6 Best Dual Basket Air Fryers in Australia
Our ‘dreams have come true’ with what might be the ‘ultimate’ time saving appliance.
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The air fryer has had the ‘glow up of the century’, evolving from a humble one-setting wonder to a culinary beast that can double park multiple dishes with different cooking methods in one go.
Even David Beckham knows the value of a dual air fryer, having become a global ambassador for Ninja Kitchen’s holiday campaign this year.
Legendary chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White similarly joined forces with British retailer Currys to create an exclusive white edition of the Ninja Double Stack XL, dubbing it the “Ferrari of kitchen appliances”.
Of course, we had to test out the new Ninja DoubleStack XXXL 9.5L 2 Drawer Air Fryer to see what all the fuss was about. And spoiler – it was a winner for our Partnerships Manager Madison, who called the gadget “the ultimate hack for meal prep girlies like me” after making five dishes within just 30 minutes.
OUR TOP PICKS
BEST DUAL AIR FRYER OVERALL
Ninja XXXL FlexDrawer Air Fryer*, $268 (down from $499.99) at Amazon Australia
Ninja XXXL FlexDrawer Air Fryer
Tried and Tested by Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito, Shopping Writer
This Ninja air fryer ticks all the boxes and is a hard one to beat. It offers plenty of space, whether you’re using the smaller individual baskets or combine both zones to make one large basket. The unit cooks evenly and meals turn out exactly how they need to be – crispy on the outside and juicy inside, or perfectly fluffy if we’re talking cakes.
The control panel is super simple to use and easy to read. And if you haven’t any trouble pressing buttons on a touch display, the dial is a better alternative. There’s also haptic feedback for the time and temperature buttons.
You can read more of my thoughts on the Ninja air fryer here.
BEST VERSATILE DUAL AIR FRYER
Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket with Steam Air Fryer*, $398 (down from $499) at Amazon Australia
Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket with Steam Air Fryer
Tried and Tested by Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito, Shopping Writer
With a trip to the supermarket now pretty much a luxury experience these days, I’m thrilled at how well this air fryer and steamer combo has whipped everything up. Frozen dumplings tasted surprisingly fresh and ultra juicy, brownies came out perfectly fluffy and gooey in no time, and it definitely passed the crispy yet tender pork belly test.
This new Philips unit also made steaming vegetables – correctly – really simple. I didn’t have to faff around with another appliance or extra pot, and the halfway beep helped keep the nice crunch and avoid overcooking.
Sometimes one basket in a dual air fryer can still be quite bulky, so it was also fantastic to have one slim compartment for when you only need to cook a small portion.
And while air fryers are usually easy to clean, these baskets were particularly breezy and didn’t require much elbow grease at all. They’re not that heavy, either.
The major downside was the lack of instructions. The control panel is loaded with wonderfully convenient one-touch programs but it’s not always clear on what each icon does and it’s not so user intuitive that you can figure everything out without a guide.
My number one tip is to download the user manual from the website, rather than sticking to the booklet. The PDF provides a more detailed breakdown on what each button does and lists different time and temperature recommendations for a variety of dishes (based on the number of pieces).
Plus, there are a few safety points to keep in mind, including not using other powerful appliances like kettles or grills on the same circuit at the same time.
Overall, I’m a fan. I love dishes like Hainan chicken, steamed brisket and veggies, and steamed dumplings, so the steam function made it a more useful all-in-one appliance compared to other air fryers.
BEST COMPACT DUAL AIR FRYER
Ninja DoubleStack XXXL 9.5L 2 Drawer Air Fryer, $449.99 at Ninja
Ninja DoubleStack XXXL 9.5L 2 Drawer Air Fryer
Tried and Tested by Madison Geros, Partnerships Manager
I am through and through a diehard meal prep girly, I have my ‘reset’ routine on a Sunday where I do all my food shopping and meal prep.
In terms of saving time, you’ve obviously guessed I am absolutely obsessed with my air fryer. It has always been my dream to be able to meal prep all my work lunches in one go with minimal effort, and now my dreams have come true. I have found my saviour. When I was presented the opportunity to try out the Ninja DoubleStack XXXL 9.5L 2 Drawer Air Fryer I couldn’t resist.
At first, I thought it would be too big for my bench since it was double stacked. But I was able to cook double the food in nearly half the space and still fits under standard size cabinets. Cooking four different types of food at once is literally the ultimate hack for meal prep girlies like me.
I can’t believe I was able to meal prep five meals within 30 minutes. The stackable racks in the Ninja air fryer even allowed me to cook half a kilo of chicken and a 500kg pumpkin in one go. I placed the chicken on the racks of both drawers and I put the pumpkin underneath. I also tried cooking the chicken and potatoes recipe from the included recipe book.
However, there are a few things I think could be improved. Even though cooking in bulk is easy, I felt the stackable design made it harder to take out, shake and turn the food mid-cooking. There also isn’t a prompt to turn your food halfway, which I have had with other air fryers. So, if you’re someone who relies on the ‘beep’, I recommend monitoring the time.
The major downside was seeing a considerable amount of condensation, despite placing the air fryer away from the cupboard to allow ample room for ventilation. This could be an issue if you have other appliances sitting on your bench.
