Best Air Fryers 2025 UK, tried and tested

AIR fryers have come into their own this past few years and there can’t be many kitchens across the UK that don’t have one.

The best air fryers will save you time, money and electricity when cooking meals and they’re all a pretty compact size.

Many have more than one function and certain brands like Ninja, also offer models with dual chambers so you can cook two different foods at the same time.

Traditionally deep-fried chips, fish and meat are healthier in an air fryer because there’s little or no oil used in prep, but they still sport the same crispy texture and flavourful taste.

Extra functions allow you to steam, roast, grill and bake all in the same appliance – and usually in half the time.

Get into the habit of using your air fryer regularly and you may well find your main oven is reserved for occasional use only.

Best air fryers at a glance:

• Best overall air fryer:
• Best dual air fryer:
• Best Ninja air fryer:
• Best small air fryer:
• Best value air fryer:

How we tested

Our reviewers put each air fryer through its paces at home with their families, testing out each of the machine’s functions.

They cooked meals and snacks over several weeks to discover what their particular air fryer did best, as well as what they liked or didn’t like about it.

Testers took into consideration how easy the fryer was to use, how well it performed, how the food tasted when cooked and crucially, how easy the air fryer was to clean.

Best air fryers - tried and tested

1. Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker 7.5L OL750UK

Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker 7.5L OL750UK, £299 (was £319.99) from Ninja

Pros: Efficient, easy to use, great results

Cons: Expensive at full price, heavy

This Ninja Foodi 15-in-1 multi-cooker normally costs £319.99 on , but it's currently on sale for £299.

But here's a trick for you: if you want to get a premium appliance, but you don't want to pay full price, head over to eBay and see if you can find an outlet store for refurbished goods.

We tested this and can confirm that it's practically as good as new and only costs £185.

A previous Ninja multi-cooker I owned had two lids: one for pressure cooking and steaming, and one for air frying and baking. It was always a bit of a faff switching them over and took up extra cupboard space, so I am pleased to see a one-lid solution.

This model functions brilliantly and is super-easy to use. I used it to pressure cook a whole chicken, which fitted comfortably inside and also cooked a selection of kids' food in the air frying basket which came out incredibly crispy on the outside.

But the number of cooking functions available with this multi-cooker means I've barely scratched the surface in a couple of weeks of testing. I am particularly intrigued by the steam air fry setting to cook up dumplings.

This is going to be a stable of our cooking arsenal for years to come.

Dimensions: 36 x 35 x 36cm; Capacity: 7.5L; Functions: Pressure, steam, steam air fry, steam roast, steam bake, steam bread, air fry, grill, bake, dehydrate, prove, sear/saute, steam, slow cook, yoghurt, keep warm; Power: 1760W

2. Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK

Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK, £196.58 (£229.99) from Ninja

Pros: Quick cooking times, large size to feed a hungry family, two drawers for different ingredients

Cons: Expensive

I decided to ban the use of other cooking appliances and gadgets in the family kitchen to see how we got on with just the Ninja for the week. 

This is Ninja’s best-selling air fryer, and I can see why. It’s such a versatile help in the kitchen and it wasn’t long before I realised it had been days since I’d turned on either one of the ovens in my range cooker.

I’d say this is also a Godsend for parents with fussy kids who want different things at the same time. Cook a frozen lasagne in one basket and fish fingers and chips in the other; the Ninja will even get different meals ready at exactly the same moment with a push of its ‘Sync’ button.

The non-stick, pull-out drawers and their inner trays were all robust and looked like they’d withstand some heavy use.

I also found them easy to clean, which I did after each use as, after all, fat was draining from dishes every time.

Read our Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer review here.

Review by Lesley Jones.

Dimensions: H:32.5 x W:41.5 x D:27 cm; Capacity:
9.5L; Functions: max crisp, air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate, bake; Power: 2470W

3. Salter Rapid Cook 400 Digital Air Fryer Oven

Salter Rapid Cook 400 Digital Air Fryer Oven, £149.99 (£199.99) from Salter

Pros: 15 functions, large capacity, includes lots of accessories

Cons: Large so it takes up a lot of counter space

This is so much more than an air fryer – it has 15 functions and can bake cakes, make outstanding pizzas and cook a Sunday roast to perfection.

It also comes with a lot of accessories, including a cast iron tray, pizza stone, pizza paddle and air fryer basket, which makes it excellent value.

I have had this a while and have yet to explore all of its programmes, but the ones I use the most are the air fryer, grill (it makes wonderful cheese on toast) and pizza settings.

