Families serving two dishes together
If your main course and side need different cooking times, two drawers with a synchronisation feature can help you serve them at the same time. However, check that the larger drawer can fit your main course.
Which format is right for you?
Households mainly cooking one large dish
For a large portion of one food, compare the surface area and shape of a single basket with the foods or dishes you usually use. Two separate zones won’t necessarily give you a cavity wide enough for your dish.
Kitchens short on worktop space
Measure the space available, as well as the room needed to open the drawer or door. Before choosing, check the dimensions, power rating and clearances specified in the manual for the model you’re considering.
What should you look for first?
Single drawer
Consider this if: you mainly cook one family-sized dish and it fits in the basket.
Bear in mind: two dishes with different settings may need to be cooked in separate batches.
Two drawers
Consider this if: you want to cook a main course and side separately, then serve them together if the model synchronises cooking times.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is split between the drawers, so a large item needs to fit in one of them.
Oven-style air fryer
Consider this if: you use dishes or racks that are better suited to a compact oven-style cavity.
Bear in mind: multiple levels don’t mean you get two independently controlled cooking zones; check which levels can be used on the model you choose.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| One large dish | Usable dimensions and basket shape; whether there’s enough room for your food or dish. | When I cook a large quantity of the same dish, I want it to fit in one zone without cooking several batches. Around 42 % of consumers prioritise this. |
| Two dishes cooking at once | Separate settings, the capacity of each zone and whether there’s an end-time synchronisation feature. | To serve a main course and side with different cooking times together, I prioritise cooking them at the same time; this is the top priority for around 33 % of consumers. |
| Space and installation | External dimensions, room needed to open the appliance, power rating and clearances specified in the manual. | If my worktop space is limited, I need to be able to install and use the appliance in line with its manual. This is the priority for around 25 % of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Relying on the total capacity alone
Capacity split between two drawers won’t give you the same space for a large dish as a single basket. For example, Tefal says its 4 L FW4018E0 can fit a 27 cm pizza. This is specific to the shape of this model, not every 4 L basket.
Measure your largest dish or food item, then compare it with the usable dimensions of the model you’re considering.
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Confusing synchronisation with a large cavity
Synchronisation coordinates the end of two programmes; it doesn’t make the drawers bigger. Moulinex, for example, lists capacities of 6.5 L and 4.5 L for the two zones in its EZ942HF0.
First check that your main course fits in the larger drawer. Choose two zones if separating the cooking genuinely suits the meals you make.
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Measuring only the space for the appliance
You’ll also need room to open the drawers or door and to allow for ventilation clearances. Darty lists dimensions of 45,8 × 38,5 × 33 cm and a power rating of 2 700 W for the Moulinex EZ942HF0; these figures don’t apply to other models.
Check the dimensions and power rating of the model you’re considering, then follow its manual for placement, clearances and electrical supply.
Brands to consider
Moulinex
Two-drawer models with different-sized compartments for separating a main course from a side.
- Moulinex lists two drawers of 6.5 L and 4.5 L for the EZ942HF0, with synchronised cooking.
- These capacities alone don’t tell you whether your dish or tin will fit in the larger drawer.
Tefal
Single-drawer models, with some specifications focusing on the available cooking surface.
- Tefal says the FW4018E0 can cook up to 1 kg of chips or fit a 27 cm pizza.
- These details apply to this model and don’t describe all Tefal baskets or the space available for other dishes.
Philips
Dual-basket models with a larger drawer for the main course and a smaller one for the side.
- Philips describes a cooking-time synchronisation feature on its NA352/24 Dual Basket Airfryer.
- Two synchronised drawers don’t create one large cavity for a bulky dish.
Xiaomi
A model with two differently sized zones to consider if your main course and side need separate spaces.
- Xiaomi lists capacities of 6.5 L and 3.5 L for its Dual Zone Air Fryer 10L.
- Compare the size of the larger basket with your main course instead of treating the 10 L capacity as one large cavity.
Air fryers available on Joybuy
These models are mainly suited to cooking two dishes, with a single-basket option for households that usually cook one dish at a time. If you’re looking for an oven-style model, check the shape of the cavity and which levels can be used separately.
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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 rather than cook a large item in one cavity.
The title lists a total capacity of 9,5 L and six functions. If serving both dishes at the same time is important, check whether cooking times can be synchronised, as well as the usable space in each drawer.
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COSORI TF101S Dual Blaze TwinFry, 10 L
Worth considering if you’re deciding between having room for one large dish and separating two cooking jobs.
The title lists a capacity of 10 L. Before buying, check the usable dimensions in the configuration you plan to use, whether it has synchronisation if that matters to you, and the model’s installation instructions.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7,6 L
Compare it with your needs for a meal made up of two dishes, checking that a family-sized portion will fit in the drawer you plan to use for it.
The title lists two drawers, a total capacity of 7,6 L and six functions. Check that cooking times can be synchronised if you want to serve both dishes together.
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ochama, two-chamber air fryer, listed capacity 9 L
Worth considering for cooking two separate dishes, provided each chamber can fit the portion you have in mind.
The capacity details associated with this product list 9 L and 12 L. Confirm the total capacity and the capacity of each chamber before deciding; also check the dimensions and power rating for installation.
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KITCHENCOOK AIRMED7W, 7 L, with viewing window
Worth considering if you mainly cook one dish at a time and want to keep an eye on it through the viewing window.
The title lists a capacity of 7 L. Compare the basket’s usable dimensions with the dishes you usually cook; if your meal needs two different settings, you’ll need to cook in separate batches.
Frequently asked questions
How many litres do you need for a family?
There’s no capacity in litres that suits every family meal: check whether your food and dishes fit in the usable space. As an example for one specific model, Tefal says its 4 L FW4018E0 can cook up to 1 kg of chips or fit a 27 cm pizza. This doesn’t translate into a universal number of portions.
Can synchronising two drawers replace a large basket?
No. It coordinates the end of two cooking programmes; it doesn’t combine the space in the drawers. If you’re cooking a large main course, check the usable dimensions of the larger drawer before choosing a two-zone model.
How much space should you leave around an air fryer?
Follow the clearance guidance in the manual for the model you choose, and leave enough room to open its drawer or door. A Domoclip manual specifies 10 cm of clearance at the back, sides and above, but you shouldn’t automatically apply this distance to other appliances.