Over the last decade, air fryers have risen in popularity, offering a way to have all the tasty fried foods we want, but without the unhealthiness that comes with deep-frying.
In some households, air fryers have become the family's preferred way to cook pretty much everything, as they're quicker than conventional ovens, especially when you include cleaning your oven in the process. They can also come with preset modes, reminders, and auto-shut-off capabilities, taking the stress out of cooking for the whole family.
Related: How to make the air fryer pasta chips that have gone viral on TikTok
If you're ready to take the plunge and purchase your first air fryer or are looking to upgrade your current appliance, we've compiled a list of the best air fryers to help you out.
The best air fryers
Best fast air fryer
With a DC motor at its core, the Turboblaze diverges from traditional AC models, boasting a 28% faster fan spin, reduced energy consumption, and diminished noise levels. This particular model claims to cook 46% faster than its predecessors, all while utilising 55% less energy than a standard oven.
Providing nine preset modes including preheat, reheat, dry, bake, proof, and warm, the appliance also incorporates four "turbo" modes—air fry, roast, grill, and frozen—that tap into the heightened fan speed. The touch-sensitive controls enable adjustments to the preset heat and time settings.
Accommodating temperatures from 30 to 230 degrees C, the 6L drawer caters to 3-5 people, and its compact dimensions (34x30x30cm, excluding the handle) ensure it fits seamlessly on most countertops.
Pros
- Super-fast and quiet cooking
- Compact design
Cons
- Can be tricky to remove crisper plate
- “Addressing the challenge of swiftly feeding my family of four in our snug kitchen while minimizing energy consumption is a challenge the Cosori Turboblaze claims it can fulfil.
"Its DC motor is hailed as the next generation in air frying tech, and results in faster and quieter cooking. After rigorous testing over several months, I can affirm both claims.
"Not only does it significantly reduce cooking times compared to my former air fryer (to the point where I initially overcooked most items), but its operation is quiet enough that we can't hear it from outside the kitchen.
"The 6L drawer is perfectly sized for us – avoiding excess capacity to prevent energy wastage, yet large enough to roast a whole chicken, which we’ve enjoyed doing a couple of times so far. This process takes less than an hour and yields a crispier and less dry result than our conventional oven.
"It's remarkably user-friendly, featuring touch-sensitive controls on a completely flat screen that is easy to keep clean. The dishwasher-safe drawer can be hand washed just as easily, while the high-contrast information display consists of white digits on a black background.
"Any drawbacks? The crisper plate can be a bit challenging to remove when hot, and the gaps, though beneficial for promoting airflow, may occasionally allow smaller food items to fall through.” Tried and tested by Affiliate Operations Editor, Adam Binnie
Best air fryer overall
This air fryer has 5.5 litres of cooking capacity so it's perfect for large families. The LED display lets you choose from seven preset cooking modes which guarantee the ideal cooking conditions for chicken, pork, chips, cake, and more.
The independent temperature control, intuitive cooking timers, over-heat protection, and auto-off sensors give you peace of mind, no matter how busy your day-to-day life is. It has a large fully detachable, dishwasher-safe fry basket for easy cleaning. We love the preset cooking times as it takes the guesswork out of cooking even new dishes. It's also really easy to clean.
One drawback: the back of the device does get hot and it can heat up the countertop, so children should always be supervised and adults should be mindful when it's being used.
Review: "So I've had this a couple of days so just getting to grips with it. I've upgraded from my Phillips that's about 14yrs old lol.
"So far I've made chips, bbq honey chicken wings, and bbq drumsticks in panko breadcrumbs and some other basic food. They've all come out perfectly. I like the preset modes as they take the guesswork out of a fuzed brain lol, it's been easy to clean out and I've hardly used the main oven. Also cooked a whole medium chicken in 60minutes... steak... sausages... bacon...
"It says that it's cool walled but in my opinion, it isn't as the heat blasts out of the back vent (which doesn't have a filter fitted) so the whole of the back gets hot as well and the countertop but I haven't let this deter me using it. So yeah it's a good machine that cuts out a long cooking time in the oven. Air fryer vs. Oven = air fryer anytime."
