A single-basket air fryer could be a good option if you often cook one or two portions and have room to use and store it. If your oven already handles these meals without any hassle, stick with it rather than adding an appliance you may rarely use. A dual-basket model is mainly for regularly cooking two separate dishes at once, but it may take up more space.
If you often cook one or two portions, start with the size of your usual batches rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone. You should also consider how much room you need to set up and clean the appliance when choosing a compact model.
Measure the space you have in mind, and bear in mind the fan noise if the appliance will be used near your living area. UFC-Que Choisir points out that noise levels vary between models, so a test carried out under clearly stated conditions is more useful than a quick impression in a shop.
If you regularly need separate settings for a main dish and a side, two compartments could be just what you need. However, check the dimensions of the whole appliance: being able to use just one small drawer won’t reduce the space it takes up.
For small portions, how often you’ll use the appliance should determine whether it’s worth adding one to your existing oven. Then choose the basket to suit the food you actually cook.
Consider it: for frequent small batches, usually for one or two people.
Bear in mind: you can’t cook two dishes with different settings at the same time in a single basket.
Consider it: if you regularly cook a main dish and a side separately and want them to finish cooking at the same time.
Bear in mind: both cooking zones take up space, even when you only use one.
Stick with it: if you only cook small batches occasionally or your usual dishes need more room than a basket can offer.
Weigh this up: UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers also cook, roast and grill — functions your oven already performs.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity for your portions | Compare the basket’s surface area and the recommended quantities for the foods you usually cook, not just its capacity in litres. | For one or two plates, I want to avoid a basket that’s too small and means cooking several batches, or an unnecessarily large appliance. Around 33% of consumers would put this capacity first. |
| Space, noise and cleaning | Measure the space available for use and storage; compare noise levels under clearly stated test conditions and check the cleaning instructions for removable parts. | In a small or open-plan kitchen, I want to use and put away the appliance without too much hassle. This would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| How useful it is alongside your oven | List the small batches you actually plan to cook and check that your dishes and tins will fit in the basket. | My oven already handles most of my meals, and I only want to add another appliance if I’ll use it regularly for something different. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise this question. |
| Cooking two dishes separately | Check that both zones have independent settings and that the synchronisation feature suits the way you cook. | I often cook a main dish and a side that need different cooking times. Around 13% of consumers would put this feature first. |
The basket’s shape, how you arrange the food and the recipe all affect how much you can cook in one batch. UFC-Que Choisir therefore distinguishes between the stated capacity and the usable volume.
Check the instruction manual, recommended quantities and internal dimensions, keeping your most common batch in mind.
An air fryer can cook, roast and grill. UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying more equipment than you need when your oven already does these jobs.
Make a note of the recipes you’d genuinely use an air fryer for during a typical week. If you can only think of a few, stick with your existing oven.
You may hear the fan in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir highlights differences between models and measures noise at 0.50 m as part of its testing protocol.
Before choosing a model for use near your living area, look for a test that specifies the measuring distance and operating mode.
A comparison based on a particular food and set of settings won’t reflect every recipe you cook. Philips notes that the results of its comparisons can vary from one appliance to another.
If energy savings matter to you, compare the food, quantity, temperature, preheating and oven used in the test conditions.
The Easy Fry range includes single-basket models for small batches.
Philips’ range includes single-basket models and models with two drawers, designed for different cooking needs.
Ninja is one of the brands included in UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer comparison.
These air fryers are options to consider for small batches. Before adding another appliance to your kitchen, compare the size of their containers with your usual portions and the space you have available.
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For one or two people, its stated 3.2 L capacity falls within UFC-Que Choisir’s recommended range of 3 to 4 L for a single-basket model.
Check the basket’s surface area for the foods you usually cook, as well as the space you’ll need around the appliance.
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If you’re considering this model for small meals, compare the size of its containers with the quantities you cook most often.
Think about where you’ll store them too, and look for a noise test with clearly stated conditions if you have an open-plan kitchen.
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This 2 L model is worth considering if you cook small batches. Check that the basket can fit your food without needing to cook it in several batches.
The product name specifies a 60-minute timer, a non-stick basket and parts described as dishwasher-safe. Measure your available space before buying.
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For meals for two, compare the basket with your portion sizes rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone.
Joybuy lists the HD9252/70 as having a 4.1 L capacity. Check the dimensions and cleaning instructions for this specific model, rather than relying on information for the HD9252/90.
Not for every task: UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers share some cooking functions with ovens. A compact basket may suit your frequent small batches, but check that your larger dishes, tins and usual recipes will still work with the appliance you plan to keep.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a guide for one or two people using a single basket, but it’s not a rule that applies to every recipe. Moulinex also lists a 1.6 L model for this number of people, so compare the capacity in litres, the basket’s surface area and the recommended quantities in the manual with the portions you actually cook.
Compare measurements taken at the same distance and in clearly specified operating modes, rather than two isolated figures. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0.50 m as part of its testing protocol. If your kitchen is open-plan, pay close attention to the test conditions.
It could be if you regularly cook two foods that need different settings. Philips describes models with two drawers that can synchronise their finish times. If you only cook one thing at a time, weigh up how you’d use this feature against the space the whole appliance takes up.