Families serving two dishes together
If your main and side need different settings, two drawers with a synchronised finish can help you coordinate when they’re ready. Just make sure each drawer is large enough for the food you plan to cook.
Who are these formats suited to?
Households cooking large batches of the same food
For a single family-sized batch, check the usable surface area and the foods listed by the manufacturer. Tefal, for example, states that the FW4018E0 can cook up to 1 kg of chips or a 27 cm pizza.
People who already own a 6 L Cookeo
Moulinex’s Extra Crisp lid can add an air-frying function to a compatible 6 L Cookeo. It must be used according to the lid’s specific instructions and does not create two independent drawers.
What should you look for first?
Start by thinking about how you put your meals together, then compare the appliance’s usable capacity with the dishes you cook and the space you have available.
One large drawer
Worth considering: if you mainly cook one large batch of the same food.
The trade-off: a single drawer won’t let you set different cooking programmes for two dishes.
Two zones
Worth considering: if your main and side often need different settings.
The trade-off: the total capacity is split between the zones, unless the model has a removable divider.
A countertop air fryer oven
Worth considering: if this format suits the dishes you want to cook and the space you have.
Check: the dimensions, cooking surface and usable rack levels in the instructions for your chosen model.
A multicooker with an air fryer lid
Worth considering: if you own a compatible 6 L Cookeo or want one appliance with several cooking modes.
The trade-off: Moulinex’s Extra Crisp is used on the cooking bowl, not as a separate cooking zone.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Two dishes to serve together | The capacity of each zone and whether the appliance has a function to synchronise cooking times. | When the main and side need different settings, I want to avoid one having to wait for the other. Around 31% of consumers would put coordinated cooking first. |
| A large batch in one zone | The basket’s surface area and the stated quantity for the foods you usually cook, rather than overall capacity alone. | If I mainly cook a wide dish or a large quantity of the same food, it all needs to fit in one zone. This would be the priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Worktop space | Width, depth, height and the space needed to open the drawers; also check the clearance requirements in the instructions. | In a kitchen where space is limited, I want to be able to position and open the appliance without getting in the way of the rest of the worktop. Around 23% of consumers would put size first. |
| Several cooking modes in one appliance | Whether the lid is compatible with the multicooker, which accessories are included and the conditions of use in the instructions. | If I already own a multicooker, I’d like to add air frying rather than buy a dedicated appliance. Around 15% of consumers would put this versatility first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Comparing only the stated capacity in litres
The shape of the cooking area affects what you can fit inside. Philips says the NA156/60 can switch from two 3.55 L compartments to one 7.1 L pan, while Tefal gives practical examples of what fits in the FW4018E0.
Make a note of the dishes you cook regularly, then look for the stated quantities or dimensions for those foods.
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Assuming a dual-drawer model can fit any large dish
Two zones make it easier to cook different foods separately, but their combined capacity doesn’t tell you how much will fit in the larger drawer. For example, Tefal lists 6.5 L and 4.5 L drawers for the EY9428E0.
First check the size of the zone you’ll use for the main dish. If both dishes need to finish together, also check for a synchronisation function.
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Buying an air fryer lid without checking your Cookeo
Moulinex describes the Extra Crisp as suitable for 6 L Cookeo models. Its instructions also set out a different way to use it from a standalone air fryer.
Check your Cookeo’s model number and capacity. When using the Extra Crisp, Moulinex’s instructions specifically say to leave the Cookeo lid open.
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Following the same instructions for every appliance
Safety advice and dishwasher-safe parts vary by model. For example, the Moulinex Extra Crisp instructions say not to immerse the appliance or place anything on top of it.
Before buying, check the instructions for your chosen model for installation, handling when hot and cleaning each part.
Brands to consider for these formats
Tefal
The range covered includes a large drawer, a large cooking surface, two drawers and a countertop oven format.
- Tefal states that the FW4018E0 can cook up to 1 kg of chips or a 27 cm pizza, and that the EY9428E0 has two drawers measuring 6.5 L and 4.5 L.
- Tefal’s serving suggestions for some models don’t replace checking the foods you cook and the size of each zone.
Philips
The models featured show several two-zone layouts: a flexible pan, separate drawers and stacked baskets.
- Philips describes a removable divider on the NA156/60, a synchronisation function on the NA352/24 and two stacked 5 L baskets on the NA461/00.
- These layouts don’t all offer the same space for a single dish, so compare the size of the zone you’ll actually use.
Moulinex
The Extra Crisp is an option for households considering air frying with a compatible 6 L Cookeo.
- Moulinex presents the Extra Crisp as a lid compatible with 6 L Cookeo models; the Cookeo CE96X8F0 pack combines a 6 L bowl with this lid.
- According to Moulinex’s instructions, the Cookeo must not be operating at the same time as the Extra Crisp, its lid must stay open and you must not exceed the MAX mark.
Dual-zone air fryers on Joybuy
These models are designed for meals cooked in two zones or, in the case of the flexible basket, in one large adjustable zone. Compare the space available for each dish before relying on the stated total capacity.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, two drawers, 9.5 L
Worth considering if you want to split a meal between two drawers. The model name gives a total capacity of 9.5 L and six functions; check the usable space in each drawer and whether there’s a synchronisation function if both dishes need to finish together.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7.6 L
This format lets you cook two dishes separately. Its stated total capacity is 7.6 L, and the product name lists six functions. Make sure each drawer suits the food you want to cook, and check for a synchronisation function if that matters to you.
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12QT air fryer with flexible basket and 50 cooking liners
The flexible basket may suit households that switch between cooking one large dish and using two separate zones. The product name mentions Sync and Dual modes, as well as a viewing window. Check the usable dimensions in each configuration and the appliance’s overall size.
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Bear QZG-F24F1, two baskets, 9 L
Worth a look if you want to cook two dishes in separate baskets. The model name gives a total capacity of 9 L and independent temperature control; check the capacity of each basket and how the synchronisation function works if you need one.
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ochama air fryer with two compartments, 9 L
Its two compartments suit meals made up of separately cooked foods. The stated 9 L capacity is for the appliance as a whole, so check the size of each compartment, the external dimensions and whether you can synchronise cooking times to suit your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 6 or 7 L air fryer always big enough for a family?
No. Capacity alone doesn’t tell you how many portions you can cook for every dish. Look at the shape of the cooking area and the stated quantities for the foods you cook. Tefal, for example, says the FW4018E0 can cook up to 1 kg of chips or a 27 cm pizza.
When do two drawers really make mealtimes easier?
Two drawers are useful when the main and side need different settings but you want to serve them together. If the model has a synchronisation function, also check that each zone is large enough: two small drawers aren’t a substitute for one large pan when you’re cooking a single dish.
Are all air fryer parts dishwasher-safe?
No. Check each part individually in the instructions for your chosen model. Moulinex, for example, says that the bowl and steam basket in the Cookeo CE96X8F0 pack are dishwasher-safe; this doesn’t apply to the Extra Crisp lid or the appliance as a whole.
What precautions should I take when using the Extra Crisp with a Cookeo?
Follow the Moulinex instructions specific to the Extra Crisp: the Cookeo lid must stay open, and the Cookeo must not be operating while the accessory is in use. The instructions also say not to exceed the MAX mark, place anything on top of the appliance or immerse it.
What should I do with an old air fryer in France?
Take it to a collection or take-back scheme for electrical and electronic equipment rather than putting it in your household rubbish. France’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition points out that this equipment may contain components that are hazardous to the environment, as well as recyclable materials.