Families of four to six
If you prepare several portions at once, compare the space actually available for your food with the appliance’s footprint in your kitchen.
Who are these formats for?
Households that cook two dishes at once
Two independently adjustable cooking zones are useful when a main course and side dish need different cooking times. If you want to serve both together, check for a synchronisation function.
Small kitchens and occasional family meals
It’s worth comparing a large single basket or a convertible basket with a dual-drawer model. Measure the space you have and check that the compartment will fit the dishes you usually cook.
What sets the different formats apart?
Start with the meal you cook most often: one large dish, two separate dishes or food arranged on several levels. Then compare the capacity of each cooking space and the appliance’s external dimensions.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Check whether the advertised capacity in litres refers to one continuous basket or several baskets. Compare the shape and internal dimensions with the food you usually cook. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for households of more than five as a starting point. | I want to cook the portions I need without making several batches. The main course needs to fit in the basket it will be cooked in, not just within the advertised total capacity. |
| Cooking two dishes | For a dual-drawer model, check that each drawer has independent settings and compare their capacities. If the cooking times differ, look for a function that synchronises the end times. | To serve a main course with a side dish, I’d prefer to be able to set each zone separately. However, two drawers are still two separate spaces for larger foods. |
| Convertible basket | Check the capacity with and without the divider, as well as which functions are available in each configuration. According to Philips France, the Philips NA154/00 switches from one 7,1 L zone to two 3,55 L zones. | Some days I cook one dish; on others, I prepare two separate dishes. In divided mode, each one needs to fit in a 3,55 L zone on the NA154/00. |
| Multi-level cooking | For a mini-oven format, check which trays, racks and levels are included, as well as the appliance’s dimensions. Moulinex France lists three levels and two trays for its Easy Fry 20 L; these levels are not two independently adjustable drawers. | If my dishes are suited to being arranged on trays, I might prefer a mini-oven. I’ll also need to allow room to open the door and clean the accessories. |
| Multi-cooker functions | Check the exact model number, whether an air fryer lid is included or compatible, and the size of the cooking pot. Moulinex France describes a 6 L pot and a two-tier rack for the Cookeo Wifi 10-in-1 pack with Extra Crisp. | I’m looking for a multi-cooker first and will use the air fryer function as an extra. A pot with a rack doesn’t replace two independently adjustable drawers. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the width, depth and height, and allow enough room to open the appliance. Check exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe; UFC-Que Choisir also considers ease of cleaning and noise among its assessment criteria. | The appliance needs to fit comfortably on my worktop and be easy to clean after meals, even if its advertised capacity suits me. |
What should you look out for before buying?
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Relying on the “XXL” label alone
A total capacity divided between two drawers won’t necessarily leave enough room for a large dish in either one. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between advertised capacity and the amount you can actually cook.
Make a note of the foods you cook most often, then check the shape and size of the largest basket. Look at the internal dimensions too, if they’re provided.
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Choosing two drawers when you need one large, continuous space
A divider makes it easier to cook two dishes, but limits the space available for each. For example, Philips France says the NA154/00 offers two 3,55 L zones or one 7,1 L zone when the divider is removed.
If you alternate between cooking two smaller dishes and one larger meal, compare a convertible basket with a fixed dual-drawer model and a large single basket.
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Forgetting about access and cleaning
An appliance might fit on your worktop but leave too little room to pull out the baskets or open the door. The parts that need washing also vary by model.
Measure the space you’ll need when using the appliance, and check which parts are specifically stated to be dishwasher-safe.
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Assuming power or programmes guarantee cooking results
UFC-Que Choisir has found that performance varies among the air fryers it tests. A power rating or list of programmes alone doesn’t prove that food will cook evenly.
Look at the functions that suit the meals you cook and, when comparing cooking performance, favour independent tests carried out under comparable conditions.
A guide to the brands
Tefal
The range includes both single-basket and dual-drawer models. The Easy Fry Dual XXL EY9428E0 is an example of a format designed for cooking two parts of a meal.
