Choose a dual-drawer model if you often cook a main course and a side dish with different cooking times or settings. A large single drawer is better suited to uniform, larger dishes, while a flexible basket is useful when you alternate between these two uses. Also check the appliance’s footprint, how easy the baskets are to handle and which parts are genuinely dishwasher-safe.
If the main course and side dish often need different settings, two independent cooking zones can make meal planning easier. Que Choisir has specifically assessed cooking synchronisation on dual-drawer air fryers.
A large continuous drawer makes more sense when you mainly prepare a large joint, a pizza or a substantial quantity of the same food. Moulinex, for example, states that a 7 L drawer can accommodate certain family-sized dishes; compare this with your usual cookware.
A flexible basket or two stacked drawers may suit you if your meals alternate between two components and a larger dish. Testing by Les Numériques highlights the importance of checking the dimensions and handling the drawers before buying.
Best for: a large, uniform dish when you do not regularly need different temperatures.
Bear in mind: loading is straightforward, but the basket cannot programme a main course and side dish separately.
Best for: cooking two different foods at the same time, each with its own settings.
Bear in mind: side-by-side models can take up considerable width on the worktop.
Best for: meals that regularly alternate between a large joint and two separate dishes.
Bear in mind: a large flexible drawer can be bulky and more difficult to remove or clean.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the shape and internal dimensions of the basket with your usual dishes. Check whether a large continuous drawer, two baskets or a removable divider best suits what you cook. | I want to avoid cooking several batches while still having enough space for a large joint, a pizza or a family-sized dish. |
| Co-ordinating two cooking programmes | Check that temperatures and cooking times can be set independently in each zone. If serving both dishes at once matters, check for a synchronisation function on the exact model reference. | The main course and side dish should be able to cook at the same time without waiting for the first programme to finish. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the width, depth, height and clearance needed to open the drawers. Also check the weight, removable parts and whether they are dishwasher-safe. | The appliance must remain accessible on the worktop without making evening clean-up too much of a chore. |
Capacity alone does not tell you the shape of the basket or how much room there is for a large joint. Two baskets of 6 L and 3 L do not meet the same need as a single 7 L drawer or a large divided basket.
List the dishes you prepare most often, then compare their dimensions with those of the basket: one large dish, two separate components or a mixture of both.
Two zones provide independent settings and can help co-ordinate cooking times, but they do not replace a continuous space for a large dish.
Choose two baskets for two different foods; opt for a wide drawer or flexible basket if you regularly cook a large joint or bulky dish.
A larger capacity can make the drawer heavier, harder to remove and more time-consuming to clean. In its review of the Ninja Foodi Flex AF500EU, Les Numériques specifically noted the difficulty of handling and washing it.
Before choosing, compare the dimensions, stated weight, removable parts and dishwasher compatibility of the precise model reference.
Gifam issued a warning in September 2026 about non-compliant household appliances sold on online platforms. The seller’s identity and regulatory information therefore deserve particular attention.
Check the exact model reference, warranty information and collection or take-back arrangements, then keep your proof of purchase.
Take-back arrangements and after-sales service may vary depending on the seller.
The range includes family-sized air fryers with asymmetrical dual baskets. The NA352/00 combines a 6 L basket with a 3 L basket and independent settings.
Ninja offers dual-zone, stacked and flexible designs, including the Double Stack SL400EU and the Foodi Flex AF500EU with its large divided basket.
The brand covers large-drawer, dual-drawer and removable-divider designs for family meals.
These Joybuy options include dual-zone air fryers and a flexible basket for preparing several elements of a family dinner.
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Ideal for dinners with a main course and side dish requiring different settings.
Two independent 4.25 L baskets, advertised Sync Cook and Sync Finish functions, a temperature range of 30 to 230 °C and baskets advertised as dishwasher-safe.
Its two-basket design does not create one large continuous space for a large joint; also check the stated dimensions of 44 × 39.1 × 30.3 cm.
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This model is designed to cook a main course and side dish at the same time in two separate drawers.
Advertised 9.5 L capacity split between two 4.75 L drawers, with separate settings; drawers and non-stick plates advertised as dishwasher-safe.
Check the cooking-end synchronisation if both elements need to be ready at the same time. Two drawers do not replace one large continuous basket.
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It may suit meals made up of two elements requiring different cooking times or temperatures.
Two independent 3.8 L drawers with individual function, temperature and time settings; drawers and non-stick plates advertised as dishwasher-safe.
Check that 3.8 L per drawer is enough for your usual portions and confirm the synchronisation function if it is important to you.
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Its convertible basket suits households that alternate between one large dish and two separate components.
Advertised 10 L compartment or two 5 L zones, with a temperature range of 35 to 240 °C.
With a stated width of 51.8 cm and weight of 9.2 kg, this model requires a carefully measured space. Also check which parts are dishwasher-safe.
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This two-basket design is intended for meals with a main course and side dish cooked at the same time.
Two independent 4.5 L baskets, advertised total capacity of 9 L and separate temperature control.
Before buying, check the dimensions, weight, dishwasher compatibility of the baskets and whether cooking-end synchronisation is available.
No. It is most useful when you regularly cook two components with different settings. For a large, uniform dish, a single drawer may be more practical; a flexible basket is suitable when you alternate between both uses.
Measure the space with the drawers fully open, then compare the width, depth and height of the exact model reference. According to Les Numériques, the Philips NA352/00 measures 38.2 × 44.4 × 31.4 cm; the Ninja Double Stack SL400EU reduces the width thanks to its stacked drawers, but measures 28 × 38.5 × 47 cm.
Do not assume this applies to an entire range. Check the product details for the exact model and the parts concerned: Moulinex, for example, states that the Easy Fry Mega basket is dishwasher-safe, as are the removable basket and grill plate of the Easy Fry & Grill XXL.
It can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre, returned to a retailer or given to a social and solidarity economy organisation, according to the French Ministry for Ecological Transition. In-store take-back may fall under the “1 for 1” scheme when buying an appliance of the same type, or “1 for 0” depending on the product and the size of the shop.