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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Rachael Penn

11 best dual air fryers for family meals, reviewed at home

I looked for cooking time, crispiness, user-friendliness and ease of cleaning - (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

The best dual air fryers have become the kitchen upgrade that you didn’t know you needed. While the best single-basket air fryers are great for quick meals or reheating leftovers, they can fall short when you’re trying to cook an entire meal. That’s where dual-drawer air fryers come into their own. They offer flexibility, speed, and most importantly, you get double the amount of food cooked.

Whether you’re crisping chicken in one drawer and roasting veg in the other, a lot of dual air fryers now have features in place that make cooking a lot easier. This includes sync mode, where you can time the air fryer to ensure that both sides are done at the same time, or even using functions like bake, roast and grill independently with each drawer.

Not all dual air fryers are created equally, and with prices ranging from £70 all the way up to £300, it’s important to know which ones are worth the investment. So I’ve hunted down the best dual air fryers and put them through their paces to help you find the right cooking appliance for your home. Read on to find out which models deliver.

Read more: Best air fryers, tested

My dual air fryer picks start from £70 (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
My dual air fryer picks start from £70 (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

The best dual air fryers for 2026 are:

  • Best overall – Ninja foodi max dual zone air fryer: £179, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for smaller kitchens – Cosori turbo tower pro dual air fryer: £299, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best flexi-drawer – Tower elite flexi-drawer air fryer: £89.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best vertical stack – Philips 4000 series stacked dual basket air fryer: £171.41, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best budget buy – Beko expertfry dual zone air fryer: £69.99, Amazon.co.uk

Read more: 8 best microwaves, tested

Ninja foodi max dual zone air fryer

Rating: 5/5

Best: dual air fryer overall

Why we love it

  • Powerful
  • Intuitive controls
  • Spacious 9.5L capacity
  • Handy sync and match cooking modes
  • Easy to clean

Take note

  • No shake reminder

There is a reason that Ninja continues to top the list when it comes to best dual air fryers, and its foodi max dual zone air fryer is no exception. Everything about it is perfect. It’s easy to use, with intuitive controls, and it has six distinct modes with total manual control. This means that you can select the method, time and then adjust the temperature as you see fit.

This is a pretty faultless dual air fryer (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
This is a pretty faultless dual air fryer (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

This Ninja air fryer doesn’t need any pre-heating, which I found out during testing. I used it to cook some chicken and within 10 minutes it was completely done. In fact, it was a little too crispy as I’d selected max crisp, which raises the temperature to 240C. I also used it cook fries, and again, they were cooked to perfection.

The sync function worked well, staggering the start times of the drawers so everything finished at once. If you’re cooking two things at the same time and temperature, the match cook function is also super handy as it saves you from having to program both sides individually.

There’s plenty of cooking space with 4.75l in each drawer, which is enough to cater to a small group of people. Ninja has removed the shake reminder, which isn’t the end of the world, but it was a handy reminder to give the drawers a wiggle and ensure everything cooked evenly. That said, I didn’t shake my fries during testing and they all came out crisp and evenly cooked.

Cleaning the air fryer is also simple, thanks to dishwasher-friendly drawers. However the non-stick coating means you won’t really need to use it – just give them a swill under warm water once cooled down and you’re done. Overall, the Ninja foodi max dual zone air fryer is a great air fryer that will suit all kitchens and styles of cooking.

Key specifications:

Buy now £229.99, Amazon.co.uk

Beko expertfry dual zone air fryer

Rating: 4/5

Best: budget dual air fryer

Why we love it

  • Lightweight and not too bulky
  • Quiet when working
  • Excellent cooking power
  • Easy to use and clean

Take note

  • 200C maximum temperature isn't as high as others

The Beko expertfry dual zone air fryer genuinely offers a premium performance for a budget price. It has a very generous 8.5l capacity spread across two baskets, which is perfect for feeding a family of four. It also surprisingly compact and lightweight, given the size of the baskets, so if you want to store the air fryer away when not in use, you won’t be breaking your back moving it about.

This is a money-saving air fryer (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
This is a money-saving air fryer (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

During testing, I found its performance really solid across the board. I used it to cook a variety of items, with chips coming out golden and crispy. I was really impressed when I used it to cook some tempura prawns. Unlike when I’ve attempted to air fry them in the past, there were no soggy parts, and they came out with a perfectly crunchy batter and juicy prawns inside.