Best multi-purpose air fryer
Ninja prides itself on its TenderCrisp Technology - which involves pressure-cooking to lock in juices, then crisping to perfection. It's a real multi-tool, meaning you can pressure cook, air fry, slow cook, steam, sauté, bake, and grill. It has a 6 litre cooking pot and a 3.6 litre Cook and Crisp basket. Is there anything this thing can't do?
Although this cooker is bulkier than some of the others on the list, it's remarkably quiet, which is a welcome treat. The controls could be a little more intuitive, so reading the instructions is a must.
Review: "This pressure cooker is quite large and quite heavy but it will be as it has to do so many things. In the box, you get the cooker and internal pot. You also get the crisper and steamer extras. You test the pressure release function first by adding some water and releasing the steam. Apart from doing this, you are good to go.
"I prepared a pasta dish in this along with chicken wings which crisped up really well within 20 minutes! It is easy to clean as everything happens in the internal pot. Instruction buttons are on the front. You also receive a recipe booklet that has guide cooking times. It is worth keeping this safe otherwise you might not know how long to cook things for."
Best air fryer for design
For food that contains 85% less fat than traditionally fried foods but with all the delicious flavours and textures you crave, this air fryer is spot on. The digital one-touch screen menu features 11 presets including steak, poultry, seafood, bacon, chips, frozen foods - honestly, everything you can think of.
The square basket is a welcome change, meaning you can fit more food in, although it's still a smaller model, offering only 3.5L of capacity. It should still feed a family of 3-4 happily, though. The basket is dishwasher safe and it has a reminder for you if you're likely to forget shaking your food while cooking.
We love the design of this one, as well as how easy it is to use and how it just cooks perfectly every time.
Review: "This is the best air fryers I have ever used. It helps to build a healthy, low-calorie, and also delicious diet. Without heavy oil, I have cooked crispy and mouth-watering chicken wings, salmons, also sprouts, and skewers. It boasts precise control of the time and temperature and also reminds me to shake the basket whenever necessary. I mean the performance is much better than those I have used before, which sometimes overcook food. This device has been a must in my kitchen, for it generates no fumes and brings an easy and safe cooking experience! I love it!"
Best air fryer for easy cooking
www.argos.co.uk
Tefal's leading low-fat fryer has a few nifty additions that some people may enjoy. It has a unique stirring paddle so there's no need to manually shake or stir the food you're cooking, as well as a removable digital timer so you can carry it around with you and never miss a beat.
It has a 1kg capacity so it'll feed 2-3 comfortably. You can cook chicken, stir-fries, curries, and even desserts in this device, and if you're ever stuck for inspiration, head to the free My ActiFry app to get over 150 recipes. The lid, bowl, and stirring paddle are removable and dishwasher safe so cleaning is a breeze.
It doesn't work too well with coated foods, the stirrer tends to take off any coatings and it doesn't have an auto-stop so is a little more basic compared to some of the competition.
Review: "I now ask myself 'why did I not buy an air fryer before?' I am thoroughly enjoying my Tefal air fryer. I have made chips, nuggets, fried chicken, and fish, all beautifully cooked with nothing for me to do after placing them inside and setting the timer. And the Tefal is not too big so it fits inside my cupboard. It is also easy to clean. I am really enjoying using it."
Great air fryer for everyday use
This digital air fryer comes with four cooking functions to air fry, roast, reheat, and even dehydrate ingredients, all at the touch of a button with the one-touch controls. The 3.8L capacity makes it the perfect fit for 900g of fries (our favourite food to fry) and the non-stick basket will give you delicious meals cooked to perfection using little or no oil. You can also cook from frozen for yummy, crispy results, without the need to defrost food first.
Reviewers have said that it's perfect for cooking everything, from roasted veggies to fish, chicken, and even heating up leftover pizza.
Review: "I was planning on buying an air fryer for some time and after a lot of research, decided on Ninja. It is just fantastic! Easy to use, no preheating necessary, cooks fries from frozen in less than 10 minutes. Large basket, Digital controls. Lightweight but durable and very easy to clean. I suggest cleaning it straight after each use to keep it in the best condition. Highly recommended. If you're looking for an air fryer you won't be disappointed."
