Air fryers come in three shapes: the air fryer oven with a door and shelves, the dual basket with two drawers, and the single basket most people picture. They cook in different ways, so the right one depends on what you make on a weeknight. Read on to match the type to your meals, from a rotisserie chicken to fish and chips finishing together, and to see how your usual oven recipes convert.
What to look for
01What is an air fryer oven, and who is it for?
An air fryer oven is a countertop fan oven with a door and shelves, and it suits people who roast, bake or cook on more than one level. The Fridja f77 Super Oven Pro has a 30L cavity, 18 presets, a rotisserie function and a stainless steel interior. The HYSapientia is a 22L air fryer oven with two zones, a rotisserie, a grill function and 13 accessories. Because food sits on racks or a spit, a whole chicken can turn on the rotisserie while a pizza or a tray of toast goes in flat. Chips spread on a flat tray need turning halfway to colour evenly, where a basket only needs a shake. If you want one appliance that behaves like a small oven, start with this type.
02When does a dual basket air fryer make sense?
A dual basket air fryer suits anyone who regularly cooks two different foods for the same meal, such as chicken and chips or salmon and vegetables. On a dual zone model each drawer heats separately, so the two foods can cook at different settings. The Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UKCP has 9.5L across two drawers, is sold as cooking 8 portions, and lists air fry, max crisp, roast and bake among its 6 functions. The Philips 4000 Series NA460/09 stacks its two baskets, 10L in total, one above the other and has Sync Finish, so both meals are ready together. On side-by-side models each drawer is roughly half the machine's width, which limits a whole chicken or a large pizza. The Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer gets round that with a removable divider, so it works as two zones or one big drawer.
03When is a single basket air fryer the better choice?
A single basket is the simplest type and suits people who air fry one food at a time, such as chips, nuggets, wings or leftover pizza. There is one drawer to empty, one set of controls and fewer parts to wash. The Tefal Easy Fry Max holds 5L and has 10 auto programmes, the Russell Hobbs Digital Oil Free model is 4.3L and 9-in-1 at 1300W, and the Tower T17205AFR is a 4L, 1300W basket with overheat protection. The Bosch Series 6 XXL adds a viewing window, so you can check browning without pulling the drawer out. You can still cook a two-part meal in a single basket by starting the slower food first and adding the quicker one partway through. If that sounds like a nightly routine, a dual basket will save you the juggling.
04Oven to air fryer conversion: what changes for each type?
Oven recipes work in all three types, and a common starting point is to cook about 20°C lower than the oven recipe says and expect it to be done about a fifth sooner, so check early. The air fryer oven is the easiest to convert to, because its racks take the same kind of shallow tins and trays you would use in a full oven, and the HYSapientia lists convection oven among its functions. In a basket, spread food in a single layer and shake it once or twice, since piled food steams rather than crisps. A dual basket lets you convert a whole oven meal at once, with the main in one drawer and the side in the other. Check your model's temperature range before you convert: the Midea compact, for example, runs from 80°C to 200°C.
Our top picks
Best air fryer oven for roasting and rotisserieFridja f77 Super Oven Pro
The Fridja f77 Super Oven Pro has a 30L cavity with a stainless steel interior, a rotisserie function and 18 presets. That is enough room for a chicken on the spit or a tray bake on a shelf. Pick it if you want an air fryer that cooks like a small second oven.
Best for two zones in an oven layoutHYSapientia® 22L Dual Zone Air Fryer
HYSapientia's 22L air fryer oven splits into two zones and adds a rotisserie, a grill and convection oven cooking, with 2400W behind it. It comes with 13 accessories, so racks and trays are covered from day one. Choose it if you like the oven layout but still want two foods cooking at once.
Best two-drawer air fryer for bigger mealsNinja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air
Ninja's Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UKCP has 9.5L across two drawers and is sold as cooking 8 portions. Air fry, max crisp, roast and bake are among its 6 functions, and the non-stick baskets go in the dishwasher. This Amazon exclusive version comes in copper and black with tongs included.
Best dual basket for a narrow worktopPhilips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket
Philips stacks the two baskets of its 4000 Series NA460/09 vertically, giving 10L of capacity in a machine that Philips says takes 45% less countertop space. Sync Finish brings both meals to the end together, and easy view windows let you check progress. The ceramic coating is PFAS-free.
Best single basket for one food at a timeTefal Easy Fry Max 5L Air
For chips, wings or reheating, the Tefal Easy Fry Max keeps it simple with one 5L basket, digital controls and 10 auto programmes. It suits a household that rarely needs two foods going at once. Fewer parts also means less washing up after tea.
Frequently asked
Do you need to preheat an air fryer oven?
A short preheat helps, especially for baking and for frozen food you want crisp. An oven-style cavity has more air to heat than a basket, so give it a few minutes before the food goes in. Some models build a preheat step into their presets, so check the manual before adding one yourself.
Can you cook oven chips in an air fryer?
Yes, and they don't need extra oil, because oven chips are already coated. Spread them in a single layer, cook a little cooler than the packet's oven temperature, and shake the basket or turn the tray halfway. Check them a few minutes early the first time, as air fryers vary.
Is a dual zone air fryer the same as a dual basket air fryer?
Mostly, but not always. Dual basket describes the two drawers, while dual zone means each one heats and times separately, as on the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone AF300UK. The Ninja FlexDrawer is dual zone with a single drawer split by a removable divider, and the HYSapientia puts two zones into an oven layout.
Is a rotisserie worth having on an air fryer oven?
It is if you like whole roast chicken, because the spit turns the bird so it browns all over without you moving it. The Fridja f77 and the HYSapientia both list a rotisserie. If you mostly cook chips, nuggets and fish fillets, a basket model will serve you just as well.
Can I use baking paper or foil in an air fryer?
Yes, as long as it doesn't cover the whole basket or tray, because the hot air needs to circulate. Weigh the paper down with food before the fan starts, or it can lift into the heating element. Perforated air fryer liners let more air through than a flat sheet.