If your main course and side dish need different settings, choose an air fryer with two independent drawers. If you also cook larger items from time to time, a flexible cooking compartment lets you create one large cooking space when you need it. For four people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends a capacity of at least 6 L. But the total capacity won’t tell you whether each food will fit in its compartment, so check the size of the baskets, the space available on your worktop and how easy the appliance is to clean.
If your main course and side dish need different cooking times or temperatures, two drawers with independent settings are a good fit. Check whether the model has a function that synchronises the end of cooking in both drawers. This is available on models described by Philips and Moulinex, for example.
If some meals need two cooking zones while others need one undivided compartment, a removable divider means you don’t have to choose between the two layouts. The Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer AF500EU is one example, according to its product listings at Darty and Boulanger.
A family-sized capacity is only useful if the appliance fits in your kitchen and is easy to open and clean. Before choosing between stacked drawers, a wide cooking compartment and a mini-oven, measure the available depth and the space needed in front of the appliance.
Your choice depends first on the kind of meals you cook: one large dish, two separate recipes or a mix of both. A single basket, two drawers, a flexible cooking compartment and a mini-oven each meet this need in a different way.
Consider this if: you mainly cook one family-sized dish at a time.
The trade-off: you may need to cook your main course and side dish in separate batches if they need different settings.
Consider this if: you want to set different cooking conditions for two foods.
The trade-off: the total capacity is split between the drawers. Two smaller baskets don’t make one large compartment for a bulky dish.
Consider this if: you alternate between two separate recipes and dishes that need the full width of the compartment.
The trade-off: a flexible layout doesn’t remove the need to make room for a family-sized appliance.
Consider this if: the size of your dishes and cooking on two levels matter more to you than having two separate drawers.
The trade-off: check its depth and how to clean it. Two levels don’t mean two separate compartments.
| Factor | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Look at the capacity of each basket and the size of the foods or dishes you usually cook, not just the total capacity stated. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people. | When I’m cooking several portions, I want everything to fit without having to cook in multiple batches. Around 40% of consumers are said to prioritise usable capacity. |
| Separate cooking settings | Check the time and temperature settings for each zone, then see whether the appliance can synchronise the end of cooking. | If my main course and vegetables need different cooking settings, I want to be able to prepare them separately and serve them together. This is said to be a priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the available space with the door or drawers open, and check the cleaning instructions for the parts of the model you’re considering. | In a kitchen where every centimetre counts, I need to be able to position, open and clean the appliance without it getting in the way every day. Space and cleaning are said to come first for around 20% of consumers. |
The stated capacity may be split between two baskets that are too narrow for a large joint. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering how much you can actually cook rather than relying on the stated capacity alone.
Compare the size of each compartment with the foods and dishes you usually cook. If you’re considering a flexible cooking compartment, check how the divider is removed.
Separate zones work well for two recipes, but the shape of the baskets may limit the space available for a wide dish.
If you regularly cook large joints or use large dishes, take a closer look at the internal dimensions of a flexible cooking compartment or mini-oven instead.
Depth, available height and the clearance needed to open the appliance all affect how easy it is to use. The Ninja Foodi DT200EU, for example, is 50 cm deep, according to Boulanger.
Measure the whole space, including with the door or drawers open, and check the cleaning instructions for the format you’re considering.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. A commercial guarantee is separate.
Read the terms of any commercial guarantee separately and keep the documents describing the product, along with your proof of purchase.
The range includes family-sized air fryers with unevenly sized drawers, as well as a model with stacked drawers.
The Series 3000 NA352/00 is an example of a format with a large basket for the main course and a smaller one for the side dish.
The Foodi FlexDrawer AF500EU and Foodi DT200EU are examples of a flexible cooking compartment and a two-level mini-oven respectively.
These models include a flexible cooking compartment and appliances with two baskets, suited to households cooking several portions or two parts of a meal. Compare the space available in each zone: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee that a bulky dish will fit in one basket.
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Worth considering if you alternate between meals with two separate dishes and dishes that need a large cooking zone.
Stated capacity: 10 L. If you need both dishes to finish cooking at the same time, check whether this model has a synchronisation function. Also check its dimensions and cleaning instructions.
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Worth considering if you want to cook a main course and side dish in separate drawers.
Stated total capacity: 9.5 L. Check how much space each drawer offers, and whether the end-of-cooking synchronisation function is available if you want to serve both dishes together.
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Worth considering if separating two dishes matters more to you than having one large basket.
Stated total capacity: 7.6 L, split between two drawers. Compare the capacity of each with your usual portions, and check for a synchronisation function if you need both dishes to finish cooking at the same time.
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Its differently sized baskets are worth considering for a main course and side dish that need different amounts of space.
The stated capacity is split between 6.5 L and 3.5 L. Measure the space available and check whether the end-of-cooking synchronisation function is available if you need both dishes to be ready at the same time.
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Worth considering if you need to cook two dishes at different temperatures.
The stated total capacity is 9 L, and the model name indicates independent temperature control. Check the dimensions of the baskets. A function called “Sync” doesn’t necessarily mean two different dishes will finish cooking at the same time.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four. Also check the size of the compartment for your main course. On a model with two drawers, the total capacity is split between them.
Check the features of the model you’re considering rather than relying on the number of drawers. Philips lists separate settings and synchronisation for the NA352/00; Moulinex also describes these features for the Ever Fry XXL Dual.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies in France to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. It covers whether the goods conform to the contract. Any commercial guarantee offered by the seller is separate.
According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, you can take this electrical appliance to a collection point or recycling centre, return it to a retailer, or give it to a social and solidarity economy organisation. If you’re buying a similar appliance, also check the retailer’s take-back arrangements.