Households cooking two parts of a meal
If your main dish and side need different settings or cooking times, two zones let you cook them separately. Check whether the model you’re considering has a function that synchronises the end of cooking.
Which format is right for you?
People who cook small batches
For one portion or a simple meal, start by looking at a compact, single-drawer appliance. Make sure its basket can hold the foods you cook most often.
Households that regularly use trays and racks
If you use several levels, trays or racks more often than two separate baskets, compare air fryers in a mini oven format. Remember to consider where you’ll put the appliance and how you’ll clean its accessories.
What sets these appliances apart?
The format should suit your recipes before the stated capacity becomes a deciding factor. In 2024, UFC-Que Choisir found differences in performance between the air fryers it tested. Its tests also take noise, cleaning and energy consumption into account.
Single-drawer air fryer
Worth considering if: you usually cook one thing at a time and want a compact appliance.
Bear in mind: a single drawer can’t control two dishes cooking at the same time separately.
Two-zone air fryer
Worth considering if: you want to cook two foods separately and serve them together.
Bear in mind: the capacity is split between the compartments, which may be different sizes. This can limit the space available for one large dish.
Mini oven-style air fryer
Worth considering if: your recipes mainly call for trays, racks or several levels.
Bear in mind: this format takes up space and comes with accessories to clean.
Traditional electric deep fat fryer
Keep or compare if: you mainly want to deep-fry food in a dedicated bowl.
Bear in mind: this involves handling oil and doesn’t replace cooking on trays or in air fryer baskets.
| Factor | What to check before you buy | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable space for food | Compare the shape and internal dimensions of the basket or trays with the dishes you normally cook, not just the stated capacity. | When I’m cooking a large piece of food or several portions, I want to avoid finding out they won’t fit in the cooking area. Around 29% of consumers would put usable space for food first. |
| Two synchronised cooking zones | Check the settings for each zone and whether the specific model has a synchronisation function. | If I want to serve a main dish and a side together despite different cooking times, I’m looking for two separate cooking zones. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise coordinating dishes. |
| Size | Check the external dimensions and allow room to open the drawers or door. | In a kitchen where the worktop is already full, I’d prefer an appliance that’s easy to set up or put away. Around 21% of consumers would put size at the top of their list. |
| Cleaning and noise | Check exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe and look for a noise measurement for the model in question. | If I use the appliance often, I want to cut down on washing up and fan noise, especially in an open-plan kitchen. Around 21% of consumers would put these considerations first. |
Mistakes to avoid before you buy
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Choosing based on litres alone
A large total capacity doesn’t guarantee there’s room for a bulky piece of food. Philips says its 7.1 L model with a removable divider can be used as one large basket or split into two zones. Moulinex’s Dual Easy Fry XXL, meanwhile, divides 10.5 L between a 6.5 L and a 4 L basket.
Start with the dish that’s most difficult to fit, and check the shape, height and internal dimensions of the setup you plan to use.
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Assuming a dual drawer can replace a mini oven
Two compartments are useful when you need to cook foods separately. Trays, racks and several levels, as featured in the Moulinex Easy Fry 20 L, are better suited to oven-style recipes.
Choose based on the cookware and dishes you use regularly, rather than treating these two formats as interchangeable.
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Taking energy-saving claims at face value
A promotional percentage alone won’t tell you how much energy your cooking will use. UFC-Que Choisir compared the energy consumption of air fryers with that of an oven, but the results depend on the appliances and cooking methods compared.
To compare two options on this basis, look for energy use measured per cooking cycle using a method that reflects the recipes you make.
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Forgetting about the fan and the parts you’ll need to wash
Noise can matter in an open-plan kitchen, while the number of baskets, trays or racks affects how much cleaning is involved. UFC-Que Choisir includes noise and cleaning in its tests and flags the fan as something to consider before buying.
Check the manual to see which parts are removable and how they should be washed, then look for an independent noise measurement for the model you’re considering.
Brands to know when comparing formats
These ranges illustrate different configurations. Their stated features are no substitute for comparing the dimensions and test results of the specific models you’re interested in.
