Choosing an Air Fryer at Argos: Basket Space Before Litres

An air fryer can look like excellent value until the drawer will not hold your usual dinner. When comparing models at Argos, start with the food you want to cook and the space available in your kitchen. The advertised litre capacity helps narrow the search, but the shape of the basket, the number of separate drawers and the complete purchase cost will tell you much more.

This checklist is for choosing an appliance that earns its worktop space. It does not rank cooking performance or claim that we have tested the models on sale.

Start with three meals you actually make

Write down three ordinary dinners and the number of portions you need. Be specific: two pieces of fish and a side, four baked potatoes, or vegetables to accompany something already cooking on the hob. A list of meals is more useful than a vague intention to “cook for a family”.

Then ask whether the air fryer will cook the whole meal, one component, or occasional snacks. If you are happy to use the hob for vegetables, you may need less basket space than someone who wants both main and side ready from the same appliance. Avoid buying extra capacity only for a rare gathering.

Use litres as a starting filter

Argos’s buying guide suggests 2–4 litres for one or two people, 4–6 litres for three or four, and 6–8 litres for larger households. Treat those bands as a shortlist, rather than a promise that every meal will fit. Portions, food shape and the way the capacity is divided still matter.

For example, an appliance advertised as 8 litres could have two separate 4-litre drawers. That is useful space for two different foods, but it is not one continuous 8-litre compartment. Check the configuration in the specification instead of assuming that the largest headline number means the widest basket.

Check usable basket space, not just the outside measurements

External dimensions tell you whether an appliance fits on the counter; they do not tell you what fits inside its drawer. Look for internal basket measurements in the manufacturer’s manual or product questions. If these are missing, ask before ordering, especially if you intend to use a particular dish.

Account for the crisper plate or other required insert. Argos advises spacing food so that air can circulate; filling a basket to the brim is not a reliable way to judge a meal’s capacity. Follow the model’s loading guidance rather than treating the whole internal volume as usable food space.

For a two-drawer design, consider each drawer separately. An uneven meal may need a generous space for the main and only a small space for the side. Two equal compartments are not automatically the best match.

Measure the kitchen with the drawer open

Mark out the appliance’s published footprint on the counter, then check how far the drawer must come forward. Keep enough room to handle it without knocking nearby utensils or blocking the area where you prepare food.

Read the manufacturer’s placement instructions for ventilation clearances and permitted surfaces. A model that fits in a cupboard for storage may need much more space during use. If you plan to put it away after every meal, check its weight and where the removable parts will go too.

Pay for functions you will use

Compare the controls against your meal list. If two foods need different settings, check how each drawer is programmed. If you want them ready together, look for the exact finish-together function in the manual. A long list of preset buttons alone does not answer either question.

Check cleaning requirements for the exact basket, plate and other accessories. “Dishwasher-safe parts” does not necessarily describe every component. Before adding a bundle of liners or racks, identify what comes in the box and which extras are both compatible and necessary.

Compare the amount you will actually pay

Once you have a shortlist, check the Argos discount code page for any relevant listed offers. Read eligibility and exclusions, then verify the final basket total. A code may not be available or apply to your chosen appliance.

Add delivery and genuinely needed accessories. Argos currently offers free delivery on qualifying small-item orders of £100 or more, with exclusions and available dates shown at checkout. Check the actual option for your postcode; collection can also be worth comparing with the cost of the journey.

Here is a fictional comparison: an £89 appliance plus £8 of necessary accessories and £5 delivery totals £102. A suitable £100 alternative with those accessories and delivery included costs £2 less overall. These are illustrative figures, not advertised Argos prices or delivery charges.

Currys is a relevant comparison because it also sells air fryers, including dual-basket models. Match the complete model code, colour, included parts and delivery option before checking the Currys discount code page. Similar names or litre capacities do not establish that two listings are the same product.

Check the return route before the first cook

Argos’s standard change-of-mind policy gives 30 days from delivery or collection to request a return, with unused, original-component, packaging and resaleability conditions. Check any applicable seasonal extension when ordering. This is not a cook-at-home trial; inspect size and suitability before using the appliance. Separate rights apply to faulty goods.

Also check who sells the item. Argos says Trusted Seller products cannot currently be returned to an Argos store; follow the seller’s return route. Save the order confirmation and packaging, and resolve missing measurements before you buy. A lower price is useful only when the appliance fits your kitchen and the meals you intend to make.