For a family of four, UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking at air fryers with a capacity of at least 6 L. For households of more than five, its guide is 9 L or more. These capacities don’t guarantee that you can cook a whole meal in one batch: choose separate zones for cooking two dishes at once, a wide enough basket for one large dish, or stick with your oven if it already meets your needs.
If you’re cooking a main and a side, check whether they can cook together without taking up too much worktop space. UFC-Que Choisir recommends a minimum capacity of 6 L for four people. Then check that the basket’s shape suits the dishes you use.
For larger quantities or several parts of a meal, UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking at models with a capacity of 9 L or more. The size of each zone matters just as much as the total capacity if you want to cook one large item at a time.
Measure the space you have in mind, including the room needed to open the drawers. Noise is also worth considering in an open-plan kitchen, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. And don’t forget to think about handling and cleaning the baskets.
The right design depends first on what you’re cooking together: two separate dishes need a different kind of basket from one large dish.
Worth considering: if you usually cook one dish or side at a time and want a single basket.
The trade-off: the basket’s shape and the amount it can hold may mean cooking in several batches, even if its stated capacity is high.
Worth considering: if your meals regularly include two foods that need to cook separately at the same time.
The trade-off: the capacities of the two drawers don’t combine to make one large cavity. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that results can vary between zones.
Worth considering: if you switch between cooking two smaller dishes and one larger dish. Some Moulinex and Philips models have a removable divider.
The trade-off: removing the divider doesn’t mean you can skip checking the basket’s dimensions or those of your dish.
Worth considering: if your meals usually call for wide dishes or an oven cavity rather than separate baskets.
The trade-off: a mini oven takes up space too. If your current oven does the job, UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying an appliance that duplicates its functions.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the capacity of each basket, its internal shape and the maximum quantity stated in the instructions. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for households of more than five. | I want my usual portions and dishes to fit without having to cook in multiple batches. |
| Cooking at the same time | Check whether the zones have independent settings and, if you want to serve everything together, a synchronisation function. Make sure there’s enough room in each zone. | I want to cook the main and side at the same time, even if they need different settings. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space with the drawers open and follow the clearances specified in the instructions. Check which parts are removable, how to clean them and whether comparable noise tests are available for the model you’re considering. | In my open-plan kitchen, noise matters just as much as the space the appliance takes up. I also want to be able to clean it regularly. |
| Existing oven | Compare the dishes and quantities your oven can handle with those that fit in a single basket, two drawers or a mini oven. Identify the meals where a different setup would genuinely be useful. | If my oven already fits my larger dishes, I only need another appliance for a different purpose. |
A stated capacity won’t tell you whether a quiche, a casserole dish or a large joint will fit in the basket.
Compare the internal dimensions and the quantities allowed in the instructions with the meals you usually cook, bearing UFC-Que Choisir’s capacity guidelines in mind.
Two compartments let you cook two things at once, but their combined capacity doesn’t tell you how much room there is for a single dish.
Check each drawer separately. For one large dish, consider a flexible basket or an oven cavity with suitable dimensions.
You need to be able to use a family-sized appliance where you plan to put it. UFC-Que Choisir recommends paying particular attention to ventilation noise in open-plan kitchens.
Measure the space needed to open the drawers, follow the instructions on ventilation and, if possible, look for noise measurements taken under comparable conditions.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, an air fryer can perform functions already covered by an oven. An extra appliance also takes up space and needs cleaning.
Make a note of the meals your oven isn’t suited to: cooking two things separately, regularly making smaller dishes or cooking something that needs a different-shaped cavity.
The Easy Fry Dual and Dual Flex ranges let you compare separate drawers with a flexible basket for family meals.
The range includes single baskets, flexible baskets and stacked baskets, so you can compare them based on the shape of the dishes you cook.
Ninja is one of the air fryer brands featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s comparison.
This selection includes dual-basket appliances for cooking two parts of a meal and a single-basket model for larger dishes. Compare the dimensions of the zones with your dishes: total capacity alone won’t tell you how many batches you’ll need to cook.
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Worth considering if you cook two parts of a meal at the same time. The stated 9,5 L capacity is split between two drawers, so check the dimensions of each one to make sure your dishes will fit. The product name lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. Also check the space it needs and its noise level if it will be used in an open-plan kitchen.
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The dual basket is handy for preparing a meal with two different dishes. The stated 9 L is the total capacity, so check how much room there is in each basket before planning to cook a large dish. Also consider the noise level if you have an open-plan kitchen.
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Its two drawers let you cook two different dishes. The stated total capacity is 7,6 L: above UFC-Que Choisir’s recommended 6 L for four people, but below its guideline of 9 L or more for households of more than five. Check the internal dimensions of the drawers too, to make sure your dishes will fit.
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Worth considering for cooking two parts of a meal separately. The stated 9 L capacity is split between two baskets, so compare their dimensions with those of your dishes. The product name lists eight programmes and independent temperature control. Check the space it needs, the noise level and the cleaning instructions for everyday use.
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A single basket may suit you if you’re more likely to cook one dish at a time than prepare a meal across two zones. Its stated capacity is 9 L, but check the internal dimensions against the dishes you usually cook. Also consider how much worktop space it will take up and how noisy it is when running.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people. Use this as a starting point, then check the internal shape and the quantity it can hold against the dishes you actually cook.
Not necessarily: 9 L refers to the combined capacity of the two compartments, not the capacity of one drawer. For one large dish, compare its dimensions with those of the larger zone, or look for a basket with a removable divider.
Stick with your oven if it already fits the dishes and quantities you usually cook. Consider a mini oven if you need another oven cavity that suits your dishes. UFC-Que Choisir notes that air fryers can perform some of the same functions as ovens, so it’s worth deciding exactly how you’ll use another appliance before buying one.
Look for a noise measurement or a test of the model you’re considering, with the distance stated, rather than guessing how noisy it is from its capacity. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0,50 m as part of its test procedure and highlights how important this factor is in an open-plan kitchen.