I’m pretty predictable when it comes to air frying, I cook fish, chips, Quorn nuggets and sides, such as halloumi fries and crispy mushrooms in there.

They always turn out crispy without being burned and seem to taste better when cooked in the air fryer than they do in the oven.

I like food really crispy and I found the Rapid Cook pre-sets didn’t cook crisp enough, but a bit of temperature and timing tweaking sorted that out.

That said, I still use this most for homemade pizzas – especially the wood-fired setting. I find the air fryer function not quite as good as the one on my Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker.

Dimensions: 21.2 x 51 x 44cm; Capacity: 18L; Functions: 15 including air fryer, grill, steak and several pizza programmes; Power: 2000W

4. Russell Hobbs Satisfry Air & Grill Multi Cooker

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Air & Grill Multi-Cooker, £165, from Dunelm

Pros: Seven cooking features, easy to use, easy to clean, clear instructions

Cons: Quite big if you have a small kitchen, no recipe book

The Russell Hobbs Satisfry has seven settings which cover pretty much all types of food prep: Air Fry Light, Grill Light, Roast Light, Sear Light, Bake Light, Keep Warm Light, Slow Cook High Light and Slow Cook Low Light.

All of the functions are easy to use, thanks to the handy instruction manual and so far we’ve prepared tasty breakfasts, lunches and dinners with it.

It has a 5.5 litre cooking pot so there’s plenty of space – enough to fit in an entire chicken or baking tin for cakes – and you’ll find cooking for the whole family a breeze.

The pot and grill plate are removable and easy to clean; both are also dishwasher-safe.

See our full Russell Hobbs Satisfry Air Grill Multi-Cooker review here.

Dimensions: 37.8 x 32 x 28.2cm; Capacity: 5.5L; Servings: 5; Functions: seven; Power: 1745W

5. Breville Halo Flexi Air Fryer

Breville Halo Flexi Air Fryer, £230 from Argos

Pros: Ability to sync both sides, removable middle separator and alternative trays give you more options, heats up fast, easy to access food, large size

Cons: Expensive, can be fiddly to remove baskets, can be confusing at first, large size

The Halo Flexi Air Fryer is packed with time-saving, and practical features which make it a dream to use day to day. 

It has one large roasting tray, two small roasting trays (which can be stored below when not in use), two cooking baskets, two small mesh trays and a middle compartment that can be removed to allow for several cooking options, making it a great choice if you're feeding multiple people. 

There are ten cooking presets for items such as chips, chicken and more and you can sync two dishes at the same time and match across both to use separately or together.

Its versatility was a major benefit, as the multiple trays meant I could cook more at once, however, they weren't all as easy to use as each other.

The baskets were fiddly to get out when hot (even with the handle), but the trays were easy to slide in and out - and the removable middle separator was a game changer. 

You can change the settings manually or use the presets; I found Turbo Crisp and Air Fry to be our favourites.

When testing it I found the instructions for use could be a little tricky, and it wasn't obvious at first how to program it, but once I got it figured out, it was easy to use. 

It heats up quickly, and I like the light function, so you can see the food cooking. The size is a blessing and curse, it's great as you have a lot of space to cook the food in, but you will need a large kitchen or surface top to accommodate it. 

If you're looking for a smartly designed air fryer that's perfect for feeding a brood then this is the one to go for.

Review by Harriet Flook.

Dimensions: H36.7 x W36 x D38.7cm; Capacity: 11L; Functions: Air fry, turbo crisp, bake, grill, roast and reheat; Power: 2400kW

6. Philips XXL Air Fryer

Philips Airfryer 5000 Series XXL with connectivity, £239.99 from Philips

Pros: Speeds up cooking, easy interface, intuitive to use for newbies, connects with an app that has recipes available, can remotely adjust air fryer, huge compartment, easy to clean

Cons: Takes up a lot of space

My partner and I both work 9-6 jobs so it can be a struggle trying to cook healthy meals with our schedules.

But when this air fryer arrived, it completely changed our weeknight kitchen game.

Easy to use with a sleek interface, it cooks food in a fraction of the time using an oven would take.

I've been craving Korean fried chicken and spent only 10 mins prepping the chicken before cooking it in the air fryer at 195°C for another 10 mins.

While it was cooking, I had enough time to steam vegetables, make a sauce and heat up some microwavable rice, and dinner took just over 20 minutes when the traditional method of oven cooking would have taken over an hour.  

