HomeReviewsCompare the best UK air fryers, tested & reviewed by the delicious. team
Compare the best UK air fryers, tested & reviewed by the delicious. team
Looking to buy an air fryer? We compare the best air fryers available in the UK right now, with insights from the delicious. team on what makes them great. From delivering proper grill marks on steak and browning sausages to helping bread dough rise, these are the air fryers food lovers want on their countertop.
We compare how some of the most popular UK air fryers work in home kitchens, including their performance cooking core recipes such as roast potatoes and chicken, and how straightforward they are to start using. Plus, the delicious. food team share everything they’ve learned about cooking in these popular machines, so you can hit the ground running with your air fryer.
Looking to buy an air fryer? We compare the best air fryers available in the UK right now, with insights from the delicious. team on what makes them great. From delivering proper grill marks on steak and browning sausages to helping bread dough rise, these are the air fryers food lovers want on their countertop.
We compare how some of the most popular UK air fryers work in home kitchens, including their performance cooking core recipes such as roast potatoes and chicken, and how straightforward they are to start using. Plus, the delicious. food team share everything they’ve learned about cooking in these popular machines, so you can hit the ground running with your air fryer.
Star rating: ★★★★☆
Best multi-functional air fryer
Price: £179 RRP Volume: 4.5 litres
“It’s possible to use this grill to roast a spatchcocked chicken, dehydrate fruit, bake cakes, air-fry frozen food, steam vegetables, slow cook a stew and many other tasks”
Tested by product reviewer Clare Mansell. This versatile worktop appliance has 12 functions at an impressive price point. An all-in-one worktop cooking solution with the benefits of an air fryer and low-fat grill. Full ProCook Air Fryer Health Grill review →
Versatility: Top and bottom heating elements and an unusually high-sided cooking pot (half with a smooth surface and half with a ribbed surface for grilling) make preparing a wide variety of dishes possible, including liquid-based recipes
Health grill design: A gully catches fat that runs off during cooking
Accessories: A crisper basket and grill rack are included, plus toughened glass lid for locking in moisture when making stews and other slow-cooked dishes
Easy to clean: The top heating element has a removable dishwasher-safe splatter guard. The grill rack and glass lid are also dishwasher-safe
Value: ProCook’s multi-functional appliance offer a lot for its price tag
Cons
Limited instructions: Three unillustrated recipes are included along with modest examples for using the cooking settings. We wanted more clarity on the “grill”, “griddle” and “broil” functions and how to use the separate integral hood and glass lid
Dual surfaces: The internal pot’s combination of ribbed and smooth base is versatile, but the option to purchase one with a uniform flat surface would be useful for slow cooking
“The easy-view windows meant I could check on food cooking without opening the drawer and letting the hot air escape – particularly useful when baking”
Tested by product reviewer Clare Mansell. This good-value model has two generously sized drawers and a range of helpful presets – plus useful windows! Don’t expect advanced features, but there is the added reassurance of a high street shop and long guarantee. Full Lakeland Dual Basket Air Fryer with Easy View Windows review →
Established high street brand: Shoppers can visit a bricks-and-mortar store to see the model and ask for advice. Lakeland offers a three-year guarantee
Windows: Check on your food without opening the drawers and losing heat
Value: At under £100, it’s a good price for the large two-drawer capacity
Helpful presets: The eight presets (including fish, steak, fries and vegetables) help remove guesswork but time and temperature can be adjusted too. The touchscreen display is clear to read and the sync function ensures the two drawers finish cooking at the same time
Cons
Slim width: The drawers have a generous capacity but are narrow, which will affect which cookware you can use
Economised features: All presets run at the same fan speed and are accessed via one button (pressed repeatedly to scroll through the various functions)
Limited temperature range: The minimum is 80°C and maximum 200°C – no dehydrating and we found it was slower than other models to crisp up potatoes, which usually benefit from a higher temperature
“Flatter crisper plates give extra useable height in the drawer – useful for baking bread or roasting joints of meat”
Tested by product reviewer Clare Mansell. This roomy air fryer will happily feed a hungry family of four while taking up minimal space. It has handy presets and a generous warranty but we encountered small frustrations with the design. Full Tower Vortx Dual Basket Air Fryer review →
Compact: Takes up a small amount of worktop space relative to its capacity
Roomy: Generous drawers – plus the flatter crisper plates deliver extra usable height
Helpful presets: 12 food-themed functions help remove guesswork around time and temperature (but can be adjusted as needed)
Warranty: One year is included automatically; register within 28 days of purchase for a further two years
Cons
Awkward pre-heating: Pre-heat is a separate preset rather than a part of each cooking program – once finished the appliance turns off
Control panel design: The plus and minus buttons that control time and temperature are reversed (plus is on the left, minus on the right) which is counterintuitive. The 12 cooking preset symbols are very small
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 →
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
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 →
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
“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→
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 →
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
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 →
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.
Crispy air fryer chicken thighs… Yes, please.
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.
Discover 12 new festive recipes in our BONUS air fryer magazine, available with the Christmas 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!
Lakeland Dual Basket Air Fryer 
