Families serving two dishes at once
If your main course and side dish need different settings, two separate zones let you cook them at the same time. Check for a synchronisation function if you want both dishes to be ready together.
Who are these appliances for?
Households cooking larger items
For a chicken, pizza or generous one-pot meal, the usable shape and dimensions of the cooking area matter just as much as the advertised capacity. It’s worth comparing a single basket or a flexible basket with two separate drawers.
Kitchens where worktop space is limited
You’ll need space to position the appliance, fully open its drawers or door, and leave the clearances specified in the instructions. The number of parts you’ll need to clean after each meal is another factor to consider.
What matters when planning a meal?
Start with the foods you want to cook together: do they need separate settings, or do you mainly need a cooking area large enough for a big dish? Then measure the available space and check which parts need cleaning.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking two dishes in sync | Check that each zone has its own settings and that there’s a function to synchronise the end of cooking. | If my main dish and side have different cooking times, I want to serve them both hot. Around 36% of consumers rank this coordination as their top priority. |
| Space for a family-sized item | Compare the usable dimensions of the largest compartment and the food sizes listed for the model, not just its total capacity. | For a chicken or pizza, I mainly need the item to fit in one zone. This is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the appliance, allowing for the space needed to open it and the clearance specified in the instructions. Check which parts are removable and how they should be washed. | If the appliance stays on my worktop, I need to be able to open it and clean it easily after a meal. Around 21% of consumers prioritise these everyday considerations. |
| Dishes and oven tins | For a compact oven, check which dish sizes it can accommodate, which accessories are included and which settings the dishes will have to share. | I regularly cook in tins or oven dishes and am happy to use an oven with shared settings. This versatility comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid before buying
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Looking only at the total capacity in litres
The combined capacity of two drawers doesn’t tell you how much width there is in each one. A long item or dish may not fit, even if the total capacity looks generous.
Make a note of the foods you cook most often, then compare their sizes with the usable dimensions or the examples specifically listed for each appliance.
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Confusing simultaneous cooking with independent settings
A compact oven can hold two dishes, but they share the oven’s settings. A single basket doesn’t create two separate cooking zones either.
If your main course and side dish need different settings, look for two independently adjustable zones and check the synchronisation function on the specific model.
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Measuring the appliance without allowing for it to open
An appliance may fit on your worktop, but there might not be enough room to pull out the baskets, open the door or leave the required clearance.
Check its external dimensions, allow room for it to open fully and read the instructions before choosing where to put it.
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Assuming all baskets are cleaned in the same way
Removable parts, coatings and washing instructions vary by model. A dishwasher-safe label doesn’t replace the care instructions.
Check the instructions and look up the exact model in the manufacturer’s spare parts catalogue if replacing a basket or rack is important to you.
Brands to consider by model
Tefal
The Dual Easy Fry XXL EY9428E0 and Dual Easy Fry Flex EY9228E0 let you compare two fixed drawers with a configuration that uses a removable divider.
- Tefal lists two drawers of 6.5 L and 4.5 L for the Dual Easy Fry XXL. According to the brand, the Dual Easy Fry Flex can switch from two zones of 5.5 L and 3.5 L to one 9 L zone.
- Check the usable dimensions, washing instructions and parts available for the model you choose. Tefal’s advertised features and commitments don’t apply to every model in the same way.
Philips
The Philips NA565/02 is an example of a flexible-basket design for meals that alternate between separate foods and larger items.
- Philips describes the NA565/02 as having two baskets of 3 L and 6 L, or one zone of around 10 L.
- The steam and SteamClean functions apply to this specific model. Also check the accessory configuration and the space needed to set it up.
Moulinex
The single-basket Easy Fry Mega EY855BE0 and the 39 L Optimo compact oven suit two different needs when it comes to size and format.
- Moulinex says the 7.5 L basket in the Easy Fry Mega can hold a 2 kg chicken or a 24 cm pizza. The brand describes the Optimo 39 L as able to hold two dishes at once.
- Two dishes in the Optimo share the oven’s settings. The Easy Fry Mega’s single basket doesn’t let you set two independent cooking programmes either.
Dual-compartment air fryers on Joybuy
These appliances, with two drawers or two chambers, are suited to meals where different items need to cook at the same time. To choose between them, check how much room there is for each food and, if you want everything ready together, how synchronisation works on the model you’re considering.
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Ninja Dual Zone Digital DZ400EU, 9.5 L, two drawers
Worth considering if you want to put your main dish and side in two separate drawers. Check whether the cooking times can be synchronised if you plan to serve both dishes together.
The model name indicates a total capacity of 9.5 L and six functions. For baskets described as dishwasher-safe, follow the care instructions in the manual.
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Ninja Dual Zone Digital DZ300EU, 7.6 L, two drawers
For cooking two dishes at once, compare the size of each drawer with your usual portions. Check for a synchronisation function if you need both dishes to finish cooking at the same time.
The model name indicates a total capacity of 7.6 L and six functions. Check the manual for instructions on washing the baskets.
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Bear QZG-F24F1, 9 L, two baskets
Its two baskets are suited to meals with separate dishes; check that each one can hold the portions you have in mind. If having both dishes finish at the same time is essential, check exactly how the Sync function works.
The model name indicates 2,400 W, eight preset programmes and independent temperature control.
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ochama Dual-Chamber Air Fryer, 9 L
Its two chambers are worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal at once. Before relying on separate cooking settings, check whether each chamber can be adjusted independently and whether you can synchronise the end of cooking.
The advertised total capacity is 9 L; check how the space is divided to make sure it suits your main dishes and sides.
Frequently asked questions
When do two drawers really make family meals easier?
Two drawers are especially useful when your main dish and side need different cooking times or temperatures. Check that each drawer can be set independently and, if you want to serve both dishes together, that the model can synchronise the end of cooking.
How much space do I need to set up the appliance?
Allow for its external dimensions, the room needed to open the drawers or door fully, and the clearances listed in the manual. As an example for this specific model, the Joybuy listing for the Tefal EY9428E0 gives dimensions of 385 × 330 × 458 mm and specifies a heat-resistant surface, away from walls and cupboards.
Should I consider the electrical power rating?
Yes. Check the appliance’s rated power and the power ratings of any other equipment that might be running at the same time. Enedis explains that the power needed depends on the combined demand of appliances in use at once. Always follow the appliance instructions and avoid overloading an extension lead.
How can I check that accessories are suitable for food contact?
Check that baskets, racks and other accessories are intended for food contact, then follow their usage and cleaning instructions. The DGCCRF recommends using utensils and containers designed for cooking or storing food.
How can I check whether spare parts are available?
Search for the exact appliance model in the manufacturer’s spare parts catalogue, then check whether the part you need, such as a basket, rack or handle, is listed. The Tefal catalogue includes models such as EY855BE0 and EY9428E0, but their presence doesn’t guarantee that every part will remain available in future.