For a family meal that’s mostly one dish, start by comparing a large single basket with your oven. If you want to cook a main and a side at different settings, look at a dual-drawer model or one with a flexible cooking zone. The advertised litre capacity alone won’t tell you how much you can cook in one batch: check the shape and recommended load for each zone, then make sure you have enough room to position and open the appliance. If you regularly cook several large dishes, keeping the oven as your main appliance may save you from having to cook in multiple batches.
If most of your meal needs the same settings, compare large single-basket models. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people. Also check the basket’s surface area and how much food the manual says you can put in it.
Two drawers let you use a separate zone for each dish. If they need different cooking times and you want to serve them together, check that the model you choose can synchronise the end of cooking times.
Compare how much each zone can actually hold with the appliance’s dimensions. A flexible basket, a rack-style model or the oven you already own may suit different meals. No “XXL” capacity means you can skip measuring your worktop and the space needed to open the appliance.
Start with the meal you cook most often. Then check whether the appliance can cook it in one go and will be practical to use in your kitchen.
| What to consider | What to check | For my meal |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the capacity and shape of each basket, then check the recommended load for the food you plan to cook. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people; its testing protocol includes assessing a load with the basket two-thirds full. | I want to cook enough portions without having to start another batch. If the meal includes a large joint or cut of meat, the most important thing is that it fits in one zone. |
| How the zones are set up | A single basket cooks one dish using the same settings throughout. For two separate dishes, check the controls for each zone and, if needed, whether the cooking times can be synchronised. A flexible basket should also be assessed in each of its configurations. | Do my main and side need different cooking times or temperatures? I’d prefer to cook them together, but wouldn’t assume that two small drawers are a substitute for one large basket. |
| Available space | Check the external dimensions of the model you’re considering and measure the clearance needed to open the drawers fully. Also think about where the appliance will stay between uses. | I want to keep it within easy reach during the week without cluttering the worktop or blocking a drawer from opening. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and how to clean the non-removable parts. If noise matters to you, look for a measurement taken while the appliance is running: UFC-Que Choisir highlights fan noise as something to consider. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise could bother me. After dinner, I also want to know which parts I’ll need to wash by hand. |
| Whether to use the oven | Compare how many batches your larger meals would need with the space available in your oven. Don’t assume that claims about speed or energy savings for a particular programme apply to every dish. | If I often cook several large dishes, keeping the oven as my main appliance may be more practical than splitting the meal between smaller zones. |
The total capacity may be split between two drawers, and you may not be able to use the full capacity of a basket for every type of food.
Think about the meal you usually cook and check the shape of each zone and the recommended loads in the manual.
Two separate cooking zones are handy for a main and a side, but a large joint or cut of meat needs to fit in a single compartment.
Compare the dimensions of the larger drawer, or consider a model with a flexible zone if you switch between these two types of meal.
An appliance may fit on your worktop but still not leave enough room to pull out its drawers. UFC-Que Choisir also flags fan noise as a factor to consider.
Measure the space in front of the appliance and, if you have an open-plan kitchen, look for noise tests carried out while it’s running.
A comparison based on one specific food or programme won’t necessarily reflect the time or energy needed to cook several dishes for a family.
First check whether your meal will fit in the appliance in one go. If not, factor in the extra batches before comparing it with your oven.
These examples show different basket configurations; their features don’t apply to every model from each brand.
The Easy Fry range includes both single-drawer and dual-drawer models for different types of meal.
Models with two baskets and a flexible drawer offer two different ways to divide up a meal.
The Foodi FlexDrawer AF500EU shows how a large cooking zone can suit meals that don’t divide neatly between two smaller drawers.
These models with two baskets or chambers are best suited to households that want to cook two foods at the same time. If you usually cook one large dish, also compare the size of a single zone with a large basket or your oven.
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For splitting a meal between two baskets. The advertised total capacity is 9 L: check how much you can use in each basket and how much clearance you’ll need to pull them out.
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For cooking two dishes in separate drawers. The advertised total capacity is 9.5 L: check the space available in each drawer and whether cooking times can be synchronised if you want both dishes to finish together.
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For cooking two parts of a meal at the same time. This model is listed with independent temperature controls. Check the recommended quantities for each basket, the space needed to install it and the cleaning instructions.
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For cooking two dishes separately as part of a family meal. The advertised total capacity is 7.6 L: compare each drawer with the portions you plan to cook, and check whether the cooking times can be synchronised if you want to serve both dishes together.
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For cooking two dishes at once, with an advertised total capacity of 9 L. Before choosing this model for a particular meal, check the capacity of each chamber, the space it needs and the cooking functions you’re looking for.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four. Treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee that every meal will fit: check the basket’s shape and the maximum recommended quantity for the food you cook.
Not if your priority is cooking a large joint or cut of meat in one space. Two drawers are mainly for keeping dishes separate, so compare the size of the larger drawer rather than just adding the two capacities together.
Measure your worktop, then check the external dimensions of the exact model and how much space you’ll need in front to pull out the drawers. Also think about where you’ll store it if you don’t plan to leave it set up.
No. This only applies to the parts listed in the manual, and not necessarily to the non-removable components. Unplug the appliance, let it cool and follow the cleaning instructions for your model.
Yes, if the fan might bother you while you’re preparing a meal. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking air fryer noise into account; look for a test carried out while the appliance is running to compare the models you’re interested in.