An air fryer can complement your oven when preparing several meals in advance, but whether it can replace it depends on the size of your dishes and how many things you need to cook at once. Que Choisir suggests 9 to 10 L or more as a guide for intensive use. A large drawer is best suited to preparing one dish at a time, while two independent zones let you cook foods using different settings. Keep your oven for dishes and quantities that won’t fit in the baskets.
If you cook for several days at a time, your priority may be to avoid cooking the same recipe in multiple batches. Check how much food actually fits in the basket: its shape matters just as much as its stated capacity.
If the two dishes need different cooking times or temperatures, independent controls can make it easier to plan your cooking. Les Numériques describes this use for appliances with two compartments; you should also check the size of each basket.
To prepare several portions without cluttering your worktop, measure the width, height and depth, as well as the clearance needed to open the drawers. A vertical design won’t solve every space constraint at once.
Start with the largest dish you usually prepare, then decide whether cooking two recipes at once makes separate baskets worthwhile. Your oven remains an option for dishes that exceed an air fryer’s usable dimensions.
Choose this: if you mainly prepare one large recipe at a time.
Bear in mind: two foods that need different settings will have to be cooked one after the other.
Choose this: if you regularly cook a main and a side using different settings.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split between the baskets, which may limit the size of a single large batch.
Keep this: if your cooking sessions involve large dishes, wide tins or several trays.
Compare: only dishes that fit the basket’s dimensions and load capacity can be cooked in an air fryer.
| Factor | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the internal dimensions and recommended load, as well as the capacity of each basket. Que Choisir cites 9 to 10 L or more as a guide for intensive use. | When I prepare several portions of the same recipe, cooking multiple batches makes my cooking session more complicated. Around 36% of shoppers put usable capacity at the top of their list. |
| Cooking at the same time | Check for independent controls and the size of each zone; see whether synchronisation is available if it matters to you. | When cooking a main and a side at different temperatures, I want to be able to start both without waiting for a drawer to become free. This is the priority for around 29% of shoppers. |
| Available space | Measure the height, width and depth, as well as the clearance needed for ventilation and opening the drawers. | If my worktop is narrow or has a cupboard above it, the appliance needs to be easy to position and open. Available space comes before other factors for around 21% of shoppers. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts of the exact model are removable and dishwasher-safe. | After several cooking sessions, I want to be able to clean the parts I’ve used without making the next session more difficult. Around 14% of shoppers prioritise ease of cleaning. |
A stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your tin or dish will fit in the basket, or how much you can cook in one go.
Compare the internal dimensions and the load specified in the manual, and look for examples of dishes similar to the ones you make.
Two independently controlled zones don’t necessarily combine to make one large cooking chamber for a single dish. A side dish intended to serve several meals may not fit in the smaller basket.
Compare your largest dish with the dimensions and capacity of each zone.
An appliance with stacked baskets may need more height or depth. The space behind it and the room needed to pull out the drawers also matter when positioning it.
Measure all the available space and check the installation instructions for the model you’re considering.
A review may flag an installation issue, but that doesn’t prove all appliances have the same limitation.
Use it to guide your checks, then consult the manual, the product specifications and, if available, an independent test of the model in question.
Some Philips models have two baskets, arranged side by side or stacked, so you can cook foods separately.
The documented range includes a large single cooking chamber as well as models with separate zones.
The Double Stack range provides a useful reference point when comparing appliances with two vertically arranged zones.
The Smart Double Stack Air Fryer 12L is an example of a vertical design with two independent baskets.
These models are designed for preparing several meals with an air fryer that has two baskets, separate zones or a vertical design. Compare the usable size of each zone with your recipes before deciding which oven jobs you’d like it to take on.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two dishes in separate drawers. The model name indicates six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets; check that each basket suits your dishes and leave enough room to open the drawers.
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Worth a look if you want to cook a main and a side separately in one session. The stated capacity is for both baskets combined, so check the capacity of each one, along with the space needed to position the appliance.
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Worth comparing if you want to keep an eye on two dishes in separate zones. Check the usable dimensions of each basket and the space needed around the appliance before relying on it for your largest dishes.
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Worth considering if you switch between cooking one dish and separating two foods. The product name indicates an adjustable basket, a viewing window and a sync function; check the usable dimensions in each configuration and how much worktop space it needs.
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Worth considering if a vertical appliance is better suited to your available space. The model name indicates two levels and ten programmes; check the capacity of each chamber, the height and depth required, and which parts are dishwasher-safe according to the manual for this model.
Not if your usual dishes exceed the load capacity or usable dimensions of its baskets. An air fryer can handle batches that suit its size; keep your oven for large dishes, wide tins or several trays.
Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and suggests 9 to 10 L or more as a guide for intensive use or preparing several meals in advance. These capacities don’t guarantee that your dishes will fit, so also compare the basket’s shape and dimensions, along with its recommended load.
Choose two zones if you often cook foods that need different settings; a large single drawer is better suited to preparing one large batch. Either way, check that the basket for your largest dish is wide and deep enough.
Check which parts of the model you choose are removable and confirmed as dishwasher-safe. Also check that you can easily reach the racks and dividers, as they need cleaning too.
Keep the product listing and proof of purchase, then report the discrepancy to the professional seller. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) reminds shoppers that the legal guarantee of conformity is mandatory for new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional.