For one or two portions, a compact single-drawer air fryer could be a good fit if your food fits in the basket and you don’t mind cooking in batches. A dual-drawer model is better suited to preparing two things at once. For larger dishes, or if you’d rather not add another appliance, stick with your oven or mini oven. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the limited capacity of air fryer baskets and warns against buying more appliances than you need. Before setting one up, check the ventilation clearances in the manual for your chosen model.
If you mainly cook a side dish or vegetables, or reheat leftovers during the week, compare a single-drawer basket with the portions you usually make. Moulinex, for example, positions its Easyfry Compacte Precision for one or two people. That doesn’t guarantee your dishes or tins will fit inside.
Measure the available space, including the room needed in front of the appliance to open the drawer. In an open-plan kitchen, pay attention to fan noise too: UFC-Que Choisir flags this as something to consider in smaller spaces.
Two drawers can be useful if you want to cook a main and a side dish separately. However, consider whether you’d use both compartments often enough to justify the space they take up, rather than sticking with your current oven routine.
Worth considering: for small portions that you can cook in batches.
The trade-off: the basket limits how much you can cook in one go.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook two foods with different settings and want them ready at the same time.
The trade-off: check how much space the appliance will take up, including with the drawers open.
Worth keeping: for larger dishes, quantities that won’t fit in a basket, or if you don’t want another appliance.
The trade-off: you won’t have the separate drawers of an air fryer to organise your cooking.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the shape and surface area of the basket with your portions and tins. The capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether a larger dish will fit. | Do I mainly make a small side dish, or do I need to cook the whole meal in one go? |
| Space and ventilation | Measure the appliance and the depth needed to pull out its drawers. Check the manual for the model’s ventilation clearances before choosing where to put it. | On my worktop, I want to be able to open the drawer without getting in the way of meal prep. |
| Noise | Look for a test or measurement that explains how it was carried out. UFC-Que Choisir particularly highlights fan noise as a consideration in small and open-plan kitchens. | My kitchen opens onto the living area, so noise while cooking matters to me. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable and which are dishwasher-safe for the exact model you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir lists ease of cleaning among the factors to consider. | After a weekday meal, I’d like to be able to clean the parts I’ve used easily. |
| Recipes and settings | Check that your recipes will fit in the basket, then look at the settings and instructions in the manual. Don’t assume the cooking results based on the number of programmes alone. | I sometimes cook foods that need to be spread out or larger dishes: would my oven be better suited to these recipes? |
A large stated capacity doesn’t tell you how much surface area there is for arranging food. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that some ‘XXL’ labels can be optimistic.
Compare the basket’s shape with your portions and tins, then measure the appliance with the drawer open.
UFC-Que Choisir reports that cooking performance varies between models. A small basket also limits how much you can cook at once.
Choose based on the foods you actually cook and follow the instructions in the manual, especially if it says to stir or turn the food.
The fan runs during convection cooking. UFC-Que Choisir recommends bearing this in mind if you’ll be using the appliance in a small space or near the living area.
If noise is a deciding factor for you, look for a test or measurement carried out using a clearly explained method.
The appliance’s dimensions alone won’t tell you how much space it needs for ventilation.
Read the installation instructions for the model you’ve chosen before deciding where it will sit on your worktop.
Moulinex offers the Easyfry Compacte Precision, which the brand says is designed for one or two people, as well as dual-drawer models.
Philips offers 3.2 L and 4.2 L Airfryer 2000 Series models, as well as models with dual or stacked baskets.
Ninja is one of the brands of air fryer tested by UFC-Que Choisir.
These four single-drawer models are suited to cooking small batches. If you need to cook two things at once or prepare larger dishes, also compare a dual-drawer model with using your oven before choosing an appliance.
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The 3.2 L drawer could suit small batches, but check that the basket’s surface area can accommodate the foods you usually cook. Before choosing a spot for it, check the installation dimensions and ventilation clearances in the manual.
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The 2 L basket makes this model better suited to smaller portions, so compare it with the amount you actually cook. The product title states that it has a 60-minute timer and a non-stick, dishwasher-safe basket; check the care instructions and clearances in the model’s manual.
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For simple meals, compare the 4 L basket with your usual portions rather than choosing based on capacity alone. The product title lists 8 pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the space required, cleaning instructions and ventilation separately.
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For smaller meals, first check that the basket can hold the foods you cook most often. Then measure the space needed with the drawer open and check the manual for this model’s cleaning instructions and ventilation clearances.
It may be enough for small portions if you’re happy to cook items in batches when they won’t all fit in the basket together. Moulinex says its Easyfry Compacte Precision is designed for one or two people, but check the basket’s surface area against your food and tins: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you if it’s suitable.
They’re most useful if you regularly cook two different foods and want them ready at the same time. For a single small portion, compare the space taken up by a dual-drawer model with a single-drawer one, remembering to allow room to open the baskets.
Not for every meal: the basket limits the amount you can cook and may not fit some larger dishes. UFC-Que Choisir notes that air fryers perform functions similar to ovens and advises against buying more appliances than you need. If your oven already suits your recipes, bear that in mind before adding another appliance.
Yes, especially if the appliance will be used near your living area. UFC-Que Choisir highlights fan noise in small spaces. When comparing models, look for measurements carried out using a clearly explained method rather than relying on a quick impression.