A single-basket model may suit you if your family meals usually involve cooking one item at a time and you’re happy to cook in batches. For a family of four, UFC-Que Choisir recommends starting with at least 6 L, but don’t rely on the stated capacity alone. Two cooking zones are more useful for cooking a main and a side separately, as long as each fits in its own drawer. If you cook large dishes or use several shelves, your existing oven still has a role that an air fryer’s total capacity alone can’t replace.
A single-basket model is worth considering if you mainly cook one item at a time. For a family of four, UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L. Also check the basket’s internal cooking surface and how much worktop space the appliance needs.
Two zones let you cook a main and a side separately. Check the capacity of each zone and, if you want to serve both dishes at the same time, make sure the model has a synchronisation function. For more than five people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking for a stated capacity of 9 L or more.
If your meals need large trays, baking tins or several shelves, compare their dimensions with those of the appliance you’re considering before replacing your oven. An air fryer can handle a smaller dish without necessarily having room for the whole meal.
Start with the foods you want to cook together, then compare their dimensions with each cooking zone. The stated total capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much room there is for your meal.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per batch | Compare the internal surface area and height with the food or dish you plan to cook. If the appliance has two zones, check each one separately. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for households of more than five. | I want to cook enough portions for the meal without having to make several batches. The total capacity figure doesn’t tell me whether my dish will fit in the basket. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check the settings for each zone and whether there’s a synchronisation function. If you sometimes cook a large joint, check whether the divider can be removed. | The main and side need different cooking settings, but I want to serve them together. For other meals, I may need one larger cooking space. |
| How dishes are arranged | For a mini-oven style model, compare the usable dimensions with the trays or tins you plan to use. For a basket, check how the food can be arranged without overcrowding the cooking space. | I’d rather cook a dish in a tin or spread food across a tray than put everything in a drawer. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space needed with the drawer open. Check the manual for instructions on cleaning removable parts, and look for a noise rating if the appliance will be used in an open-plan kitchen. | My worktop space is limited, and the fan noise could bother me while I’m preparing a meal. I also want to know what needs washing after each use. |
| How it compares with your oven | Compare the size of your usual meals with the cooking cavities of both appliances. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests on a small quiche don’t tell you how much energy a large family meal will use. | A compact appliance might suit me for a small dish. For large dishes or several shelves, I need to check whether my oven already does the job. |
The total capacity doesn’t tell you the dimensions of a large dish or how much room there is in each drawer. If your portions won’t fit together, you’ll have to cook in batches.
Check the internal dimensions and load limits in the manual, then compare them with each part of your meal.
Two zones make it easier to cook different foods separately, but splitting the space may leave no room for a large joint or tin.
If you switch between cooking two dishes and a single larger one, check whether the divider is removable and how much space you’ll have once it’s taken out. Otherwise, compare the appliance with your oven.
In a test published by UFC-Que Choisir, air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven to cook a small quiche of the same size. This result doesn’t reflect the energy used to cook a complete family meal.
Compare appliances based on the quantities you actually cook, especially if an air fryer would mean making several batches.
A large appliance needs space while you’re cooking and handling it. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends considering fan noise, particularly in a small or open-plan kitchen.
Measure the space you have in mind, check the model’s care instructions and look for a noise rating if this matters to you.
Moulinex says its 8.3 L Dual Easy Fry & Grill has drawers with capacities of 5.2 L and 3.1 L, while the 9 L Dual Easy Fry Flex can switch from two zones to one using a removable divider.
Philips says the NA154/00 has two 3.55 L zones that can be combined to create a 7.1 L space when the divider is removed. These details apply to this specific model.
These options include mainly dual-zone appliances for cooking two parts of a meal separately, as well as one single-basket model. Check that there’s enough room for your portions: the stated total capacity doesn’t replace the internal dimensions.
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Worth considering if your meal includes two dishes that need to cook separately.
The stated 9.5 L total capacity is split between two drawers, so check that each one can fit the portion you have in mind. The product description lists six functions and baskets that are said to be dishwasher-safe.
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The dual basket is worth considering if you want to cook a main and a side separately.
The 9 L refers to the stated total capacity, not the space in a single basket. Compare the dimensions of each basket with your food and check for the cooking synchronisation features you need.
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This two-drawer model suits meals where different items need to cook separately.
The 7.6 L is the stated total capacity, split between the drawers. For a household of more than five, compare it with UFC-Que Choisir’s recommendation of 9 L or more, and above all check the usable space in each zone.
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The two chambers are worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal at the same time.
The product description lists a 9 L total capacity and ten functions. Before choosing, compare the space in each chamber with your portions and measure the room available in your kitchen.
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A single-basket model is worth considering if your planned meal can cook in one space or in batches you’re happy with.
This model has a stated capacity of 7 L, a digital display and a cooking window. Check the internal dimensions for your portions and consult the manual for care instructions.
For a family of four, UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L. For more than five people, the organisation recommends looking for 9 L or more. These are guidelines based on stated capacity: before deciding how many portions you can cook together, check the internal dimensions, usable height and how the capacity is split between the drawers.
Not if your dish won’t fit in either drawer. Separate zones let you cook two foods at the same time. If you also cook a large joint, look at the dimensions of a model with a removable divider, or keep your oven for that dish. If both dishes need to finish at the same time, check that the model you’re considering has a synchronisation function.
No. The result depends on factors such as the recipe, quantity and appliance being compared. In a UFC-Que Choisir test, air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven to cook a small quiche of the same size. This figure can’t predict the energy use of a complete family meal, especially if you need to cook in several batches.
Not necessarily. If your household uses large tins, several trays or different shelf levels, your oven offers a cooking space that an air fryer basket may not. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer can also duplicate functions your oven already handles. Before replacing one with the other, compare your usual meals with the usable dimensions of both appliances.