To serve two dishes together when they need different settings, choose an air fryer with two independent cooking zones and check that it has a synchronisation function. A flexible cooking cavity is a better choice if you switch between cooking two separate dishes and preparing one larger dish. For cooking items one after another, a single basket may be enough. If your oven already handles these meals, compare the space the air fryer would take up with the usable size of its baskets before adding another appliance.
If the two foods need different cooking times or temperatures, look for two independently adjustable zones and a function that synchronises the end of cooking. According to Que Choisir, dual-drawer models let you cook different foods at the same time. However, check that each drawer can fit your portion.
On some models, a removable divider lets you switch from two separate spaces to one larger cavity, including models from Philips and Moulinex. Compare the internal dimensions with your usual dishes: the advertised capacity alone won’t tell you how much room you have.
If your oven already cooks your meals without any particular difficulty, an air fryer may simply take up more worktop space. Que Choisir advises considering where the two appliances overlap. Before buying another appliance, think about the small portions you cook often, where you’ll put it and the clearances specified in its manual.
First, choose a format that suits the way you prepare meals, then check the dimensions and instructions for the model you’re considering.
Consider it: for small portions, if you’re happy to cook in batches or already use the oven for another part of the meal.
Bear in mind: one cavity can’t run two independent settings at the same time.
Consider it: when you want to cook a main and a side at the same time using different settings.
Bear in mind: each drawer has its own size limit, even if the total capacity looks generous.
Consider it: if you sometimes prepare two separate recipes and at other times need a wider cavity for one dish.
Bear in mind: when the divider is in place, it reduces the space available for each recipe.
Consider it: if your existing appliance fits your dishes and you only occasionally need to coordinate two cooking times.
Bear in mind: compare what you actually cook rather than assuming one format always uses less energy than another.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinated cooking | Separate settings for each zone and an explicitly stated synchronisation function. | I want to serve a main and a side together, even if they need different cooking times. Around 33% of consumers put this coordination at the top of their list. |
| Capacity and available space | Internal dimensions and capacity of each zone; space needed to position the appliance and open the drawers. | My portions need to fit without the appliance permanently cluttering my worktop. This is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Whether the oven already does the job | The meals you prepare most often and the size of dishes your oven can already accommodate. | If my oven is enough for the meals I usually make, I’d rather avoid an appliance that duplicates its functions. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this question. |
| Cleaning and installation | Parts that can be washed, according to the manual, and the model’s instructions for connection, ventilation and clearance. | I plan to use several baskets regularly and want to be able to clean them and install the appliance in my kitchen. For around 20% of consumers, these practical considerations come before other factors. |
On a dual-drawer model, the litres may be split between one large and one small drawer. Two similar-sized portions, or your usual baking tin, may not necessarily fit. Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Compare the internal dimensions and capacity of each zone with your portions and dishes, not just the advertised total.
Synchronisation coordinates the end of cooking; it doesn’t remove the need to adjust each dish. Que Choisir’s testing protocol uses this function when testing two zones, but the function alone doesn’t guarantee the same result for every food.
Set each zone according to the food and portion size, then check that everything is cooked before serving.
As Que Choisir points out, an air fryer can do many of the same jobs as an oven. If your usual dishes already fit in your oven, cooking them in baskets may not meet an additional need.
Make a note of the meals you prepare over a week and identify which ones would genuinely be easier to manage with separate cooking zones.
An extra appliance will also take up space and need cleaning.
Connection requirements and the necessary clearances vary by model. Having enough space to position the appliance doesn’t necessarily mean it can be used there in accordance with its manual.
Read the manual for the exact model and check the socket, cable, ventilation and space around the appliance.
The brand offers models with two baskets as well as a model with a removable divider.
The Easy Fry range includes models with different-sized drawers and a Flex model with a removable divider.
The Dual Easy Fry range includes models with two unequal-sized drawers for cooking two parts of a meal.
These Joybuy products are designed for cooking in multiple zones: a flexible basket model, dual-drawer models and an appliance advertised as having two chambers. To choose between these and your oven, start with the size of the food you prepare and the features you need.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you switch between cooking two separate dishes and using a larger basket. The product name specifies a 12QT flexible basket, a synchronisation mode and 50 cooking paper liners. Check the manual for external dimensions, clearances and parts that can be washed.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to split a meal between two drawers instead of cooking each part one after the other. The model name specifies a total capacity of 9.5 L. If synchronised cooking times are essential, confirm that the DZ400EU has this function in its manual. Also check which parts can be washed and follow the installation instructions.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for cooking two parts of a meal in separate drawers. The DZ300EU model name specifies two drawers and a total capacity of 7.6 L: compare the usable space in each with your portions. If you want to serve everything together, check for a synchronisation function. Also consult the manual for cleaning and installation guidance.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re looking for two spaces to cook different parts of a meal. The product name advertises a total capacity of 9 L but doesn’t specify the usable capacity of each chamber. Before relying on it to coordinate two cooking times, check the settings and synchronisation function, as well as the dimensions and installation instructions.
No. Two drawers are most useful if your main and side regularly need different settings while cooking at the same time. For one large dish, look instead at the dimensions of a flexible cavity or your oven. For small portions cooked one after another, a single basket may be enough.
They give you an idea of capacity, but not the width or height available for a tin or a particular food. Que Choisir highlights the importance of usable capacity: check the internal dimensions and, on a dual model, how the capacity is split between the zones.
Choose a position that follows the manual for the exact model, including the space needed for ventilation and opening the drawers. Check the connection instructions before installation too: don’t assume that guidance for another model applies to yours.
No. Don’t assume this applies to every part or every model. Check the manual to see which drawers, racks or dividers are specifically dishwasher-safe and how to clean the other parts.
No. It depends on the quantity, recipe and appliances being compared. In a Que Choisir test involving a small quiche, the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven for the same quantity. This result can’t predict how much energy all your meals will use compared with your own oven.