Recommended
Philips is a well-known brand in this area and the Viva Air Fryer is perfect for two people who want to eat healthier options, as it only has an 800g capacity. It lets you fry, grill, roast, and bake, it's ridiculously easy to use and has dishwasher safe parts. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some of the other options, but it gets the job done. It comes with access to over 200 dishes on the accompanying app and it looks great.
Review: "I bought this almost two years ago and after recently convincing my parents to purchase one I decided to leave a review. I originally bought it just to cook oven chips as my gas oven is so slow. It does so much more than that though and I'd be lost without it. It will cook almost anything and so much quicker than using a conventional oven.
"It's great for roasting veg or potatoes and cooks stuff really well. If I want baked potatoes then I give them ten minutes in the microwave, coat them in olive oil and 20 minutes in the air fryer and they are beautiful and crispy. It must be saving money because you're heating a small appliance rather than a full size oven. It's very easy to clean too. If it broke I'd rush out and buy another!"
Best Smart air fryer
Tried and tested by the What's The Best experts, June 2020:
"If you've never used an air fryer before, this is a great place to start. It's simple and easy to use even for those who aren't that tech-savvy. The first time you switch it on, you'll have to let it run for around five minutes – not only will this pre-heat the fryer, but it can also emit smoke or odour the first time you use it, so make sure you keep the room well-ventilated. I opened a window, as it did emit a slight plastic smell.
"After the prep, it took just 18 minutes to take my uneven sliced and diced potatoes and turn them into chips. With just one tablespoon of vegetable oil, they had a deliciously crispy texture. If you have a small kitchen, it won't be suited to you - I can't store it in the kitchen due to its size, so we have this tucked away in a cupboard under the stairs.
"One key feature we love is the quick-start guide, which provides step-by-step instructions on how to download the ProscenicHome app and connect it to the air fryer. This app allows you to schedule, adjust and monitor your food, so it's ideal for when you're at work.
"It's non-stick and has a dishwasher-safe basket, making it easy to clean. It has eight set menus, allowing you to cook meat, fish, pizza, cake, and more. The large 5.5L capacity means it can comfortably tackle food for three to seven people and the auto shut-off feature keeps it safe from overheating and overcooking."
Best air fryer for dual cooking
www.argos.co.uk
Another entry from Ninja, and this time their dual-zone air fryer lets you air fry two different foods at once whilst making sure they finish cooking at the same time - perfectly synced and ideal for getting all your food to your plate at once, freshly hot.
You can even cook in different ways across the two drawers - max crisp, roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate as well as air fry. Cooking for a bunch of people? You can match the drawers to make use of the full 7.5 capacity.
This air fryer is pretty big and heavy, so make sure you have the worktop space to accommodate its size.
Review: "Fantastic machine, I have used it every day since I received it, meals ready in half the time and more healthier, I would recommend this to anyone."
Best budget-friendly air fryer
www.currys.co.uk
This Salter air fryer cooks food quickly, making those last-minute but healthy mealtimes a doddle. It's really simple to use and has a 4.5L capacity, which is great for the price. The removable, non-stick-coated cooking basket makes the fryer easy to clean. Make sure to turn on the fryer for a few minutes before using it to get the perfect cook.
How does an air fryer work?
Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food using convection - basically a smaller version of a convection oven. They're great for getting that crispy outer layer we all love, while the inside remains fluffy or moist, depending on what you're cooking.
They were created to replace deep fryers, which use hot oil, but instead, they use either a minute amount of oil or none at all. This means we can have healthier versions of our favourite fried treats in our homes. Over time, they've been tweaked to include many other features, such as steaming, grilling, baking, roasting, and more.
What can you cook in an air fryer?
If you need to determine if it's worth the money or want some ideas of what to cook, check out the amazing recipes and meals in the video below that you can make with this simple bit of kitchen kit.
What to read next:
Jade Moscrop is the Deputy Editor for WhatsTheBest, specialising in lifestyle topics. She also writes for Closer, Heat, and Mother&Baby.
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