Best dual air fryers

A dual air fryer is a great option if you want to cook for a crowd or simply want to avoid having to cook meals in batches. Here we round up the very best dual air fryer models from our tests.

There are two types: oven and basket. If you choose an oven-type air fryer, you usually get a second separate oven or an oven tray. With a basket-type air fryer, you get a second basket or another cooking level, usually within the same cooking chamber.

To see our top air fryer recommendations, see our guide to the best air fryers.

Best dual air fryers

Check our air fryer reviews for the latest test results from the leading brands.

Best dual air fryer features to consider

Air fryers use less energy than regular ovens do, but their comparatively small capacity can make them unsuitable for large households.

Dual models usually come with all the standard features you'd expect to find on a single air fryer, but many offer additional useful and unique features.

Different basket sizes

Dual air fryer baskets come in different sizes, your choice is really down to personal preference.

• Two baskets of equal size

Models such as the Ninja AF400UK Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer come with two equal-sized baskets that can be used at the same time, using the same temperature setting. Alternatively, you can select different functions and cooking times for each drawer to prepare complete meals. This is great if you're catering to different tastes or avoiding the need to cook in batches.

• One small basket, one large basket

Dual air fryers that come with different sized baskets such as the Tower T17099 Vortx Eco, allow for more versatility. You can use the smaller basket for single portion cooking and the larger basket for big portions, or use both at the same time.

Pre-set programs

Pre-set programs aren’t exclusive to dual air fryers, but dual fryers often come with more pre-set cooking modes than single fryers do. You'll find them on the main control panel, often with a separate button for each mode. 

Some of the more common pre-set programs are: air fry, slow cook, steam, sauté, grill, bake and roast. Other functions such as keep warm or reheat are useful, too.

Pre-set programs named after the food you're cooking, such as frozen chips or cake mean that you won't need to figure out the best temperature and cooking time. You simply push the button and wait until the timer on the panel indicates your food has finished cooking. 

Even pre-set programs might need some getting used to, though, if you've never owned an air fryer before, so make sure you regularly check the progress of your food.

Separate controls

As the name suggests, each compartment of a dual air fryers will have its own separate controls. 

Most of the time you'll find the control panel with pre-set or manual programs at the top of the air fryer. On dual models, you can set each compartment to cook different types of food on different temperature settings and for different amounts of time. 

Sync setting

This unique dual air fryer feature usually has two modes – sync and match (although they could be named something slightly different, depending on the brand).

If you want to cook two separate dishes at the same temperature, you program the air fryer to mirror the settings in both baskets (match), but it also lets you cook using two different programs, which you can set to finish at the same time (sync). 

This means that unlike with smaller air fryers, freshly cooked food will never get cold while you're waiting on your second batch to finish.

Viewing windows

Also not exclusively the preserve of dual air fryers, but we’ve noticed that a fair amount of dual models tend to come with viewing windows.

Viewing windows are a feature we’d like to see more often, as they allow you to easily monitor the progress of your food without opening the drawer or basket during cooking. This means there's no needless escaping of heat during cooking, which should help your food cook more evenly.

Zone divider

Not all dual air fryers have one, but certain models (such as the Instant Pot Vortex Plus Versazone) can be transformed from a dual air fryer to a fryer with one large zone, with the help of a removable zone divider. 

This feature is handy if you have to cook a large amount of the same type of food or if you're cooking particularly large items of food that can't fit in just one smaller basket. If you're dividing the chambers, you can use separate controls for each basket.

See what owners told us about their air fryers in our guide to which air fryer brand to buy.  Or find out how the biggest air fryer brands compare in our Ninja vs Tower vs Tefal guide.

Can you cook whole meals in a dual air fryer?

Yes. The largest dual air fryers we've tested can accommodate up to 2.3kg of food. This is, for example, more than 10 portions of chips. And since dual air fryers have two cooking chambers, you can also cook two different types of food at the same time.

Some dual air fryers are large enough to accommodate a full chicken, so you have nothing to worry about even if you're looking to prepare a roast dinner.

More burning questions on this trendy appliance? See how to use an air fryer.

Which dual air fryer has the largest capacity?

We've tested smaller capacity dual air fryers, such as the Tower T17102 Vortx Vizion, which can accommodate up to 0.6kg of food.

This is a decent capacity, but if you're after something larger, take a look at our table of the largest models we've tested.

Manufacturers quote the total internal volume of their air fryers as a guide to size (in litres). But we find that this doesn't always tally with our own measurements of how much food you can realistically fit inside, as not all the internal space is usable. It is possible for an air fryer with larger dimensions to have less space available for cooking than a smaller one.

Want an air fryer for two instead? See our guide to the best small air fryers.

How much do I need to spend to get a good dual air fryer?

Due to their large capacity and versatility, dual air fryers are some of the more expensive you can find on the market.

The prices of those we've tested range from around £120 to £230, but we've found that the best models from our tests usually cost around £200.

Retailers and manufacturers regularly cut prices of popular options, so stay on the lookout for a bargain, especially around Black Friday and in December.

Replacing an old appliance? See our guide on how to recycle electrical items.