One basket versus separate compartments
A single basket is a straightforward starting point when food shares a setting and you are happy to turn or shake it as directed. Its limitation in our buying method is meal sequencing: a side with a different setting may require another batch.
Separate compartments deserve a closer look when the main and side need different settings. Check the exact manual for simultaneous operation, synchronization behavior and any limitations; the presence of two drawers alone does not establish every control feature.
Stacked layouts trade width for another shape
Ninja’s SL401 uses two vertically arranged 5-quart baskets and includes stacked meal racks. This offers a different layout from adjacent drawers, rather than an assurance that every meal cooks better.
Measure height and depth as carefully as width. Ask whether the rack arrangement accommodates the thickness of your food and whether you want to handle several cooking levels. Do not compare total liters alone when a broad pizza or pan is your intended meal.
An oven format has different handling
An oven format uses trays and racks accessed through a door. Breville’s BOV900 manual specifies rack positions for functions and gives separate cleaning directions for the body and accessories.
Our selection question is whether you need basket-style handling or a tray-centered workflow. List the pans you own, read their compatibility requirements and check the exact cavity dimensions where documented. A model with many functions is not automatically the best fit for a small kitchen.
Guide authored and sources checked 2026-09-14. No hands-on testing claimed.