Who is this for?

Family gratin cooks

You want to bake one shared gratin in an ovenproof dish, so the cooking space must take that dish while leaving the clearance required by the appliance instructions.

Flexible weeknight cooks

You want one cooking area for a baked dish on some days and two separately controlled zones for other meals.

Cooks with limited worktop space

You need to weigh the appliance’s external dimensions and safe placement against the space available for your gratin dish.

What matters when choosing?

Start with the dish you intend to use, then decide whether a flat oven-style chamber or a convertible drawer better suits the other meals you cook.

Air-fryer oven

Consider it when: You regularly bake dishes on a flat tray or shelf; Tower Housewares lists a Bake preset for its 30L Xpress oven.

Trade-off: Measure the appliance and your dish before committing worktop space; chamber volume alone cannot confirm that the dish fits.

Convertible drawer

Consider it when: You want a combined area for a dish on one occasion and two zones for separate foods on another; SharkNinja UK and Instant Pot UK describe these configurations for their respective models.

Trade-off: A gratin dish must fit the combined drawer with the divider removed; the smaller split zones do not provide the same space.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Usable dish space Measure the dish, including its handles, and confirm usable internal width, depth, height and required clearance. I want to serve one complete gratin rather than divide it into batches. Around 36% of consumers put full-dish fit first.
Flexible meal formats Check that the divider is removable and compare the combined area with the two separate zones. Some evenings I need space for a gratin; on others, I want to cook two foods separately. Roughly 29% of consumers make that flexibility their primary concern.
Baking arrangement Look for a Bake function and check how the manual permits an ovenproof dish to sit in the chamber. If I often bake dishes, I want a layout in which my dish can sit flat and be accessed safely. About 21% of consumers prioritise the baking arrangement.
Practical ownership Measure the worktop space and required clearance; confirm a UK 3-pin plug and fuse and check cleaning instructions. In a tight kitchen, I need room to place and clean the appliance safely. Around 14% of consumers put those practicalities first.

Buying pitfalls

  • Choosing by litre capacity alone

    Capacity does not tell you whether your gratin dish will sit flat, clear the heating area and leave room for airflow.

    Measure the outside of your dish first, then seek the usable internal dimensions for the exact appliance or ask the retailer to confirm fit.

  • Putting a loose liner under the dish

    Loose paper or an unsuitable liner can move, obstruct airflow or contact a heating element.

    Follow the exact model’s instructions for cookware and liners. Do not use unsecured baking paper, and use foil or other liners only where the manufacturer permits them.

  • Assuming a listing establishes electrical suitability

    Electrical Safety First advises checking for a UK 3-pin plug and fuse. The Office for Product Safety and Standards has also reported a specific air fryer with a serious fire risk linked to electrical faults; that report is not a finding about every model.

    Confirm the exact model and plug, identify the retailer, and check recall information. Register the appliance after purchase so you can receive relevant safety notices.

Brands to consider for these formats

Ninja

Ninja’s Foodi FlexDrawer AF500UK is relevant if you want a drawer that changes from two independently controlled zones to one area for a dish.

  • SharkNinja UK specifies a removable divider, a 10.4L MegaZone and a Bake function for the AF500UK.
  • Its stated external dimensions are 56.79 × 38.71 × 41.91 cm. Check worktop clearance and internal dish fit separately.

Instant Pot

The Vortex Plus VersaZone offers a convertible drawer for a modest baked dish and separate zones for other meals.

  • Instant Pot UK specifies one 8.5L drawer or two 4.2L zones, a removable divider and a Bake function.
  • Its stated external dimensions are 38.4 × 40.4 × 31.4 cm; the 8.5L figure does not establish whether your dish fits inside.

Tower

Tower’s 30L Xpress air-fryer oven is an oven-style option for cooks who prefer tray-based baking to a deep drawer.

  • Tower Housewares lists a Bake preset, internal lighting and a viewing window for this model.
  • Check the space available for the appliance and the dimensions of the tray or ovenproof dish you intend to use.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

What should I measure before buying an air fryer for potato gratin?

Measure your ovenproof dish’s outside width, depth and height, including its handles, then check those measurements against the appliance’s usable cooking space and required airflow clearance. Neither litre capacity nor external appliance dimensions confirm that a particular dish will fit.

Should I choose an air-fryer oven or a drawer for gratin?

Choose an oven-style model if a flat tray arrangement suits the dishes you regularly bake; consider a wide convertible drawer if you also want two cooking zones for other meals. Either choice depends on your actual gratin dish fitting safely in the cooking space.

Can I use baking paper, foil or a silicone liner?

Use a liner only if the instructions for your exact air fryer permit it. Electrical Safety First advises checking the manufacturer’s guidance on paper, while Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service warns that liners can move or block airflow; unsecured paper may also contact a heating element.

What electrical checks matter for an air fryer used in the UK?

Confirm that the exact appliance has a UK 3-pin plug and fuse, as advised by Electrical Safety First, and check the retailer’s identity before buying. Registering the appliance after purchase can help you receive relevant recall information.