Households cooking small portions
A single drawer may be enough for side dishes or small meals where the food shares the same settings. Compare the basket size with your usual portions before adding this appliance alongside your oven.
Which format is right for you?
Households cooking two things at once
Two zones are useful if you regularly prepare a main and a side that need different cooking times or temperatures. UFC-Que Choisir notes that models with two drawers let you cook different foods at the same time.
Open-plan kitchens or limited worktop space
Measure the space you have in mind, including the clearance needed around the appliance, and check how noisy it is in use. UFC-Que Choisir considers fan noise a buying criterion and measures it as part of its testing process.
What should you check before choosing?
One drawer
Consider it: for portions that cook together using the same settings.
Limitation: two foods with different settings may need to be cooked in separate batches.
Two cooking zones
Consider it: if you often cook a main and a side at the same time.
Limitation: the total capacity doesn’t tell you what size of food will fit in each zone.
Your existing oven
Keep it as your main appliance: for large dishes or cooking on multiple shelves.
Worth considering: an air fryer offers a distinct use only if its portion sizes and format suit the meals you usually cook.
| Criterion | What to check | Think about your meals |
|---|---|---|
| Use alongside your oven | Compare your usual portions with the basket size. For large dishes or cooking on multiple shelves, consider what your oven can already do. | I often cook a small amount; a suitably sized basket could mean I don’t have to use the large oven for this meal. |
| Usable capacity | Look at the shape and surface area of each basket, as well as how the litre capacity is divided between the zones. Philips, for example, lists the NA352/00 as 6 L + 3 L: the 9 L capacity isn’t all in one basket. | Do I need to fit a main and a side in at the same time, or do I mainly want to cook one large item? |
| Space and noise | Measure the available width, depth and height, then check the installation instructions. For noise, look for a test carried out while the appliance is running: UFC-Que Choisir measures it from 0.50 m as part of its testing process. | In my open-plan kitchen, will the appliance be easy to reach without taking up too much space or making its fan noise intrusive? |
| Cleaning | Check exactly which baskets, racks and dividers are removable. Consult the manual for your chosen model to see which parts are dishwasher-safe. | If I use it often, I want to be able to clean the parts I use for my meals without any hassle. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Choosing based on total capacity alone
Two appliances with the same total capacity can divide the space differently. Philips, for instance, lists the NA352/00 with two drawers of 6 L and 3 L, while its NA154/00 uses a removable divider to switch from two zones to one basket.
List the foods you want to cook together, then compare the usable size of each zone and the external dimensions of the exact model.
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Choosing two drawers when you usually cook one simple dish
If your food usually needs the same settings, you may rarely use the separate cooking zones, yet the appliance will still need space in your kitchen.
Start with the meals you cook most often: a single drawer may be enough for similar portions, while two zones are best for regularly cooking different foods at the same time.
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Assuming the appliance will be quiet or use less energy
The fan makes noise, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. A comparison of energy use with an oven also depends on the food, the quantities and the number of batches.
Look for an independent noise measurement for the model you’re considering, and compare it with your usual meals rather than relying on general energy-saving claims.
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Taking a cooking claim as a guaranteed result
UFC-Que Choisir has found performance differences between the air fryers it tested. A result claimed for one food or test method won’t necessarily apply to every dish.
If cooking performance is important to your choice, check which foods were tested and the conditions of the independent test before comparing models.
A few brands to consider
Philips
The Philips models mentioned here illustrate three different designs: the 4.2 L single-basket NA120/00, the NA154/00 with a removable divider, and the NA352/00 with two drawers.
- Philips says the divider in the NA154/00 lets you switch from two 3.55 L zones to one 7.1 L basket.
- These configurations are specific to the models listed: check the dimensions and dishwasher-safe parts of the model you’re considering.
Moulinex
The Moulinex models with two drawers mentioned here offer different capacity splits: 5.2 L + 3.1 L for the EZ905D20 and 6.5 L + 4.5 L for the EZ9428F0.
- Moulinex says the compartments in its dual models can be set to different temperatures and cooking times.
- With these larger capacities, compare the space required and the size of each drawer with the meals you actually cook.
Ninja
Ninja is among the air fryer manufacturers featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests.
- Its dual-zone models let you consider this format for cooking different foods at the same time.
- Noise, dimensions and dishwasher-safe parts need to be checked model by model; findings for one model won’t apply to the whole brand.
Dual-zone air fryers on Joybuy
These models are for meals where you’re considering two cooking zones or a TwinFry format. If your food usually fits in one basket, compare this option with using your oven before making a choice.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, 2 drawers, 9.5 L
Worth considering if you regularly cook two parts of a meal at once. The model name indicates two drawers and a total capacity of 9.5 L; check how much space it needs and how noisy it is if it will be used in an open-plan kitchen.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, 2 drawers, 7.6 L
Consider it if you want to cook two different foods in an appliance with a stated total capacity of 7.6 L. Check the manual for drawer-cleaning instructions before relying on your dishwasher, and check the noise level in use if that matters to you.
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Philips 3000 Series NA351/00, 2 baskets, 9 L
A two-basket format to compare with the size of your main and side dish. The 9 L is the stated total capacity: check the usable size of each basket before planning to cook two things at once.
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COSORI Dual Blaze TwinFry TF101S, 10 L
Consider it if you switch between cooking one large dish and preparing a meal in two zones. Check the usable layout, the space it needs and the cleaning instructions for the basket on this model.
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Bear QZG-F24F1, 2 baskets, 9 L, 2400 W
For meals where two foods need different temperatures: the model name indicates two baskets and independent temperature settings. Measure the space you have in mind and check the cleaning instructions before choosing this format.
Frequently asked questions
When does an air fryer complement an oven?
It can complement your oven for small portions that fit in its basket, while an oven is still worth considering for large dishes and cooking on multiple shelves. Choose based on the meals you often prepare, rather than assuming one appliance replaces the other.
Are two drawers always better than one large basket?
No. Two drawers let you separate foods that need different settings; a single basket may be better for one uniform or bulky dish. Compare the usable size of each basket, not just the stated total capacity.
How can you check noise levels before buying?
Look for a measurement taken while the model you’re considering is running, especially if you have an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir includes noise in its air fryer tests and measures it from 0.50 m; check that the results you’re comparing were obtained in similar conditions.
Is ‘dishwasher-safe’ enough to know how easy it is to clean?
No: check the manual to see exactly which parts can go in the dishwasher, including the basket, rack or divider. The shape of the removable parts and the space needed to store the appliance also matter if you plan to use it often.