To cut down on batches, start by choosing a basket capacity and shape that suit your portions. Que Choisir recommends 6 L as a minimum for four people and suggests looking at models of at least 9 L for households of more than five. Two drawers are mainly useful for cooking a main and a side separately. For a large item, focus instead on the size of a single cooking zone, whether in a flexible basket or a mini oven. In every case, check the usable dimensions and the space needed on your worktop.
If you usually cook one main or side dish at a time, think about the amount you serve at each meal before choosing a large appliance. Que Choisir puts the recommended minimum for four people at 6 L, but that capacity doesn’t guarantee that a bulky dish will fit in the basket.
For larger portions, Que Choisir suggests looking at models of at least 9 L, including dual-drawer, flexible-basket and mini-oven formats. How that capacity is divided still matters if you want to cook a whole dish in a single zone.
If your main and side dish need different cooking times or temperatures, two independent zones let you cook them separately. Just check that each zone can hold the portion you need, and that the model offers a synchronised finish function if that matters to you.
Capacity in litres helps you narrow down your options, but the shape of the cooking space and the way you put a meal together matter too.
Consider it: if you cook one main or side dish at a time.
Bear in mind: dishes that need different settings will have to be cooked in separate batches.
Consider it: if you often cook two different dishes for the same meal.
Bear in mind: a large item must fit in one drawer; you can’t use the combined capacity of both.
Consider it: if you switch between cooking two smaller dishes and one larger dish.
Bear in mind: with the divider in place, each dish has only its own zone.
Consider it: for dishes better suited to a countertop oven than a drawer.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to consider the door opening, usable shelf levels and the accessories supplied with the model.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per batch | Compare the capacity and usable dimensions of each zone with your usual portions. Que Choisir’s guide figures are 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for households of more than five, but they don’t guarantee that a large dish will fit. | If you want to serve the whole meal at once, splitting a dish means cooking an extra batch. Around 36% of consumers put batch capacity at the heart of their decision. |
| Cooking two dishes at once | Check for independent settings and, if needed, a function that synchronises the end of cooking. | If your main and side dish need different settings, being able to cook them separately becomes a priority. This is the main need for around 29% of consumers, who want to cook two dishes in parallel. |
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height of the appliance you’re considering, as well as the space needed to open its drawers or door. Check the manual for the required clearances too. | On a limited worktop, a large capacity isn’t much use if the appliance can’t stay in place. Around 21% of consumers put keeping its footprint under control first. |
| Cooking and cleaning | If possible, look for a test of the exact model and check its manual for instructions on loading, shaking and cleaning. | For frequent meals, you want to be able to manage cooking and clean the parts you’ve used without too much hassle. Around 14% of consumers prioritise consistent everyday use and easy maintenance. |
This label doesn’t tell you how much of the food you usually cook will fit in the basket. For a family, a poorly shaped basket can mean cooking in several batches, even when the stated capacity is high.
Compare the stated capacity in litres, the usable dimensions where these are provided, and the size of the dishes you cook most often.
The Moulinex Dual Easy Fry Flex EZ9228F0 and Dual XXL EZ942BF0 illustrate the asymmetrical layouts stated by the brand: 5.5 L and 3.5 L respectively, then 6.5 L and 4.5 L. A single item must fit in a suitably sized zone.
For large items, check whether the divider can be removed. With two fixed drawers, measure the larger drawer rather than relying on the combined capacity.
Que Choisir’s tests found varying results between appliances, particularly when food cooks differently at the top and bottom of the basket.
Look for a test of the exact model, if one is available, then follow the manual’s guidance on loading and shaking the food.
An appliance may fit on your worktop but need more room when its drawers are pulled out or its door is open. Access to the parts you need to clean matters too if you use it regularly.
Measure the space with the appliance in use and check which parts are removable, how to wash them, and whether replacement parts are available for the model you’ve chosen.
In the Easy Fry range presented by Moulinex, the Dual Easy Fry Flex EZ9228F0 can switch from two zones stated as 5.5 L and 3.5 L to a single 9 L zone. The Dual XXL EZ942BF0 divides its 11 L between two drawers.
Philips describes the NA156/60 as a 7.1 L basket that can be divided into two 3.55 L zones, while the NA462/70R1 has two stacked baskets, each with a capacity of 5 L.
The range presented by SharkNinja includes the Foodi FlexDrawer AF500EU, with a stated capacity of 10.4 L and a large flexible zone, and the Foodi DT200EU mini oven with an Air Fry function.
These models, with two drawers, stacked baskets or a flexible basket, are aimed at households looking to prepare several portions or two parts of a meal. Compare the capacity of each zone with the dishes you plan to cook: the total capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much room there is for a large item.
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Worth considering if you cook two parts of a meal separately. Its stated capacity of 9.5 L is split between two drawers, so check that each one can hold the portion you need, especially if one of the items is bulky.
The product description lists six functions and baskets stated to be dishwasher-safe.
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Worth a look if you alternate between cooking one large dish and two separate items. This model’s stated configuration lets you divide the basket. Check the usable space in both configurations before choosing.
Its stated capacity is 10 L. Also check its dimensions and the clearances specified in the manual for your chosen spot.
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For a meal with two different dishes, compare your portions with the size of each drawer rather than relying on the total capacity of 7.6 L alone. This two-drawer model isn’t described as a single basket that can be converted.
The product description lists six functions and baskets stated to be dishwasher-safe.
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The upright design with two compartments may appeal to households that want to cook two dishes while keeping an eye on worktop width. The stated capacity of 12 L is the total volume, so check the size of each compartment and the available height and depth.
The product description lists ten pre-set programmes.
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Worth considering for two items you want to cook separately, provided the portions fit in their respective baskets. The stated 9 L capacity is split between two baskets, so it doesn’t make one large basket for a big dish.
The product description lists a power rating of 2,400 W, touch controls and eight pre-set programmes; these features alone don’t guarantee even cooking.
Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and suggests looking at models of 9 L or more for households of more than five. These figures are a starting point: compare the basket shape too, and, for a divided appliance, check the capacity of each zone against the dishes you usually cook.
No. Two drawers are mainly useful for separating foods that need different settings. If you’re cooking one large item, it needs to fit in a single drawer. A basket with a removable divider or a mini oven may be more suitable, depending on its usable dimensions.
Compare the exact model’s external width, height and depth with the space you have, then allow room to open the drawers or door and meet the clearances specified in the manual. The capacity in litres won’t tell you these dimensions.
Yes. When a private individual buys an appliance from a professional seller in France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. If the product is faulty or doesn’t match its description, keep your proof of purchase and the advertised specifications so you can assert your rights with the seller.
First, check whether it can be repaired. If it needs to be disposed of, ADEME says small electrical appliances can be taken to a collection point in a shop or dropped off at a recycling centre in the dedicated collection stream for electrical and electronic equipment.