I tried the Midea Two-Zone Air Fryer and it's a time-saving dream

A regular disagreement in my household is how to time dishes. We sometimes put a plate on top of a bowl of cooked food while he waits for the other dishes to finish, but it can lead to soggy food.

Midea seems to have heard my concerns from afar, combining two separate cooking sections — an air fryer and a toaster oven — into one air appliance. I haven’t been this excited to try a new kitchen gadget in ages. I already knew that this was going to come in handy the first time I was craving both crispy chicken tenders and fries. 

And, while it has a few flaws in design and functionality, the innovation of having two entirely separate zones that cook at different temperatures, but can be programmed to sync, might outweigh any shortcomings. This is one of the best air fryers that is in the running to earn a permanent spot in my kitchen. 

What I Thought of the Midea 11QT Two-Zone Air Fryer

I was super excited to try this air fryer because there are so many times that I’m cooking two dishes, and I end up having to resort to the regular oven or eating one dish lukewarm because I had to wait to use the air fryer (one of the many dos and don'ts of using an air fryer). Having both an air fryer and a regular oven in one is a game changer, especially when I don’t want to turn on the oven because it’s summer or I just don’t feel like a lunchtime meal merits it. 

This air fryer oven is incredibly easy to use. The controls are easy and intuitive. It has ten preset cooking modes, including air frying, grilling, baking, broiling, roasting, reheating, toasting, dehydrating, bagel, and keeping warm. And it guides you through the process, beeping halfway through to remind you to turn your food. 

Add in the sync finish mode, which helps you time both the air fryer and oven to finish simultaneously, and you have a seriously genius appliance. Plus, I thought both sections both cooked well — and isn’t that the key?

But there are some negatives, including the fact the toasting tray is incredibly difficult to use. It’s tiny and shallow. It’s really only suited to toast, burgers, pizza — things that are flat. It doesn’t pull all the way out, and I had a hard time figuring out how to use it in a way that felt safe.

The size of the air fryer oven is also truly a drawback. I don’t prefer to keep an air fryer on the countertop, and it’s realistically too tall and heavy to move in and out of a cabinet. That size is what allows it to have both a 6-quart air frying basket and a 5-quart toaster oven, but is it worth it? Not if you have a small, or even regular-size kitchen. It’s just a much bigger air fryer than I’m used to. 

Midea 11QT Two-Zone Air Fryer Specifications

Unboxing the Midea 11QT Two-Zone Air Fryer

My first impression upon receiving the box from Midea was holy moly, this is heavy. I put off bringing it upstairs to our kitchen for nearly an entire day. But, of course, the weight makes sense given that this isn’t just an air fryer, but a toaster oven, too. 

This is a large machine. It’s nearly 16” tall, 15” deep, and 23 pounds. As I'm much more used to small air fryers, it was a bit of a surprise. It’s a major kitchen appliance. So taking it out of the box required a force of brute strength. But I got it out, and I got it set up — easily, I might add. There’s not a lot of setup involved.

Beyond the size, I also immediately noticed that this feels well made. I’ve tried air fryers in the past that I didn’t quite trust to heat up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. But this one has super solid construction. I’m not worried that it’s going to short-circuit or stop working on a whim. It’s here for the long haul. 

Using the Midea 11QT Two-Zone Air Fryer

This air fryer oven couldn't be easier to use. The control panel is intuitive, and you select upper or lower, plus the mode you want to use. You can adjust the temperature or time, then start. It's so clear you won't feel as if you're going to mix up the upper and lower. It's practically foolproof.

The control panel will also tell you when to turn, shake, or flip your food. As long as you stay nearby, it's not going to let you mess up your recipe. 

Also, there is an app, but, realistically, I’m not connecting my appliances to an app. It seems every appliance has an app, and it’s just too many to keep track of unless it’s something I truly use every day. If you do decide to download the app, it has pre-programmed recipes that can make your life easier as you navigate cooking different items.

My first test was a Trader Joe's meal, of course. I was coming out of a long day of deadlines and meetings, and I was desperate for a late lunch. I had the Indian veggie burgers and bird's nests, so the pressure was high to get these right.

I tossed the bird's nests in the air fryer basket and the veggie burger in the toaster oven. I didn't mess with the sync finish on this first round, but both came out perfectly. I had high expectations for the bird's nests, which they met with the perfect crisp, but I didn't know what to anticipate with the veggie burgers. I was pleasantly surprised when they cooked quickly and had the loveliest finish. They weren't soggy, undercooked, or burnt. They were actually perfect. A bit crispy, hot all the way through. 

For its shortcomings with design, the toaster oven DOES work.

Test Two: Chicken Nuggets and Fries

Fries are always my go-to test for an air fryer. This should be the one thing that all air fryers do well. And they felt like a good opportunity to try the sync finish, especially with chicken nuggets.

Sync finish promises that it'll hold one item — the one with a short cook time — until the other is finished. The fries would take longer in theory, so I put them in the air fryer basket and the chicken nuggets in the toaster oven. 

Sure enough, it worked. Both came out crispy and warm at the same time. There's no better comfort food meal than fries or chicken nuggets and, if I can do them both in an air fryer at the same time, I'm a happy camper.

How to Clean and Maintain the Midea 11QT Two-Zone Air Fryer

There are positives and negatives to appliances that do it all. The positive is the versatility. The negative is that there are more parts and pieces to clean. And the Midea Two-Zone Air Fryer Oven is no exception. There are lots and lots of parts to wash — and nothing is dishwasher-safe.

You have to clean the upper basket, grill tray, crisper plate, drip tray, upper basket, and lower cavity after every use. Each should be cleaned with warm water, dish soap, and a sponge. And each one should be cleaned by hand. That’s a lot of time spent scrubbing versus when I usually clean an air fryer.

I think it’s important to note that I found it incredibly difficult to clean the toaster oven section. Given it’s so flat and small, you’re not really sure if you’re ending up with food crusted to the top and it’s difficult to clean that zone at all. I’m used to the open section of an air fryer that you wipe out with ease. This is new territory, and I’m not sure they’ve perfected the design to the point that it’s ideal for cleaning and maintenance. 

Should You Buy the Midea 11QT Two-Zone Air Fryer?

While the Midea Two-Zone Air Fryer Oven does have a few drawbacks in terms of the usability of the bottom drawer, the convenience of the two zones outweighs any negatives. The air fryer portion is a full 6-quart air fryer so, as long as you have the space for a larger air fryer, there’s no reason not to spring for this one. You’re gaining not giving up with this one. 

The major negative, however, is the price. At $249.99, it’s significantly more expensive than almost any other air fryer on the market, and that could be a reason not to buy for anyone on a budget.

Good to Know

Instructions
The Midea Two-Zone Air Fryer Oven comes with an instruction manual that gives step-by-step instructions (though the process is intuitive and clear!).

Warranty
The Midea Two-Zone Air Fryer Oven includes a one-year limited warranty from the date of purchase

Where to Buy the Midea 11QT Two-Zone Air Fryer

The Midea Two-Zone Air Fryer Oven is available to buy directly from Midea, via their Amazon storefront, or from retailers such as Walmart.

How We Test Air Fryers

The Midea Two-Zone Air Fryer Oven was sent to me by Midea, and I used it over a several-week period. Here are a few things I like to look out for when testing air fryers: