Start with the cooking task and the space

Write the task before choosing the category

Begin with a short description of the problem: a container that does not fit, a control routine that is awkward or a worktop that is already crowded. Those are different questions and may lead to different appliances. A long list of functions does not establish that a particular model solves the problem you actually have.

Keep the intended task separate from a performance claim. The Ninja AF400UK manual, for example, distinguishes drawer-based cooking functions and separate zone controls. That documentation can help you understand a model's options, but it does not mean that every air fryer has the same controls or that we have tested its cooking results. Read the exact instructions for the candidate you are considering.

Ninja AF400UK manufacturer instructions, Argos support copy ?

Separate the outside from the space inside

The Panasonic NN-ST45KW/ST46KB/ST48KS manual lists external dimensions of 525mm wide, 388mm deep and 310mm high. It separately lists overall cavity dimensions of 355mm wide, 365mm deep and 251mm high. The document describes these dimensions as approximate. Neither set should be silently substituted for the other.

The outside dimensions help frame a location question; the cavity dimensions help begin a container question. Neither alone establishes an approved installation or proves that a particular dish can rotate or be handled inside. Preserve the dimension order and consult the model's complete instructions. A product's headline capacity is not a replacement for the measurements relevant to your actual task.

Panasonic NN-ST45KW/ST46KB/ST48KS operating instructions F0003CA22BP ?

Use photographs to recognise the right question

The historical air-fryer photograph shows a drawer pulled out from the body. That makes access and the space used during ordinary handling visible in a way that a closed front view might not. Its shop labels belong to the historical photograph and are not current prices or a purchase offer from this site.

The interior close-up shows a heating element and fan, while the microwave photograph shows a closed door and keypad. These are different views of different appliances. They help identify parts and questions, but they do not provide a cooking test, a usable-capacity measurement or permission to remove components. Do not infer internal dimensions from camera perspective.

Keep compatibility separate from a size match

AEG's induction guidance distinguishes a suitable magnetic base from model-specific cookware diameter requirements. That is a useful reminder that an item appearing to fit does not answer every compatibility question. For a hob, the exact pan and zone requirements matter; for another appliance, the relevant container or accessory rules may be different.

Make separate notes for physical size, permitted material or accessory and intended operating function. If one question is unresolved, leave it visible. Do not turn a successful tape-measure comparison into a claim that an accessory is approved, and do not transfer instructions between a microwave, an air fryer and an induction hob.

AEG: cookware suitable for induction ?

Build a shortlist with answerable gaps

For each candidate, keep the full model identifier, relevant manual link, dimensions and the particular function you need. Add the complete purchase items and your own clearly labelled electricity assumptions in separate records. This keeps a low headline price from obscuring an unresolved fit or compatibility issue.

The next step should be concrete: confirm an internal measurement, read the correct variant's placement instructions or ask the manufacturer about an accessory. Our guides and tools help organise those questions; they do not supply food-safety instructions, electrical installation approval or tested product rankings. A useful shortlist shows both the evidence already available and the information still needed before a confident decision.