Couples who cook a main and a side
If chicken and vegetables need different settings, two drawers let you cook them separately. But check the size of each basket: their combined capacity doesn’t make one large basket.
Which size is right for you?
The number of people you’re cooking for isn’t the only thing that determines the right size. What you like to cook together and how much space you have are just as important.
Couples who cook one batch at a time
A single drawer may be enough for cooking frozen food, vegetables, fish or chicken in one go. Compare the quantities the model can hold with your usual portions rather than relying on the litre capacity alone.
Couples who often make pizzas or bakes
If you regularly cook a pizza or use a cake tin or oven dish, compare a mini oven with an air fryer. The cavity and accessory dimensions matter more than a programme labelled ‘baking’.
What should you check before buying?
Think of two or three meals you actually cook, then check the basket or cavity, where the appliance will go and how easy it is to clean.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and basket | Compare the quantities listed for each food and the shape of the basket. For its 6.2 L NA330/00, Philips says it can hold up to 1,000 g of vegetables, 8 chicken drumsticks, 5 salmon fillets or 7 muffins. | I want to cook our usual portions in one batch, rather than choosing based on the stated capacity alone. |
| Cooking food separately | Check the size of each drawer, the settings available for each zone and, if needed, whether cooking times can be synchronised. Philips says the 9 L NA352/00 is split into 6 L and 3 L drawers; Moulinex lists two drawers of 5 L and 3 L for the EZ901AF0. | Sometimes the main and side need different cooking times or temperatures. |
| Pizzas and tins | Measure your pizza, tin or oven dish, then compare it with the internal dimensions and compatible accessories. For oven-style cooking, the Moulinex Optimo 33 L offers conventional cooking, fan-assisted heat and a baking mode, among other settings. | If I often make quiches or cakes, I want to make sure a whole dish will fit inside. |
| Space and cleaning | Check the appliance’s external dimensions, the clearance needed around it and which parts need cleaning. Check dishwasher compatibility for the parts included with the exact model. | Our worktop space is limited, and I’d also like to know what I’ll need to wash after each meal. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on litre capacity alone
With a dual-drawer model, the total capacity is split between two baskets. It doesn’t tell you whether a wide dish will fit in either one.
Make a note of the meals you cook for two, then check the dimensions of each compartment and the portion examples for the specific model.
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Assuming a baking programme means it has an oven-sized cavity
A cooking function doesn’t tell you the maximum pizza diameter or whether your usual tin will fit.
Measure your dishes and compare them with the appliance’s stated usable dimensions. If you often make these kinds of dishes, consider a mini oven too.
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Confusing a commercial guarantee with your statutory rights
In France, the Ministry of the Economy notes that the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer. It is separate from any additional commercial guarantee.
Check who the seller is, and distinguish the benefits of any commercial guarantee from your rights under the guarantee of conformity.
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Taking claims about speed or energy use at face value
A result claimed for a particular food and set of cooking conditions won’t predict the results for every meal you make, or for every oven the appliance might be compared with.
Choose based on the food you cook, usable capacity, available space and the parts you’ll need to clean.
A guide to the brands
These examples show different formats. A particular model’s specifications don’t necessarily apply to other models in the same range.
Philips
The 3000 Series includes the 6.2 L NA330/00 with a single drawer and the NA352/00, which has two baskets with a combined capacity of 9 L.
- Philips lists quantities for different foods for the NA330/00 and specifies that the NA352/00 is split into 6 L and 3 L drawers.
- These details don’t confirm whether a pizza or tin of a particular size will fit in the basket.
Moulinex
The Dual Easy Fry EZ901AF0 is an example of a dual-drawer model with 5 L and 3 L baskets; the Optimo 33 L CT OX464810 is a mini oven alternative.
- Moulinex says the drawers and rack of the EZ901AF0 are dishwasher-safe. The Optimo offers conventional cooking, fan-assisted heat, a grill and a baking mode, among other settings.
- For a particular pizza or dish, check the usable dimensions of the model you’re considering rather than relying on its litre capacity alone.
Appliances to compare on Joybuy
This selection includes single- and dual-drawer air fryers, plus a mini oven to consider if oven-style dishes feature regularly in your meals.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, 7.6 L
Its two drawers could suit you if you want to cook a main and a side separately. It’s described as a 6-in-1 appliance. Before choosing, check the internal size of each drawer against your portions, and whether the baskets are dishwasher-safe.
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Bear QZG-F24F1, 9 L dual-basket air fryer
The two baskets and independent temperature controls are worth considering if your dishes need different settings. The product listing states 2400 W and 8 programmes. Check the dimensions of each basket against the food you plan to cook.
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Midea Air Fryer, 2 L, 1150 W
This 2 L single-basket model is worth considering for small batches, as long as it can hold your portions for two. The title lists a 60-minute timer; also check the appliance’s dimensions and the space it needs around it.
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ochama Air Fryer, 9 L dual-compartment
The two compartments can be used to cook different foods separately, but the 9 L figure is the total capacity, not the space available in each one. If you want to cook two different foods, check the internal size of each compartment and whether they have separate controls.
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Black+Decker BXOV3000E mini oven, 1500 W
This mini oven is another option if your meals need a cavity rather than two drawers. Compare its internal dimensions with your pizzas, tins and dishes, and check how much space you’ll need to set it up.
Frequently asked questions
Is the stated litre capacity enough to choose an air fryer for two?
No. Check the shape of the basket and the quantities listed for different foods too. For its 6.2 L NA330/00, Philips says it can hold up to 1,000 g of vegetables, 8 chicken drumsticks, 5 salmon fillets or 7 muffins. Compare these examples with your usual portions.
Can an 8 or 9 L dual-drawer model replace one large basket?
Not if you need to cook a dish whole: the capacity is split between two compartments. Philips lists 6 L and 3 L drawers for the NA352/00, while Moulinex lists 5 L and 3 L for the EZ901AF0. Check the size of each basket if you cook large pieces or wide dishes.
What should we choose if we often make pizzas and cakes?
If you make these regularly, compare a mini oven with an air fryer. Moulinex describes its mini ovens’ conventional cooking function as suitable for dishes such as pizzas and cakes. In every case, measure your pizza or tin and check the usable dimensions of the specific appliance.
Which parts should I check for cleaning?
Check the cleaning instructions for the drawers, racks and accessories of the model you’re considering. Moulinex says the drawers and rack of the Dual Easy Fry EZ901AF0 are dishwasher-safe; this doesn’t automatically apply to other appliances.
In France, what should I do if the appliance I receive doesn’t match its description?
For new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer in France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Keep the product description and proof of purchase so you can report the problem to the seller.