Compare the best UK air fryers, tested & reviewed by the delicious. team

Air fryer reviews summary

Ninja Dual Drawer Air Fryers
Star rating: ★★★★★
Best air fryer for ease of use
From £199.99 RRP

Buy now from Amazon

Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer
Star rating: ★★★★★
Best air fryer for small households
£159.99 RRP

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON

Tefal Easy Fry Dual Air Fryer & Grill

Star rating: ★★★☆☆
Best air fryer for grilling
From £169.99 RRP

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON

Salter Digital Air Fryer

Star rating: ★★★★☆
Best air fryer for rivalling an oven
£84.99 RRP

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON

Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer

Star rating: ★★★★☆
Best air fryer for quiet cooking
£119.99 RRP

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON

Air fryer reviews

Ninja Dual Drawer Air Fryers

Star rating: ★★★★★
Best air fryer for simplicity

Price: AF300UK model £199.99 RRP, AF400UK model £299.99 RRP
Volume: 7.6 litres (smaller model), 9.5 litres (larger model)

“The Max Crisp feature is excellent for finishing off dishes and giving them a crispy top in a few minutes”

Tested by product reviewer Clare Mansell. These straightforward two-drawer models from Ninja (one bigger than the other) have just six functions but deliver consistent results and offer the benefit of Ninja’s advice and support. Full Ninja Dual Drawer Air Fryers review →

Buy the AF300UK now from Ninja 

Buy the AF300UK now from Amazon

Buy the AF400UK now from Ninja 

Buy the AF400UK now from Amazon

Pros

• Capacity: Well-sized drawers accommodate a 2lb loaf tin or small pasta bake. A 1.4kg chicken fitted in the smaller model
• Temperature range: Dehydrate fruit or make crispy fries with versatile settings from 40-240°C
• Ease and simplicity: Clear and intuitive control panel with words rather than symbols. Drawers can be synched to finish cooking together
• Crispiness: The Max Crisp function adds bite to surfaces and the models come with crisper plates
• Support: A comprehensive instruction booklet and short recipe book are included. Customer service is efficient
• Popularity: Ninja’s market dominance means third-party accessories are available for its models and there’s an active community of Ninja users online to learn from

Cons

• Limited functions: No windows in drawers, dedicated grill plates or preheat functions. Whether these are needed is personal choice
• Cost: There’s a premium price tag for a Ninja machine, but the brand offers comprehensive information and excellent customer support

Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer

Star rating: ★★★★★
Best air fryer for small households

Price: £159.99 RRP
Volume: 6 litres

“The one-hour ‘proof’ preset is excellent for helping bread rise”

Tested by product reviewer Clare Mansell. A compact single-drawer air fryer that would suit a family of three who sometimes cook for more. The smart fan speed display will aid new air fryer cooks to decide which of 10 presets to choose. Full Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer review →

Buy now from Amazon

Pros

• Mid-size:  The single drawer has a six-litre capacity, which we roasted a 1.9kg chicken in, and would suit a family of three for day-to-day cooking
• Fan speed display: This is useful extra info when choosing a preset (and avoiding burnt or under-cooked food) for those new to air fryers
• Versatile: Wide range of temperature (30-230°C) and time (one minute to 24 hours) options. Includes one-hour proof preset for bread
• Speed: Cosori claims its air fryer is faster than some others thanks to the direct current motor (most kitchen appliances have an AC  – alternating current – motor). We found time advantages provided were moderate

Cons

• Drawer lock: A button on the handle unlocks. Useful if you have young children, otherwise an obstacle when wanting to quickly check on food
• Single drawer: This suits some, but can be limiting if looking to cook mains and sides

Tefal Easy Fry Dual Air Fryer & Grill

Star rating: ★★★☆☆
Best air fryer for grilling

Price: £169.99 RRP (black finish), £189.99 (coal finish), £199.99 (stainless steel finish)
Volume: 8.3 litres (5.2-litre & 3.1-litre drawers)

“The griddle plate heats up enough to leave grill marks on your steaks”

Tested by product reviewer Clare Mansell. This dual-drawer air fryer with eight presets is simple to get started with. The two different-capacity cooking spaces make it versatile, with the smaller drawer ideal for meals for one or snacks, but it is slower than some other models we’ve tested. Full Tefal Easy Fry Dual Air Fryer & Grill review →

Buy now from Tefal in black finish

Buy now from Tefal in coal finish

Buy now from Tefal in stainless steel finish

Buy now from Amazon in black finish

Buy now from Amazon in coal finish

Pros

• Sustainability: It’s designed to be dismantled and reassembled, with spare parts available for 15 years
• Ease: Simple to get started without instructions. Clear buttons indicate functions (such as a cupcake symbol for ‘bake’)
• Versatility: Two different-sized cooking drawers, the smaller ideal for cooking for one
• Grilling: A griddle plate for the larger drawer is included, which delivered grill marks on steak – impressive
• Appearance: A stainless steel model also is available with attractive reflective finish (RRP £199.99), which is easier to keep clean than many glossy black models

