Choose according to how often you prepare different dishes at the same time, the size of your cookware and the space you have available. A single basket suits smaller portions; two zones make it easier to cook different foods separately, while a flexible basket is useful when the size of your meals varies. If your oven already handles larger dishes or cooking on several shelves, consider what an additional appliance would actually bring to your routine.
If the main dish and side often need different settings, look at models with two independent zones and, if needed, a function that synchronises the end of cooking. UFC-Que Choisir explains the benefits of two-drawer models for cooking different foods at the same time.
If you usually cook one dish at a time, it’s worth comparing a single basket with a large, two-drawer appliance. UFC-Que Choisir cites a 3 to 4 l single basket as a guide for everyday portions for one or two people. Also measure the space needed to position and open the appliance.
If you switch between a larger dish and two separate items, consider models with a removable divider. Check the shape of the basket when it’s combined: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether your usual cookware will fit.
Consider it: for smaller portions that you mostly prepare one at a time.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to plan around or cook separately any two dishes that require different settings.
Consider it: if two parts of your meal regularly need different cooking times or temperatures.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split between the drawers, and each one needs to fit the food you plan to cook in it.
Consider it: if your meals alternate between two separate dishes and a larger item.
Bear in mind: removing the divider doesn’t guarantee that the larger basket will suit all your cookware.
Consider it: if you mostly cook larger dishes or use several shelves at once.
Bear in mind: this option doesn’t organise your cooking into two independent drawers.
| Criteria | What to check before you buy | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Two separate cooking zones | Independent settings for each zone; synchronised cooking times if that would be useful to you. | When my main dish and side need different settings, I want to serve them together without cooking multiple batches; around 31% of consumers would put this coordination first. |
| Flexible format | Removable divider; the shape and usable dimensions of the basket in both configurations. | My meals range from one large dish to two separate items, and a fixed format could be limiting; around 31% of consumers would prioritise this flexibility. |
| Smaller portions and available space | External dimensions and required clearances; capacity suited to your usual portions. | I prepare smaller portions and want to keep my worktop clear; compact size would come before other criteria for around 23% of consumers. |
| Whether you need an additional appliance | The size of the dishes you cook most often and whether your current oven or mini oven can handle them. | My oven already fits the dishes I cook regularly, so I’d only add an appliance to solve a recurring cooking problem; around 15% of consumers would make the risk of duplicating what they already own their main concern. |
A large basket, two fixed drawers and a basket with a removable divider won’t necessarily fit the same foods, even if their total capacities seem similar.
Compare the capacity of each zone and, if provided, its internal dimensions with your largest dishes.
Having two zones doesn’t necessarily mean your food will cook in exactly the same way in each one.
Check the model’s filling and usage instructions, then look for cooking tests relevant to the foods you prepare.
An appliance may fit on your worktop but still be awkward to use if there isn’t enough room to pull out the drawers or if putting it away involves too much effort.
Before choosing a larger model, measure the space, check how far the drawers open and allow for the clearances specified in the instructions.
If your usual meals involve large dishes or several shelves, a drawer-style appliance won’t necessarily meet the same needs.
Identify the meals where you genuinely need two independent settings, then compare them with the dishes your oven can already handle.
The range includes dual-drawer and vertical configurations: two layouts worth comparing if worktop space is a priority.
The brand includes a flexible basket that lets you switch between two zones and one larger space.
The Tefal France catalogue features single-drawer, dual-drawer and flexible models, making it a useful place to compare different designs.
These models with two baskets or cooking chambers are best suited to meals with two separate dishes. Compare the space in each zone with the cookware you usually use. If you generally cook one portion or use large oven dishes, first consider whether a dual-format model meets your needs.
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Worth considering for two parts of a meal, provided there’s enough room for each in its own zone. The product name specifies Dual-Zone; check the capacity of each compartment, the external dimensions and the clearance required.
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Consider it if you want to split two dishes between the baskets. The product name states a total capacity of 9 L; check the capacity of each basket and the worktop space required.
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Worth comparing if you want to use one drawer for each dish. The product name specifies two drawers, a total capacity of 9,5 L and six functions; check that each drawer suits your portions and that cooking times can be synchronised if you plan to serve both dishes together.
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Worth considering for two separate dishes, provided each drawer is large enough for your portions. The product name states a total capacity of 7,6 L and six functions; if you want to serve both dishes together, check whether it has a synchronisation function.
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Compare it with side-by-side drawer models if you’re considering two stacked cooking chambers. The product name states a total capacity of 12 L and ten programmes; check the usable capacity of each chamber, the height available and whether synchronisation is available if it matters for your meals.
Start with your portion sizes and the shape of the food, then check whether it will fit in the basket. UFC-Que Choisir gives 3 to 4 l for a single basket as a guide for one or two people; with two drawers, check the capacity of each one rather than looking only at the total.
Not necessarily. Two drawers help you prepare separate dishes, while you may still need your oven for large dishes or cooking on several shelves. Before adding another appliance, compare how often you use these features with how often you cook meals that need two different settings.
Check the instructions to see which removable parts of the model are dishwasher-safe, particularly the baskets, racks and dividers. Also consider whether you can easily remove these parts and put the appliance away; UFC-Que Choisir includes cleaning and storage in its assessment process.
Ask whether your old appliance can be taken back when you buy a new one of the same type. According to the FAQ from the French ministries responsible for ecological transition, in-store take-back under the “one-for-one” scheme is linked to this purchase; ask the retailer how to drop off your old appliance or arrange collection.