Households looking to avoid cooking in batches
You regularly prepare four or more portions: the basket’s genuinely usable size and shape matter more than an ‘XXL’ label.
Which households are these sizes suited to?
Households that cook a main and a side
You want to cook two dishes at different times or temperatures and serve them together.
Families with limited kitchen space
You need to cook several portions, but you also need to be able to set up or store the appliance and clean it after a weekday meal.
What sets the different formats apart?
Single basket
Consider it: if you mainly cook one dish at a time.
Limitation: two recipes that need different settings can’t be cooked in separate zones.
Dual drawer
Consider it: if your main and side dishes often need different cooking settings.
Limitation: the divider reduces the space available for a large joint, and UFC-Que Choisir notes that results can vary between zones.
Flexible basket
Consider it: if you alternate between cooking two separate dishes and preparing food that needs a large cavity.
Limitation: only remove the divider if the model is designed to allow it; also check how much space it will take up in your kitchen.
Air-fryer mini oven
Consider it: if you mainly use wide dishes, trays or multiple shelves.
Limitation: check its depth and how to clean the accessories; Boulanger lists the Ninja Foodi DT200EU as requiring manual cleaning.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the interior size of each zone with your usual portions and dishes, not just the total capacity. | If I want to cook all the portions for dinner without starting another cycle, I need space that suits the quantity and shape of the food. Around 36% of consumers put this need first. |
| Cooking at the same time | Check that the settings can be adjusted independently and, if you want to serve both dishes together, look for a synchronisation function. | When my main and side need different cooking settings, I want to be able to prepare them at the same time; around 29% of consumers put this need first. |
| Kitchen space | Measure the width, depth and height, and allow for the clearance specified in the instructions at your chosen location. | I need enough room to keep the appliance on the worktop or put it away after a meal. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and ease of use | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and look for a review of the exact model covering noise and cooking performance. | After a weekday dinner, I don’t want cleaning or noise to make the appliance a chore to use; around 14% of consumers put this need first. |
What should you avoid before buying?
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Assuming ‘XXL’ means plenty of usable capacity
The advertised capacity may be split between two drawers, or the space may not suit the shape of your food. UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking at the capacity you can actually use rather than relying on the label alone.
Compare the internal dimensions and capacity of each zone with the dish or quantity you cook most often.
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Choosing two drawers to cook one large joint
Two compartments make it easier to cook different dishes at the same time, but their combined capacity doesn’t necessarily create one large cooking space.
If you often cook a large dish or a whole joint, check that it will fit in one drawer. If not, consider a flexible basket or a single cavity.
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Judging how much space it takes up from a photo
An appliance that suits family portions still needs to fit in your kitchen. For example, Boulanger lists the Ninja Foodi DT200EU mini oven as 50 cm deep.
Measure the space, then allow for the clearance specified in the instructions and the room you’ll need to store it.
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Assuming both zones cook in the same way
UFC-Que Choisir reports uneven performance between models and notes that results can differ depending on the zone used.
Look for an independent review of the exact model you’re considering, using the foods you cook and, for a dual-drawer model, testing both zones.
Brands and ranges to know
Moulinex
The Easy Fry range includes the Dual Easy Fry & Grill EZ905B20, which Moulinex lists with two asymmetrical drawers of 5,2 L and 3,1 L.
- This layout makes it easy to compare the space for a main dish with that for a side. Moulinex says that some parts of this model are dishwasher-safe.
- The two drawers don’t replace a large single cavity for a wide dish; check the usable dimensions before choosing this model.
Philips
Philips offers the NA352/00 dual basket, listed with 6 L and 3 L zones, and the NA565/02, which can be switched between two zones and one large basket.
- These two configurations suit different needs: regularly separating two recipes or having a wider cavity for certain meals.
- Philips’ claims about cooking results are no substitute for an independent review of the model you choose.
Ninja
Formats to compare include the flexible-basket Foodi Flex AF500EU and the Foodi DT200EU mini oven. Darty describes a 10,4 L zone when the AF500EU’s divider is removed; Boulanger lists the DT200EU as 29 L, with two levels.
- The choice comes down to the shape of the food you’re cooking: a reconfigurable basket on one hand, shelves and trays on the other.
- Boulanger lists the DT200EU’s dimensions as 43,1 × 33,5 × 50 cm and says it requires manual cleaning. Check that these suit your kitchen.
Dual-zone and flexible-basket air fryers on Joybuy
These appliances are suited to meals that need two dishes cooking at the same time or, in the case of a flexible basket, switching between separate zones and one large space. For each model, compare the size of the compartments with your usual portions.
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Ninja DZ400EU, dual-drawer air fryer, 9,5 L
Worth considering if you prepare a main and a side separately.
Advertised total capacity of 9,5 L; check that each drawer can hold the food or dishes you usually cook.
The product name says the baskets are dishwasher-safe; check the instructions to see which parts this applies to.
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Ninja DZ300EU, dual-drawer air fryer, 7,6 L
Worth a look if you want to cook two different dishes as part of the same meal.
Advertised total capacity of 7,6 L, split between two drawers; check their usable dimensions against your portions.
The product name describes the baskets as dishwasher-safe; check the instructions before washing the different accessories.
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Bear QZG-F24F1, dual-basket air fryer, 9 L
Worth considering if two dishes need different temperature settings.
The product name lists a total capacity of 9 L, 2400 W of power and independent temperature control. Check the usable space in each basket as well as the external dimensions.
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ochama, dual-chamber air fryer, 9 L
Worth a look if you want to cook two dishes in separate chambers.
The product name lists a total capacity of 9 L and temperature control. Before choosing, check the usable capacity and dimensions of each chamber, as well as the space you’ll need for it in your kitchen.
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12QT flexible-basket air fryer, with viewing window and 50PCS cooking paper liners
Worth considering if you switch between separate dishes and meals that need a single basket.
The title says 12QT, while the description lists 12 L. Confirm the exact capacity and basket dimensions before deciding whether your dish will fit.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity do I need to cook a family meal in one batch?
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for households of more than five. Then check the internal dimensions: two drawers with a combined capacity of 9 L may not fit the same dish as a single cavity.
Is a dual-drawer air fryer suitable for every family meal?
No. It’s mainly designed for cooking two separate dishes at the same time. If you often cook a large dish or a whole joint, check that it fits in one of the drawers, or consider a single cavity or a flexible basket.
Can all baskets and accessories go in the dishwasher?
No, this depends on the model and the part in question. Moulinex says some parts of the Dual Easy Fry & Grill EZ905B20 are dishwasher-safe; for any appliance you’re considering, check the instructions for the baskets, trays and racks individually.
How can I assess cooking performance and noise before buying?
Look for an independent review of the exact model, ideally using the foods you cook most often. UFC-Que Choisir has found that cooking performance varies between models; for a dual-zone appliance, check the results for each compartment too.