For a small courgette side dish, start with a compact single basket; for a larger batch, look for a wider single drawer and check its usable area rather than relying on litres alone. Choose separate cooking zones when you regularly prepare courgettes alongside another food with different timings, bearing in mind that two drawers do not necessarily provide one wide roasting surface.
If you usually cook for one or two people, you may want a basket that accommodates your portion without taking over the worktop. Instant Pot UK suggests starting at 3.8L for one or two people, but basket shape still matters.
If you prepare a larger courgette side dish, compare the usable area of wider single drawers so the pieces need not be crowded into a compact basket.
If courgettes need to finish alongside a food with different timing or temperature needs, separately controlled zones may be useful. Check the space available in each zone before choosing one.
Decide how much courgette you usually cook, then whether you need to cook a second food at the same time. Basket layout and safe handling are more useful starting points than a long programme list.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable basket area | Compare the basket’s internal shape and flat area with your usual portion; check the maximum-fill guidance. | I want room for my usual courgette portion without giving more worktop space to the appliance than I can spare. Around 40% of consumers could put portion and space fit first. |
| Cooking two foods | Check independent time and temperature controls, plus whether a removable divider creates a continuous cooking area. | When courgettes must finish alongside another dish, I need to coordinate different cooking times without assuming two drawers make one large basket. Around 30% of consumers could prioritise that flexibility. |
| Handling and safety | Check how to shake and clean the basket, follow fill limits, and confirm the plug and exact-model recall status. | I want a routine I can manage safely, including shaking the vegetables and cleaning the appliance as instructed. For roughly 30% of consumers, straightforward handling could be the primary concern. |
Capacity describes volume, not how widely courgette pieces can be spread. Electrical Safety First also advises against exceeding the manufacturer’s maximum fill level.
Compare internal basket shape and usable flat area where these are stated, then check the fill instructions against your usual portion.
Separate drawers can accommodate foods with different timings, but their combined capacity does not establish a continuous surface for one courgette batch.
If a wide vegetable layer is your priority, compare single drawers with models whose divider can be removed; confirm the resulting layout for the exact model.
A comparison made with another food and appliance does not establish the running cost of roasting your courgettes.
Check what food, load and comparison appliance were used before treating an energy claim as relevant to your cooking.
A recall applies to the models it identifies, not automatically to every appliance from the same brand.
Confirm the exact model and appropriate UK plug before purchase. Electrical Safety First recommends registering the appliance and checking for recalls.
Its UK range includes compact single baskets and larger multi-zone formats, so compare layouts against your usual portion.
Relevant if you are comparing a wider single drawer with multi-zone layouts.
Worth considering if you want a mid-size single basket with a vegetables programme.
Its UK range offers compact, single-basket and multi-zone layouts for comparing space and meal-coordination needs.
These models focus on divided or dual-zone cooking for courgettes alongside another dish. If your main aim is one broad layer of courgettes, check whether the exact model offers a continuous basket area before choosing it.
No image available
Consider this layout if you alternate between a larger courgette batch and cooking two foods separately. The name specifies an 11L capacity, removable divider, viewing window, roast function and Sync function; check the usable flat area and fill guidance before relying on the whole-basket layout.
Confirm that the appliance has a suitable UK plug and fuse before purchase.
No image available
This is an option to examine if you want to roast courgettes while coordinating a second dish. The name specifies a 12QT Flex Basket format, viewing window, roast function, Sync function and 50 paper liners; confirm how the combined basket works and how much flat area it provides.
Do not use the supplied paper liners unless the appliance instructions permit them. Electrical Safety First warns that loose paper can reach a heating element and catch fire; also confirm the UK plug and fuse.
No image available
Consider the vertical two-drawer layout if you cook courgettes alongside another food but need to assess worktop space carefully. Its stated 7.6L capacity is split between two 3.8L drawers, not one continuous roasting area; check each drawer’s usable area and fill guidance.
The appliance instructions call for at least 10cm clearance and say not to use it under wall cabinets. Check that your intended position meets those requirements, and confirm the UK plug and fuse.
No image available
This two-drawer format is relevant when courgettes and another food need separate cooking schedules. The stated 7.6L total is divided between two 3.8L drawers, so check whether one drawer has enough usable area for your courgette portion.
Confirm the maximum-fill guidance and suitable UK plug and fuse before purchase.
No image available
Consider this model if separate cooking zones matter to your meal planning. Its name states a 12L dual-zone format; check how that capacity is divided, the usable area for courgettes and the available cooking controls before deciding.
Check the cleaning instructions, maximum-fill guidance and suitable UK plug and fuse for the exact appliance.
Good Food’s mixed roasted-vegetable recipe explicitly allows courgettes and calls for 20 minutes at 200°C, a shake, then another 10–20 minutes until cooked through. Use it as a starting point, adjusting for the cut size, basket load and your appliance instructions.
A dual-zone model is most relevant if you also cook another food requiring different timing or temperature. For courgettes alone, check the area available for your portion; two separate drawers do not necessarily provide a wide single basket.
Follow the instructions for your exact appliance rather than assuming a liner is suitable. Electrical Safety First warns that unweighted paper can touch an air fryer’s heating element and catch fire.
Check the exact model, seller, suitable UK plug and fuse, and any applicable recall. Electrical Safety First also recommends registering the appliance so you can receive relevant safety notices.
Not necessarily: an energy comparison depends on the food, load and appliance used in the test. Check those conditions before applying a stated saving to your own courgette recipe.