Start by thinking about the meals you make most often. If you need to cook two items separately, a dual-drawer air fryer is a good option. A mini oven may suit tray-baked dishes and reheating, provided its internal height accommodates your cookware. For slow-cooked, steamed or pressure-cooked dishes, consider a multicooker instead. If your oven already handles larger meals, a small specialist appliance may be all you need. Whichever you choose, check how much space it takes up, which accessories you’ll need and which parts require cleaning.
You sometimes make a single portion, but also want to cook a main and a side separately. Look at the capacity of each drawer and the available settings, rather than focusing only on the total capacity.
You want to reheat, grill or cook on a tray without adding several appliances to your kitchen. A mini oven brings these uses together in one cavity, as long as its internal height and installation space suit your dishes.
You mainly use a cooking pot for saucy, steamed or pressure-cooked dishes. A multicooker is designed for these uses, but its single pot doesn’t replace two independent cooking compartments.
Start with the oven you already have and the kind of meals you want to prepare: cooking in two compartments, using one cavity in several ways, or making dishes in a cooking pot. Then compare the usable dimensions and how easy the model is to clean.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Two separate cooking zones | Independent drawers, separate settings and the capacity of each one; check for a sync function if you want to serve both dishes together. | If my main and side dishes need different settings, I want to be able to cook them separately. Around 29% of consumers may put this independence at the top of their list. |
| Several uses in one cavity | The available modes, internal height and accessories included for the dishes you make. | When I reheat food some days and cook on a tray on others, I’d rather not have several appliances. This versatility could be the main priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Slow-cooked, steamed or pressure-cooked dishes | The pot’s capacity, available modes and accessories needed for the model you choose. | For my saucy or steamed dishes, I’d prioritise the functions of a cooking pot over two drawers. Around 21% of consumers may make this their top priority. |
| Complementing your existing oven | The function you’re actually missing, the space required and any extra parts to clean alongside your oven. | My oven already handles larger dishes, but I’m looking for an appliance for a more specific task. This could be a priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A capacity in litres doesn’t tell you what size of food will fit in each compartment, or how much height there is for a dish.
Compare the internal dimensions and the capacity of each drawer with the dishes and ingredients you usually use.
Two separate compartments let you divide up your food, but they don’t necessarily create a space large enough for one big item. Tefal says the EY9228E0 model has a removable divider, allowing you to change the configuration.
If you need both layouts, check the model’s instructions to confirm that the divider can be removed and to find the usable dimensions in each configuration.
A cooking pot’s modes don’t necessarily include hot-air cooking. Moulinex says the Extra Crisp accessory for the Cookeo+ CE85B510 is sold separately.
Before relying on this function, check which accessories are included and which ones are compatible with your chosen multicooker.
The details below apply to the models mentioned, not to every appliance from each brand.
Dual-drawer or adjustable-zone air fryers, depending on the model.
Air fryers include the Series 3000 NA352/00, with two drawers of different sizes.
Cookeo multicookers are designed for cooking in a pot, including steaming and pressure cooking.
Multifunction mini ovens are worth considering if tray cooking and reheating matter more to you than two independent drawers.
This selection includes air fryers with one or two baskets, as well as a multicooker with a cooking pot. Choose according to the meals you usually make: small portions, two separate dishes, or slow-cooked and steamed meals.
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Worth considering if you want to split two dishes between two drawers. Check the usable dimensions of each one to make sure they suit your ingredients.
The product title lists six functions and a total capacity of 7.6 L. The two drawers don’t make up one large cavity.
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For modest portions cooked in a single basket. If you need to set two cooking times separately, consider a model with two zones instead.
The product title lists three functions, 2,000 W of power and a non-stick basket. Check how much space you’ll need on your worktop.
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Worth considering if your meals mainly involve dishes made in a cooking pot, rather than two separate cooking zones.
The product title describes this electric pressure multicooker as a 7-in-1 model, suitable for up to four portions. Check its modes and dimensions before choosing it to replace another appliance.
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If you’re looking for an appliance for two dishes, check the basket configuration before choosing this model.
The product title lists a 10 L capacity, while the capacity details for the different configurations vary. Confirm the usable capacity, dimensions and basket cleaning instructions for the AIRMED W model.
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Worth considering for small portions in a single basket, rather than two dishes that need separate settings.
The product title lists 1,150 W of power, a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check the temperature range and the space needed for installation.
No. Check the product details for the model you’re considering to confirm that the drawers work independently. Philips describes the NA352/00 drawers as independent. If you want both dishes to finish at the same time, check for a sync function, too.
No. The shape of your food also needs to fit the usable dimensions of the basket, pot or cavity. For a dual-drawer model, compare the space available in each drawer rather than looking only at the total capacity.
No. Its modes depend on the model and may require an additional accessory. Moulinex says the Extra Crisp accessory for the air fryer mode is sold separately for the Cookeo+ CE85B510. Check the functions and accessories included with the exact model before relying on it for this use.