Moulinex
The range includes basket-style air fryers and oven-style models.
- Moulinex says the Dual Easy Fry XXL splits 10.5 L between two baskets of 6.5 L and 4 L, while the Easy Fry 20 L has three levels and two trays.
- Before choosing one of these larger formats, compare its dimensions with the space available and make sure the layout of its cooking zones suits your dishes.
Philips
The range lets you compare a compact basket with one whose configuration can be changed.
- Philips offers a 4.1 L model for small batches and a 7.1 L model with a removable divider that creates two 3.55 L zones.
- Check that the basket shape works for the food you plan to cook, with or without the divider. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you the usable dimensions.
Tefal
The oil fryer range offers a point of comparison if deep-frying is still your main priority.
- Tefal offers the Super Uno oil fryer, which has a removable 2.2 L bowl.
- A traditional deep fat fryer involves handling used oil and doesn’t meet the same cooking needs as a basket air fryer or mini oven.
Two-zone air fryers on Joybuy
These Joybuy models are designed for cooking in two zones or in a configurable basket. If you mainly cook small batches in a single drawer, use trays in a mini oven or deep-fry in oil, compare the format that best suits that use first. For the models below, check the usable space in each zone and the features listed for the exact model.
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Ninja Dual Zone Digital DZ400EU, 9.5 L, metallic grey
Worth considering if you want to split two dishes between two drawers. The stated total capacity is 9.5 L; check the usable space in each drawer against the dishes you cook.
The product title lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. If having both dishes finish cooking at the same time is important to you, check that the DZ400EU model has this feature.
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Cuisinart AFD10XBLE XXL Dual-Zone with viewing windows, black
Worth comparing if you want two zones and viewing windows to keep an eye on your food. Check the appliance dimensions and usable space in each zone before deciding where to put it.
If you want to serve two foods together, check the settings available on this model and whether it can synchronise cooking times.
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Dual Basket Flex Basket 12QT air fryer with 50 paper liners
Worth considering if you switch between cooking one dish and cooking two foods separately. The product title lists a configurable basket, two zones, a viewing window, an interior light, and Sync and Dual modes.
The title gives the capacity as 12QT, while another description states 12 L. Check the capacity and usable dimensions in each configuration. The title also lists 12 functions, dishwasher-safe parts and 50 included paper liners.
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Ninja Dual Zone Digital DZ300EU, 7.6 L, metallic grey
Worth comparing if you want to split two dishes between two drawers. The stated total capacity is 7.6 L; check the usable dimensions of each compartment if you cook larger foods.
The product title lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. If you want to serve both dishes together, check separately whether the model has a synchronisation function.
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Philips 3000 Series NA351/00, two baskets, 9 L, black and silver
Worth considering if you want to split different parts of a meal between two baskets. The stated total capacity is 9 L; check the dimensions of each basket before planning to cook a large piece of food or two similar portions.
If you want both dishes to finish cooking at the same time, check the coordination features listed for the NA351/00 model.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a single-drawer air fryer is big enough?
A single drawer is usually enough if you tend to cook one dish at a time and your food fits in the basket. Start with the dish you cook most often and the largest piece of food you plan to cook, rather than looking at the capacity in litres alone. If you regularly need different settings for two foods, compare a two-zone appliance.
Are dual-drawer air fryers only for larger families?
No. They’re useful for cooking two things separately, even if you’re making a meal with just a main dish and a side. Check the capacity of each zone, though, as the drawers may be different sizes. For example, Moulinex lists 6.5 L and 4 L baskets for its Dual Easy Fry XXL.
How can I compare noise and cleaning before buying?
Check which parts of the exact model are removable or dishwasher-safe, then look for an independent noise measurement. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 0.50 m as part of its testing protocol and notes that the fan is worth considering before you buy.
What protection applies to an air fryer bought from a trader in France?
The legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer in France, as the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control explains. If the appliance doesn’t match its description, keep your proof of purchase and contact the trader.