCRF states that a commercial guarantee is optional and is in addition to your statutory guarantees; it doesn’t replace them.
Before taking out an extended guarantee, read its duration, exclusions and repair terms, and distinguish these from the legal guarantee of conformity that applies to your purchase.
The Easy Fry Compact range lets you compare a small 1.6 L single-basket model with a 3 L model featuring programmes.
The single-basket HD9252/90 has a 4.1 L capacity, offering another point of comparison for countertop appliances.
Its dual-compartment models are worth considering if you regularly prepare a main and a separate side dish.
These two appliances offer different options for small kitchens: a single basket for small portions, and a Crispi model to consider if you want more flexibility when preparing food. Check their dimensions and manuals before setting aside space on your worktop.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook small portions in a single basket. The product title lists a capacity of 2 L, a power rating of 1 150 W and a 60-minute timer.
Check the external dimensions, the clearances specified in the manual and which parts can actually go in the dishwasher.
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Worth considering if you want to adapt your cooking rather than always making the same portion. Compare the containers supplied with the dishes you usually cook.
Before deciding where to put it, check its dimensions, the ventilation clearances specified and how to care for each part, as set out in the manual.
Choose one based on the dishes you want to cook, not just the stated capacity. Tefal describes its 1.6 L model as suitable for up to two people, while Philips positions its 4.1 L HD9252/90 for two people; compare the manufacturers’ recommendations with the size of your food and, if possible, the basket’s internal surface area.
Two drawers are most useful if you often cook separate items that need different cooking times or temperatures. Moulinex says that the compartments in its relevant models can be set independently; even so, measure the entire appliance before choosing it over a single basket.
No. Check the manual for your model to see whether each part is dishwasher-safe. Philips and Tefal state that some models have dishwasher-safe baskets or removable parts; this doesn’t automatically apply to the whole appliance.
Check the rated power and follow the connection and clearance instructions in the manual for your chosen model. Darty lists the Philips HD9252/90 at 1 400 W: this figure doesn’t apply to other models or specify the space you need to leave around them.
If you buy a new product from a professional seller in France, you can rely on the legal guarantee of conformity for two years. The DGCCRF states that during this period you don’t have to prove that the fault was present on the date of sale; any commercial guarantee is in addition to your statutory guarantees and doesn’t replace them.