For frequent, small-batch cooking, consider a drawer-style air fryer if your portions genuinely fit in the basket in one go. A model with two compartments is mainly worthwhile if you regularly cook two foods with different settings. A mini oven is better suited to baking tins, trays and recipes that need an oven cavity, while sticking with your existing oven avoids buying a duplicate appliance if you only cook small portions occasionally. UFC-Que Choisir notes that air fryers overlap with some oven functions. Before adding another appliance, compare the recipes you make, cleaning requirements, noise and space needed.
You often prepare a meal for one and would rather not switch on the full-sized oven. Check how much food actually fits in the basket and how easy it is to access, rather than relying on the number of programmes. UFC-Que Choisir lists capacity as one of the factors to consider.
You regularly cook a main and a side dish with different settings. Whether two compartments are useful depends on how often you cook this way and the capacity of each zone. UFC-Que Choisir notes that models with two drawers can cook different foods at the same time.
You already have an oven and are reluctant to give up worktop space. Start by checking what your current recipes and equipment cannot do. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer performs some of the same functions as an oven.
Your choice mainly depends on how much you cook, how much space you have and how often a new appliance would offer a genuinely different use.
Consider it if: you often cook a small portion that fits in your chosen basket in one go.
Bear in mind: you need enough worktop space to open the drawer, and you may hear the fan while the food is cooking.
Consider it if: you regularly prepare two foods that need different settings or cooking times.
Bear in mind: the food is split between two zones, which means more parts to clean.
Consider it if: your recipes mainly use baking tins or trays that fit better in an oven cavity with a door than in a basket.
Bear in mind: in a 2024 UFC-Que Choisir test, the air fryers tested used an average of 36 % less electricity than a 19 l Optimo mini oven when cooking a small quiche, for the same quantity. This result cannot be applied to other recipes or appliances.
Consider it if: you only cook small portions occasionally, or you can already use your usual trays and tins.
Bear in mind: you need to heat the oven cavity for a small quantity. Energy-use comparisons depend on the recipes and appliances tested.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and recipes | Compare the usable dimensions of the basket or cavity, the quantities recommended for the model and the amounts you usually cook. | I want to cook my usual portions in one go, without relying solely on the stated capacity. Around 28 % of consumers prioritise a capacity that suits their recipes. |
| Space and duplication | Measure the space available and how far the appliance opens. Also check the clearance specified in the model's instructions. | I don't want to lose useful worktop space to an appliance that duplicates my oven. Around 28 % of consumers prioritise saving space and avoiding duplication. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the capacity of each compartment, whether the settings can be adjusted independently and, if needed, whether the exact model has a synchronisation function. | When I prepare two foods at once, I want to be able to adjust how each one cooks. Around 17 % of consumers prioritise being able to cook two foods with different settings. |
| Cleaning | Check the instructions to find out which parts are removable and which are dishwasher-safe. | If I cook frequently, I want to know which parts I'll need to clean and how. Around 16 % of consumers put easy cleaning first. |
| Noise | Look for a noise measurement for the exact model, taken from a stated distance. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0.50 m. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to keep cooking noise to a minimum. Around 11 % of consumers prioritise quiet operation. |
The stated capacity alone won't tell you whether your food, dishes or tins will fit without overcrowding the appliance. A test of the older Philips HD9252 by Les Numériques, for example, found that it had a small basket despite its relatively compact exterior.
Compare the usable dimensions, the quantities recommended for the specific model and the dishes you use most often.
A basket that's too small may mean cooking in several batches. An appliance that doesn't suit your recipes may end up rarely used.
Two zones are most useful for cooking different foods at the same time. Their capacity is divided between them, and results may vary from one zone to another.
Choose this format for meals that genuinely need two separate cooking settings, then compare the capacity of each compartment.
This format takes up space and adds more parts to clean.
In its 2024 tests, UFC-Que Choisir found that results varied by recipe. Some air fryers used more energy for chicken drumsticks than in other situations tested.
Compare measurements for the same recipe and quantity. Don't estimate how long it will take to recoup the cost without considering how you'll use the appliance and what you already own.
The range includes drawer-style air fryers, such as the 3.2 l Series 2000 NA211/00.
The brand offers drawer-style air fryers, such as the 3.5 l Easy Fry Essential EZ130810, as well as the 19 l Optimo OX444810 convection mini oven.
The range lets you compare a single-drawer model, such as the AF100EU, with a model that has two compartments, such as the DZ300EU.
The TO 2068 convection mini oven has a 20 l cavity, which you can compare with that of a drawer-style model.
The Easy Fry Compact EY101815 is a 1.6 l drawer-style air fryer.
This selection features drawer-style air fryers for small portions, with details on capacity, cleaning and installation.
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Its stated capacity for one to two portions may suit you if it matches the amount you usually cook.
The title states a power rating of 2 000 W and a non-stick basket. The description specifies that the basket is dishwasher-safe.
Measure the space needed to place the appliance and open its drawer. Check the clearances specified in the instructions for this model.
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The drawer and removable basket are stated to be dishwasher-safe, which may suit you if you want to clean them this way after use.
The product information lists a capacity of 3.2 l and dimensions of 368 × 273 × 293 mm. It also specifies a minimum clearance of 100 mm on each side.
Compare these dimensions and clearances with the space you have available before buying.
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The description presents this 2 l basket as suitable for one or two people. Check that it matches the size of your usual portions.
The title states a power rating of 1 150 W and a non-stick basket that is dishwasher-safe. The description also mentions removable parts that are suitable for this type of cleaning.
The description recommends placing the appliance on a flat, heat-resistant surface, keeping the air inlets and outlets clear, and leaving enough distance from steam.
Make a note of the recipes, portions, dishes and frequency of your small-batch cooking. If you only do it occasionally or mainly use your existing trays and tins, keeping your oven means you won't need another appliance. Energy-use measurements from other appliances and recipes won't predict how much energy you'll use in your kitchen.
Measure the available space and how far the drawer or door opens, then follow the clearances specified in the instructions for the model. For cleaning, check which parts are explicitly stated to be dishwasher-safe and which parts of the appliance are not. For example, Moulinex says that the EZ130810's basket can be washed this way.
According to the DGCCRF, claims under the statutory guarantee of conformity must be brought within two years of the goods being delivered, whether new or second-hand. An optional commercial guarantee does not replace this statutory guarantee. For distance purchases from a trader, the French Ministry of the Economy states that you have a right to cancel for at least 14 days, subject to the applicable conditions and exceptions.
No. According to the DGCCRF, the CE marking shows that the manufacturer declares the product complies with the applicable European requirements; it is not a certification mark. On its own, it does not prove how well a specific appliance cooks, how quiet it is or whether it will deliver the claimed energy savings.