For households of more than five people, Que Choisir recommends looking for a capacity of at least 9 L, while bearing in mind that the stated capacity is not the same as the amount you can actually cook. A dual-drawer model suits meals with two dishes, while a model with a removable divider lets you switch between two compartments and one large basket. A mini oven is worth considering if you want to cook on several levels, while a single-basket model may be all you need if you usually prepare just one recipe. In every case, check the space available for the food and appliance, as well as the room needed to open its drawers or door.
If you want to avoid cooking in batches, look at the usable capacity and shape of the compartment, rather than relying on the word “XXL”. For households of more than five, Que Choisir recommends choosing a capacity of at least 9 L, but this figure is no guarantee that every meal will fit.
If you’re cooking a main and a side dish with different cooking times, look for two independently adjustable zones. If you want to serve both at the same time, check for a sync function and consider the size of the compartment for the main dish.
Compare the appliance’s width, depth and height, then allow enough room to pull out the drawers or open the door. Que Choisir notes that an air fryer used every day can take up a lot of space if it’s left on the worktop.
Start with the meal you make most often: one large recipe, two separate dishes or several foods cooked on different levels.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the stated capacity with the shape of the basket and the space available to arrange the food. For households of more than five, Que Choisir recommends looking for at least 9 L, but points out that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook. | I want to serve enough portions without filling the basket to the brim or having to cook a second batch every time. |
| Cooking arrangements | A single basket holds one preparation at a time; two drawers allow you to set each one separately. If you want to switch between two recipes and one large dish, look for a removable divider and check the dimensions of the basket when the compartments are joined. | A main and a side dish don’t always take the same time to cook. If I want to serve them together, I’ll also check for a sync function. |
| Multiple levels | For a mini-oven-style air fryer, check how many levels it has, which trays or racks are included and how much space you need in front of the door. Consider how the food can be arranged, rather than judging the number of portions by the litre capacity alone. | I sometimes cook food on separate trays rather than in two baskets. |
| Size | Measure the width, height and depth of the space where you plan to put the appliance, then check the clearance needed to open it. Idealo lists the Ninja SL400EU as measuring 28 × 38,5 × 47 cm in that order; check the dimensions of your chosen variant before ordering. | I want to keep the appliance within easy reach without it getting in the way of a wall cupboard or leaving too little room to open its drawers. |
| Cleaning | Check the manual for each model to see whether the baskets, trays, racks and dividers are dishwasher-safe. Also consider how many parts you’ll need to remove after a meal. | If I use the appliance often, I’d like to know exactly which parts I’ll need to wash by hand. |
With a dual-drawer model, the stated capacity is split between two baskets. A large dish needs to fit in one of them, so the total capacity doesn’t represent one continuous space.
Compare the capacity and, if listed, the internal dimensions of the larger basket with the food you plan to cook.
The stated capacity doesn’t guarantee the same results however you arrange the food. In its test for chips, Que Choisir fills the basket no more than two-thirds full and shakes the chips during cooking.
Follow the recipe and manual instructions for arranging or turning the food. If you can’t fit the amount in properly, plan to cook another batch.
An appliance may fit on your worktop but still leave too little room to pull out the baskets or open the door. Height also matters beneath wall cupboards, particularly with a tall model.
Measure the available width, depth and height, as well as the clearance in front. Check the dimensions of your chosen variant again on its product page.
Results quoted for a particular recipe or set of conditions won’t necessarily apply to every family meal. Que Choisir has found differences in cooking performance between the models it tests.
When choosing a size, first check how much food you can cook in one batch and how you’ll arrange the different dishes.
These models show different ways of arranging your cooking; features available on one product range won’t necessarily apply to other appliances from the same brand.
Moulinex describes the Easy Fry Dual XXL EZ9428F0 as having two drawers of 6,5 L and 4,5 L, and the Easy Fry AL605820 as a 20 L mini-oven-style model with three levels.
The Philips NA332/00 is listed with a single 6,2 L basket. The NA352/00 splits its 9 L capacity between two baskets of 6 L and 3 L.
The Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer AF500EUCP is described as having a removable divider and a total capacity of 10,4 L. The Double Stack XL SL400EU combines two baskets in a tall, 9,5 L design.
These options are best suited to cooking two foods in separate compartments. There’s also a model to consider if you’d like to switch between two zones and one large basket. Compare the usable size of the compartments and the space needed before choosing.
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Its two drawers let you cook a main and a side dish separately. The stated total capacity is 9,5 L, with six functions and baskets listed as dishwasher-safe. Check the usable size of each drawer and the space needed to open it.
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Worth considering if you switch between cooking one large dish and preparing two recipes. Its stated capacity is 10 L. Check the basket configuration, usable dimensions, clearance needed to open it and cleaning instructions for this variant.
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The dual-basket design is handy for cooking a main and a side dish separately. The stated 9 L capacity is the total across both baskets. Check the space in the larger basket, the clearance needed to open it and the features of the NA351/00 variant.
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Its two baskets let you cook two separate dishes. The model name indicates a total capacity of 9 L, independent temperature controls and eight preset programmes. Check the basket dimensions, opening clearance and cleaning instructions.
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The two-chamber design suits meals made up of two separate dishes. Its stated total capacity is 9 L, with ten functions listed in the product name. Check the size of each chamber, the space it takes up and whether it has a sync function if you want to serve both dishes together.
For households of more than five, Que Choisir recommends choosing an air fryer with a capacity of at least 9 L. This doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to cook a meal in one batch: check the shape and usable capacity of the compartment for the main dish, especially if the total capacity is split between two drawers.
It coordinates the end of cooking in two separately controlled zones. Philips, for example, lists this function on the NA352/00. It doesn’t increase the size of the baskets or the amount of food you can arrange properly inside them, so check that the exact model you’re considering has this feature.
A large single basket is best suited to cooking a larger quantity of one recipe. Two drawers are worth considering if you often cook a main and a side dish with different settings. If so, compare the size of the larger drawer rather than looking at the total capacity alone.
Check the manual to find out which baskets, racks, trays or dividers are actually dishwasher-safe for the variant you’ve chosen. Moulinex says the EZ9428F0’s baskets are dishwasher-safe; a mini-oven-style appliance also has accessories that need to be removed and cleaned.