SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L Review: The Dual-Basket Contender for Your Countertop

The dreaded 5 PM question: “What’s for dinner?” For many of us, it’s the start of a familiar, tiresome cycle. You want something healthy, but you’re short on time. You crave something delicious and crispy, but the thought of firing up the main oven for a small meal feels wasteful and takes forever to preheat. We’ve been there. Juggling different cooking times for chicken, potatoes, and vegetables often leads to a frantic kitchen ballet, with one component getting cold while another is still cooking. This daily grind can sap the joy out of cooking, turning what should be a creative release into a stressful chore. The result is often a compromise: an expensive takeaway, a less-than-healthy frozen meal, or the same old pasta dish for the third time this week. It’s a problem that silently chips away at our time, budget, and healthy eating goals.

What to Consider Before Buying a Dual-Basket Air Fryer

An air fryer, especially a dual-basket model, is more than just a trendy kitchen gadget; it’s a key solution for reclaiming your weeknight dinners and unlocking culinary creativity without the guilt or the grease. By circulating superheated air at high speeds, these appliances achieve that sought-after crispy, golden-brown texture of deep-fried food with up to 90% less oil. The primary benefit is twofold: a significant reduction in fat and calories, and a dramatic decrease in cooking time and energy consumption compared to a conventional oven. For busy families or health-conscious individuals, the ability to cook two different foods simultaneously, and have them finish at the same time, is a genuine game-changer. The SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L is a perfect example of this technology, designed to streamline meal preparation and put variety back on the menu.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the daily challenge of cooking complete, balanced meals for a family of two to four people. If you’re tired of oven-watching, messy clean-ups from frying pans, and energy bills creeping up, a dual-zone air fryer will feel like a revelation. It’s for the parent trying to make crispy fish fillets and chips simultaneously, or the fitness enthusiast who wants to roast vegetables alongside a chicken breast. However, it might not be the best fit for those who regularly cook for very large crowds (requiring batch cooking even with 8L capacity) or individuals living in a very small space with minimal counter-top real estate. For those who still prefer the specific taste and texture of traditional deep frying, a dedicated deep fat fryer might be a more suitable, albeit less healthy, alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Dual-basket air fryers are not small. Before you click “buy,” measure your intended countertop space. The SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L measures 36.5 x 42 x 30.8 cm. You’ll also need to account for clearance around the unit for ventilation, particularly at the back where the fan exhausts hot air.
• Capacity/Performance: An 8-litre capacity, split across two 4-litre baskets, is a sweet spot for a family of 3-4. It allows you to cook a whole 1.5kg chicken in one basket and a generous portion of roast potatoes in the other. Pay attention to the wattage (1600W-1800W for this model), as higher power generally means faster heat-up times and more efficient cooking, ensuring your food gets crispy on the outside while staying moist inside.
• Materials & Durability: Look for baskets with a high-quality, PFOA-free non-stick coating for both food safety and ease of cleaning. The outer body of the Swan is a composite material, which keeps it lightweight, but as some user feedback suggests, can feel less premium than stainless steel models. The trade-off is often a more accessible price point and a wider range of colour finishes.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A clear, intuitive control panel is non-negotiable. Look for digital touch controls, clear pre-set icons, and features like Sync and Match Cook that simplify the dual-basket experience. For maintenance, check if the baskets and crisper plates are easy to remove and clean. While the Swan’s baskets are not officially listed as dishwasher safe, we found the non-stick coating makes handwashing remarkably quick and easy.

Making the right choice means finding a balance between capacity, features, and the space you have available, ensuring your new appliance becomes a workhorse, not a cupboard-filler.

While the SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Nordic Style Meets Kitchen Practicality

Unboxing the SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L, the first thing we noticed was its distinctive aesthetic. Swan’s “Nordic” range is known for its minimalist, Scandi-inspired design, and this air fryer is no exception. Our test model was the “Nordic White,” a clean, matte white finish complemented by subtle wood-effect accents on the basket handles. It’s a refreshing departure from the glossy black plastic that dominates the appliance market, designed to blend in rather than stand out. It feels substantial without being overly heavy at 7.9kg, and its front-facing control panel is a smart design choice, making it easier to tuck under overhead cabinets compared to top-controlled models. Assembly is non-existent; you simply remove the packaging, wash the baskets, and it’s ready to go. The two 4L baskets slide in and out with a smooth, secure action. While some users have noted the composite material can feel a bit light, we found the overall build to be solid for its price category, presenting a stylish and welcoming first impression that makes you eager to start cooking.