Control-wise, the Beko dual air fryer is straightforward to use. The large panel is well illuminated and it’s easy to find all the settings and menus. There are seven preset cooking programs, as well as the option to manually control the time and the temperature. It goes up to 200C, which is hot enough for most dishes. Considering its budget-friendly price, I was impressed to see a smart finish feature. This means that if you’re cooking two things, you don’t have to worry about getting cold while the other is still cooking.

Cleaning the air fryer was equally as easy and while the baskets are dishwasher friendly, a quick rinse and wipe over also does the job.

Key specifications:

Buy now £69.99, Amazon.co.uk

Cosori turbo tower pro dual air fryer

Rating: 5/5

Best: dual air fryer for small kitchens

Why we love it

  • Smart controls
  • Doesn’t need preheating
  • Ceramic non-stick surface is easy to clean
  • Food cooks quickly and evenly

Take note

  • The app is a little inconsistent

The Cosori turbo tower pro dual air fryer is a stacked design, so it takes up hardly any countertop room despite having a huge 10.8l capacity. This makes it the best dual air fryer for small kitchens – it’s perfect for those who are short on space and don’t want to miss out on the performance power you get with the bigger machines.

This has a compact footprint on the kitchen surface (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
This has a compact footprint on the kitchen surface (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

During testing, food cooked quickly and evenly. I cooked my standard chicken and chips that I test in every air fryer and the chicken came out perfectly cooked, while the chips were golden brown on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The food was cooked evenly, with no cold or hot spots, and that was without shaking the basket or rotating the food. This machine also has a really good temperature range from 30C to 230C, so you can get some really high temperatures for excellent crisping.

Initially I was excited about the air fryer’s app connectivity, which allows you to save custom programs and monitor the cooking remotely. It didn’t do bad at this but I found the app really inconsistent, and it was a bit hit and miss as to whether it would work. You also can’t use the app start the machine remotely, so don’t expect to be able to turn it on while on your way home from work and have food waiting for you when you get in.

Overall, the Cosori turbo tower pro dual air fryer is a good Ninja alternative that has a wide range of cooking programs, and the best part is that it doesn’t take up too much room.

Key specifications:

Buy now £299.99, Amazon.co.uk

Panasonic flex air large fryer

Rating: 5/5

Best: dual air fryer for meat and fish

Why we love it

  • Steam technology adds moisture to meat and fish
  • Big viewing window
  • Adjustable cooking space
  • Easy to clean

Take note

  • Bulky and takes up a lot of space

The Panasonic flex air fryer is really impressive, and is more like a compact oven that just happens to be amazing at air frying. Like other flex drawer air fryers you can use this with one 9.6l drawer, or pop the divider in and have two 4.8l baskets. Each side has independent temperature and timer controls, and there’s also a sync mode to finish off dishes together.

I appreciated the viewing window on this air fryer (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
I appreciated the viewing window on this air fryer (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

There are two things that really set this air fryer apart from the rest, and the first is a viewing window. While plenty of other dual air fryers on my list have this, this one is very big and lets you get a proper look inside. The second, which is possibly more impressive, is that it uses gentle steam technology. This works by adding water to the built-in tank, which the air fryer uses to inject moisture into the basket during cooking. If you’re cooking chicken and using the steam tech, you’ll genuinely be blown away. The chicken was so juicy on the inside, and still crispy on the outside. That said, even without the steam technology turned on, the cooking performance across the board was impressive. Chips were golden and cooked evenly, and vegetables kept their texture without going soft and soggy.

The one thing I found difficult with the Panasonic flex was the basket divider. It felt flimsy and lightweight, and I was worried I was going to damage it. Given the quality of the rest of the machine, it didn’t really feel very premium. The machine’s large footprint is also a bit problematic, unless you have a spacious kitchen. You’ll want to find a permanent home for it, rather than bringing it out as and when you want to use it. Cleaning was super simple, and it wiped clean with ease thanks to the non-stick coating. Overall, this is a fabulous air fryer that’s perfect if you cook a lot of meat or fish, and want juicy results.

