If you’re cooking small portions regularly for one or two people, a compact air fryer with a single basket can be a useful addition to your oven, provided its dimensions and capacity suit the dishes you make. Keep your oven or mini oven for larger dishes or batch cooking; consider a dual-basket model if you often cook two foods with different timings. If traditional deep-frying is your main priority, compare the results you want with those from a deep-fat fryer too.
You make a meal or side dish for one or two people and want to avoid switching on the full-sized oven for every small batch. Que Choisir lists capacity, ease of use and cleaning among the factors to consider. Also check that the appliance will be easy to reach in your kitchen.
You want to know whether a dedicated appliance will get enough use to justify the space it takes up. An air fryer also cooks by circulating hot air, so compare the portions and recipes you actually make in your oven with those that would fit in a basket.
You want to cook two dishes separately, with different cooking times, and serve them together. A dual-zone model is worth considering, even if its total capacity is more than you need for a single small portion.
For a small household, start with your usual portions and recipes, then check the space available and how much cleaning the appliance will involve.
| Factor | What to check | Who it’s suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Recommended quantities for the foods you cook and the basket’s internal dimensions, rather than its stated capacity in litres alone. | To cook a small portion without making several batches, your dish needs to fit in the basket. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise a capacity suited to one or two people. |
| Size | The width, depth and height of the space available, plus room to open the drawer and follow the instructions. | In a small kitchen, keeping your worktop usable matters more than adding a bulky appliance. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise the space it takes up. |
| Cleaning | Removable parts and dishwasher compatibility for the specific model, as well as the care instructions in its manual. | If you use the basket often, difficult cleaning could put you off using it day to day. Around 19% of consumers would put ease of cleaning first. |
| How useful it is alongside your oven | Whether your usual recipes fit in the basket and, where a test is available, the cooking results of the exact model. | If you already have an oven, the aim is to avoid buying a redundant appliance while still getting the results you want. Around 25% of consumers would put this trade-off at the heart of their decision. |
Both appliances use hot-air cooking. A basket can make some smaller dishes more convenient, but it won’t necessarily fit the larger dishes you put in the oven.
Think of the three recipes you make most often and your usual portion sizes. If you rarely cook small batches, try making them in your existing oven or mini oven first.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether a dish will fit in the basket or how much food you can cook without exceeding the fill limit.
Check the manual for the specific model to confirm the recommended quantities, basket shape and internal dimensions.
If the basket is too small for your dish, you may have to cook it in several batches.
Separate cooking zones are mainly useful for coordinating two different cooking times. If you’re making just one small dish, the extra capacity may not offer any real benefit.
Choose this style if you often cook two foods with different settings; otherwise, compare it with a single-basket model.
Que Choisir found that cooking performance varies between the air fryers it tests, and assesses ease of use and cleaning separately.
Look for a test of the exact model and check its manual to see which parts can be removed and how to clean them.
The Easy Fry range includes the Easy Fry Essential EZ130A20, a 3.5 L single-basket model worth considering for smaller batches.
The NA120/00 and NA154/00 offer two different options: a 4.2 L single basket and a 7.1 L appliance with adjustable compartments.
The DoubleStack SL300EU offers a different take on the dual-drawer design, with a vertical layout rather than a simple compact basket.
These two Joybuy models are suited to smaller meals in a small household. For each one, compare the container with your portion sizes and the space you have available. This isn’t a selection of ovens, deep-fat fryers or appliances that cook two dishes at once.
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Worth considering if you mostly cook one small portion at a time and want a single basket. The product name lists a 2 L capacity, 1 150 W power rating and a 60-minute timer. It also mentions a non-stick, dishwasher-safe basket. Check the appliance’s dimensions and the recommended quantities for your recipes: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether it’s suitable.
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Worth a look if you want to match the container to the size of your meal. The product description mentions two containers in different sizes that fit onto the base; don’t assume this means you can cook two dishes at once. Before choosing the smaller one for your meals, check its fill limit in the manual and how much space the appliance needs.
Not for every dish. It also cooks using hot air, but the size of its basket limits what you can fit inside. It can complement an oven if you often cook small batches; keep your oven for larger dishes and bigger quantities.
Compare your portions and dishes with the quantities and dimensions given for the specific model, rather than relying on the capacity in litres alone. For example, Philips says its 4.2 L NA120/00 can cook up to 500 g of chips or vegetables. This guide doesn’t apply to other appliances or every recipe.
Check the manual to see which parts are removable and which can go in the dishwasher. Que Choisir assesses cleaning as part of its testing, as ease of care varies between models.
It can be useful if you often cook two foods with different cooking times and want them to finish together. If you usually cook one small portion, check whether a single-basket model would meet your needs more simply.
For goods bought from a professional seller, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished appliances, according to the French Ministry of the Economy. Keep your proof of purchase, the exact model reference and the product description so you can explain the issue to the seller.