If your oven already handles the meals you usually cook, a single-drawer air fryer makes most sense for frequent, smaller portions—not as an automatic replacement. If you also need to reheat or defrost without adding more appliances, consider a combi microwave instead. To choose between the different formats, compare their dimensions, usable capacity and cleaning requirements with the space you have available.
If you mainly cook for one or two people, a single drawer can be handy for smaller portions. Before finding space for one, though, check what it would let you do that your oven can’t already. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the risk of buying an appliance that duplicates what you already have.
Two cooking zones could be useful if your meals often include dishes that need different settings. Compare the usable space in each drawer, not just the total capacity shown.
A combi microwave is worth considering if you need to reheat, defrost, grill and cook in one appliance. Make sure its dimensions, weight and door clearance suit the space you have in mind.
Start with the functions your current appliances don’t offer: a single drawer for modest portions, two zones for cooking different dishes at the same time, or a combi if you also need a microwave. A mini-oven or compact oven, meanwhile, needs enough space for its cooking cavity and opening door.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A purpose beyond your oven | Compare the dishes and portions you usually make with what your current oven can do. Look for a missing function or a regular need for a second cooking zone. | If my oven already suits most of my meals, I want to avoid adding an appliance that does the same thing; around 36% of consumers might make a distinct use their top priority. |
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height, then check the door clearance and ventilation space required in the model’s instructions. | In a kitchen where every surface is used to prepare meals, I need to be able to place and open the appliance without blocking the worktop; preserving that space could be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Practical capacity | Check the surface area of the basket or trays, as well as the capacity of each zone if the appliance has two. | When I’m preparing several things for the same meal, I want to avoid cooking in batches; around 21% of consumers might make practical capacity their main consideration. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check which parts can be washed, how to clean the cooking cavity and, if a quiet appliance matters, compare noise measurements taken using the same test method. | If the kitchen opens onto the living area, noise and cleaning are part of every use; they could be the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
An air fryer can bake, roast or grill, but these uses may overlap with what an oven that already suits your meals can do. UFC-Que Choisir warns against buying more appliances than you need.
Make a note of the dishes and quantities your oven doesn’t handle well. If you can’t identify a distinct use, keeping your oven may be the better option.
The total volume doesn’t tell you how much space each drawer offers or whether your usual dish will fit inside the cooking cavity.
Compare the usable interior area and accessory dimensions. For a model with two zones, check the capacity of each one.
A model that’s too small may mean cooking several batches for one meal.
The fan may be disruptive if the appliance is near your living space. UFC-Que Choisir includes noise in its air fryer tests.
If noise is a deciding factor, compare measurements taken using the same test method rather than relying on a quick impression in a shop.
Washing a basket or tray doesn’t remove the need to clean the appliance’s other surfaces. Philips, for example, provides specific guidance for the coatings used in its air fryers.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering to see which parts can be washed, how to clean the cooking cavity and which surfaces need special care.
The range includes basket-style air fryers and oven-style appliances. Moulinex describes the Easy Fry Surface XL as a 4 L model and the Easy Fry 20 L as a multi-level model.
Philips offers single, dual and stacked baskets. The brand describes the NA460/00 as having two 5 L baskets.
Depending on the model, Panasonic combi microwaves combine microwave, grill, convection and air fryer functions. The brand describes the NN-CD58RS as an appliance that brings these uses together.
These Joybuy models include single-drawer air fryers, a model with containers in different sizes and a dual-drawer model. Compare them with your portions and available space. If microwave reheating is essential, consider a combi appliance too.
Image unavailable
A single-drawer model to consider if you’re looking for an additional way to cook and don’t need two zones.
Stated capacity: 6.2 L. Check how much usable space there is in the basket and the clearances specified in the instructions.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’d like to choose a container size to suit what you’re cooking.
Compare the available containers with your usual portions, and check the instructions for cleaning guidance and the space needed around the appliance.
Image unavailable
A single basket to compare with your usual portions if you want different cooking settings without adding a second zone.
The product title lists eight pre-set modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check how to clean the parts and the model’s installation instructions.
Image unavailable
The 2 L basket is worth considering for small portions, as long as your usual dishes will fit.
The product title states that the non-stick basket is dishwasher-safe. Measure the space you have available too, and check the instructions before setting up the appliance.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you often cook two things at once and have enough room to open both baskets.
The product title lists a power rating of 2,400 W, eight programmes and independent temperature control. Check the usable capacity of each basket and the overall footprint.
Not automatically: it can bake, roast and grill, but these functions may overlap with what your oven can do. UFC-Que Choisir advises considering the risk of buying more appliances than you need. If you don’t have an oven, compare oven-style models and combi microwaves based on the dishes and functions you need.
Check whether your dishes fit on the basket’s surface or on the trays, rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres. For a two-drawer model, check each compartment separately and make sure the settings suit the dishes you usually prepare.
Check the instructions for the exact model for details on the surface it should sit on, its power supply, ventilation clearances and heat-related warnings. Make sure there’s also enough room to open the door or remove the drawers without getting in the way in your kitchen.
The legal guarantee of conformity and the guarantee against hidden defects are separate from any commercial warranty, notes the DGCCRF. Check who provides after-sales service and the terms of any commercial warranty. If repairability matters to you, also find out whether spare parts are available.