Key specifications:

Buy now £189.5, Amazon.co.uk

Philips 4000 series stacked dual basket air fryer

Rating: 5/5

Best: stacked dual air fryer

Why we love it

  • Space saving design
  • Lots of preset options
  • Can check how food is cooking through viewing window
  • Cooks food evenly
  • Easy to clean

Take note

  • The tower design may be an issue if you have wall cabinets

The Philips 4000 series is the best stacked dual air fryer I tested, with a 10l cooking capacity to make use of without having to sacrifice the whole of your countertop. It uses rapid air technology to circulate air evenly and it really does make a difference. When air frying chips, they cooked evenly with no pale spots. Chicken also turned out well, staying juicy even on a higher heat.

The RapidAir technology cooks food evenly (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
The RapidAir technology cooks food evenly (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

The sync function was reliable and ensured that food was finished together, ideal if you don’t want one dish getting cold. There are also plenty of built-in cooking programs to choose from (13 in total), so you get lots of flexibility. The controls are easy to use and well laid out, so it doesn’t take much time to get used to.

One feature I absolutely love is the viewing window that comes with a light. This allowed me to peer in and take a look at how my food was cooking, without opening it up and letting all the heat out. It also has a shake reminder, so you won’t have to keep an eye on the time. Cleaning was nice and easy thanks to an effective non-stick coating, and you can pop the baskets in the dishwasher if you need to.

Overall, this Philips air fryer is a brilliant machine that will save you cooking time, as well as plenty of space in your kitchen.

Key specifications:

Buy now £269.99, Amazon.co.uk

Tower elite flexi-drawer air fryer

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: dual air fryer for versatility

Why we love it

  • Removable divider to go from two baskets to one large cooking area
  • Food cooks evenly
  • Smart finish setting works well

Take note

  • Controls can be a little difficult to use
  • Not the easiest to clean

The Tower elite flexi-drawer air fryer is genuinely versatile and impressive. The 11l capacity air fryer can be used in two ways – either as two individual baskets or, if you pull out the divider, as one large tray area. I loved the flexibility it offered, as it meant I could just throw in dinner for myself one night or do a family meal the next.

The drawer can be split up (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
The drawer can be split up (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

Even when it was in tray mode, I was able to control the heat on each side. I cooked chicken and vegetables all on one tray, but was able to have the chicken at a higher temperature than the veg. This makes it a really good choice for families or if you live in a household where you’re cooking multiple meals.

During testing, I found that food cooked evenly, although it does need a minute or two to warm up. Vegetables were crunchy but still well done, and chicken came out juicy with a slightly crispy skin. When using the baskets, I found that shaking halfway through cooking gave better results. Smart finish ensures both sides finish cooking at the same time, as did the match cook setting that works well for batch cooking.

The downside is that the machine wasn’t very easy to use at the start. Initally I found the controls a little confusing and trying to navigate how to switch from basket to tray wasn’t very straightforward. But once you start using it, it becomes easier.

Cleaning was frustrating, as food stuck a little unless it was coated in oil. This slightly defeats the object using an air fryer, so it does take a bit of extra effort, but that’s not a deal breaker.

Key specifications:

Buy now £149.99, Amazon.co.uk

Russell Hobbs satisfry dual basket air fryer

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: mid-range dual air fryer

Why we love it

  • Really simple to use
  • Can remove one basket while the other is still cooking
  • Excellent cooking power
  • Easy to clean

Take note

  • Power cable is short, so you’ll need space by a plug
  • Buttons aren't the most responsive

The Russell Hobbs satisfry is a no-fuss dual basket air fryer that offers extremely good value for money. It looks way more expensive than it is thanks to the matte black finish and champagne accents, and has a generous 9l capacity spread across two baskets. One of the things I really love about this dual air fryer is that if you remove one basket, the other basket still continues to work. This is ideal if you’re making two meals and you want to wash one basket while the other is still cooking.

This an easy to use dual air fryer with high performance (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
This an easy to use dual air fryer with high performance (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

When it comes to cooking performance, the satisfry shines. Chips came out consistently golden brown with a good crunch, and chicken was perfectly cooked too. I tried some salt and pepper chicken balls and the batter was really crunchy and evenly cooked, with no soggy spots.

I found it really simple to use and the interface was easy to understand. Sometimes the buttons needed a good press rather than a light tap, but this wasn’t the end of the world. Cleaning was also straightforward, as the baskets and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe, but the non-stick coating means a quick hand wash gets the job done. Overall, the satisfry is a great choice for anyone looking for a dual air fryer that’s packed with features but doesn’t have a high price tag.