Cons

• Speed: Our standard roast potato test suggested this model is slower than others on the market (but still faster than a standard oven)
• Limited instructions: While instinctive to begin with, not all desired functions are included in the instructions
• Omissions: Time or temperature can’t be amended once program has started. No audible alert at end of cooking time

Salter Digital Air Fryer

Star rating: ★★★★☆
Best air fryer for rivalling an oven

Price: £84.99 RRP
Volume: 12 litres

“Select the rotisserie chicken cooking preset and watch your bird become more golden and succulent as it turns mesmerisingly”

Tested by Deputy editor (Audiences) Thea Everett. This spacious model offers multi-tier cooking and a unique rotisserie feature – making it a great countertop alternative to a full-size oven or valuable extra appliance for families. Full Salter Digital Air Fryer review →

Buy now from Salter

Buy now from Amazon

Pros

• Space: Roomy 12-litre capacity (it fits an oven pizza) and three tiers, which can accommodate a full meal – no batch air frying required
• Helpful presets: The 12 options include setting for cooking chicken, prawns, steak and more, which limits guesswork
• Convenient: Turning food on the racks is easier at countertop height than it is with a conventional oven and there’s a viewing window for checking on food
• No preheating required: This helps save on energy
• Rotisserie function: Roast chicken using the rotisserie fork, tong and drip tray (which we recommend cooking potatoes in alongside to soak up the juices)
• Value: Given the capacity and versatility of the model, the under-£100 price tag is great news

Cons

• Inconsistency: Like a typical oven, food on different height racks cooks at difference paces (the top rack, where the fan is, cooks fastest). Rotate food for best results
• Smaller than an oven: Although spacious for an air fryer, there’s limited room to cook a full roast dinner or sizeable cakes

Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer

Star rating: ★★★★☆
Best air fryer for quiet cooking

Price: £119.99 RRP
Volume: 5.7 litres

“We had particularly good results cooking sausages (perfectly browned outside, moist inside)”

Tested by Deputy editor (Audiences) Thea Everett. A single-drawer 5.7-litre machine best-suited to a mid-sized household, with five cooking presets (air-fry, bake, roast, fry and reheat) that mean you barely need recipes. It browns food well and its quietness really adds to the appeal. Full Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer 5.7 litre review →

Buy now from Amazon

Pros

• Slim width: Unobtrusive on the kitchen countertop
• Roomy: The 5.7 litre size fits a roast chicken and can handle 1kg fries
• Quiet: Less noisy than some other models on the market
• Top-down heating: The heating mechanism is at the top of the machine, which we found helped deliver evenly browned, cooked food. Sausages were a standout
• Audible alerts: A beep communicates to ‘Add food’ (when the machine has preheated) and also – helpfully – when to ‘Turn food’

Cons

• Slim width: If you want to cook quiches or tarts, you’ll need narrow dishes
• Thorough pre-clean: As with any new kitchen gadget, a test run to remove the factory aroma is needed. This machine requires a double cleanse with bicarb and vinegar before use, plus a soak

What to consider when buying an air fryer

Size: Air fryers come in a variety of sizes, from small two-litre models (that can prepare a serving of chips or snack) to larger 10+ litre machines. These bigger appliances are not just useful for households with more mouths to feed but worth considering if you like to batch cook or dehydrate fruits and vegetables at home.

Purpose: Will your air fryer be an addition to your other cooking appliances or are you looking to cut down on (or completely stop) using your oven? How you plan to use it (and how often) will determine the size of air fryer you want to opt for and the type of features it needs. Some models offer over 10 presets for cooking tasks including roasting, baking and even slow cooking and steaming. The broader the temperature range an air fryer can deliver also indicates how versatile it will be in the kitchen.

Speed: While most air fryers are faster than a conventional oven, they are not all the same, which is worth bearing in mind if getting dinner on the table in a flash is important to you.

Format: Most air fryers feature a basket or drawer insert where the food is cooked. Opting for one basket or two is up to whether you’d like to cook multiple elements of a meal together in one machine or prefer to air fry larger batches or joints of meat alone. Need flexibility? Some models include one smaller and one larger drawer together or even a multi-purpose basket that can be divided into two or used whole. Alternatively, there are air fryer ovens with tiered racks, like a conventional oven.

Brand: Certain brands have a strong reputation in the air fryer arena. Buying from them not only delivers product expertise in the design of the machine but this is often reflected in the quality of the user instructions and customer service. Another benefit is ready availability of accessories and advice from fellow brand fans online. There are good air fryers out there from lesser-known brands however, and a premium price tag is not a necessity for a positive air fryer experience.

How we test air fryers

Our tests: We carry out testing in domestic kitchens to understand how air fryers perform with typical use at home, preparing everyday meals and the occasional more adventurous recipe. We also consider factors such as size, countertop footprint and noise to assess if models have been thoughtfully designed to be stored in home kitchens and used daily without disrupting the space – or peace!

Recipes: The dishes we use to put air fryers through their paces include family favourites: roast potatoes, sausages, roast chicken, chocolate cake and chips (an air fryer staple). Beyond the classics, we also consider the variety of recipes users may wish to make, from pastries to pizza and pasta bakes, and the bakeware an air fryer can accommodate. Our team are keen cooks and always explore additional culinary features air fryers might offer too, such as grill plates for searing steak or a rotisserie function.

Results: We assess how air fryers perform with our recipes, looking for even, uniform cooking and satisfying textures, which are consistent each time. Potatoes/chips should crisp and golden with fluffy interiors; the goal for meat is succulence and, where appropriate, crispy skin or a roasted finish; cakes should be risen and springy to the touch with a moist crumb; and sausages should be consistently browned but juicy inside.

Simplicity: A well-designed air fryer will have useful presets that remove some of the guesswork of air fryer cooking and a clear display that makes getting started straightforward. How many functions are included is a matter of preference: both multi-functional machines and more streamlined models have their place. In every case, instructions should strike a helpful balance between being comprehensive and clear to understand.

Quality: During testing we evaluated the construction of the components, such as the basket, handle and control panel, to understand how the materials would stand up to daily use and regular cleaning. The body of the air fryer should feel solid and durable – able to withstand frequent repositioning in the kitchen and the drawer/door being repeatedly removed and replaced.

Maintenance: The faster cooking speeds air fryers can offer are no use if keeping the machine clean takes hours. We look for air fryers that make clean-up simple, with features such as non-stick surfaces, dishwasher-friendly accessories and wipe-clean exteriors. The longevity of the model is also key: is there a manufacturer guarantee, are parts easily available and is the brand’s customer service up to scratch in the event something goes wrong?

Value: The cost of an air fryer should be comparable with the quality of the results it delivers, the soundness of its construction, ease of use and number of features it offers. These criteria were considered in finding air fryers to recommend for different budgets, from simpler models that offer consistently cooked dishes to pricier machines with larger capacities, more functions and expert support.

Your air fryer questions

How do air fryers work?
Air fryers cook food by rapidly circulating hot air around food: this is why they work best when ingredients aren’t piled together but given space to breathe in the air fryer basket. This treatment delivers a similar result to deep-frying food – bronzed surfaces and tender interiors – but without the volume of oil (and, some would argue, much greater ease).

What should you know before getting an air fryer?
Consider the questions in the ‘What to consider when buying an air fryer’ section, as not all air fryers are built the same. The purpose you hope it will fulfil will play a large part in which model to opt for – and whether it will satisfy your needs. Think about the types of recipes you want to cook too; discover the possibilities in our full air fryer collection. While some models offer slow-cooking functions and more, air frying is what an air fryer will likely do best: great news if you want to cook the crispiest bacon, golden roast potatoes or browned sausages.

What are the downsides of air fryers?
Air fryers are another appliance that will occupy space on the countertop or in a cupboard and like any new gadget need to earn their keep after the initial outlay. As above, there are limitations to what you can cook, dependent on the model. Choosing whether to opt for a one-drawer, two-drawer or tiered-rack model can be fraught too: the reality may be that you need different things on different days and have to compromise when making your purchase.

Are air fryers worth it?
Whether an air fryer is a sound investment – in terms of money and counter space – depends on your individual needs. Two compelling cases are cutting down use of the oven (or avoiding the need for one) in smaller households or adding oven space, for those that often need to feed a crowd. There’s also the culinary desire to create uber-crispy chips and more – the delicious. team’s favourite air fryer rationale.

How to adjust recipes for an air fryer?
Many new recipes that are cooked in the oven now include advice on cooking the dish in an air fryer. Generally, a decent guide is to set the heat 20ºC lower than you would a conventional oven and start checking your food halfway through the recommended oven cooking time. For example, if you typically bake a chicken breast at 180ºC for 30 minutes, air-fry it at 160ºC and start checking it after 15 minutes.

A good rule of thumb is that if you can roast it, you can air-fry it. If it involves a liquid (particularly batter), the conversion is trickier – and it’s best to consult a recipe written with air-frying in mind.

Master your air fryer with our guides

• Tried and tested tips to get the best out of your air fryer
• How to reheat food in the air fryer
• How to cook five Christmas sides in an air fryer
• How to cook a fry-up in an air-fryer

Easy air fryer recipes to try

• Air fryer chips
• Air fryer bacon
• Air fryer yorkshire puddings
• Air fryer cheese toastie
• Air fryer Christmas recipes
• All air fryer recipes

The only air fryer guide you need this Christmas

Discover 12 new festive recipes in our BONUS air fryer magazine, available with the November issue of delicious. We’re talking air fryer eggnog cheesecake, cranberry-glazed chicken wings and the best sage butter air fryer roast potatoes… Buy the issue now for £5.99, delivered straight to your door!