In a small kitchen, an air fryer makes sense if it genuinely takes over some oven cooking or reheating jobs where texture matters. If you already have appliances that cover those needs, it will simply take up more worktop space. Choose a single drawer for cooking one dish at a time, or two zones if you regularly cook a main and a side at the same time. Before deciding, compare the available space, the size of your dishes and how much you can cook in one batch: Que Choisir points out that cooking space limits the quantity you can prepare.
You usually prepare one or two portions and don’t want another appliance sitting beside the oven or microwave. First, consider which appliance or cooking task it would replace: Que Choisir recommends avoiding unnecessary appliances.
You want to cook a main and a side using different settings, then serve them together. Two zones are worth considering if you often cook this way, as long as each basket fits the food you want to prepare.
If texture matters when reheating pizza or quiche, you might be looking for an alternative to the microwave. Que Choisir notes that an air fryer could be useful for this; you’ll also need to make room for it and check that your portions fit in the basket.
Consider it if: you generally cook one dish at a time and want to keep the footprint to a minimum.
Bear in mind: dishes or quantities that don’t fit in the basket will need another solution or several batches.
Consider it if: you regularly need to cook a main and a side separately.
Bear in mind: the capacity is split between the baskets; two drawers don’t necessarily make one large cooking compartment.
Keep it if: your usual dishes are too large for an air fryer basket and your mini oven already does the job.
Bear in mind: adding an air fryer as well would take up more space.
Keep it if: your main need is to reheat cooked portions and you’re not looking for a crispy texture.
Bear in mind: for some foods, particularly pizza or quiche, Que Choisir notes that an air fryer reheats differently from a microwave.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space taken up | Measure the space available and the clearance needed to pull out the drawer; identify which job an existing appliance would be replaced for. | If my worktop is already full, I want to avoid simply adding an air fryer alongside the oven or microwave. Around 36% of consumers would put this need for space first. |
| Small portions and reheating | Compare your portion sizes with the basket capacity and check whether it has a reheat function if that matters to you. | When I’m making a small portion or reheating a slice of quiche, I want to make sure the container suits my dish. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Two dishes | Check the capacity of each basket and whether the model can synchronise the end of cooking times. | When a main and a side need different settings, I want to be able to serve them together. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this coordination. |
| Quantity and dish size | Compare your dishes and recipes with the usable cooking area and the recommended quantities per batch. | If I regularly cook meals that need a large dish, I want to avoid making several batches. This capacity would be the top consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Que Choisir points out that it can take up more worktop space if you add it alongside your oven and microwave.
Decide where you’ll put it and which dishes it will genuinely cook instead of another appliance.
Total capacity doesn’t tell you how much room there is for a quiche or how large each drawer is. For example, Moulinex says the 8.3 L capacity of its Easy Fry Dual Essential is split between a 5.2 L and a 3.1 L basket.
Check the usable dimensions for your dishes and, on a dual model, the capacity of each compartment.
Que Choisir notes that quantities are limited and results vary between models, particularly for chips.
Follow the quantities and shaking instructions in the manual; cook in several batches if your meal exceeds the usable capacity.
Comparisons depend on the recipe, quantity and appliances used. A percentage advertised under test conditions won’t necessarily reflect your day-to-day cooking.
Don’t make your decision on this factor alone: first compare the size of your dishes and the tasks the appliance could genuinely take over.
The range includes both single- and dual-drawer models. Compare them based on the dishes you cook rather than total capacity alone.
The NA154/00 is an example of a model whose layout can change depending on whether you’re cooking two items or a single dish.
The brand offers a range of sizes, including multi-zone appliances designed for different ways of preparing meals.
These air fryers are suited to small portions, reheating or preparing two items, depending on the model. Compare their size with your recipes and the space you actually have; two containers don’t necessarily mean you can cook two dishes at the same time.
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Worth considering if you prepare small portions. Its stated capacity is 2 L, and the title specifies a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket. Check the external dimensions, the clearance needed to remove the basket and the quantity suited to your recipes.
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If you want to use different containers for different portion sizes, compare the options supplied with your usual meals. Check how much room the appliance and its accessories need; don’t assume that having several containers means you can cook with them all at once.
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Worth considering if you regularly prepare two parts of a meal. The title specifies two drawers and a total capacity of 7.6 L. Check the usable space in each, how much room it will take up on your worktop and whether it has a synchronisation function if you need one.
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If you cook one dish at a time, compare this 4 L model with your portion sizes and dishes. The title specifies eight modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C; check the recommended quantity per batch and the room needed to open the basket.
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If you’re looking for an air fryer for everyday cooking, check that the basket fits your portions. Also confirm the external dimensions and the clearance needed to open it before deciding where to put it.
It can take over some cooking jobs, but only if your recipes and quantities fit in the basket. Que Choisir notes that it can save space when it replaces an oven, while also pointing out that cooking space limits what you can prepare. Keep a suitable alternative if you often cook large dishes.
No. Two drawers are mainly useful if you often cook two items that need different settings. If you usually cook one dish at a time, consider a single drawer instead. If you choose two zones, check the capacity of each basket and the model’s synchronisation features.
Not necessarily: the cooking compartment limits how much you can prepare in one batch. Que Choisir also found that results for chips vary between models and cooking methods. Check the recommended quantity in the manual and cook in several batches if you need more.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual. If the appliance doesn’t match its description or the use normally expected of it, contact the seller and keep your proof of purchase and the listing. This protection against a lack of conformity is separate from returning an item simply because you’ve changed your mind.