A Deep Dive into the SWAN Nordic Duo’s Performance

An air fryer’s worth is proven on the countertop, not in the box. Over a week of intensive testing, we put the SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L through its paces, cooking everything from classic chips and chicken wings to salmon fillets, roasted vegetables, and even baking a small batch of muffins. We wanted to see if its performance lived up to the promise of its extensive feature list. This is where the appliance truly begins to show its strengths and a few of its quirks.

The Dual-Basket Difference: Sync & Match Cook are Game-Changers

The single biggest reason to choose this model over a standard air fryer is its dual-basket functionality, supercharged by the ‘Sync’ and ‘Match Cook’ features. And we can confirm, they work brilliantly. ‘Match Cook’ is the simpler of the two; a single button press mirrors the time and temperature settings of basket 1 onto basket 2. This is perfect for cooking a double batch of chips or chicken wings for a larger group, effectively turning it into a single, massive 8L air fryer. The real magic, however, lies in the ‘Sync’ function. We tested this by setting basket 1 to cook salmon fillets for 12 minutes at 190°C and basket 2 to roast asparagus for 8 minutes at 200°C. After programming both, we hit ‘Sync’. The air fryer intelligently started the salmon basket first, then automatically kicked in the asparagus basket four minutes later, so both alarms beeped at the exact same moment. This feature alone eliminates the mental gymnastics of meal timing. It’s a revelation for weeknight cooking, ensuring every component of your meal is perfectly hot and ready to serve together. One user praised this specifically, noting how they “can sync the cooking finish even with different cooking times,” which perfectly captures the practical benefit we experienced. It’s an incredibly intuitive system that genuinely simplifies the entire cooking process and is a standout feature that justifies the investment.

Unpacking the Cooking Power: Swan Cyclone Technology at Work

Swan makes a point of highlighting its “Cyclone Technology,” their term for the rapid air circulation system that powers the appliance. Marketing jargon aside, the results speak for themselves. We started with the ultimate test: frozen chips. With just a light spray of oil and using the dedicated ‘Chips’ pre-set, they emerged after 20 minutes deeply golden, incredibly crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. The heat distribution was impressively even, requiring only one shake halfway through for a perfectly uniform finish. Moving on to fresh chicken wings, we were able to achieve a crackling, bubbly skin that rivalled any deep fryer, while the meat inside remained succulent and tender. What impressed us most was the speed. Thanks to the powerful 1700W output, there is virtually no preheating time required, a point echoed by user feedback. You can go from a cold start to cooking at 200°C in under a minute, saving both time and energy compared to a conventional oven. This efficiency is at the core of the air fryer appeal, and the SWAN Nordic Duo delivers fantastic cooking results across a wide range of foods.

Design, Usability, and a Few Quirks

The user experience is largely positive, thanks to the straightforward digital control panel. Each basket has its own dedicated display and controls, making it easy to program them independently. The 13 pre-sets are clearly labelled with icons, covering everything from Fish and Steak to Bake and even Dehydrate. However, we must address the feedback from one user who felt the “touch screen isn’t really a touch screen.” This is a fair assessment. It’s not a capacitive screen like a smartphone; it’s a membrane-style panel that requires a firm, deliberate press to register input. While it works perfectly well, it lacks the premium, feather-light touch of more expensive models. We also noted the user comment about presets starting cooking immediately upon selection. This is true, and it can catch you off guard the first few times. The workaround is simple: select your preset, then immediately adjust the time or temperature if needed, which pauses the start until you’re ready. On the topic of design, the colour discrepancy mentioned by a user is a valid concern for those trying to create a perfectly matched kitchen suite. We recommend checking recent customer photos if a precise colour match is critical. Finally, cleaning is refreshingly simple. The non-stick coating on the baskets and removable crisper plates is effective; a quick soak in hot, soapy water was all that was needed to remove even baked-on cheese. This ease of maintenance is a huge plus for daily use.

