For a dinner with separate components to cook, consider a dual-basket air fryer. For rice, saucy dishes and other one-pot meals, a multicooker or electric pressure cooker may be a better fit. An appliance that combines pressure cooking and hot-air cooking can handle both, but its accessories also take up space. In every case, compare the preparation, usable capacity and cleaning—not just the displayed cooking time.
If your main and side dishes cook separately, two baskets can save you from cooking in batches. Some models can also synchronise the end of the cooking programmes, as Philips states for its dual-basket air fryers. Check the size of each basket and how much room you need to open the drawers.
For rice, steamed vegetables or a saucy dish, a multicooker lets you start a programme once you’ve prepared the ingredients. UFC-Que Choisir notes that this can mean less supervision while cooking, although you may still need to stir or brown ingredients.
A compact electric pressure cooker is worth considering if you make modest portions and mostly cook one-pot meals. Instant Pot says its Classic Mini 3.8 L makes up to four portions. The amount you can cook still depends on the recipe, so check the fill markings and follow the steam-release instructions.
Start with the meals you actually make: separate components point towards baskets, while a moist dish calls for a cooking pot. Then compare the work involved before and after cooking.
Consider it: when the main and side dishes can cook separately using hot air.
Bear in mind: capacity is split between the baskets, and this format won’t replace a cooking pot for a moist pressure-cooked recipe.
Consider it: for rice, steaming and slow-cooked or saucy dishes, depending on the settings available on your chosen model.
Bear in mind: you may need to brown ingredients yourself; with pressure cooking, you also need to allow time for the cooker to come up to pressure and release steam.
Consider it: if you regularly switch between moist one-pot meals and hot-air cooking.
Bear in mind: check where the accessories will be stored: the Instant Pot Duo Crisp 5,7 L uses two separate lids.
| What to consider | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-on time and supervision | Look out for chopping and browning steps; with pressure cooking, add the time needed to build pressure and release steam to the programmed cooking time. | After work, I want to be able to start cooking without staying beside the appliance, while knowing which steps still need my attention. Around 33% of shoppers prioritise reducing hands-on time and supervision. |
| Serving everything at once | Check the capacity of each basket and whether the model you’re considering has a function that synchronises the end of cooking. | When dinner includes a main and a separate side, I’d rather serve them together than cook in batches. Around 27% of shoppers put this coordination first. |
| Usable portions | Check the fill limits for the cooking pot or each basket, then compare them with the quantities in your recipes. | If I’m cooking for several people or want leftovers, I need the whole meal to fit in one batch. Around 20% of shoppers prioritise having enough room for suitable portions. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space with the drawers or lid open; check which parts are dishwasher-safe. | In a kitchen with limited worktop space, I also need to be able to store the accessories and clean the appliance after dinner. Space and cleaning are the top consideration for around 20% of shoppers. |
The timer may not include preparing the ingredients, browning or the stages involved in pressure cooking. UFC-Que Choisir assesses how long recipes take to make, not just the time shown on a programme.
For the dinners you usually make, break down the steps before, during and after cooking, then check the instructions for the models you’re considering.
The stated capacity doesn’t necessarily match the amount you can safely cook. UFC-Que Choisir says a Cookeo with a 6 L pot can cook a maximum of 4 L.
Check the fill markings for one-pot meals and, with a dual air fryer, check the capacity of each basket separately.
An appliance that’s too small could mean cooking in several batches to make the dinner you had planned.
Having several cooking modes in one appliance doesn’t mean everything fits inside the cooking pot. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp 5,7 L uses one lid for pressure cooking and another for hot-air cooking.
Before choosing a combination model, check which parts you need for each mode and where you’ll store them.
The lids and racks may need to be stored separately.
Electrical appliances—and pressure cookers in particular—must be used in accordance with their instructions. The DGCCRF highlights the risks associated with electrical appliances, while RappelConso publishes alerts about dangerous products.
Keep a record of your exact model reference, follow the instructions for opening and cleaning, and check RappelConso if you’re concerned about an alert.
These ranges show different ways to prepare dinner. The features mentioned apply to the models listed, not every appliance made by each brand.
The Cookeo range includes guided appliances for one-pot cooking.
Its air fryer range includes dual-basket models, which are useful when two parts of dinner need to cook separately.
The brand offers one-pot cooking appliances, including compact pressure cookers and models that combine pressure cooking with hot-air cooking.
These appliances cover two ways to make dinner after work: cooking separate components with hot air or preparing small portions in a pressure cooker. Choose based on your recipes first, then check the quantities and steps required for the specific model.
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Worth considering if you’re preparing two separate components using hot air. Check the usable capacity of each basket for your portions and whether it has an end-of-cooking synchronisation function if you want to serve everything together.
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A size worth considering for one-pot meals in a small household. For pressure cooking, compare your recipes with the fill limits and allow time for the cooker to build pressure and release steam as part of your dinner preparation. Follow the instructions before opening the lid.
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Worth considering for cooking two components of a meal separately. The stated total capacity is split between the drawers, so check how much fits in each one and, if needed, whether there’s a function to finish cooking both at the same time.
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Worth considering for small one-pot meals when space is limited. Check the instructions for the amounts suitable for your recipes, as well as the filling and opening instructions after pressure cooking.
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Worth considering if your hot-air dinners fit in one basket. Check the quantities that suit your recipes and whether you’ll need to intervene during cooking. This format won’t suit you if you need to cook two dishes in separate baskets.
Not necessarily: the pot’s capacity doesn’t always match the amount of food you can cook. UFC-Que Choisir says a Cookeo with a 6 L pot can cook a maximum of 4 L. Check the fill markings on the model you choose, particularly for liquid recipes.
Choose based on the type of meal: two components that can cook separately point towards a dual-basket air fryer, while a moist dish, rice or a one-pot recipe points towards a multicooker. If you want to serve two components together, check that the basket model has an end-of-cooking synchronisation function.
No, it depends on the model and the part. Moulinex lists compatible parts for the Cookeo+ CE851910, and Instant Pot does the same for certain parts of its Classic Mini and Duo Crisp. Check the instructions for each part before washing a lid, seal or other component.
Keep your proof of purchase, the instructions and any warranty terms so you can identify the model and follow its instructions. The DGCCRF notes that the user manual and, where applicable, the warranty certificate must be supplied on delivery or when the appliance is put into service.