To cook a main and a side dish at the same time, choose two drawers if each can hold your portions. For one large dish, focus instead on the shape and usable capacity of a single basket. Keep your oven as your main option if the dishes you usually cook are too large for air fryer baskets. According to UFC-Que Choisir, the stated capacity alone won’t tell you how much you can cook or how evenly it will cook. Check the space required, noise levels and ease of cleaning too.
If your main and side dishes need different cooking times, two drawers with a synchronisation function can help you serve them together. Be sure to check how much space each drawer offers: Philips France lists one 6 L drawer and one 3 L drawer for the Philips NA352/00.
To cut down on batches, look at the shape of the basket, the space around the food and the size of the dishes you usually cook, rather than just the total capacity. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the stated capacities of XXL models can give a misleading impression of how much they can hold in practice.
Your appliance needs to fit where you plan to use it, with enough clearance for ventilation. If you have an open-plan kitchen, consider the fan noise too: UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking noise levels before you buy.
Start by deciding what you need to cook at the same time, then compare the size of your portions with the baskets and the space in your kitchen.
Consider this if: you mainly cook one type of food or one large dish at a time.
Bear in mind: a side dish that needs different settings may have to be cooked separately.
Consider this if: your main and side dishes need to cook at the same time using different settings.
Bear in mind: the capacity is split between the drawers, which may be different sizes.
Stick with it if: you regularly cook large dishes or use several baking trays.
Worth considering: a countertop air fryer can handle portions that fit in its baskets, but it won’t automatically replace your oven for larger dishes.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check whether the cooking zones work independently, whether cooking times can be synchronised, and how big each drawer is. | If I’m serving a main and a side dish that need different cooking times, I want them to be ready together; around 33% of consumers may prioritise this. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the internal shape, recommended load and the size of the largest dish you usually prepare. | When I’m cooking a large portion, I’d rather avoid cooking in multiple batches without piling up the food; this may be the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space, allowing for the ventilation clearances specified in the manual; check a noise test if needed. | In a kitchen where worktop space is limited, I need to be able to set up the appliance without blocking airflow or putting up with an irritating fan; around 20% of consumers may prioritise this. |
| Cleaning and care | Check which drawers and accessories for the exact model are dishwasher-safe, and follow the care instructions. | After cooking a meal using several baskets, I want to spend less time washing up; cleaning may be the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
The total capacity may combine two drawers of different sizes, so it won’t tell you whether your main dish will fit in either of them. UFC-Que Choisir also warns that the stated capacities of some XXL models may be overstated.
Compare the internal dimensions or portion examples for the exact model with the dishes you cook most often.
A large capacity doesn’t guarantee even cooking if the food is packed too closely. UFC-Que Choisir reports that chips cook unevenly in some appliances; its test procedure includes shaking them during cooking.
Stick to the recommended load and shake or turn the food when the manual tells you to. Cook in batches if your portions exceed the amount the basket can handle.
An air fryer may fit under a cabinet but still need more room for ventilation. SharkNinja, for example, specifies sufficient clearance above and around the sides of the AF400EU; UFC-Que Choisir also notes that fan noise is worth considering.
Measure the space where you plan to use it, then check the manual for the required clearances for your chosen model. If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a noise measurement for that model too.
A commercial warranty doesn’t replace your statutory rights. In France, the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual.
Before choosing an extended warranty, compare its exclusions and the extra cover it offers with the statutory rights that apply to your purchase.
The DualZone range includes two-drawer models for cooking two parts of a meal at the same time.
The NA352/00 has two drawers of different sizes, which may suit you if your main dish needs more room than your side.
The Dual Easy Fry & Grill EZ905B20 has two drawers of different sizes, so you can cook a main and a side dish separately.
These dual-basket models are designed for households that want to cook different parts of a meal in separate zones. To choose between them, compare the capacity of each basket with your portions and check that they have the functions you need to finish cooking everything at the same time.
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Worth a look if you want to cook a main and a side dish in separate baskets. The stated total capacity is 8,5 L. Check how much room each basket offers, whether it has the synchronisation function you need, and how much clearance is required for installation.
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Its two drawers are well suited to meals cooked in separate zones. The stated total capacity is 9,5 L. Check the usable capacity of each drawer and the ventilation clearances required for the DZ400EU before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering if your main and side dishes need different amounts of space. This model has one large and one small basket, with a total capacity of 9 L. Check the capacity of each before you choose. Don’t assume it has the same basket sizes as the NA352/00, which is a different model.
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Its two drawers let you cook two dishes separately. The stated total capacity is 7,6 L. Compare the space in each drawer with your portions, and check that the DZ300EU has the synchronisation functions you need if you want to serve both dishes together.
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Worth a look if you want to cook two parts of a meal in separate baskets. The model name indicates a total capacity of 9 L, eight programmes and independent temperature settings. Check its dimensions against the ventilation clearance required, as well as the basket cleaning instructions.
Not necessarily: that capacity may be split between two baskets, and your main dish needs to fit in one of them. Philips France, for example, lists a 6 L and a 3 L basket for the NA352/00. UFC-Que Choisir also advises against judging XXL models by their stated capacity alone. Compare the usable dimensions with the portions you usually cook.
Follow the instructions for the food and quantity you’re cooking: shaking may be needed to help it cook evenly. In its testing procedure, UFC-Que Choisir shakes the chips at least once during cooking, and more often when the manual recommends it.
Measure the space where you plan to use it, allowing for the ventilation clearance required for that specific model. For reference, SharkNinja gives dimensions of 32,5 × 41,5 × 27 cm for the AF400EU and requires enough room above and around the sides. These measurements don’t apply to other models.
No. France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual. Check what the extended warranty actually adds, including its cover and exclusions.