Best Dual Air Fryers UK: How to Choose the Right One
I use my air fryer a lot, and I can definitely understand why dual air fryers have become so popular.
The annoying thing about a traditional single-drawer air fryer is that sometimes you want to cook two things that need completely different temperatures or cooking times. You either cook them separately, try to find a temperature that vaguely works for both, or end up turning the oven on as well, which rather defeats the point!
That’s where having two cooking zones can be genuinely useful. If you’re still deciding whether you need a dual model at all, rather than simply trying to choose between them, my guide to choosing an air fryer goes through single versus dual drawers, capacity, basket shape, kitchen space and the other things worth considering before you buy.
There are now so many dual air fryers available, though, that choosing one isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. You’ve got drawers next to each other, drawers stacked on top of each other, removable dividers and enormous oven-style models that look as though you could cook Christmas dinner in them.
So, rather than simply telling you to buy whichever model happens to be popular at the moment, here’s what I’d look for and some of the dual air fryers worth considering.
This article contains affiliate links. Some of the air fryers mentioned are models I have researched rather than personally tested, so I’ve made sure not to pretend otherwise! Always check the manufacturer’s current specifications before buying.
Do you actually need a dual air fryer?
Before spending £100, £200 or potentially considerably more, I’d start here.
If you usually cook for one person and mainly use an air fryer for chips, vegetables or reheating things, you might be perfectly happy with a decent single-drawer model.
For families, dual air fryers start to make considerably more sense.
You could have chicken cooking in one drawer and chips in another, for example, without needing them to cook at exactly the same temperature.
Many models also have a sync or match function. The terminology varies between manufacturers, but the useful bit is that you can set different cooking times and have both sides finish together.
Nobody wants beautifully cooked chicken sitting on a plate getting cold for fifteen minutes while the chips finish!
Side-by-side or stacked air fryer?
This is one of the first decisions I’d make because the difference isn’t really about cooking – it’s about your kitchen.
Traditional dual air fryers have two drawers sitting next to each other. They’re easy to use and give you two good-sized cooking areas, but some of them are wide.
Measure your worktop before ordering one. Seriously. Don’t look at a photograph online and think, “Oh yes, that’ll fit next to the kettle.” Measure it.
The alternative is a stacked model, such as the Ninja Double Stack, where one drawer sits above the other. You still get two cooking zones but the machine takes up less width on the worktop.
The compromise is height, so measure underneath your kitchen cupboards too.
A dual air fryer I’ve actually used
While some of the models above are ones I’ve researched rather than personally tested, I have used the Swan 11L Duo Layer, so I’ve been able to see how that style of air fryer works in an actual kitchen rather than simply comparing specifications online.
If you’re considering something a little different from the usual two-drawer design, you can read my full Swan 11L Duo Layer air fryer review, where I’ve shared what I thought after actually using it.
Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK
The Ninja Double Stack is one I’d look at if you want plenty of capacity but don’t have miles of spare worktop.
Instead of putting its two drawers side by side, Ninja has stacked them vertically. The total capacity is 9.5 litres, so you still have plenty of cooking space despite the narrower footprint.
Another interesting feature is the addition of racks inside the drawers. These allow food to be arranged on different levels, potentially giving you four cooking levels across the two drawers.
I can see this being particularly useful for families where you’re trying to cook several different things for one meal.
The obvious thing to check is height. Saving worktop width isn’t much help if you then discover it doesn’t comfortably fit underneath your cupboards.
I’d consider this if: you have a family, want a large capacity and worktop width is limited.
I’d think twice if: you have low cupboards above the area where your air fryer will live.
Reviewers at BBC Good Food gave it a glowing 5-star rating, praising its ability to cook different foods without any flavour transfer. Imagine baking a brownie in the top drawer while cooking fish in the bottom—no weird taste mixing!
Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK
If you prefer the more traditional two-drawer layout, the Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK is another popular large-capacity option.
It also has a total capacity of 9.5 litres, split between two independent cooking zones.
The advantage of the side-by-side design is simplicity. You have two large drawers in front of you and can easily use one or both depending on what you’re making.
Functions allow you to air fry as well as use the machine for other types of cooking, while the synchronisation feature is probably the bit I’d use most often for family meals.
The downside is obvious as soon as you look at it: it takes up a decent amount of worktop.
I’d consider this if: you want a straightforward large dual air fryer and have enough counter space.
I’d think twice if: your kitchen worktops are already home to the toaster, kettle, coffee machine, slow cooker and seventeen other gadgets!
CASO Design AirFry DuoChef
The CASO DuoChef takes a slightly different approach.
Instead of permanently giving you two completely separate cooking areas, it has a divider that allows you to switch between dual-zone cooking and one larger cooking space.
That’s potentially really useful.
There will be days when you want chips in one side and something completely different in the other, but there will also be times when one big cooking area would be much more practical.
The total capacity is considerably larger than many traditional drawer models, so this is something I’d look at if flexibility is more important to you than having two permanent baskets.
Of course, bigger isn’t automatically better. A huge air fryer that permanently occupies half your kitchen isn’t necessarily a sensible purchase if you’re cooking dinner for two!
I’d consider this if: you like the flexibility of switching between two zones and one larger cooking area.
