To cook a main course and a side dish at the same time when they need different settings, choose two independent cooking zones, each large enough for your usual portion. A sync function can help you serve both dishes together. A single basket is better suited to cooking one batch at a time, while a flexible model, mini-oven style air fryer or your existing oven may be worth considering if the shape of your dishes or the space you have available makes a difference.
You’re preparing a main course and a side dish that need different cooking times or temperatures. Two zones with a sync function can help you coordinate them, as long as each basket can hold the portion you need. Que Choisir includes this feature in its test procedure for dual-zone appliances.
You switch between smaller meals and larger batches. A removable divider may be useful, but check the usable dimensions in each configuration. Que Choisir points out that the space you can actually use matters just as much as the stated capacity.
You want to cook one part of a meal without using the oven, but the appliance also needs to fit on your worktop and in your cupboard. Dimensions, noise and cleaning are just as important as stated capacity, as Que Choisir’s buying guide highlights.
Start with the dishes you want to cook together, then check that they’ll fit in the appliance before comparing features and overall size.
Consider this if: you generally cook one batch at a time and have limited space.
Bear in mind: foods that need different settings will generally have to be cooked one after the other.
Consider this if: you want to cook a main course and a side dish using different settings. A removable divider may also suit households that alternate between cooking separate dishes and one larger batch.
Bear in mind: the total capacity may be divided between two unequal compartments, and a large cavity doesn’t guarantee that your dish will fit.
Consider this if: you use baking tins or dishes that are difficult to fit in a drawer-style air fryer.
Bear in mind: check the internal width, available height and how easy the racks are to clean for the recipes you make.
Stick with it if: your existing appliance already fits the large trays, dishes and portions you cook most often.
Keep in mind: an air fryer won’t automatically replace these uses. Que Choisir recommends considering overlapping functions before adding another appliance.
| Factor | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking at the same time | Independent settings and how the sync function works on the model you’re considering. | I want to serve two foods together even though they need different cooking times, without putting the whole meal in the oven. Around 34% of consumers rank this coordination as their top priority. |
| Usable capacity | The capacity and dimensions of each zone, as well as the filling limits stated in the manual. | My usual portions need to fit without making me cook several batches. For around 33% of consumers, usable space is the top priority. |
| Size | Width, depth and height, including how far the drawers open and the clearance required around the appliance. | If my worktop is already full, I need to be able to use and store the appliance without getting in the way of other food preparation. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and ease of use | Which parts are actually dishwasher-safe and, where available, test results for noise levels. | If I cook often, parts that are difficult to clean or a noisy appliance can affect everyday use. Around 13% of consumers prioritise this ease of use. |
On a model with two drawers, capacity may be split unevenly. A bulky item may not fit in the basket you need, even if the total capacity looks sufficient.
Compare your portions with the dimensions and capacity of each zone, then check the model’s load limit rather than relying on the “XXL” label.
The drawers may not fit the large trays or dishes you already use in your oven. Que Choisir also notes that the functions of the two appliances may overlap.
Identify the recipes for which you want to free up your oven, and use it as a point of comparison for dishes that exceed the baskets’ usable space.
The sync function is designed to bring the end times of two programmes together; it doesn’t remove the need to follow the load limits and instructions for the foods you’re cooking.
Check how this option works on the model you’ve chosen, then consult the manual for filling instructions and any steps for turning or shaking the food.
You need enough space around a large appliance to use it safely. Racks and dividers also mean extra parts to clean.
Measure the space with the drawers open, check the ventilation guidance in the manual and find out how each part should be cleaned.
The range includes dual baskets, a model with a removable divider and stacked baskets. These are all layouts worth comparing, depending on the shape of your portions and the space available.
The Easy Fry range includes drawers in different sizes and adjustable configurations. These are worth considering if your main course needs more room than your side dish.
The AF400EU series is an example of a two-zone model with a function designed to coordinate the end of cooking in each zone.
These dual-basket models are suited to meals with a main course and a side dish. Before deciding whether this style is a better fit than a single basket or your oven, compare the space in each zone and the coordination features of the model you’re considering.
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Worth considering if you want to split two dishes between the baskets. The stated capacity is 8,5 L. If you’re relying on the Sync Cook or Sync Finish modes to serve both dishes together, check how they work and the permitted load for each basket.
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Worth considering if you switch between cooking one large batch and two separate dishes. The stated capacity is 10 L. Check the available configurations, their internal dimensions and load limits before choosing between these uses.
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Worth considering for two foods that need different temperatures. The model name indicates a total capacity of 9 L, 2 400 W of power, independent temperature controls and eight programmes. Check the external dimensions and permitted load for each basket.
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For a main course and a side dish, focus on the space available in each basket: the stated 9 L capacity is the total. Check the capacity of each basket, the filling limits and the sync function specific to the NA351/00.
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Worth considering if you want to divide two dishes between the drawers. The model is listed with a total capacity of 7,6 L and six functions. If you want both dishes to finish at the same time, check the DZ300EU’s sync functions specifically, along with its filling limits.
Yes, if the model lets you set each zone independently. A sync function can help the programmes finish at the same time, but make sure each drawer can hold the portion you need. Moulinex, for example, describes models with two zones of different capacities.
Choose based on your portions and the shape of your dishes, not just the stated total capacity. Que Choisir highlights the importance of usable capacity: compare the dimensions of each zone and the filling limit stated for the model you’re considering.
Don’t assume you can fill a basket right to the top. For its chips tests, Que Choisir uses a basket filled to two-thirds as the maximum amount in its test procedure, among other measures. When cooking at home, follow the filling limits and instructions for turning or shaking the food in your appliance’s manual.
No, this depends on the model and the individual part. Moulinex’s guidance applies to certain parts of specific models. Check the basket, rack and divider separately before buying, and again before each wash.
Follow the French-language manual for the model you’ve bought for instructions on plugging it in, ventilation and handling hot parts. Measure the space where you plan to put it, but don’t use clearances or instructions from another model: they need to match your appliance.