Key specifications:

Buy now £99, Amazon.co.uk

Swan retro dual basket air fryer

Rating: 4/5

Best: dual air fryer for design

Why we love it

  • Simple to use
  • Looks the part
  • Cooks food quickly and evenly
  • Easy to clean

Take note

  • It needs to be preheated

If you’re bored of your appliances looking like just boring black boxes, then Swan has produced the perfect solution. Its retro dual basket air fryer has a fun 1950s design and comes in a variety of colours, including blue, cream and sage. Unlike many black and grey appliances, this is an air fryer that you’re going to want out on display.

 (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
(Rachael Penn/The Independent)

Fortunately it’s not all style over substance, and Swan’s dual air fryer works remarkably well. It benefits from rapid air circulation, so food cooks quickly and evenly. You’ll need to take the time to preheat it, but once it gets hot, it cooks food well with no cold spots. Frozen chips came out really crispy, and the shake reminder means you won’t forget and end up with an overdone top layer. It only reaches a maximum temperature of 200C, but this didn’t affect any of the dishes I made. I also used the basket for chicken, which stayed juicy on the inside with a perfectly cooked skin. Jacket potatoes also came out with a crispy outside and fluffy centre in just 40 minutes, so if you don’t have a microwave, you don’t have to spend ages waiting for the oven to warm up.

The air fryer is really easy to use, and there are manual controls as well as presets. I gave the reheat function a whirl to heat up some pizza and it wasn’t bad. It didn’t quite get as hot as I’d have liked it, but it was warm enough to eat and enjoy. Cleaning the air fryer was also simple, with a quick wipe over being enough.

Key specifications:

Buy now £129.99, Amazon.co.uk

Daewoo space saving split drawer air fryer

Rating: 4/5

Best: dual air fryer for families

Why we love it

  • Large cooking space
  • Very powerful top compartment
  • Straightforward controls
  • Easy to wash by hand

Take note

  • The lower compartment doesn’t feel as powerful as the top

The Daewoo space saving air fryer has one of the most distinctive designs in this roundup, with a top basket compartment and a lower oven-style compartment below.

The 6l upper basket works more like a conventional air fryer, and it certainly works fast. I learnt that the hard way when I cooked a chicken skewer with a sweet and sour sauce and didn’t quite account for how fast it would heat up and how hot it would get. The chicken came out more like a toffee apple with the sauce completely caramelised but when I re-did another one, it came out perfectly. I just lowered the temperature and thanks to the big viewing window, I was able to keep an eye on the cooking process.

The design allows you to cook a range of food (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
The design allows you to cook a range of food (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

I used the 5l bottom layer to roast some vegetables and it didn’t quite seem to have the same power as the top. It was good, but it also felt a bit flimsy. Using the top basket for food like chips and then the bottom layer for chicken or salmon would be a much better option. There’s also a sync function that you can use to ensure both dishes are done at the same time.

The dual air fryer is easy to use, the controls are straightforward and there are plenty of preset options to take the hassle out of timings. Cleaning was easy enough but none of the parts are dishwasher-friendly, so you will have to manually wash them. The effective non-stick coating makes this easier – even when I overcooked my first test piece of chicken, I was easily able to remove the burnt-on parts by soaking the basket for just 10 minutes.

Key specifications:

Buy now £149.99, Amazon.co.uk

Asda black dual drawer digital air fryer

Rating: 4/5

Best: dual air fryer for ease of use

Why we love it

  • Simple to use
  • Useful timer function
  • Budget-friendly

Take note

  • 200C maximum temperature isn't as high as others

If you’re for looking the best dual air fryer that’s easy to use and affordable, then the 10l dual drawer model from Asda is perfect. It’s got a good range of preset cooking times for everyday foods, including fries, chicken, meat and vegetables. It also has functions you’d expect on more expensive models such as sync, delay and reheat.

For less than £70, this boasts impressive performance (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
For less than £70, this boasts impressive performance (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

Now, the delay is manual, so you will need to figure out your timings, but during testing, it worked really well and is a great way of making sure that both drawers are done the same time. One benefit of the delay being manual is that you can actually set it up so both drawers start cooking at a later time. It only has a 90-minute timer but let’s say you’re watching a film and wanted your food to be done by the time it finished, you could time it to do so. This is a really impressive function given the cost of the air fryer.

Performance-wise, it’s equally as impressive. It only goes up to 200C, so you won’t get that max crisp texture like some other brands, but it’s hot enough to cook the majority of foods. I found that fries came out crunchy and perfectly golden, although they did take longer to cook than other dual air fryers I tested.

