If your air fryer isn’t big enough to hold multiple dishes you want to make, you might need the Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer. It has solved one of the most frustrating problems of this otherwise super-convenient appliance, creating two separate zones to cook different foods at different temperatures and timelines. Brilliant.
This product, available for under $200, has a pull-out drawer-style top portion and a miniature stove in the bottom section, complete with three types of changeable racks. For example, you can swap the cooking sheet type option for a wire rack to warm up your pizza. The “sync” function is by far the most helpful and realistic I’ve seen in a small appliance (and I’ve tested many) as it times up your two separate dishes to finish simultaneously by adjusting the cooking temperature. No more warming up one side while the other gets cold and swapping them to do it again in one area fryer space.
I tested this air fryer using around seven different types of food, performing various functions such as reheating, toasting, and air frying. I found most of the features and functions intuitive and helpful, except for a slight learning curve with the settings and buttons and a bit of a challenge cleaning the lower section of the air fryer. Based on weeks of testing, here’s how to determine if this product is for you.
Keep reading to see how I did with the cooker, and for more, check out our guide to the best air fryers.
Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer: Key specs
| Power | 1700 watts |
| Capacity | 11Q–6QT basket and 5QT baking pan |
| Cooking Functions | 8 preset functions, including: bake, roast, broil, reheat, toast, grill, air fry, and dehydrate |
| Dimensions | 14.6"D x 12.5"W x 15.7"H inches |
| Weight | 23.5 lbs |
Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer: Setup
I was a bit concerned when I first saw and opened the box for this air fryer. It seemed enormous, boxy, heavy, and difficult to transport. Compared to the smaller air fryer I’ve used and loved for years, I wasn’t even sure it would fit quickly enough on my counter, both height and width-wise.
Unboxing was simple, however, and it was well packaged, arriving without any dents, scratches, or other issues. The materials were typical for these appliances needing extra protection, with styrofoam style protectors and a large cardboard box. Instructions are included, though you barely need them except for a few less apparent functions. The unboxing process did require more than one person, but only because I have a bad back, and it was too heavy to unbox alone.
Once set up, it looked sleek and a bit more stylish than some of the more rounded options, yet still quite big for some people’s counter space options. It has a slanted display area, which is helpful if it is under an upper cabinet to ensure you can fully see all the possibilities. I moved on to see if it would deliver on its claims of being a powerhouse and doubly convenient air fryer.
- Score: 7.5 out of 10
Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer: Design & Features
The air fryer’s design is significant but for a solid reason—two spacious components, each with a five- and six-quart cooking area, offer double the space of a typical single air fryer. However, it’s quite the opposite of a compact air fryer and would be best for multiple people or those who plan to use it for numerous functions and multiple dishes per meal.
The product is ergonomically well designed, in a sleek black with white digital display text. This high contrast makes it quite simple to read, unlike my current air fryer, which has tiny silver notches to indicate time. Instead, this air fryer uses extensive, clear, visible information to ensure you know your selection.
The bottom section is somewhat less straightforward to handle than the top section, with a large vertical handle you pull out and (gently) slam back in. The bottom section took a bit more effort to learn how much force to properly close it and sometimes required a redo.
- Score: 8.5 out of 10
Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer: Performance
The large top cavity is nearly ten inches apart, allowing more space to spread food, such as vegetables, meat, or french fries, that need breathing room to cook thoroughly. With enough clearance to move it freely, you can make a whole pizza, pie, or even a small chicken in the basket section. I tested an entire bag of sweet potato fries, a food notorious in my previous smaller air fryer for not obtaining that air fryer famous crunch everyone wants. There were too many layers of the same food because the basket was too small. So, in this case, I noticed there were around two levels of fries, not one, but not many on top of each other. I believe this contributed to reasonable cooking time, in under ten minutes, with enough crispiness.
I’ve said it dozens, maybe hundreds of times in my decade of parenting — eat before the food gets cold. Yet, inevitably, it does anyway. This area fryer solves that issue for at least two foods you prepare. Since testing it, I found it to easily replace the functions of the microwave, toaster, stovetop, oven, and other appliances. The sync function, which can be enabled or disabled, ensures your food is finished simultaneously on either level by adjusting the temperature to a similar cooking time. This worked, for example, on a broccoli and chicken meal, the makings of a stir fry. Both were ready in time with the Sync function, and I didn’t open either door to keep both items waiting until everyone showed up and found their plate.
One of my favorite uses of an air fryer is to liven up day-old meat, giving it a nice crunch and fresh vibe again. So, I tried this with day-old pulled pork, nearly undercooked the first time we ate it. I placed it in the pull-out drawer section of the air fryer and first chose “reheat” before realizing I’d just have the same limp meat at the end as I did already. So, I switched mid-cycle, which was relatively easy, to “air fry” instead. I topped it with barbecue sauce, creating a sweet and crunchy glaze during the air frying process. It was piping hot within five minutes and didn’t stick to the appliance either, even with additional sauce added.
- Score: 9 out of 10
Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer: Care & maintenance
Cleaning the air fryer was straightforward. The basket and tray were easy to remove, and they were dishwasher-safe, which saved time. I noticed no grease buildup, but I wiped it down after each use. However, the bottom section was a bit tougher to clean than the top section, as there’s a significant coil running through that area, which I noted.
The air fryer was a bit bulky for storage but still manageable. I checked the manual for maintenance tips, and there weren’t any complicated requirements—just regular cleaning and checking of the parts. Overall, keeping the air fryer in good shape seemed easy and low-maintenance.
- Score: 8 out of 10
Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer: Price & Value
The Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer is available through Amazon for $179.99. However, with Amazon dropping prices and coupons at various points throughout the year, you might find it at a lower cost. The price seems incredibly reasonable for the power this air fryer has and is comparable to air fryers of similar capacity and function.
- Score: 8.5 out of 10
Would I buy the Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer?
This product is perfect if you want to cook multiple dishes simultaneously in your air fryer. Its sync function allows dishes to cook simultaneously. The air fryer is quiet and powerful, cooking faster and more efficiently than a traditional oven or toaster. In addition to air frying, it also bakes and broils.
Because it's bulky and tall, it's not ideal for kitchens with a counter space or low upper cabinets. In addition, the lower section doesn't clean as well, which makes it less convenient for those who like fast and easy cleanup. A traditional toaster is smaller and easier to use.
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | manageable unboxing process and user-friendly design; bulkiness and weight may deter some users, particularly those with limited counter space | 7.5/10 |
| Design | There are two large sections for cooking, and an easy to read digital settings dashboard. | 8.5/10 |
| Performance | The air fryer demonstrated more than sufficient space, a convenient syncing option, and strong cooking power that improved food. | 9/10 |
| Care & maintenance | Simple and straightforward process | 8/10 |
| Price & value | It’s like getting two airfryers for the price of one. | 8.5/10 |
How I tested the Midea Dual Zone Air Fryer
It was nice to see the packaging was minimal and mostly recyclable when I unboxed the air fryer. I was able to set up the air fryer with no tools or assistance and it was ready to use in minutes thanks to its lightweight design. I found it to be as loud as a quiet conversation at its highest setting and almost silent at its lowest setting.
For the performance test, I cooked frozen fries, chicken wings, and vegetables at different temperatures. The results were evenly cooked and crisp, with no burning or sogginess. The preheat and cooking times were fast, and the controls were easy to use.
Find out more about how we test.
