When preparing several components of a meal, start by considering what needs to cook at the same time and how much usable space each basket offers. Two drawers are useful when you need different settings for different dishes; a larger model is better suited to cooking a big batch. If your oven already meets these needs without making mealtime harder to organise, a new appliance may simply duplicate what you have.
You want to serve a main course and a side dish together, even though they need different settings. Check whether the drawers work independently and, if cooking times differ, whether the model you’re considering has a synchronisation function.
You need to fit family-sized portions or larger ingredients inside. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of usable capacity: compare the internal dimensions with the dishes you usually cook, rather than relying on the ‘XXL’ label alone.
You’re looking for a use that justifies making space for another appliance. Before choosing, compare the meals you already cook in your oven with the space an air fryer takes up, how easy it is to clean and how much fan noise it makes.
Consider it: if you mainly cook one recipe or a small portion at a time.
Bear in mind: two dishes that need different settings will have to be cooked one after the other.
Consider it: if you want to cook a main course and a side dish at the same time, using different settings.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split between two compartments, each of which needs to be big enough for your portions.
Consider it: if your priority is fitting a large batch or a bigger ingredient inside.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir points out that larger models also take up more space.
Keep using it: if it already accommodates your dishes and lets you organise meals the way you want.
Bear in mind: you won’t have a separate small appliance for portions you’d like to cook on their own.
A large appliance can also have two drawers: these are two separate features to consider. Whichever size you choose, start with the meal you cook most often, then check how much worktop space you’ll need.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking at the same time | Whether the two cooking zones work independently and whether the specific model has a synchronisation function. | I want to serve a main course and side dish together, even when their cooking times differ. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this way of organising a meal. |
| Usable capacity and space | The internal dimensions of each basket and the space needed to position and open the appliance. | My family-sized portions need to fit without cooking multiple batches, but my worktop space is limited. Around 29% of consumers put this practical capacity first. |
| How useful it is alongside an oven | Which meals your oven already cooks; to compare energy use, use the same recipe and quantity, and aim for a comparable result. | I already have an oven and only want to add another appliance if it serves a different purpose, without assuming it will save electricity. Avoiding duplication is a priority for around 24% of consumers. |
| Everyday use | Noise while running and how easy the removable parts are to clean. | In my open-plan kitchen, ventilation noise and cleaning matter just as much as preparing the meal. Around 18% of consumers put ease of use first. |
The litre capacity doesn’t tell you the shape of the basket or how much room each ingredient will have. UFC-Que Choisir stresses the importance of usable capacity when cooking large quantities.
Compare the internal dimensions with your dishes, and measure the space you have set aside for the appliance too.
How an air fryer compares with your oven depends on factors such as the recipe, quantity, preheating and the result you want. A manufacturer’s claim based on different conditions won’t settle which option is right for you.
To assess a claim, check the test conditions and look for measurements based on comparable cooking methods.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that it’s difficult to judge how noisy an air fryer is during a brief visit to a shop. Noise can matter more in an open-plan kitchen.
Where available, check an independent test measurement for the specific model.
If your oven already accommodates your usual dishes and quantities, an air fryer may duplicate some of its functions while taking up worktop space.
Identify the meals for which a separate drawer, two cooking zones or a different size would make a practical difference to how you organise things.
These brand examples illustrate different configurations to compare; features vary by model.
The Philips NA352/24, as presented by the brand, has two different-sized baskets, designed in part to cook a main course and side dish separately.
Moulinex’s Dual Easy Fry models split their capacity between a large and a small drawer; the stated capacity varies by model.
Ninja air fryers are among the models compared by UFC-Que Choisir.
These four appliances, with two baskets or cooking chambers, are designed for cooking several components of a meal at the same time. Their stated capacities don’t replace a check of each compartment’s usable dimensions; if your oven already meets your needs, you may not need another appliance.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two dishes in separate baskets.
Stated total capacity: 9 L. Before relying on it for a whole batch, check the usable space in each basket and the overall dimensions of this NA351/00 model.
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Consider it for two foods that need different temperature settings.
The product description states a total capacity of 9 L, a power output of 2 400 W and independent temperature controls. Check the usable dimensions of the baskets and whether it has a synchronisation function if you want both dishes to be ready at the same time.
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Its vertical design with two compartments is worth considering if you want to cook two components of a meal at the same time.
The stated total capacity is 12 L and the product description lists 10 programmes. Check the internal and external dimensions; if serving both dishes at the same time is essential, confirm that it has a synchronisation function.
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Consider it for cooking two ingredients in separate chambers.
The product description states a total capacity of 9 L and temperature control. Check the capacity of each chamber, the appliance dimensions and whether it has a synchronisation function if you need both dishes to finish cooking together.
No. Two drawers are most useful when two dishes need to cook at the same time, with different cooking times or settings. For a single recipe, one basket may be enough; for a large dish, compare the usable space in a larger model with that of your oven.
No. Energy use can’t be determined by the type of appliance alone. To compare an air fryer with your oven, you need to consider the same recipe, a comparable quantity, preheating and the cooking result you’re aiming for. A general claim about savings isn’t a substitute for this comparison.
Look at the removable parts and care instructions, and check for a noise measurement for the specific model if one is available. UFC-Que Choisir notes that ventilation noise can be a factor, particularly in an open-plan kitchen, and that a brief trial in a shop won’t tell you much about it.
Check the instructions, the seller’s details and the markings applicable to the appliance. The DGCCRF points out that the CE marking reflects the manufacturer’s commitment to meeting the applicable regulatory requirements; it is not a quality certification. If you’re replacing an old appliance, ask the seller how to arrange its take-back. Where take-back is required by law, the DGCCRF specifies that it must be free of charge.