Cook up a treat with the best dual air fryers

With two drawers to an air fryer, you can cook just about anything.

Woman using the Ninja dual air fryer

by Bryony Firth-Bernard |
Updated on

Dual-air fryers have become a lifeline for many large families. Air fryers have gained popularity because they enable you to cook your favourite fried foods healthily and in just a matter of minutes. The best dual-air fryers are no different but they offer more space. If you’ve got many mouths to feed or simply like to indulge in lots of cooking, we’ve found the best ones that you can buy right now.

Best dual air fryers at a glance:

Editor's choice: Ninja Foodi AF300UK Dual Zone Air Fryer - Buy now on AO
Best overall: Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer - Buy now on Ninja
Best for size and affordability: Tower T17088 Vortx Air Fryer - Buy now on Amazon UK
Best for smaller kitchens: Salter EK4750BLK Dual Air Fryer - Buy now on Argos

These nifty appliances are a healthy cooking alternative that requires very little to no oil, and they are also cheaper to use than your conventional oven. With rising energy costs, many people predominantly use their air fryers for cooking to keep energy bills low. Plus, it’s not just fried food you can cook in them either, but just about anything — cakes, breakfast, a whole roast chicken — you name it, the air fryer can cook it. And the best news is, now you can find an air fryer for under £100.

As these are larger kitchen appliances than your standard one-draw air fryer, the cost will naturally be higher. If you are on a bit of a tighter budget, we’ve included a couple more affordable options, and all of them are perfect for a family of four.

So, if you’re ready to revolutionise your cooking and do lots of it, read on to check out our pick of the best dual-air fryers.

Our pick of the best dual air fryers

Editor's choice

Ninja dual air fryer 7.5lCredit: AO
Price: £160

ao.com

If you want a Ninja but don't need one as big as the one above, then this 7.6-litre one could do it instead. It has the same features as the Ninja Max Dual Zone Air Fryer, but the main difference is that it's lighter and can't hold as much food.

Our review: "I love how simple the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer is to use. It's made me more creative and spontaneous with my food choices as I now have more time to prepare my lunch and dinner because it cuts the cooking time drastically. Each meal feels healthier as I'm using less oil, and I'm able to cook two things at once without fussing over different pans and the oven. Whilst you can cook a whole small chicken inside each drawer, I would've liked to have more space to be able to fit a larger one in, but I understand that this may be tricky as there are two zones instead of one."

Read our full Ninja Foodi Dual Zone AF300UK Air Fryer review

Pros

  • Smaller and lighter than the Ninja Max, ideal for compact kitchens
  • Six different cooking functions
  • Very powerful

Cons

  • Doesn't come with a recipe booklet like the Ninja Max
Wattage:2400W
Capacity:7.6litres
Weight:8.2kg
Dimensions:H31.5 x W38 x D26.5 cm

Best overall

Ninja MAX dual air fryerCredit: Ninja Kitchen

We all know Ninja is the king of kitchen appliances and this air fryer with over 14,000 five-star reviews definitely takes the crown. For starters, its dual drawers hold a massive 9.5 litres of food — which makes around four to eight portions — so it’s ideal if you’re a big foodie or have many mouths to feed. That being said, it is quite big, so if your kitchen is quite compact or you don’t have a lot of side space, be aware it will take up a lot of room. With its six different functions, you can create an array of cuisines, from cakes to crispy chips.

Customer review: "So glad that I bought this. It's so easy to operate and my cooking time has more than halved compared to using my oven. I love that the drawers can be put in the dishwasher, and the best thing is that it has saved me money on my electricity."

Pros

  • Very powerful
  • Six different cooking functions
  • Very large capacity can hold four to eight food portions
  • It comes with a useful recipe guide

Cons

  • It is quite big, so make sure you have space before you buy
Wattage:2470W
Capacity:9.5litres
Weight:8.8kg
Dimensions:H32.5 x W41.5 x D27cm

Best Air Fryer for a large family

Reviewed by senior writer Becky Fuller: I have three teenagers and one small air fryer. As a result, I don't use it too often because it doesn't fit all our food in. It also doesn't help that my daughter is vegetarian meaning I often have to cook things separately.
The Cosori dual air fryer is perfect for us as a family of 4 - including 2 boys with enormous appetites. It's very simple to use, though one gripe I do have is that when you switch it on you have to remember to deselect the pre-heat (if desired) and if you only want to use one side you need to de-select the other. I'd prefer it if you had to select it if you do want it, if that makes sense!

Cooking wise, it's really powerful and crisps things up nicely. I am also really impressed with the kebab sticks and rack that came with it - I've used them often and it makes for a really quick and easy dinner.