I also tested cooking aubergine with the air fryer, which usually takes 40-50 mins in the oven, especially as you have to constantly check whether it's softened. However, the air fryer took only 12 minutes, which left me speechless.

It also has a massive compartment that easily delivered four large portions so my partner and I had two for dinner and two leftover portions for lunch the next day.

While the massive compartment is a pro, it also means the fryer is not exactly petite and takes up a large amount of room, so it's not great for smaller spaces.

Review by Katharina Loebbert.

Dimensions: ‎41 x 30 x 33cm, Capacity: 7.2 litres; Servings: 3 to 5 people; Functions: Roast, air fry, grill, toast, reheat, defrost; Power: 2000W

7. Ninja Foodi Mini 6-in-1 Multi Cooker

Ninja Foodi Mini 6-in-1 Multi Cooker, £149.99 (was £179.99) from Ninja

Pros: Versatile, simple to use, great results

Cons: Nothing major

This nifty number offers a pressure cooker function as well as air frying great chips; in addition, it also roasts, steams, sautés and slow cooks.

It has two lids: one for air frying/roasting and a second for pressure cooking, you simply switch them around depending on what function you wish to use.

Of the six functions, we used pressure cooking and air frying the most.

Pressure cooking cuts hours off your cooking time and while the Ninja Mini isn’t big enough for large items, we still managed to cook a whole chicken in it within an hour.

During testing, we found ourselves using the Foodi for most meals that required an oven, as it was faster and used less electricity. It’s easy to get to grips with and ideal for a kitchen with limited space.

Read our full Ninja Foodi Mini Multi-cooker review here.

Dimensions: 38 x 32 x 35cm; Capacity: 4.7L; Servings: 4; Functions: Six; Power: 1460W

8. Ninja Air Fryer Max

Ninja Air Fryer Max, £129.99 from Ninja

Pros: Makes great chips, simple to use, family size

Cons: Large

This air fryer is on the large side so is great for families, though perhaps for one or two people it may be a little too big.

It claims to use up to 75% less fat than traditional frying and at the same time, to be 50% faster to cook than a fan oven.

The Ninja has six functions: air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, dehydrate and reheat so there are lots of choices. However, we used the air fryer setting the most and it produced some of the best home-cooked chips we’ve had in a long time.  

Read our full Ninja Air Fryer Max review here.

Dimensions: 36cm x 25cm x 32cm; Capacity: 5.2L; Servings: 4; Functions: Six; Power: 1750W

Best Air Fryers FAQ

Click to navigate the article:

• What should I look for in an air fryer?
• Are air fryers cheap to run?
• What is the best Ninja air fryer?
• What is the best dual air fryer?
• Are air fryers really worth it?
• What foods are best cooked in an air fryer?
• Are air fryers healthy?

What should I look for in an air fryer?

Air fryers are a popular and readily available kitchen appliance that is available to buy from many retailers including , and as well as directly from brands like and .

The first thing to consider when deciding on an air fryer is the capacity and the size you need for your family.

If you live alone then a small and compact model will be ideal, but if you have kids then you’re going to need something bigger and may want to look into dual drawer air fryer models for more versatility.

A basic air fryer model will cook great chips, frozen breaded and battered fish, small pizzas, chicken breasts and drumsticks, burgers and chicken nuggets of course.

While many kids would be happy with chips and chicken nuggets every day, this doesn’t make for a varied diet, so look for additional functions on your air fryer such as slow cook, bake and dehydrate options.

The latter will enable you to prepare healthy dried fruit and veg snacks, while the other functions are great for preparing stews and casseroles or baking bread.

Having so many functions combined in your air fryer also means you won't need lots of separate appliances, freeing up space in your kitchen.

Another consideration is how easy it is to clean your air fryer, especially if you plan to use it daily.

Most air fryers have removable inner pans, trays or racks and some are suitable for cleaning in the dishwasher (although check your specific model), which makes the job even easier.

In general, it's best to avoid using scourers or harsh cleaning solutions on your air fryer parts as you’ll scratch the non-stick surface.

The outer part of most machines only needs to be wiped down with a damp cloth after use.

Are air fryers cheap to run?

An air fryer costs considerably less to run than an oven. It's also quicker to cook meals, so doesn't use as much power either (because it's not running as long).

Air fryers have a fan over a heating element that quickly circulates hot air around the cooking chamber.

Because it's such a small space, it heats up quicker than a conventional oven and stays warmer for longer so you don't use as much energy.

Exactly how much air fryers cost to run depends on your electricity supplier and tariff, as well as how powerful your appliance is; those with a higher wattage use more energy.

