If you regularly serve a main course and a side dish that need different settings, choose a dual-zone air fryer, provided each drawer is large enough for your usual portions. A single large basket is better suited to cooking larger quantities. If your oven already meets your needs and you rarely cook small batches, an additional appliance may simply duplicate what you already have. Also check how much space you have, how noisy it is and which parts need cleaning.
If your main course and side dish need different cooking times or temperatures, two zones let you cook them separately. Check the size of each compartment and look for a synchronisation function if you want both dishes to be ready at the same time.
For a large joint or a single dish in a larger quantity, one big basket saves you from splitting the food between two smaller drawers. Compare the basket’s shape and usable dimensions, not just its stated capacity.
An air fryer can do some of the same jobs as an oven. If you already use your oven for family meals, consider how often you’d use a smaller cooking cavity for everyday portions, and whether you have room for another appliance.
Start with the meals you cook most often, then check the capacity for each dish before comparing features and practical considerations.
| Criterion | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the volume and shape of each drawer with the food you usually cook. On a dual-zone model, the total capacity is split between the compartments. UFC-Que Choisir warns against taking stated capacities at face value. | I want to prepare enough for a meal without having to split a large piece of food or cook multiple batches. |
| Two cooking zones | Check for independent settings and, if needed, a function that synchronises the end of cooking. Make sure each dish will fit in its own compartment. | The main course and side dish need different settings, but I want to serve them together. |
| Cleaning | Check the cleaning instructions for each drawer, basket, rack and tray. If one model has dishwasher-safe parts, that doesn’t automatically apply to every component. | After a family meal, I’d rather keep hand-washing to a minimum. |
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height of the space you have, as well as the clearances required in the instructions. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the size of XXL models can be easy to underestimate. | I need an appliance that can stay within easy reach on the worktop or be stored away easily. |
| Noise | If possible, look for a test of the exact model rather than relying on a general claim that it’s quiet. UFC-Que Choisir lists fan noise as something to consider and measures it as part of its testing process. | In an open-plan kitchen, how noisy the appliance is matters as much as its features. |
| Appliances you already own | Compare what you’d use an air fryer for with how you use your oven or deep fryer. UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer can duplicate what an oven does; for the texture of oil-fried chips, a traditional deep fryer meets a different need. | I want to know whether a new appliance would genuinely be useful for my everyday meals, rather than replacing one I already use for no good reason. |
Tefal states that the two drawers on the EY9428E0 have capacities of 6.5 L and 4.5 L; Moulinex gives capacities of 5.2 L and 3.1 L for the EZ905D20. The total capacity won’t tell you whether a particular dish will fit in the drawer you plan to use.
Think about the largest piece of food and the quantity of side dish you usually cook, then compare them with the capacity and shape of each compartment.
Two zones let you use different settings, but they also split the cooking space. This layout may not work well for one large dish.
Choose based on the meals you usually cook: two separate dishes or one large dish in a single basket.
UFC-Que Choisir highlights the size of XXL appliances and the noise from their fans. These factors matter particularly if the appliance will stay on the worktop in an open-plan kitchen.
Measure the space and check the clearance instructions for the model. If noise is a key factor, look for a sound test of the exact model number.
In a test involving a small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir found that the air fryers tested used less energy than a mini oven. This result doesn’t apply to every recipe, quantity or appliance combination.
Don’t base your purchase on claimed energy savings without checking what was cooked, how much was prepared and which appliance it was compared with.
These features apply to the models mentioned, not to every appliance made by each brand.
For the Series 3000 NA352/24, Philips describes two baskets designed for cooking a main course and a side dish.
According to Moulinex, the Dual Easy Fry & Grill EZ905D20 combines a 5.2 L drawer with a 3.1 L drawer and also has a grill function.
Tefal lists two drawers with capacities of 6.5 L and 4.5 L for the Easy Fry Dual XXL EY9428E0, with a function to synchronise cooking times.
These models, with two baskets or cooking chambers, are for households that want to cook two dishes separately. If your meals usually centre on one large piece of food, compare their usable space with that of a single large basket too.
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If you want to cook a main course and side dish separately, check that both baskets are big enough for your portions. The stated total capacity is 9 L; also consider how much worktop space it will need.
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The two baskets and independent temperature controls are suited to cooking different dishes. The product title lists eight programmes; check the space you have and the cleaning instructions before choosing this model.
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If you want to cook two parts of a meal separately, compare the space in each drawer with the portions you plan to make. The product title says the baskets are dishwasher-safe; if you want both dishes to finish together, check whether this model has a synchronisation function.
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The two drawers let you cook separate dishes, provided each one is big enough for the quantities you need. The product title describes the baskets as dishwasher-safe; also check for a synchronisation function if you want to serve both dishes together.
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The two chambers are suited to meals made up of separate dishes. The product title states a total capacity of 9 L and lists ten functions; check the capacity of each chamber, the overall size and the cleaning instructions to make sure it suits your needs.
Yes, if the model has independent zones and a function to synchronise the end of cooking. Philips lists this feature for the NA352/24. Also check that each basket is big enough for the portion you plan to cook, as the total capacity is split between them.
Not for every task. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two have some uses in common. If your oven already meets your needs for large dishes and bigger batches, first consider whether a smaller cooking cavity would be useful for your everyday meals before adding another appliance.
Check the cleaning instructions for every drawer, basket, rack and tray on the model you’re considering. Moulinex and Tefal say that some parts of the EZ905D20 and EY9428E0 models are dishwasher-safe, but that doesn’t automatically apply to all their appliances.
Yes. The fan may be audible while the food is cooking. UFC-Que Choisir draws attention to this and includes a noise measurement in its testing process. If noise levels are important to you, look for results for the exact model you’re considering.