The two separate drawers means I can cook for me and the boys in one side while putting my daughter's food in the other, or, as has often happened while testing this, my son can cook himself nuggets and chips and it'll all be ready at the same time rather than having to wait, or use the oven.

Overall I really love this air fryer, and I'd happily recommend it to larger families. However, it is very big, and that's worth bearing in mind if you don't have a lot of counter space. I kept my old one in a cupboard, but this wouldn't fit in one.

Pros

  • Two drawers operate independently so you can cook at different temperatures for different times
  • 8 different functions - including roast, grill, and air fry
  • Pre-heating function

Cons

  • Very large - takes up a lot of room

Best for size and affordability

Tower T17088 VortxCredit: Amazon

If you’re after a large dual-air fryer but need a cheaper alternative to the Ninja, then the Tower T17088 Vortx is a good choice. With a nine-litre capacity, 12 pre-set options for different foods and Smart Finish Sync, you’ll be cooking up a feast in no time. There’s even a grill and bake function too, so you really won't ever need to use your oven again. It’s not as good-looking as some of the other options on our list, but it is quite a bit lighter than the Ninja, in case you want something that’s portable for your kitchen.

Customer review: "This airfryer is amazing. You do have to read the instructions, but once you get to grips with them it was easy. I reduced the temp from 200 degrees to 180 degrees as I found it too high. I cooked chicken strips in there and they were lovely, crispy on the outside but tender on the inside. Very easy to clean. For the price you cant go wrong with this air fryer."

Pros

  • 12 pre-set food buttons for easy cooking
  • Smart Sync Finish
  • Almost as big as the Ninja but cheaper

Cons

  • Not the most stylish design
Wattage:2600W
Capacity:9litres
Weight:7.5kg
Dimensions:32.10H x 38.50 W x 35.50D cm

Best for most stylish

Instant Vortex Plus Dual Basket 8 in 1Credit: Amazon

We love how sleek-looking this dual air fryer is, and our Homes Product Writer was highly impressed by it too. With its touch-screen buttons, you can navigate this air fryer's six settings with ease, while the SyncCook and SyncFinish give you the option to match the finish time for both baskets or cooking. Again, it is quite a large appliance, but that’s to be expected with a dual air fryer. We’re also big fans of the progress bar display, which shows the cooking status of your food from preheat to cook. Plus, there’s even a message bar that provides prompts such as ‘add food’ and ‘turn food’, so it always turns out perfect.

Our review: “I’ve cooked a whole host of things with this air fryer — I’ve made jacket potatoes, stuffed chicken breast, grilled naan bread, roasted carrots, and so much more. It took me a little time to figure out the timings and temperatures compared to a regular oven, but after a little trial and error, it was easy! It's got a dial and a touch-screen panel displaying things really clearly, so it’s really straightforward to select the program and temperature."

Read our full Vortex Plus Dual Drawer 8-in-1 Air Fryer review

Pros

  • Widows on the draw so you can check how your food is doing
  • Dishwasher-safe trays
  • Available in stainless steel or black chrome
  • Has Smart Sync Finish

Cons

  • Touchscreen buttons can leave fingerprint marks
Wattage:1700W
Capacity:7.6litres
Weight:8.05kg
Dimensions:38.4 x 40.3 x 31.7cm

Recommended

Salter EK4548 Dual Air FryerCredit: Amazon

Another brand we can rely on to kit our kitchen out with reliable, quality products is Salter. This dual air fryer is equipped with several auto-cooking functions for items like chicken, steak, fish and more, so you can make tasty food quickly without having to faff around with setting timers. On testing the Salter EK4548, our Commercial Content Editor said she cooked up a storm with this air fryer, including different potato dishes, crispy bacon and Brussels sprouts and bacon for Christmas dinner. She was also a big fan of the Sync Finish, so all the components of her meal were finished at the same time. 

Our review: “The Salter Dual Air Fryer is honestly so useful that I could potentially see myself not switching on an oven again. The best feature of the Salter air fryer is, of course, the dual drawers. You can batch-cook your ingredients if it’s a big batch and you need to cook them exactly the same. Or you can sync the drawers so they finish together. If you're looking to cook a small portion of food, you only need one drawer, which means less cleaning.”

Read our full Salter EK4548 Dual Air Fryer review

Pros

  • Has Smart Sync Finish
  • Very large capacity, great for batch cooking
  • Touch LED display

Cons

  • Quite big, so make sure you have enough room beforehand
  • It is not the most glamorous-looking dual-air fryer
Wattage:1750W
Capacity:8.2litres
Weight:8kg
Dimensions:39 x 38.5 x 33 cm

Best for smaller kitchens

Another slightly smaller dual air fryer on our list, but one that is still mighty with an impressive 2400 wattage power. As well as clear instructions, this air fryer comes with some food charts to help get you started if you've never used one before or are after some inspiration. You can bake, roast, air fry and dehydrate in the Salter EK4750BLK, as well as sync and match finish times. We think it's one of the best-looking air fryers out there, and we're big fans of its matte finish and LED touch-screen.