For guidance though, a 1000W model costs around 34p per hour and a 1500W fryer costs around 51p per hour.

Bear in mind cooking times for air frying are generally less than 30 minutes and often around the 20-minute mark, which for a 1500W air fryer would mean a cost of 17p.

Having said that, if you’re batch cooking or preparing lots of dishes at once then your regular oven is still going to be your best bet.

What is the best Ninja air fryer?

Ninja offers a lot of different air fryers but if you’re after one that just does the job and is good at it, the fits the bill.

It’s not too expensive, coming in at just under £100 and it doesn’t take up a lot of space in the kitchen.

The 3.8 litre capacity is enough to feed two to four people and it is up to 50% faster than using a fan oven.

You’re not going to buy this for its different programmes, though it does roast, dehydrate and reheat like the best of them, but more importantly, it does great chips.

The basket is removable and you can pop it in the dishwasher to clean it. One more reason why this is our choice for the best Ninja air fryer.

What is the best dual air fryer?

The is not only a bestseller, but it also features highly in our roundup for a reason.

Our tester praised its speedy cooking times and large capacity, which is perfect for feeding a hungry family quickly.

The combination of two drawers for different ingredients means you can whip up separate components for your meal at the same time, or completely different dishes.

Another great option that we haven't tested is the .

It’s incredibly versatile, with six programmes and two drawers so you can cook different foods in each, or the same in both.

Not only does it hit the mark thanks to its many functions, but is also much cheaper than the Ninja, coming in at £90 from Argos.

The 7.6 litre capacity means you can prepare meals for the whole family, or just use one drawer to cook enough for just you.

You can also see your food cooking, thanks to the clear window, meaning you don’t have to open the drawers to check on it.

Are air fryers really worth it?

In a word yes. Air fryers are cheaper to run than your main oven and cook food in far less time.

They’re available in different sizes to suit your household, from compact models for singles or couples, all the way up to XXL versions for larger families.

They don’t just fry either. Most of them have multiple programmes so you can steam, bake, and even dehydrate foods.  

There’s also the health aspect. Air fryers use little or no oil depending on your preference so you get that crispy taste and mouth feel without the accompanying fat.

Prices vary depending on size, features and brand, but special offers are often available, which brings down the initial cost.

Add to that the money you will save by not using your oven every day and it’s a win-win situation. Can you afford not to have one?

What foods are best cooked in an air fryer?

"An air fryer is similar to a mini oven that can take on almost anything you’d put in a conventional oven or deep-fat fryer," says Lara Brittain, kitchen and appliances expert at Currys.

Lara adds, "Air fryers have come a long way over the years and they’re not just for chips: you can bake, roast and even dehydrate ingredients too, depending on the model".

You can cook pretty much any food in an air fryer, but how you cook will depend on the programmes offered by your particular model.

How to make the best air fryer chips:

If you’re cooking frozen chips in the air fryer you just pour them from the packet into the basket, select the required temperature and cook time based on the cooking instructions and presets on your machine.

When it comes to cooking chips from scratch, however, there are a few simple touches that will elevate your chips from crispy and tasty, to mega crispy and gorgeous.

• Choose the best potatoes for the job. Some are better for turning into chips than others such as Maris Piper or King Edwards varieties.
• Some people swear by soaking the raw cut chips first. This removes excess starch so they crisp up nicely while cooking, yet are fluffy in the middle.
• After washing your potatoes, cut them into chips and remember to dry the chips afterwards in a kitchen roll or a clean tea towel before adding them to the air fryer.
• Adding cornflour adds crispiness and you can add a little oil if you wish here or spray the chips with oil. It improves the overall texture but it’s not necessary.
• You can add flavour here too: a bit of salt and pepper, a little garlic powder or a few shakes of paprika lift your chips to perfection.
• Don’t cook too many chips at once, however tempting it is, because if there are too many of them lying on top of each other they won't crisp up as well. For the same reason, always shake or turn the chips halfway through cooking.

Are air fryers healthy?

In short, the answer is yes air fryers are healthy. They use little or no oil, whereas deep frying uses loads of oil, much of which sinks into the food.

Using an air fryer to cook also better preserves nutrients in your food compared to other cooking methods.

According to Lara Brittain, kitchen and appliances expert at Currys: “In comparison to deep-fat frying, air frying can be a healthier alternative.

"Using convection cooking rather than oil means there will be less fat in the food that ends up on your plate."

However, air fryers don't magically make chips and nuggets healthy. They're just a healthier way of cooking compared to deep-fat frying.