Overall, if you’re looking for a kitchen appliance to make your life easier and you love to bulk prep, the Ninja DoubleStack XXXL 9.5L 2 Drawer Air Fryer is for you. However, it may require you to keep more of an eye on it compared to some other models.
BEST EASY TO USE DUAL AIR FRYER
Instant Pot Vortex Plus ClearCook Dual Air Fryer 8L, $247 (down from $429) at Amazon Australia
Ninja XXXL FlexDrawer Air Fryer
What You Need To Know
This might be one of the best options for beginners, with a stoked reviewer calling it “one of the best air fryers you can get for your money”. This air fryer features a viewing window so you can easily see the progress of your dishes, along with six easy to read settings at the top. The buttons aren’t just icons either, making it really user intuitive – especially if you’ve never used an air fryer before.
“This has changed my life! It cooks so quickly and evenly. It’s easy to use with (a) simple display and uncomplicated buttons. And the clear window lets me see the food and how it’s cooking. 10/10 would recommend,” a happy customer posted.
“This is the product I didn’t know I needed. It does everything really fast and helps speed up meal prep,” a customer reviewed, rating it five stars.
“The roast veggies are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Roasts retain their moisture and crackle is a dream.”
Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer, $209 (down from $299.99) at Amazon Australia
Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer
What You Need To Know
The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer is “definitely a win” for many home cooks, including more than 11,000 Amazon customers who have given it their five-star approval.
It can fit up to 1.8kg of hot chips or chicken wings in one go, and includes a few customisable settings such as Air Roast, Dehydrate and the brand’s Match Cook and Smart Finish for convenience.
“My kids’ dinner time has been cut in half and I can have a hot dinner on the table in under 15 minutes. So easy to use and clean!” praised one parent.
“This air fryer heats up much faster than our previous Philips model, and the results are consistently excellent — food comes out evenly cooked and deliciously crispy,” a shopper posted, calling it “perfect for couples or small households”.
“The sleek grey design looks great on our countertop and is very easy to operate and clean, with dishwasher-safe parts that are a breeze to maintain.
BEST DUAL BASKET AIR FRYER OVEN
Sunbeam Multi Zone Air Fryer Oven, $249 (down from $299) at Myer
Sunbeam Multi Zone Air Fryer Oven
What You Need To Know
It’s hard not to fall for this Sunbeam air fryer. Unlike most dual basket models, this unit comes with two rack positions on one side as well as a built-in accessory storage drawer to hold the different accessories. The unit also has a viewing window so you can check your cooking without disrupting the process, along with a removable centre wall to convert the two 5.5L baskets into an 11.4L single zone unit that can fit a pizza or whole roast chicken.
One shopper says they were “blown away by how good and versatile this air fryer really is”, especially since it lets you “cook four different types of food at once, which is brilliant”.
“I wanted an appliance that does the lot and this is the one!” praised another fan.
“I’ve cooked potatoes in it and they turned out very crispy! Frozen hot chips are yum. Store-bought garlic bread, sausage rolls, pasties, ham and cheese bread rolls – all crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Extremely handy that you can cook just on one side, both sides together, or take the middle panel out for bigger dishes.”
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING AN AIR FRYER
Picking the right dual zone air fryer isn’t easy, but here are a few important factors we considered when deciding what to include in our roundup.
Capacity
Here’s how Appliances Online breaks down which capacity is worth getting, based on household size.
• 0.5-2L: Ideal for single person households or small kitchen spaces or families.
• 2-4L: Ideal for couples or small families, or if you have limited benchspace.
• 5L and above: Ideal for families or households wanting to make larger portions.
Easy to use controls
There are so many air fryers to choose from, including models with picture icons instead of written-out setting names, and units with both manual dials and touch controls.
It’s also a good idea to read reviews to double check if buttons are easy to press, programs are easy to read, and if dividers come out smoothly or if they need a bit of force.
Easy to clean features
Most air fryers are made with non-stick pans and dishwasher safe accessories (including baskets) for a simple clean up.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of models available, it’s impossible to test every model that’s out there. To help you find the best dual air fryer, we tested several well-known brands at different price points. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best dual air fryer from premium to budget to help you find the right one for your kitchen.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS IT WORTH GETTING A DUAL AIR FRYER?
Dual basket air fryers are perfect for anyone who wants to maximise everything the benchtop appliance has to offer. You can make larger portions and whip up multiple dishes at the same time using different cooking methods. And it doesn’t always have to be grand – they’re just as convenient for doing smaller tasks, such as ‘frying’ a batch of hot chips or reheating a pastry, but require much less energy and clean-up.
And depending on your kitchen space and the air fryer model, a dual zone unit doesn’t take up that much more space than a multi cooker or toaster oven – two gadgets which can easily be replaced by one multifunctional air fryer.
ARE AIR FRYERS A HEALTHIER COOKING METHOD?
Air fryers make healthy cooking easier, especially with more brands adding functions like ‘steam’ and ‘dehydrate’. They’re also famously designed to use minimal to no oil, which is great for those wanting to reduce their grease intake.
*Product has been provided by Ninja and Philips for a 100 per cent independent, honest review.
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