So, whether you’re shopping for your first air-fryer, you’ve just bought one or have had yours for a while, you’ll find everything you need within our ultimate air-fryers guide: from recommendations to help you find the best model for you, to tips, tricks and inspiration, plus how to care for your air-fryer. Read more about how we test air-fryers.
Best air-fryers 2024 at a glance
5/5 stars
- Best single-drawer air-fryer: Cosori TurboBlaze, £109.99
- Best dual-drawer air-fryer: Ninja Foodi Max AF400UK, £174
- Best air-fryer grill: ProCook Air-Fryer Health Grill, £179
- Best air-fryer oven: Breville Halo Rotisserie Air-Fryer Oven, £169.99
Best of the rest
Single-drawer air-fryers
- Best air-fryer for quick baking: Ninja Air-Fryer Max 5.2L, £129.99
- Best WiFi-enabled air-fryer: Cosori Air-Fryer Lite 3.8L, £54.99
- Best air-fryer for all-round even cooking: Cosori Dual Blaze 6.4L, £179.99
Dual-drawer air-fryers
More like this
- Best for cooking a complete meal in one: Ninja Foodi Dual Zone AF300UK, £149
- Best quiet air-fryer: Philips Dual Basket 3000, £139.99
- Best air-fryer for quick results: Cosori Dual Basket Air Fryer, £159.99
- Best air-fryer for chicken: Lakeland Dual-Basket Air-Fryer, £74.99
Air-fryer grills
- Best multifunctional air-fryer: Ninja Foodi Max Health AG551UK, £269.99
- Best air-fryer with grill attachment: Tefal EasyFry Precision Air-Fryer and Grill, £69
Air-fryer ovens
- Best-looking air-fryer oven: Our Place Wonder Oven, £195
- Best large air-fryer oven: HYSapientia Dual Zone Air-Fryer, £199.99
Jump to section:
Best single-drawer air-fryers to buy in 2024
Cosori TurboBlaze air-fryer
Best single-drawer air-fryer
Pros:
- Sleek design
- Easy-to-use touchscreen display
- Cooks quickly and quietly
- Well-written manual
Cons:
- Susceptible to fingerprints
- Large footprint
Star rating: 5/5
Wattage: 1725W
Among the newer models in Cosori’s air-fryer range, the TurboBlaze is a stylish, six-litre gadget with nine presets, including air-fry, roast, grill, prove, and reheat. According to Cosori, what sets it apart from previous models is its high-speed motor and new air-duct solution, which translates to it being up to 46% faster than the Cosori Pro.
It comes with a wide, bright touchscreen and five fan speeds, each of which corresponds to a different function. Temperatures can reach as high as 230C, and the timer can be run for a maximum of 24 hours – ideal if you’re using the dehydration setting for ingredients like fruit. In test, we loved how easy it was to use, and though it looks quite chunky, it’s versatile and relatively quiet while it cooks.
Cost to run for 10 minutes: 4.2p
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Ninja AF160UK air-fryer max 5.2L
Best air-fryer for quick baking
Pros:
- Circular tray design
- Non-stick tray with silicone corner protection
Cons:
- Might not fit under low countertop cupboards
Wattage: 1750W
Star rating: 5/5
Most air-fryers are multifunctional but not all extend their practicality to usable baking functions. This model’s round, non-stick, pull-out tray lends itself well to baking cakes. Ninja is great as a brand at plastering its packaging in clear, easy to read instructions. The box itself explains all options: max crisp, air-fry, bake, reheat and dehydrate but, if you’re too excited to bother, a comprehensive quick-start guide and instruction booklet will do the same.
The 5.2-litre capacity tray has nice high sides that allows room for cakes to rise and small whole chickens to roast. Drawers can be put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. For a smaller option, the Ninja 3.8L AF100UK air-fryer was awarded 4/5 stars by our reviews team.
Read our full Ninja AF160UK air-fryer max review.
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Cosori Air-Fryer Lite 3.8L
Best WiFi-enabled air-fryer
Pros:
- Compact
- Cord storage
- Tactile handle
- Easy-to-remove grill tray
- Digital countdown on display after one minute
- WiFi connectivity
Cons:
- Preset times and temperatures a little off
Wattage: 1500W
Star rating: 4.5/5
Ideal for one-to-three portions, this is the smallest model in the Cosori collection. It’s smart-looking with flat, touchscreen controls, tactile accents, and useful cord storage at the back. It’s also sturdy and robust, with aesthetically considered finishes.
There are five presets (chicken, fries, bacon, steak, veggies), plus keep warm and preheat settings. All test recipes were well cooked: crisp and even results with consistent browning. That said, both the preset times and temperatures are higher and longer than they need to be, so we recommend reducing the cooking time and temperatures to avoid any overcooking.
This model is also WiFi-compatible via the VeSync app. Although we struggled to find any real need for it to be (setting the air-fryer to go takes very little time), it’s useful to be able to check how much time is left from afar and for the bank of Cosori recipes it houses.
Read the full Cosori Air-Fryer Lite 3.8-litre review.
Cost to run for 10 minutes: 2.2p
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Cosori Dual Blaze Smart air-fryer
Best air-fryer for all-round even cooking
Pros:
- Great price for the quality of build
- Even cooking
- No shaking needed while cooking
- Easy to set up
- Can be operated through a smartphone
Cons:
- Non-recyclable packaging
- Cannot be switched on remotely
Wattage: 1700W
Star rating: 4.5/5
What really sets this Cosori air-fryer apart is its clever technology – the patented dual heating elements allow for even browning on both sides, so no shaking or stirring is required as you cook. Plus, it uses 360 ThermoIQ technology and thicker pure aluminium baskets, to help food cook more quickly.
We loved its tall, compact design and simple touchscreen, which displays 12 cooking functions – from chicken, steak and seafood, to vegetables and fries. You can operate it from a smartphone too, which is a fun bonus, though for safety reasons it has to be switched on manually.
It was hard to resist the temptation to peek at our first batch of chips as they cooked inside the Dual Blaze, but the dual heating element really impressed us, turning out evenly crisp golden fries and perfectly cooked thick-cut chips.
Read our full Cosori Dual Blaze smart air-fryer review.
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Best dual-drawer air-fryers to buy in 2024
Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK air-fryer
Best dual-drawer air-fryer
Pros:
- Large capacity
- Easy to clean
- Two cooking zones
- Programmable so different foods finish simultaneously
Cons:
- Big footprint
- No pre-set cooking options for specific ingredients
Star rating: 5/5
Wattage: 2470W
This large-capacity dual zone air-fryer was a joy to use. Much like other Ninja products we’ve tried, we were impressed with the packaging which was largely cardboard and paper with very little plastic.
With a large capacity you get a large footprint, and there’s no denying that a large amount of counter space is needed to accommodate this air-fryer. We used the sync function to cook a chicken breast in one drawer and salmon fillet in the other, cooking at different temperatures but so they finished at the same time. The salmon had a crispy skin, while the chicken was moist with a slight golden colour.
There was no transfer of smell or flavours between the two drawers, which would make it a great tool if cooking for a family where the grown-ups and kids have different tastes.
Read our full Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK air-fryer review.
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Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air-fryer
Best for cooking a complete meal in one
Pros:
- Cooks large quantities
- Two independent cooking zones
- Easy touchscreen
- Quality build
- Non-stick tray
- Programmable for different foods to finish simultaneously
Cons:
- The sync function takes a few attempts
- Large footprint
Wattage: 1200W (one drawer), 2400W (two drawers)
Star rating: 5/5
This Ninja air-fryer stood out to us for several reasons – the first being its fully recyclable packaging, which was a huge plus, not to mention we were able to use the appliance almost straight out the box. Its appearance is particularly striking too, and we were fans of the sleek matte finish and bright, easy-to-use touchscreen.
Despite its large footprint and some initial difficulty with the match and sync functions, which allow you to finish cooking different foods at the same time, we were able to master the controls fairly quickly.
The cooking results, too, were excellent – both thick and thin-cut air-fried chips were a success, as was a deliciously crisp duck breast, which cooked at 180C for just 15 minutes. This air-fryer scored highly on efficiency and value, too. Read our full Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air-fryer review.
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Philips dual-basket air-fryer 3000
Best quiet air-fryer
Pros:
- Extra-large cooking zone
- Runs quietly
- Sleek, smooth design
- Easy-to-use touchscreen
Cons:
- Printed instructions lacked detail
- Some non-recyclable packaging
- Large footprint
- Timer is very quiet
Wattage: 2750W
Star rating: 4.5/5
Some air-fryers come with noisy fans that can be a real nuisance, particularly if you live in an open-plan space. One of this reasons we liked this model is that it’s whisper-quiet in use, though sometimes to its detriment – the timer beeps at such a low volume that you might miss it if you’re not paying attention.
The two drawers (one 6 litres, the other 3 litres) offer an easy solution for quickly cooking core parts of a meal at the same time, whether you’re feeding a large family or dinner for one. Once prepped, the air-fryer cooks ingredients in synchronicity on different functions, and we found it did a particularly good job with chips, which were crisp, mostly even and packed with flavour.
We felt the manual was alarmingly vague, but there is at least an app that you can download with further instructions. Mastering the touchscreen controls is also fairly straightforward.
Cost to run for 10 minutes: 3p for the 6L drawer, 5.8p for both drawers simultaneously
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Cosori dual basket air-fryer
Pros:
- Simple, intuitive controls
- Large capacity
- Quick, powerful cooking
Cons:
- Chunky footprint
- Excessive non-recyclable packaging
Wattage: 2750W
Star rating: 4.5/5
Sporting a 8.5-litre capacity, this air-fryer from Cosori is the brand’s largest yet. Among the presets are air-fry, roast, grill, reheat, dehydrate, bake, preheat, and shake – the latter of which ensures more even cooking, though it’s a setting we find rarely with other air-fryers.
This model also cooks quickly, which is great if you want dinner in a hurry, but just watch your ingredients don’t become overdone like some of ours did in test – a little trial and error goes a long way. We achieved the best results with chips, which – after 30 mins at 200C – were golden and crisp with a fluffy centre and a few brown spots.
It scored low points on the sustainability front, owing the amount of plastic packaging it arrived in. There also appears to be no spare parts available to buy online, but you can reach out to Cosori’s customer service team about replacement parts and repairs.
Cost to run for 10 minutes: 2.7p for one drawer, 5.2p for both drawers simultaneously
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Lakeland 8-litre dual-basket air-fryer
Best air-fryer for chicken
Pros:
- Looks good
- Excellent cooking results
- 3-year warranty
- Easy-view windows to watch ingredients as they cook
Cons:
- Dimly-lit controls
- Some icons are difficult to identify
Star rating: 4.5/5
Wattage: 2700W
There’s something very satisfying about watching chips or chicken crisp up in an air-fryer, and this 8-litre model from Lakeland has windows on the front of each drawer that allow you to peek inside.
Built with eight presets (steak, chicken wings, seafood, fish, pizza, chips, bake, vegetables), its sync function adds convenience and was effective when cooking different dishes at the same time. We had no issues mastering the basic functions, though the controls are dimly-lit so can be difficult to read. Some of the icons are also hard to identify, so we had to keep referring back to the manual.
Our chips had a pleasant crunch and fluffy centre, but the real winner was chicken breast – which was among some of the best air-fryer chicken we’ve ever tasted: juicy, tender and packed with flavour.
Cost to run for 10 minutes: 2.5p for one drawer, 4.9p for both drawers simultaneously
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Best air-fryer grills to buy in 2024
ProCook air-fryer health grill
Best air-fryer grill
Pros:
- Good-looking
- Fully recyclable packaging
- Wide range of presets
- Comprehensive instruction manual
- Intuitive controls
Cons:
Wattage: 1500-1750W
Star rating: 5/5
This is ProCook’s first-ever air-fryer grill, and it impressed us from the moment we unboxed it. Its sleek, stainless-steel design looks great on the countertop, which is fortunate as it’s very large, so most households would have difficulty storing it.
Among the 12 presets are traditional settings like air-fry, roast, grill and bake, plus more unique functions, like slow cook and steam. A non-stick crisper basket, multifunctional cooking pot, grill rack, glass lid, removable splatter shield and cleaning brush are also included.
The chips we cooked were crisp, golden and well sealed, with a fluffy centre. We awarded this air-fryer extra marks for its fully recyclable packaging, too.
Cost to run for 10 minutes: 7p
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Ninja Foodi MAX health grill & air-fryer
Best blow-out multifunctional air-fryer
Pros:
- Zero-oil air crisping
- Leave-in digital cooking probe
- Recipe booklet catering for gluten-free, diary free, keto and vegetarian diets
Cons:
- Hot underneath
- Chunky footprint
Wattage: 2460W
Star rating: 5/5
This is both a pricey and chunky investment purchase that looks more like a pizza oven than an air-fryer. However, for the quality of components and cooking results it’s great value for money offering roast, bake, grill and dehydrate functions in addition to air-frying.
It’s particularly adapted for roasting meat joints. The integrated digital thermometer meant the gadget alerted us when the whole chicken was full cooked, preventing it from being over-done. Requiring zero oil, the chips were well-sealed and soft inside. Its grill function didn’t disappoint when it came to grid cooking and, if you like a traybake, cakes are ready in 25 minutes.
Read our full Ninja Foodi MAX health grill & air-fryer review.
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Tefal EasyFry Precision 2-in-1 air-fryer and grill
Best air-fryer with grill attachment
Pros:
- Cost efficient to run
- Intuitive touchscreen controls
- Large capacity without being too bulky
- Two-year guarantee
Cons:
- Noisy
- Some packaging is non-recyclable
- No printed manual included
- Smaller food can fall through the grill
Wattage: 1400W
Star rating: 4.5/5
As medium-capacity air-fryers go, this model is impressively slimline with an attractive stainless-steel body and brushed plastic base. It comes with a robust die-cast metal grill that slots easily into the basket and heats quickly, promising crisp results with 99% less added fat than other classic air-fryers on the market.
Among the eight presets are chips, meat, fish, vegetables, nuggets, roast chicken, pizza, and desserts, plus manual air-fryer and grill. The touchscreen was also easy to navigate and could be mastered without the manual. This goes someway to explaining why this air-fryer doesn’t come with printed instructions, though an online guide can be found via a QR code on the box.
We found the browning to be inconsistent when air-frying salmon and chicken breasts, and our aubergine – while flavoursome – lacked the restaurant-style grill marks we’d hoped for. We did achieve attractive grill marks when cooking halloumi, however, and our chips were perfectly sealed and crunchy.
Read our full Tefal EasyFry Precision air-fryer and grill review.
Cost to run for 10 minutes: 2.9p
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Best air-fryer ovens to buy in 2024
Breville Halo Rotisserie air-fryer oven
Best air-fryer oven
Pros:
- Interior light for watching rotisserie
- Evenly browned chips with crisp exteriors
- Perfectly cooked small chicken
- Rotisserie fork for handling hot elements safely
Cons:
- Large countertop footprint
- Heat released from the top
Wattage: 2000W
Star rating: 5/5
If you have the space on your countertop for another boxy appliance, Breville’s latest air-fryer is a statement multifunctional gadget that, when on, will draw attention from across the room. It holds a small, trussed chicken (to keep its wings and legs neatly tucked in) for easy rotisserie and includes a chip basket for keeping chipped potatoes moving for even crisping.
The rotisserie function must be manually switched on, which may be confusing if you only skim-read the instruction manual. Once activated, you can turn on the internal light for checking in on its contents. After 55 minutes, this model’s glass front panel and exterior was warm but not dangerously hot, which is a tick in the safety box for adults and kids.
Read our full Breville Halo Rotisserie air-fryer review, or if you’d prefer a smaller model, read our full Breville Halo digital air-fryer review.
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Our Place Wonder Oven
Best looking air-fryer oven
Pros:
- Good-looking
- Available in a choice of colours
- Includes accessories
- Mostly recyclable packaging
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Slower than other models we’ve tested
- Unable to adjust timer once set
- Noisy in use
Wattage: 1400W
Star rating: 4.5/5
If you haven’t yet caught wind of this viral air-fryer oven on social media, this popular gadget finally launched in the UK in June 2024. It benefits from the same colourful design as the Our Place Always Pan, and there are three colours to choose from – ‘steam’, ‘char’ and ‘blue salt’, as well as limited-edition ‘spice’.
Settings include air-fry, bake, grill, roast, toast, and reheat, and there are plenty of accessories thrown in too, including a wire rack, non-stick baking tray and air-fryer basket.
In test we found it easy to use, if a little noisy. It’s also slower than other models we’ve tested, and we disliked that you can’t adjust the timer dial once you’ve twisted it round – you simply have to wait for the time to run out. On the plus side, all the dishes we cooked with the Wonder Oven were nicely browned and flavoursome, with some nice barbecue-like charring on the chicken breast.
Read our first-look review of the Our Place Wonder Oven.
Cost to run for 10 minutes: 2.1p
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HYSapientia Dual Zone air-fryer
Best large air-fryer oven
Pros:
- Versatile
- Two three-layer cooking zones
- 13 accessories included
- Easy to use control panel
Cons:
- Excessive amount of plastic packaging
- No information on spare parts or repairs
- Large footprint
- Gets very hot during use
Wattage: 2400W
Star rating: 4/5
If you want the large capacity of an air-fryer oven but the convenience and versatility of a dual-basket model, this 22-litre appliance from HYSapientia offers both in abundance.
Much like the brand’s 15-litre air-fryer oven and 24-litre air-fryer oven, there’s ample space for cooking large quantities. But, when you only need to use half the air-fryer, you can slot a divider board into the centre of the oven to create two separate cooking zones, which can both be controlled independently.
Among the accessories are full-size and half-width oven racks, baking trays and air-fryer baskets, and there’s also a small set of oven gloves and a recipe book. Everything we cooked inside the air-fryer was pleasantly golden and crisp. What disappointed us was the excessive amount of plastic in the packaging, which couldn’t be recycled.
Cost to run for 10 minutes: 6.8p
Other air-fryers tested and reviewed
- Ninja Air Fryer Max Pro 6.2L AF180UK, £149.99
- Instant Vortex Plus Dual air-fryer review, £149.99
- Cosori Dual Blaze 6.4L air-fryer review, £179.99
- Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 rapid cooker review, £169
- Salter Dual Cook Pro 8.2L air-fryer, £144
- Tefal EasyFry 10-in-1 multi-functional air-fryer oven, £189
- Proscenic T31 air-fryer oven, £122.73
- Breville Halo Flexi air-fryer, £168.95
- Salter Dual Cook Pro air-fryer review.
- Cosori Pro 5.5-litre air-fryer review, £66.48
- Sage the Smart Oven air-fryer review, £249.95
- Tefal Genius ActiFry 2-in-1 air-fryer review, £69
- Magic Bullet 2.5-litre air-fryer review, £39.99
- HySapientia 24L air-fryer oven review, £134.99
- Swan Duo 13-in-1 air-fryer review, £138.90
- Cosori Pro 4.7L air-fryer review, £59.99
- Zwilling air-fryer review, £139
- Tower Vortex 5-in-1 11-litre air-fryer review, £113
- Philips Avance air-fryer XXL review, £143.69
- Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air-Fryer review, £79.99
What type of air-fryers are there?
- Basket style with heating elements: tall, slim air-fryers feature a main unit with heating elements and fans. These have slide-out baskets or trays that slot into place inside. As they tend to have a smaller cooking area than oven-style fryers, in testing we found even results were more likely if the cooking was paused occasionally to rearrange or toss the food around. Some fryers will cut out automatically when you do this, some will need to be paused if you want accurate timings.
- Rotisserie air-fryers: these are designed to produce evenly browned but moist cooked chickens, roasted much quicker than in the oven. Plus, thanks to the nifty interior lights, they’re a real crowd-pleaser for entertaining. Chip rotisserie baskets toss raw potatoes within these that allow heat to reach every nook and cranny for a crisp finish.
- ‘Mini oven’ types: these models use convection or fan technology to cook food on flat, slide-in trays. As well as roasting, their extra air-frying functions circulate hot air around the food for more efficient crisping. These took up the space of an average-sized microwave. Some may also include rotisserie elements.
- Interior paddles: Some models, like the Tefal ActiFry Genius, have an interior paddle – its stirring motion keeping the food moving around a doughnut-shaped tray. Unlike ‘basket’ models, the oil stayed in the pan rather than draining away, so sauces, rice or even casserole-type recipes could be used here.
How to choose the best air-fryer
Air-fryers differ in size and versatility, so it’s worth considering the following while you do your research.
- What would you like to cook in it?
- How many people are you cooking for?
- How much space do you have?
- What is your budget?
- Do you have a specific requirement for ease-of-use? For example, large, clear function icons and controls, or perhaps an audible indicator for when each function has finished?
If it’s simply a healthier, more efficient method of cooking chips that you’re after, you can narrow your search down to one without bells and whistles, and save some pennies on a machine that does the core function well.
Top tip: Watch out for those that will require you to part-boil the cut potatoes prior to crisping – air-fryers worth having should be able to fully cook chips on their own.
Are air-fryers energy efficient?
Air-fryers vary in their energy efficiency, but it is possible to calculate how much energy an appliance will use, which in turn will help you cost up the impact it’ll have on your bills. Here’s how:
Take the appliance’s wattage and multiply it by the gadget’s hours of use per day, then divide the total by 1000. The result will be the appliance’s daily kilowatt-hour (kWh).
The cost per kilowatt-hour will vary depending on your energy tariff and area. If you have a smart meter installed at home, you’ll be able to see the cost per use during cooking without having to calculate it.
One of the many useful qualities of air-fryers is the countertop size. These gadgets are much faster to heat up and designed to circulate hot air efficiently, meaning food can be cooked much quicker than in a traditional oven. For smaller quantities and specific ingredients, air-fryers will be switched on for considerably less time, which equates to less electricity consumption.
Is air-frying healthy?
In comparison to deep-fat frying, air-frying is a healthier alternative – using convection cooking rather than oil means there’s less fat in the finished food, which in turn means fewer calories. However, air-frying does have some negatives, so it should be considered as part of a balanced diet. Read more about the health credentials of air-fryers in our guide – is air-frying healthy?
What can you cook in an air-fryer?
Recipe-wise, air-fryers are an excellent tool for not only knocking up traditional favourites, but aiding you in experimentation. The humble spud is a great starting point.
As we mention above, it’s possible to achieve a similar texture and flavour of traditional fried delights with an air-crisp function for air-fried chips and air-fried roast potatoes using considerably less oil. The same applies to coated foods from which you’d like a crisp outer, like breadcrumbs. Discover our collection of air-fryer recipes for a bit of inspiration for veggies and air-fried chicken.
On mid-range models, baking functions are often an option with non-stick accessories. This opens the door to thrifty bakes, classic cake recipes as well as free-from options to fit those with dietary requirements. Fruit leather is an excellent way to make the most of a dehydrate function if you have a hand blender, blender or food processor at home, or for an umami-kick try dehydrating tomatoes or mushrooms.
How to recycle an air-fryer
Whether you want to upgrade to a newer model, or your air-fryer has reached the end of its life, knowing how and where to dispose of your appliance is important to avoid creating more e-waste.
- Check the warranty: If your air-fryer is broken, find out whether it’s still under guarantee. If it is, you should be able to have it replaced or repaired by the retailer or manufacturer.
- Can it be repaired independently? If the warranty on your appliance has expired, find out whether any independent appliance repairs services will fix it for you. Research recommended and trusted traders in your area, and they may be able to come out and take a look for you.
- Look for replacement parts: Some brands sell air-fryer parts separately, so if a particular element of your gadget is broken and can be easily swapped out, find out whether you can purchase a replacement online or in store.
- Donate: If your air-fryer is in full working order and you simply want to upgrade it, give it a new home and donate it to a worthy cause. You could also use platforms like Freecycle or Facebook Marketplace.
- Recycle: Some larger retailers like B&Q and Argos accept and recycle smaller electricals like air-fryers. The Reuse Network lists the nearest charities and community projects that will welcome your old gadgets. Similarly, Recycle Your Electricals provides helpful guidance on how to recycle your gadgets, as well as a list of organisations that may accept donations. For further advice, read our guide on how to recycle electricals and appliances.
How we tested air-fryers
What is the first thing you think of when you consider air-fryers? Chips, of course, so our homemade fries test was crucial.
The key to crisp fries was to peel and soak the potatoes in cold water for half an hour to remove starch, before drying thoroughly. We used Maris Piper potatoes for all.
We looked at the manuals for each model and followed their directions for cooking temperature, time and the quantity of oil needed. If the type of oil wasn’t specified, then we used vegetable.
Anything from the size of the cut to the variety of potato can make a difference here, so it’s always good to gauge things halfway through the time. But for the purpose of the test, we shook ingredients only when prompted too and scored the appliance based on its performance.
We tested the air-fryers using set criteria and scored each one on the following core areas out of five. The average of all determined the overall star rating they achieved:
Quality of food
To ensure fairness, we initially cooked chips in every fryer we tested. We looked at how evenly they ‘fried’ and whether they were brown and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Ease of use
No-one wants to resort to a YouTube video to work out how to use a new gadget. We looked for fryers with clear, simple instructions, so we could get them out of the box and cooking our dinner as quickly as possible. Fryers also scored highly if the icons or control buttons were easy to use and intuitive.
Value for money
Some of our cheaper fryers made excellent fries without a big price tag. We looked at whether the fryers were worth the price.
Ease of cleaning
Some air-fryer baskets are dishwasher safe or coated with a non-stick surface. Read our guide to how to clean an air-fryer.
Quality of materials
We checked that every component of the air-fryer was built to last and able to withstand regular use.
What to consider when buying an air-fryer
Think of your individual requirements before investing. You may want to consider the following:
Manual or digital
The simplest air-fryers come with manual knobs that you twist to set the time and temperature. You may prefer a digital version, where you press buttons to set this, and can see the remaining time digitally displayed.
Choice of pre-set programmes
Do you like to choose your own temperature and how long to cook things for, or would you prefer to leave all that to the machine? Some of our fryers had up to nine pre-set programmes for popular foods like chips and, bizarrely, shrimps.
Speed
It took between 17 and 30 minutes to cook chips in our samples, so this might be a factor. Some models need preheating, but only for a few minutes (much less than an oven).
Size
Always check the size as the capacity varies enormously – important if you’re feeding the masses or just want dinner for one. But bigger isn’t always better. Some take up more space on the kitchen surface and if you’re going to keep it in a cupboard, check the dimensions; some are sizeable beasts.
Transparent lid or internal light
Some models have a see-through lid so you can glance in and check your chips are browning well. With others, you have to open the basket to check, stopping the machine. The transparent ones tend to be a feature on more expensive machines, so you need to decide how important this is to you.
Shaking
With most air-fryers, you need to shake your chips halfway through cooking (or more often if you want to see how they are getting on). Some fryers have clever devices built in to turn the food for you. Again, these tend to be the more expensive models, but this could a factor to consider if you want to go off and leave your dinner to cook itself.
Cleaning
You’ll need to wash the basket and pan after use. Some need to be hand-washed, while others are dishwasher-proof. (The main parts of the machine should just be wiped with a cloth.)
Price
Air-fryers vary hugely in price – our tested models varied from £39.99 to £300.
How to convert recipes for an air-fryer
If you want to adapt a recipe for air-frying, Good Food’s food copy editor Samuel Goldsmith recommends reducing the cooking time by 20%. To do this, simply multiply the original time by 0.8 – the result will give you the amended cooking time.
For instance, where a recipe calls for 20 minutes of cooking: 20 x 0.8 = 16, so the reduced cooking time is 16 minutes.
“That said, if you’ve recently bought an air-fryer, I would advise trialling the times and temperatures first as each model varies in size,” says Samuel.
What not to cook in an air-fryer
Air-fryers are generally very versatile, but there are certain ingredients you should avoid air-frying for safety reasons, like popcorn and sauce-based dishes. Some recipes are better suited to other gadgets, like steamers, rice cookers or microwaves.
Read our full guide on what not to cook in an air-fryer, plus recipe developer Ailsa Burt’s top air-frying tips.
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Our costs-to-run calculations were done against the variable tariff at the time of testing – read more on the current energy price guarantee rates.
If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.