- According to Tefal France, the EY9428E0 divides its 11 L capacity between a 6,5 L drawer and a 4,5 L drawer. Its cooking basket is listed as dishwasher-safe.
- If you’re cooking a large main course, check the space in the 6,5 L drawer rather than relying on the combined 11 L capacity.
Moulinex
The models mentioned here include a large single basket, an air fryer mini-oven and a Cookeo multi-cooker paired with the Extra Crisp function. Each format suits a different way of putting a meal together.
- Moulinex France lists a capacity of 7,5 L for the Easy Fry Compact EZ866HF1 and three levels with two trays for its Easy Fry 20 L oven.
- Compare the dimensions and accessories of the model you’re considering. A single basket, stacked trays and a multi-cooker pot aren’t used in the same way as two independent drawers.
Philips
The models mentioned include a dual-basket air fryer with drawers of different sizes and a basket with a removable divider.
- Philips France describes synchronised end times on the NA352/24 and the option to switch from one 7,1 L zone to two 3,55 L zones on the NA154/00.
- On the NA154/00, check that each dish fits in 3,55 L when the basket is divided. Don’t assume the NA352/24 has the same features.
Single- and dual-basket air fryers on Joybuy
These models let you choose between a single basket for one larger dish and two compartments for cooking separate foods. Compare the capacity of each basket with your usual portions, especially when the advertised capacity is split between compartments.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, two drawers, 9,5 L
Cook two foods with different settings. The advertised 9,5 L capacity is divided between two 4,75 L drawers, so check that your main course will fit in one drawer and that the internal space is right for your needs before buying.
The model description lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets.
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Bear QZG-F24F1, two baskets, 9 L
Prepare two foods at the same time with different temperatures and cooking times. Each basket holds 4,5 L, so check the size of your main course, the appliance’s external dimensions and the cleaning instructions for the model you choose.
The model description lists a power rating of 2 400 W and eight preset programmes. These figures alone aren’t enough to judge cooking performance.
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Breville Halo XL, single basket, 9 L
Worth considering if you mostly cook one dish or several portions of the same food in a continuous basket with an advertised capacity of 9 L. Check the external dimensions and the usable space in the basket for the food you plan to cook.
The model description lists 1 700 W; the removable basket and crisper plate are described as dishwasher-safe. Two independently adjustable zones aren’t listed among this model’s features.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7,6 L
Prepare two foods with separate time and temperature settings. The advertised 7,6 L capacity is divided between two 3,8 L drawers, so check your portion sizes and whether the model has an end-time synchronisation function if you plan to serve both dishes together.
The model description lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets.
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ochama, air fryer with two compartments, 9 L
Cook two foods in separate compartments, with an advertised total capacity of 9 L. Before choosing this format, check the capacity of each compartment for your main course, along with the appliance’s external dimensions and cleaning instructions.
The model description lists a temperature setting and ten functions.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity do I need for a family meal?
As a starting point, UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for households of more than five. Then check whether that capacity is in one continuous basket or split between several drawers, and whether your food will fit in the space where it will be cooked.
What does the synchronisation function do on a dual-drawer air fryer?
It coordinates the end of two cooking programmes with different durations, so you can serve a main course and side dish together. Philips France describes this function on the NA352/24. It doesn’t combine the two drawers into one large space, so check the capacity of each one.
What should I measure before setting up a large air fryer?
Measure the available width, depth and height, and remember to leave room to open the drawers or door. As an example for this specific model, the Joybuy product page for the Tefal EY9428E0 lists dimensions of 385 × 330 × 458 mm. Compare the dimensions of the model you’re considering with the space you have.
Are all air fryer baskets dishwasher-safe?
No. Check dishwasher compatibility for each part of the model you choose. Tefal France lists a dishwasher-safe basket for the EY9428E0, while Philips France says the basket and removable plate of its 3000 Series dual-basket model are dishwasher-safe. Always follow the care instructions in the manual too.