For more than five people, use Que Choisir’s guide of 9 L or more as a starting point, then check how much room you actually have for your dishes: total capacity isn’t everything. A dual-drawer model suits two separate dishes, a flexible basket lets you switch between configurations, and a mini oven can accommodate food on several levels. Also check the settings, dimensions and cleaning requirements of the model you’re considering.
If you want to avoid cooking in batches, Que Choisir recommends choosing a model with a capacity of at least 9 L for more than five people. Then check the usable capacity and shape of the cooking compartment against the meals you usually make.
Two zones with separate settings let you adjust each cooking process. If you need to serve both dishes at the same time, also check whether the model has a synchronisation function.
Compare the external dimensions, the space needed to open the drawers or door, and the clearances specified in the instruction manual. A stacked appliance must also fit beneath your wall units.
Start with the dishes you cook most often: their size and the number of dishes you want to prepare at once will help you choose the right format, before you even look at the advertised programmes.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and shape | Compare the usable capacity, internal dimensions and capacity of each zone. Que Choisir suggests 9 L or more for more than five people, but two drawers shouldn’t be treated as equivalent to one continuous cooking compartment. | I want to prepare enough portions for my household without cooking in several batches. For one large dish, I’d look for a large continuous cooking compartment, a flexible open basket or enough space in a mini oven. |
| Separate cooking settings | Check whether the zones have separate temperature and time settings, and whether their cooking times can be synchronised. Having several levels in a mini oven doesn’t mean their settings can be controlled independently. | The main course and its side don’t always take the same time to cook. I want to be able to serve them together without having to use the same programme for both. |
| Load and cooking performance | Check the recommended load and instructions for stirring or shaking the food. Que Choisir’s test procedure considers both the amount of food and results such as texture and crispiness. To assess an appliance when full, look for a test of the exact model. | When I fill the baskets for the family, I’d rather know whether I’ll need to stir the food than rely on the advertised capacity alone. |
| Set-up and cleaning | Measure the appliance, the space needed to open the drawers or door, and the clearances specified in the instruction manual. Check which parts of the exact model are dishwasher-safe. | The appliance needs to be practical to use on my worktop, and easy to clean after regular family meals. |
Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much food you can actually cook. The combined capacity of two drawers doesn’t give you the space of one continuous cooking compartment for a large quiche or joint of meat.
Think about the family dishes you usually make, then compare their dimensions with those of each basket or cooking level.
Que Choisir’s test procedure assesses how chips cook at maximum capacity, taking into account any stirring or shaking required by the instruction manual. So the advertised capacity alone won’t tell you how well food will cook when the compartment is full.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on loading and stirring or shaking the food. If performance at full capacity matters to you, look for a test of the exact model.
The drawers or door must be able to open, and the air inlets and outlets must remain clear as instructed in the manual.
Also measure the depth, clearance beneath wall units, opening space and clearances required for the model you’ve chosen.
A mini oven can hold food on several trays or racks, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can set each level separately.
If your recipes need different temperatures or cooking times, check that the controls are independent before choosing this format instead of a dual-drawer model.
The Dual Easy Fry XXL EY9428E0 is designed for households that want to split two dishes between drawers of different sizes.
The NA154/00 and NA462/80 show two different configurations: a flexible basket and stacked baskets.
The Easy Fry AL605820 offers another way to organise meals cooked on trays or racks.
These models offer two ways to organise a family meal: use two separate drawers or consider a 10 L basket for switching between dishes. Compare their usable dimensions with those of your dishes before choosing.
Image unavailable
The two drawers let you cook a main and a side separately, but they don’t combine to form one continuous cooking compartment. The advertised total capacity is 9.5 L. Check that each drawer has enough room for your portions, and look for synchronisation if you want both dishes to finish at the same time.
Image unavailable
If you switch between cooking one large dish and two separate ones, check the basket configuration and dimensions in each mode. The advertised capacity is 10 L. For two different recipes, also check the settings for each zone and whether cooking times can be synchronised.
Image unavailable
The stacked baskets let you split two dishes between 3.5 L and 6.5 L compartments, but they don’t create one continuous cooking space. The model name specifies 2 000 W and ten programmes. Measure the space available and check whether cooking times can be synchronised if you want to serve food from both baskets at the same time.
Image unavailable
This two-drawer model lets you cook a main and a side separately. With an advertised total capacity of 7.6 L, it falls below Que Choisir’s guide of 9 L for more than five people. Before relying on it to cook everything in one batch, compare your planned portions with the usable space in each drawer.
Que Choisir recommends choosing 9 L or more for more than five people. Use this as a starting point: with two drawers, check the capacity of each one; for a single large dish, check the dimensions of a continuous cooking compartment or a mini oven level.
Yes, if the model lets you set each zone separately. Also check whether cooking times can be synchronised if the recipes take different lengths of time but need to finish together. Two drawers can’t accommodate a dish that needs one large cooking compartment.
Because the capacity in litres doesn’t tell you the width, surface area or height available for a particular dish. Que Choisir stresses the importance of usable capacity, so compare the internal dimensions with those of your quiche, oven dish or the joint you cook regularly.
Follow the instruction manual for your model and keep its air inlets and outlets clear. A Philips Airfryer XXL manual specifies at least 10 cm at the back, on the sides and above the appliance. This guidance applies to the manual consulted and doesn’t replace the instructions for another appliance.