Customer review: "I was looking for an air fryer and saw the Ninja XL one, which was almost £100 more expensive and found this one after loads of research. It’s big and perfect for my family's needs. It’s silent and so easy to clean. I bought silicone inserts for the trays, too, which make it easier, and the sync and match function to have food ready in both trays at the same time with different cooking times is great! 10/10 would recommend!!"

Pros

  • It comes with a food cooking chart for inspiration and to get you started
  • Modern design that will suit many kitchen interiors
  • Compact compared to other air fryers, ideal for smaller kitchens

Cons

  • There are no pre-set food buttons like some of the other air fryers
Wattage:2400W
Capacity: 7.4litres
Weight:6.65kg
Dimensions:H28, W35, D39cm

Best Ninja alternative

If you’re looking for a budget-buy dual air fryer, then this one from Sur La Table is a decent contender. Reviewers on Costco have even claimed it’s just as good as the Ninja, and at a fraction of the price, you’re winning. However, you need to be a member to purchase this from Costco, which is why we found it on Amazon for you. It has Smart Sync Finish, so you can cook two meals separately but allow them to finish at the same time. And, unlike the Ninja, this one has seven settings as opposed to six, with the additional one being a ‘keep warm’ function — always handy to have in our eyes.

Customer review: "This air fryer is great. It's just as good as the Ninja that everyone mentions. Lots of different settings and is a great size. Would definitely buy this make again."

Pros

  • Seven different settings,
  • ‘Keep warm’ function
  • Has Smart Sync Finish

Cons

  • Touchscreen buttons can leave fingerprint marks
Wattage:1700W
Capacity:7.6litres
Weight:7.20kg
Dimensions:W 37.9 x L 38.38 x H 30.79 cm

Best dual basket air fryer with viewing window

Dual View Air Fryer, 7LCredit: Salter
Price: £89.99

salter.com

With its flexible design featuring an extra-large 7L drawer or two 3.5L drawers with a removable divider, meal prep just got easier. Boasting a powerful 2300W and six cooking functions, from frying to baking and even dehydrating, this Salter dual air fryer does it all effortlessly. Plus, the digital LED touch display lets you customise your cooking settings, while the handy viewing window makes peeking at your delicious creations a breeze. There is no need to worry about the cleanup, thanks to the removable non-stick cooking tray.

Our review: " I cannot get enough of this dual-view air fryer. I am notoriously bad for starting dinner and getting distracted, then returning to burnt inedible food. But this Salter dual air fryer is amazing as it has a lit-up viewing window, which makes keeping an eye on your meal much easier. Another lifeline feature is that you can sync both baskets so that all food is cooked to perfection at the same time."

Pros

  • 6 pre-set cooking programmes
  • Viewing window
  • Easy to clean
  • Non-stick cooking tray
  • Stylish design

Cons

  • Touchscreen control buttons can be a little temperamental
Wattage:2300W
Capacity:7-litre capacity
Weight:7.45kg
Dimensions:Approx. 35.5 x 34 x 27 cm

FAQs

How do you clean a dual-air fryer?

Some air fryers are dishwasher safe, so check this before you start giving it a scrub, as it will save you a lot of time. If it is, then pop it in upside down with the tray and basket drawer facing downwards. If it’s not, then just wash the tray and drawer in warm, soapy water and use a brush to get off the hard bits. Pop it on the side afterwards to air dry or dry with a towel, and then pop the tray and basket back once finished.

What can you cook in a dual-air fryer?

You would have heard many people claim to be able to cook just about everything in their air fryer — and it’s pretty accurate. Air fryers were traditionally renowned for cooking foods that you would otherwise deep-fat fry, such as fried chicken or chips. While they still are brilliant for cooking these types of foods, there’s plenty more you can cook in them, too. Meats, potatoes, vegetables and frozen foods are ideal for cooking in an air fryer.

Some air fryers even come with a ‘bake’ function so that you can make cakes and brownies; a ‘dehydrate’ option to make healthy snacks, like dried apples, and you can even pop eggs in there too for your brekky. We have a whole host of healthy air fryer recipes that you can give a go.

Bryony Firth-Bernard is a Digital Writer, contributing to Yours. On the weekend, she loves whipping up new recipes in the kitchen and spending time with her friends and family.

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