For family meals, start by considering the space your portions need and how many dishes you want to cook at once, rather than relying on the advertised total capacity alone. A single basket suits one dish; two drawers let you use different settings; a flexible cooking chamber switches between two zones and one large zone. A mini-oven format is worth considering if you use racks or trays. None of these formats is guaranteed to replace your existing oven, and cooking results vary between models, as UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show.
If you cook several portions of the same dish, check the usable cooking area before relying on the advertised capacity in litres. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people, and suggests looking at models of 9 L or more for households of over five.
Two zones can be useful when your dishes need different settings. Check how much space is available in each one and, if you want to serve both dishes at the same time, whether the model has a synchronisation function.
A family-sized appliance still needs enough clearance for you to open its drawers or door. Compare its external dimensions and required clearance, as well as the parts you’ll need to clean, with the space you actually have.
To choose between a single basket, two drawers, a flexible cooking chamber and a mini oven, start with the dishes you usually make. Then check that they’ll fit inside the appliance and that it will fit on your worktop.
Consider it if: you mostly cook one recipe or side dish per batch.
Bear in mind: you may need to cook in successive batches if all the portions won’t fit without stacking them.
Consider it if: your main and side dishes need different cooking times or temperatures.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split between two drawers, and each one needs to suit your recipe.
Consider it if: you switch between cooking two separate dishes and making one dish that needs a larger, uninterrupted area.
Bear in mind: the usable capacity changes depending on the divider’s position; it doesn’t create extra space.
Consider it if: your choice depends on using racks, trays or dishes that fit this format.
Bear in mind: the accessories and uses supported vary by model, so don’t assume it will replace your oven.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the internal dimensions and the space available in each zone for your portions, rather than looking only at the total capacity in litres. | I want to cook my usual portions without making lots of batches or cramming food in; around 36% of consumers would put usable capacity at the top of their list. |
| Cooking at the same time | Check the settings available for each zone and, if needed, whether their cooking times can be synchronised to finish together. | When my main and side dishes need different cooking times, I want to serve them together; around 29% of consumers would make this coordination their priority. |
| Size | Measure the appliance and the clearance needed to open the drawers or door fully in the space where you plan to put it. | I need to keep my worktop usable even when I open the appliance; around 21% of consumers would put keeping this space clear first. |
| Cleaning and after-sales service | Check which parts are removable, whether they’re dishwasher-safe and what the seller says about spare parts and guarantees. | If several baskets, racks or trays need regular cleaning, I want to know what’s involved before I buy; around 14% of consumers would make this their main consideration. |
With a model that has two drawers, the total capacity is split between them. UFC-Que Choisir also advises looking beyond the advertised capacity of XXL models.
Compare the dimensions of the area where your largest item will go and check that your portions will fit without overcrowding.
Models with racks and trays are available, but the accessories and dishes they can accommodate vary. A large basket or two drawers won’t necessarily suit the same uses as a large oven tray.
Make a list of the dishes you want to cook in it, then check their dimensions and the model’s accessories before deciding which cooking tasks to move across.
UFC-Que Choisir’s tests found differences between models. With chips, for example, those at the top may cook more than those at the bottom.
Look for a test of the specific model and follow the instructions in its manual on turning or redistributing food when the recipe calls for it.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to an individual, regardless of any commercial guarantee. The DGCCRF has also reported failings in the information given to consumers about guarantees for household appliances.
Check who the seller is and keep a copy of the product listing. Read the terms of any commercial guarantee separately from the information about your legal guarantee.
The Easy Fry range includes models with two drawers and a removable divider, worth considering if you switch between cooking two separate dishes and using one large cooking area.
Philips offers models with two drawers as well as a flexible cooking chamber, for households choosing between separate dishes and one continuous cooking area.
Ninja models feature among the air fryers tested by UFC-Que Choisir, making the brand a useful point of comparison for family-sized formats.
These models suit two of the uses covered here: cooking two items in separate zones, or making one dish in a single basket. For each one, compare the advertised capacity with the space your dishes need.
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Worth considering for cooking a main and a side dish in two separate drawers. The advertised total capacity is 9.5 L; check whether each drawer has enough room for your portions. The product listing says the baskets are dishwasher-safe.
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Worth considering if you want to split two dishes between separate drawers. The advertised 7.6 L is the total capacity, so check that each drawer can hold the portion you have in mind. The product listing says the baskets are dishwasher-safe.
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Worth considering for two dishes that need different temperatures: the title lists independent temperature control and eight preset programmes. Check the available space in each basket rather than relying on the advertised 9 L alone.
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Worth considering if you want to split a meal between two chambers. The advertised 9 L is the total capacity; check the dimensions of each chamber to see whether your dishes will fit. The title mentions temperature control and ten functions.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook one dish per batch in a single basket. The title lists a 7 L capacity, digital display and cooking window; check the usable internal area for your portions and the space it will need on your worktop.
It depends on the number of portions and how much room they take up in the cooking chamber. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and suggests looking at models of 9 L or more for households of over five. Then check the shape of the interior and, for an appliance with two drawers, the capacity of each one.
Yes, if the model has a suitable function for synchronising the end of each cooking cycle and each drawer is large enough for the portion you plan to cook. This doesn’t guarantee even cooking: UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show that results can vary depending on the model and how the food is arranged.
Check the list of removable parts and whether they’re dishwasher-safe for the specific model. Moulinex lists this feature for some Dual Easy Fry models, but it doesn’t apply to the whole range; check the care instructions in the manual too.
For goods bought in France by an individual from a professional seller, the legal guarantee of conformity may apply if the appliance doesn’t match the seller’s description, as the DGCCRF explains. Keep your proof of purchase, the product listing and any messages about the advertised features. Any commercial guarantee is separate from this legal right.