It’s really easy to use this Asda air fryer too – the controls are intuitive, and you can just cycle through the menu to find the matching image to what your cooking and it’ll match the time and temperature. If you want to cook manually, you can adjust the temperature and time before hitting the start button. The drawers are dishwasher-friendly but if you want to wash by hand, the non-stick coating is easy to wash once cooled down.

Key specifications:

Buy now £69, Asda.com

Tefal easy fry flex dual air fryer

Rating: 3.5/5

Best: dual air fryer for flexible capacity

Why we love it

  • Flexible drawer space
  • Big viewing window
  • Easy to set up

Take note

  • The coating comes off the non-stick easily
  • Not the most even temperature distribution

The Tefal easy fry flex is the best dual air fryer if you want the freedom to switch between one large basket or two smaller ones. The split is a little different from other air fryers that have a flexible capacity, as when the divider goes in, one side is 5.5l and the other 3.5l. This means that even when you’re using the dual basket, you still get that flexibility of a larger space and smaller space for sides or dessert.

The drawer offers flexibility (Rachael Penn/The Independent)
The drawer offers flexibility (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

In testing, I tried both baskets separately and as one. When using the drawer as a giant basket, I found that one side cooked a little more than the other, despite it being on the same time and same temperature. The same happened when I split it too, so the smaller basket is definitely better suited to items like vegetables or warming up desserts. That said, chips did cook really well, they crisped up, were golden and cooked quicker than they would in the oven. Roasted vegetables were also a success, and the lower temperature meant that food didn’t get burnt or singed.

Cleaning the air fryer was mostly easy, however, after just the first go (and only using a soft silicone spatula), the non-stick coating looked scratched. This is a bit concerning, so you may want to use air fryer liners to prolong its life. The drawer is dishwasher friendly but it’s quite large, so may be difficult to fit inside a smaller dishwasher.

Key specifications:

Buy now £169.99, Amazon.co.uk

Your questions about dual air fryers answered

What is the best dual air fryer?

The Ninja foodi max dual zone takes the top spot as the best dual air fryer I’ve tested. It’s the perfect choice if you want a range of functions to replace your traditional oven, including bake, roast and air fry, plus it reaches seriously high temperatures. The foodi max one goes up to a whopping 240C and the max crisp function will ensure golden, crispy food every time.

If you’re on a budget, then the Beko expertfry dual zone is an absolute must. It may be cheap but it works incredibly well with outstanding results across everything from fries to tempura prawns. It’s lightweight and easy to move around, so it’s ideal if you want to store it away when not in use.

How I tested dual air fryers

I tested a range of dual air fryers at home, in a regular family kitchen, to cook a range of dishes. But to make things fair for each dual air fryer, I cooked chicken and chips in every model. These are staple dishes and were a great way to assess consistency across the appliances. Here’s everything else I looked at:

Do dual air fryers use a lot of electricity?

A typical dual air fryer uses between 1,600W-2,400W of power when both drawers are being used. A single drawer air fryer uses around 1,200W-1,800W. Most dual air fryers only activate the second heating element when that’s in use, so if you’re just cooking a small portion and using one side of the air fryer, the energy usage will be roughly the same as a single basket model.

It’s also worth thinking about how much power a traditional oven uses (around 2,000W-5,000 watts). It can take around 10-15 minutes to preheat an oven, so you’re using that energy before you’ve even started to cook your food. Most modern air fryers don’t need preheating at all, and if they do, it’s only going to take a minute or two. This makes air fryers, whether they are single or dual drawer, more efficient and cost-effective than conventional ovens.

Why you can trust IndyBest reviews

Rachael Penn is one of IndyBest’s expert kitchen appliance and cookware writers. She has written reviews on everything from the best stainless steel pans to the best saucepan sets, so knows what to look for when testing and recommending kitchen products. When it comes to culinary gadgets, she has also tested the best single drawer air fryers and new releases like the Ninja crispi pro, so knows which appliances are truly worth your money. Rachael’s reviews are honest and realistic to help you make the best purchase for your home.

Furthermore, the IndyBest team has also reviewed a broader range of air fryers, from the best Ninja air fryers to individual models such as the Ninja double stack. If you’re not sure where to begin in your air fryer journey, you can certainly rely on our expert-led reviews to help you decide.

For more kitchen gadgets see our review of the best indoor and outdoor pizza ovens

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