For a family of four, UFC-Que Choisir recommends an air fryer of at least 6 L. But the shape of the basket matters just as much as its stated capacity if you want to avoid cooking in batches. Choose two drawers if your main dish and side need different settings, or a flexible basket if you alternate between these meals and larger dishes cooked in a single compartment. An air fryer oven is better suited to cooking on racks; if you choose one, check how much space it needs and which parts need cleaning.
If your main dish and side need different cooking times or temperatures, consider dual-drawer and flexible-basket models. Check that each compartment has independent settings and, if you want to serve both dishes together, a synchronised finish function.
For a large quantity of the same food or a wide dish, start by checking the shape and dimensions of the largest cooking area. The combined capacity of two drawers doesn’t tell you how much space is available in either one.
A family-sized appliance needs to fit in your kitchen with its drawers or door open. In an open-plan kitchen, consider the fan noise too: UFC-Que Choisir flags it as something to check before buying.
Start with the dishes you cook most often: a large batch in one compartment, two recipes to serve together or food cooked on racks. Then compare the usable space with the room you have in your kitchen.
Consider this if: you mainly cook one type of food at a time and want to use the entire basket for it.
Bear in mind: two recipes with different settings may need to be cooked one after the other.
Consider this if: your main dish and side cook separately and you need to coordinate when they finish.
Bear in mind: a large joint needs to fit in one drawer, not across their combined capacity.
Consider this if: you alternate between cooking a large dish and two different foods separately.
Bear in mind: the divider is an extra part to handle and clean.
Consider this if: you regularly use racks or dishes that fit inside an oven cavity.
Bear in mind: allow space for the door to open and for cleaning the cavity and accessories.
| Priority | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Large batches | Compare the internal dimensions and shape of the largest cooking area, not just the total capacity in litres. | If I’m cooking a large amount for the family, I want to avoid piling the food too high or having to start another cooking cycle. Around 40% of consumers would put cooking a large batch at the top of their list. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check for independent settings and, if needed, a synchronised finish function. | When the main dish and side need different settings, I want to serve them together. Cooking two dishes would be a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space with the appliance open and look for a test that measures noise while it’s running. | In a compact or open-plan kitchen, I need to use the appliance without disrupting other activities. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise the appliance’s footprint and noise levels. |
| Cleaning and everyday use | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and compare energy use when cooking similar recipes and quantities to your own. | If I cook often, I want to cut down on washing up and assess energy use based on the meals I usually make. For around 10% of consumers, cleaning and everyday use would be the main consideration. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that a large stated capacity doesn’t guarantee enough surface area for every type of food. A wide dish can still be difficult to fit in a deep but narrow basket.
Compare the internal dimensions of the exact model with the dishes you use, and check whether its divider can be removed.
You can cook two recipes separately, but a large joint needs to fit entirely in one of the drawers.
If you often cook large dishes, compare the size of the biggest drawer with that of an open flexible basket or an air fryer oven.
UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show that energy use varies depending on the recipe, quantity and appliance being compared. A result for one dish won’t necessarily apply to every family meal.
To compare models on this basis, look for measurements taken using portions and dishes similar to the ones you cook.
An appliance may take up more space when in use than its closed dimensions suggest. Its fan can also affect comfort in an open-plan kitchen, as UFC-Que Choisir notes.
Measure the space with the drawer or door open, follow the clearance requirements for the model and check a noise measurement taken while it’s running.
These ranges show some of the different layouts available. Choose based on the dimensions and features of the specific model, rather than the brand alone.
The Easy Fry range includes dual-drawer models and one with a removable divider.
The 3000 Series dual-basket model lets you cook a main dish and side separately.
The Vortex range includes both a divisible cooking area and models with separate baskets.
The Easy Fry range includes an air fryer oven for households that want to cook using racks and an oven cavity.
Ninja offers single- and dual-drawer air fryers, as well as air fryer ovens.
These dual-basket models and flexible-basket model suit two different ways of organising a family meal: keeping dishes separate or making more room for a single dish. Above all, compare the size of the cooking area you’ll use for your usual dishes.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook a main dish and side separately. The 9,5 L capacity is split between two drawers, so check that one can fit your widest dish.
6-in-1 version, metallic grey. If noise matters in your kitchen, look for a measurement taken while this model is running.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you cook two parts of a meal and want to check whether you can coordinate their finish times. Compare the internal dimensions of each basket with your dishes.
Stated total capacity of 9 L; black and silver finish.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for cooking two dishes separately, provided each fits in its own drawer. Before choosing this format, compare the internal size of one drawer with the size of the family dishes you usually cook.
6-in-1 version, metallic grey. If you want to serve both dishes at the same time, check the model’s synchronisation features.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you alternate between cooking a large dish and two separate recipes. Compare the layout and dimensions of the 10 L basket, as well as the space needed to open it, with the way you usually cook.
Check the care instructions for the removable parts before buying, especially if dishwasher-safe parts are important to you.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for cooking two dishes separately. Check the dimensions of each basket and the space available in your kitchen before choosing this format.
Advertised with digital touch controls and eight preset programmes. If synchronised finish times or dishwasher-safe parts matter to you, check these details for the exact model.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four. Use this as a starting point, then check the basket’s shape and internal dimensions against the food you cook.
Two drawers are particularly useful for cooking a main dish and a side separately. For a large joint or a large quantity of the same food, compare the size of the biggest cooking area instead, whether that’s a single basket or a flexible one.
No. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show that the result depends on factors such as the recipe and the model being compared. To help you decide, look for measurements taken using quantities similar to your usual portions.
Look for a noise measurement taken while the model is running. UFC-Que Choisir found differences between appliances and measures their noise at 50 cm. Listening to one run for a few seconds in a shop may not reflect how it sounds while you’re preparing a meal.
The legal guarantee of conformity entitles you to ask the seller to repair or replace goods that don’t conform to the contract. According to the DGCCRF, you have two years from delivery to bring a claim; any commercial guarantee is additional and doesn’t replace it.