Yes. In one basket, stagger the start so both foods finish together at one temperature. For two different settings at the same time, you need a dual-basket air fryer with two independent zones.
In one basket: one temperature, one fan
One drawer means one temperature and one airflow. Two foods can share it if they want roughly the same heat — fries and nuggets do; salmon and raw potatoes do not.
Stagger the start. Put the slowest food in first, then add the quicker one partway through. A timer on your phone tracks the second item.
Divide the basket with a foil divider or a small oven-safe dish to keep flavors and juices apart. It does not create a second setting.
Good pairings for one basket
- Chicken and vegetables: thighs or wings at about 380 °F, with broccoli, peppers or zucchini added for the last 8 to 10 minutes.
- Burgers and fries: frozen fries first, patties added for the last 10 to 12 minutes.
- Salmon and asparagus: both at about 390 °F, in together, 8 to 10 minutes.
Check meat with a thermometer, whatever the pairing — see using a probe thermometer.
Two zones: the proper solution
A dual-basket air fryer has two drawers, each with its own element and fan. Each can run a different temperature and time, and most models have a button that delays the shorter drawer so both finish together. It is a genuinely different capability from one large drawer — and a whole chicken does not fit in half of one.
The middle option: a stacking rack
A rack adds a second layer at the same temperature, with air moving between the layers instead of food sitting on food. Measure the basket floor and the clearance to the element before buying one. See why a single layer matters.
In an air-fry toaster oven
One tray, one temperature — but a wide one. The BLACK+DECKER 5-in-1 at $61.99 takes a 9-inch pizza on its mesh tray, so two foods sit side by side in one layer rather than in a pile.
What decides it
Whether the two foods want the same temperature. If they do, one basket, staggered. If they do not, two zones — or two batches, keeping the first warm; see can I use an air fryer to keep food warm.
Check your own manual before you follow anything here. Temperatures, fill limits and pressure ratings differ from model to model, and the manufacturer’s figures take precedence over anything written on this site. We report what makers publish — an oven’s range in degrees, a cooker’s maximum fill line, whether a part is declared dishwasher-safe — and we never turn those figures into food-safety guidance. Cooking temperatures and holding times for particular foods are set by manufacturers and by your national food safety authority, and this site points you to them rather than restating them.
Prices quoted in this text were read on 2026-10-18. The live price is at the top of the page.
What readers want to know
How do I cook two foods with different times in one basket?
Stagger them. Start the food that takes longest, then add the quicker one partway through so both finish at the same moment — chicken thighs for 20 minutes, with broccoli added for the last 8, for example. Choose one temperature that suits both, usually the lower of the two, and add a minute or two to the quicker food if needed.
What is a dual-basket air fryer for?
Two foods at two different temperatures and times, finishing together. Each drawer has its own heating element and fan. Most dual-basket models have a sync or finish-together button that delays the shorter drawer automatically, and a match button that copies one drawer's settings to the other.
Can I stack food on a rack in an air fryer?
Yes, in a square basket that is tall enough — a stacking rack adds a second layer at the same temperature, with air between the layers. Measure the basket floor and the height to the element first; two layers cook more evenly than one deep pile, but less evenly than a single layer.
Last reviewed 18 October 2026