We study an averaging procedure for completely bounded multipliers on a locally compact quantum group with respect to a compact quantum subgroup. As a consequence we show that central approximation properties of discrete quantum groups are equivalent to the corresponding approximation properties of their Drinfeld doubles. This is complemented by a discussion of the averaging of Fourier algebra elements. We compare the biinvariant Fourier algebra of the Drinfeld double of a discrete quantum group with the central Fourier algebra. In the unimodular case these are naturally identified, but we show by exhibiting a family of counter‐examples that they differ in general.