For regular small portions, start by comparing the size of your batches with the basket capacity: Que Choisir recommends 3 to 4 L for one or two people. A dual-drawer model is better suited to cooking two foods with different settings at the same time. If your oven or combination microwave already handles these meals with ease, consider whether you’ll use an air fryer often enough to justify the space it takes up and the cleaning it requires.
You mainly prepare a side dish, vegetables or a small portion, and want to avoid putting on the full-size oven. The basket’s usable capacity matters more than a large capacity figure on the box. Que Choisir lists a 3 to 4 L single basket among the formats suited to everyday portions for this kind of household.
If you use the appliance near your living space, the sound of its fan, the worktop space it occupies and where you’ll store it all affect how practical it is day to day. Que Choisir recommends paying attention to noise and includes it in its testing process.
You want to serve two foods together even though they need different settings. A dual-zone appliance may be worth considering if you often prepare meals this way, but bear in mind the space taken up by both baskets. Que Choisir identifies simultaneous cooking as the main benefit of this format.
To cut down on oven use without adding an appliance you’ll rarely use, think about your usual meals: one small batch, two dishes to coordinate, or food your current appliance already handles well.
Worth considering: for a small portion or side dish you prepare regularly.
Trade-off: foods that need different settings have to be cooked one after the other in the same basket.
Worth considering: if you often need to cook two parts of a meal at the same time using different settings.
Trade-off: you’ll need room for the appliance and should check how much each basket holds, not just the combined capacity.
Worth considering: if your meals regularly need shelves or trays rather than a deep basket.
Trade-off: compare what it can do and how much space it takes up with the oven you already own.
Best if: your oven or combination microwave already suits your smaller meals and you rarely need to cook in separate batches.
Trade-off: look at the recipes you actually make before deciding whether a smaller appliance would be worthwhile.
| Consideration | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare your portions with the basket’s shape and the stated quantities for the foods you cook. Que Choisir recommends 3 to 4 L for one or two people. | When I cook a small batch, I want it to fit in the basket without defaulting to a large capacity; around 25% of shoppers make this a priority. |
| A different use from the oven | Think about the small meals you prepare often and which appliance you already use. Que Choisir notes that an air fryer may duplicate what an oven can do. | If my oven already suits these meals, I want to be sure I’ll use an extra appliance often enough; this comes first for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the available space and drawer clearance; check which parts of the model you’re considering are removable or dishwasher-safe. | In my kitchen, an appliance that’s difficult to store or clean could end up unused; around 20% of shoppers prioritise these everyday considerations. |
| Noise | For an open-plan kitchen, look for an acoustic test of the specific model. Que Choisir notes that the fan can be heard and measures noise in its tests. | When I’m cooking near the living space, I don’t want the fan to disturb other activities; quiet operation is a priority for around 15% of shoppers. |
| Cooking at the same time | Check the capacity of each zone and whether there’s a synchronisation function if you need two foods to be ready together. | To serve a main and a side dish at the same time, I need separate settings rather than two batches cooked one after the other; around 15% of shoppers put this need first. |
A larger capacity doesn’t guarantee that the basket will suit your meals better, and a bigger appliance takes up more space. For one or two people, Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L as a starting point, then recommends comparing it with the foods you prepare.
Measure your worktop, the clearance needed to open the drawer and your storage space, then compare your usual portions with the basket.
An air fryer cooks by circulating hot air, so it may duplicate some of your oven’s uses. Que Choisir advises bearing this risk of buying more equipment than you need in mind.
Before choosing a format, identify the small meals your current appliance genuinely struggles with, and how often you prepare them.
The fan can be disruptive near your living area, and noise levels vary by model. Que Choisir includes noise in its testing process.
If possible, look for an independent measurement or test of the specific model you’re considering rather than relying on a marketing label.
You can’t judge safety risks from the product category alone: in France, RappelConso has issued recalls including one for a SYMEX 6,5 L due to an electric shock risk and one for a Vortx 2 L due to overheating and fire risks.
Note down the exact brand and model, identify the seller and check RappelConso to see whether your appliance has been recalled and what instructions apply.
These ranges show a variety of formats and features. The specifications mentioned apply to the models listed, not necessarily every appliance from that brand.
The range lets you compare a 4.2 L single drawer with a vertical model featuring two baskets.
The Easy Fry range includes single-drawer, compact and dual-drawer models.
The range includes several formats, including the Crispi FN101, which is described as portable.
These single-drawer models suit different small batch sizes, while the dual-drawer model is better for meals that need two separate cooking settings. Compare the capacity with your portions before deciding whether any of them would do something your oven doesn’t.
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Worth considering for a small batch in a single basket: its stated 3.2 L capacity is close to the 3 to 4 L that Que Choisir recommends for one or two people.
Compare the basket’s shape with your portions and allow enough room to open the drawer.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at the same time. If you only prepare one small portion, check whether the space taken up by two drawers is worthwhile.
The model name indicates a total capacity of 7.6 L, six functions and baskets listed as dishwasher-safe. Check that each drawer is the right size for the quantities in your recipes.
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Its 4 L basket is at the top of Que Choisir’s recommended capacity range for everyday portions for one or two people. Compare it with the size of the meals you prepare.
The product name lists eight preset modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. If you’ll use it regularly, also check how to clean the parts and how much worktop space it needs.
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Worth considering if you cook very small batches: its 2 L capacity is below the 3 to 4 L range Que Choisir recommends for one or two people, so it’s particularly important to compare it with your usual portions.
The product name lists a non-stick basket described as dishwasher-safe and a 60-minute timer. Check its dimensions if you plan to put it away after each use.
Que Choisir recommends 3 to 4 L as a starting point for everyday portions for one or two people. Then compare the basket’s shape and the stated quantities for the foods you cook. Capacity alone won’t tell you how well your meal will fit.
No, it depends on the recipe and the appliances being compared. In a Que Choisir test of a small quiche, the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven for the same quantity. However, some models used more energy when cooking chicken drumsticks. So this result won’t predict the energy use for all your meals or your oven.
Two drawers are most useful when you regularly need to cook two foods using different settings and serve them together. If you usually prepare just one small item, first compare a single-drawer model with your current appliance. For a dual-drawer model, check the size of each zone and the space it takes up.
Check the manual to see which parts of the model you’re considering are removable and dishwasher-safe. A claim about the basket doesn’t necessarily apply to every part; also consider whether the parts are easy to handle when cleaning after each meal.
Search for its exact brand and model on RappelConso, then follow the recall instructions if your appliance is affected. Recalls published in France have included one for a SYMEX 6,5 L due to an electric shock risk and one for a Vortx 2 L due to overheating and fire risks; they don’t automatically apply to other models.