I’d think twice if: space and weight are important considerations.
HYSapientia Dual Zone Air Fryer
The HYSapientia is different again because it’s much closer to an air fryer oven than the drawer-style machines most of us picture when someone says “air fryer”.
Its capacity is enormous compared with many standard air fryers, and it comes with accessories for different types of cooking.
That makes it interesting for larger families or anyone who wants an appliance that can do much more than cook a basket of chips.
On the other hand, I’d ask myself whether I genuinely needed all that capacity.
It’s very easy to get carried away with appliances that have umpteen different functions and accessories. If you’re only ever going to air fry some chips and chicken, you’re paying for features that’ll spend most of their lives sitting in a cupboard.
I’d consider this if: you regularly cook larger quantities and genuinely want the oven-style features.
I’d think twice if: you mainly want a simple air fryer for everyday meals.
How big an air fryer do you need?
Capacity is one of the most confusing things when comparing air fryers because manufacturers generally describe it in litres.
Unfortunately, I don’t plan dinner by thinking, “Tonight I’d like approximately 4.75 litres of chips.”
The overall capacity doesn’t tell you everything either.
Two air fryers might both have a 9-litre capacity but have completely different basket shapes. A wide cooking area can sometimes be more useful than a deep one because air fryers work best when hot air can circulate around the food.
Think about what you actually cook.
If you’re feeding teenagers, batch cooking or regularly making several components of a meal at once, a larger model is probably worthwhile.
For one or two people, don’t automatically assume you need the biggest machine you can afford.
Don’t forget to measure the drawers
This is something I’d check alongside the overall capacity.
Imagine buying a huge air fryer because you want to cook larger foods, only to discover that its impressive capacity is split between two relatively narrow drawers.
Look at the dimensions of the individual cooking zones as well as the total litres.
Think about the food you regularly cook too. Do you want to fit chicken breasts side by side? Burgers? A small chicken? Baking dishes?
That’s far more useful than simply comparing one capacity number with another.
Check how easy it is to clean
This is boring but important. I even have a full article to help you clean an air fryer safely.
I love kitchen gadgets when they’re making my life easier. I’m considerably less enthusiastic when I’m standing at the sink trying to scrub burnt-on food from twelve fiddly little components.
Look at whether the baskets and crisper plates can go in the dishwasher if that’s important to you.
I’d also look at the shape of the drawers. Awkward corners and crevices have an impressive ability to collect grease and crumbs.
If you’re likely to use the air fryer several times a week, ease of cleaning matters far more than some fancy cooking programme you’ll probably press twice.
Do you need lots of preset cooking programmes?
Probably not as many as you think.
Presets can be convenient, particularly when you’re getting used to an air fryer, but they’re not something I’d choose a machine solely for.
You can manually adjust the time and temperature.
I’d prioritise good cooking space, independent zones, useful synchronisation, easy controls and easy cleaning before getting excited because one machine has a special button for prawns.
Are dual air fryers cheaper than using an oven?
Sometimes, but I wouldn’t buy one purely because you’ve seen claims that it’ll slash your electricity bill.
Air fryers generally heat a much smaller space than a full-sized oven and can cook certain foods more quickly, so there are situations where using one can require less energy.
That doesn’t mean an air fryer is automatically cheaper for every meal.
If you’re running both drawers for a long time, or cooking so much food that you need several batches, the comparison changes.
For me, convenience is just as important as potential energy savings.
Can you use just one drawer?
On most dual-zone models, yes, and this is something I’d definitely want.
Having two drawers doesn’t mean you have to use both every time.
If you’re making lunch for yourself, using one cooking zone makes much more sense than heating both.
Then when you’re making dinner for the family, you’ve got the second one available.
That flexibility is one of the main reasons I’d choose a dual model over simply buying an enormous single-basket air fryer.
Can you cook different foods at the same time?
Yes, and this is really the whole point.
Because the zones can be controlled independently, you can have different temperatures and cooking times in each.
Chicken and chips are the obvious example, but once you start using one you’ll probably find yourself experimenting far more.
You could cook sausages in one side while doing hash browns in the other, or vegetables alongside whatever you’re having for dinner.
Just remember that foods still need enough room for the hot air to circulate. Buying a massive air fryer doesn’t mean you should pack every available centimetre with food! Check my air fryer tips and mistakes guide for more tips to using your new air fryer.
Which dual air fryer would I choose?
I don’t think there’s one “best” dual air fryer for everybody.
If worktop width is your biggest problem, I’d look closely at a stacked model such as the Ninja Double Stack.
If you want a traditional two-drawer design with plenty of capacity, the Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone is an obvious one to compare.
If you like the idea of being able to remove a divider and create one much larger cooking space, something like the CASO DuoChef could make more sense.
And if you’re really looking for an alternative to using your oven for lots of different things, an oven-style model such as the HYSapientia might suit you better.
That’s why I wouldn’t buy whichever air fryer happens to have the biggest discount on Amazon that week.
Measure your space first, think about what you actually cook and then look at which design solves the problem you have.
Because an enormous 22-litre air fryer isn’t a bargain if you get it home and discover you’ve got nowhere to put the toaster!