What Other Users Are Saying

Scouring online feedback provides a balanced picture that largely aligns with our own findings. Positives consistently centre on the dual-basket convenience. One user, who received it as a gift, raved about the Sync and Match features, calling them out as major pros and highlighting how intuitive the controls were, stating they “hardly needed to read the manual.” The ease of cleaning, thanks to the removable inner bases of each drawer, was another frequently praised aspect. These comments confirm that the core functionality of the SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L is well-executed and genuinely useful in a real-world kitchen.

On the other hand, criticism tends to focus on build quality and aesthetics. The most pointed feedback came from a user who felt the product was of “bad quality” and “feels cheap,” specifically referencing the touch panel. This highlights the trade-off made to achieve this feature set at its price point. Another user was disappointed that the “sage green” colour was more of a “lime green” and didn’t match their other Swan appliances. This feedback is crucial for potential buyers to manage expectations: you are getting exceptional functionality and style, but perhaps not the premium materials or perfect colour consistency of a top-tier brand.

How Does the SWAN Nordic Duo Compare to the Alternatives?

The SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L sits in a competitive market, but its alternatives often cater to different cooking philosophies. It’s important to understand these differences to know if the Swan is truly the right fit for your needs. While we believe it offers a superb balance for modern, healthy cooking, let’s see how it stacks up against other options.

1. Premier 5L Deep Fat Fryer

This is a product for the traditionalist. The Premier Deep Fat Fryer is designed for one purpose: to deep fry food in hot oil. If your primary goal is to achieve that authentic, oil-fried taste for things like fish and chips or doughnuts, and health is a secondary concern, then this is the tool for the job. It offers a large 5L oil capacity but is fundamentally different from the Swan. The SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L, by contrast, is a versatile multi-cooker that can air fry, bake, roast, and dehydrate with minimal oil. The Premier is a one-trick pony, while the Swan is a kitchen workhorse.

2. NETTA 4.2L Air Fryer

The NETTA 4.2L Air Fryer is a closer competitor, sharing the core air frying technology. However, its key differences are capacity and features. At 4.2L with a single basket, it’s best suited for individuals or couples, whereas the Swan’s 8L dual-basket design is built for families. The NETTA has simpler controls, often using manual dials for time and temperature, lacking the pre-sets, digital display, and the crucial Sync/Match functions of the Swan. Someone on a tighter budget or with less kitchen space might prefer the NETTA, but they would be sacrificing the ability to cook a full meal simultaneously.

3. Quest 35239 2.5L Deep Fryer

Similar to the Premier model, the Quest is another dedicated deep fat fryer, but in a much more compact form factor. Its 2.5L capacity is designed for smaller households or occasional frying. It features an observation window and adjustable temperature, but like all deep fryers, it involves the cost, mess, and health implications of using large amounts of cooking oil. For anyone looking for a healthier, more versatile, and easier-to-clean appliance, the SWAN Nordic Duo is undeniably the superior choice, offering far more functionality than just frying.

Our Final Verdict: Is the SWAN Nordic Duo Worth It?

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L is a fantastic appliance that punches well above its weight, particularly for busy families. Its true triumph is the flawless execution of the dual-basket system with the Sync and Match Cook functions, which fundamentally changes the weeknight dinner workflow for the better. The cooking performance is excellent, delivering crispy, evenly-cooked results quickly and efficiently. While it’s true that the build materials and control panel don’t feel as premium as some high-end competitors, this is a reasonable trade-off for the immense versatility and stylish design offered at such an accessible price point.

If you are a family of 2-4 looking to eat healthier, save time, and bring variety back to your meals without a huge learning curve, this air fryer is an outstanding choice. It successfully bridges the gap between functionality, aesthetics, and value. For anyone ready to simplify their cooking and say goodbye to meal-timing stress, the SWAN Nordic Duo 13-in-1 Air Fryer 8L is a highly recommended addition to your kitchen arsenal. You can check the current price and see more user reviews right here.

Last update on 2025-10-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API