If you often cook small portions, a single-drawer air fryer could complement your oven, provided the basket suits your recipes and you’re happy to make room for another appliance, with the extra noise and cleaning that comes with it. A dual-compartment model is better suited to cooking two foods at the same time. If you only cook small amounts occasionally, sticking with your oven means you won’t need to buy another appliance.
If you regularly cook for one or two people, compare the usable space in the basket with the dishes you usually make. Tefal and Philips offer models designed for this kind of use, but the serving guidance varies from model to model.
If you want your main and side dish to finish cooking at the same time, two separate cooking zones could be a good fit. Check how the drawers are arranged and whether the model you’re considering has a synchronisation function. UFC-Que Choisir treats cooking in two zones as a distinct use case in its testing protocol.
If you only cook small amounts occasionally, using the oven you already have avoids adding another appliance to store and clean. Noise is worth considering too: UFC-Que Choisir advises checking the fan before buying an air fryer.
How often you cook small portions is the first thing to consider when deciding whether to add another appliance. Then think about how many dishes you want to cook at once to choose between a single drawer and two compartments.
Consider it: if you regularly cook a small dish and don’t usually need to cook two foods separately.
Bear in mind: even a compact model adds a basket to clean and takes up space when in use and when stored away.
Consider it: if you often cook a main and a side separately and want them to finish cooking at the same time.
Bear in mind: two zones offer little benefit when you’re cooking a single portion if the second one goes unused.
Keep it: if you only cook small amounts occasionally or also prepare larger dishes.
Bear in mind: the right choice depends on your recipes and how you cook. Don’t assume that one appliance will always use less electricity.
| Criterion | What to check | What shoppers say |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and space | Compare the basket’s volume and shape with the dishes you usually make, then measure the space needed with the drawer open. | If I mainly cook small portions, I want them to fit in the basket without leaving a disproportionately large appliance on my worktop. Around 46% of shoppers prioritise useful capacity and footprint. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and look for noise information about the specific model. | In an open-plan kitchen, I might prefer to keep my oven rather than add a fan I can hear and more parts to clean. Ease of use is the top priority for around 36% of shoppers. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check whether the zones work independently, whether they can be synchronised and how large each drawer is. | When I serve two foods together that need different cooking times, I want to be able to prepare them separately. This is the top priority for around 18% of shoppers. |
Two zones are mainly useful for cooking two dishes at once. If you rarely use the second one, it won’t solve the problem of finding an appliance that’s the right size for a small dish.
Choose this format for meals where you often cook two items separately. Otherwise, compare a single-drawer model with your oven.
How an air fryer compares with an oven depends on the recipe, quantity, appliances and preheating. The fact that an air fryer has a smaller cooking cavity isn’t enough to guarantee savings every time.
Don’t base your purchase on an advertised percentage. Instead, think about what you actually cook and how much space the appliance will take up.
UFC-Que Choisir highlights fan noise as a buying consideration, particularly if you have an open-plan kitchen.
Look for a noise measurement or test of the specific model before deciding whether its sound level is right for you.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you by itself whether your dish, or the quantity you want to cook, will fit in the basket.
Check the cooking chamber’s shape and usable dimensions against your recipes, as well as any accessories you need.
The range lets you compare a single-drawer model with two-drawer models in different sizes.
The range includes both a single-drawer model designed for small quantities and a model with two vertically stacked drawers.
Its range includes compact models, dual-drawer appliances and larger capacities.
These two air fryers are worth considering for small dishes. Before deciding whether either would be a useful addition to your oven, compare the container you’ll use, the space available and the cleaning involved.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you regularly cook small quantities and want a single-drawer basket.
Stated capacity of 2 L, power of 1 150 W and a 60-minute timer. Check that the basket suits your dishes, and measure the space needed to open the drawer.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to prepare small quantities in a container suited to each cooking task.
Check the capacity and what’s included with this variant, as well as the space needed to set it up. If cooking two dishes at once is essential for you, make sure you confirm that it can do so before buying.
No, you can’t assume it will always use less. UFC-Que Choisir says it has compared the energy use of air fryers with that of an oven. To judge how one might work for you, compare similar recipes and quantities, as well as cooking times and preheating.
Measure the space you have in mind, the available height and the room needed to open the drawer. Check the ventilation instructions in the manual too. In an open-plan kitchen, bear in mind the fan noise highlighted by UFC-Que Choisir.
Check exactly which removable parts are dishwasher-safe and follow the care instructions for your model. Philips lists some parts of the HD9252/90 as dishwasher-safe, while Tefal says the same of the drawers and accessories for the Crispy Stack. You’ll still need to clean the appliance after use.
The legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual, according to the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. Keep your receipt, the product description and its manual in case you need to report a lack of conformity.