Best air fryers 2024 UK: every type reviewed by our experts

Compared with deep-fat fryers, air fryers are a more healthy way to cook as they use hot air and less cooking oil – or sometimes no oil at all. 

Instead, air fryers blast hot air around a small cooking chamber. Their compact cooking space and fast circulation of hot air allows you to make crispy, golden-brown food more quickly than using an oven.

Our expert air fryer testing and buying advice will help you choose the best air fryer for you.

Find the best air fryer for you with our independent air fryer reviews.

Best air fryers for 2024

Here, we've selected some of the best air fryers from our rigorous air fryer tests, which include a chip taste test by our experts.

We intensively test air fryers so you can guarantee you are spending your money wisely. From which make the crispiest chips to which are horrible to clean, our in-depth reviews will help you find a model you love. 

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. Not yet a member? Join Which? and get exclusive access to all our reviews.

Air fryer reviews for popular brands

Looking for an air fryer from a popular brand? We've reviewed hero models from some of the biggest:  

• Ninja air fryer reviews
• Tower air fryer reviews
• Tefal air fryer reviews

Air fryer reviews by size

• Small air fryer reviews
• Medium air fryer reviews
• Large air fryer reviews

Air fryer reviews by price

• Air fryers under £75
• Air fryers under £100
• Air fryers under £150

Generally, you can get an air fryer for as little as £40, but we've found you'll need to spend at least between £70 and £80 to get a decent model.

There is a correlation between price and quality with air fryers, but this does not mean that all expensive air fryers are good, nor the opposite.

In our tests, some cheaper air fryers are so poor, we name them Don't Buys. We also found some pricier models that gave disappointing results –including soggy, limp or tasteless chips.

Why you can trust our air fryer reviews

Unlike free-to-access websites, which typically get the air fryers they review as freebies or loans from manufacturers, we pay for all the appliances we test, so you can have complete trust in our verdict.

Manca Virant, Which? air fryer expert says:

'Our tests include an assessment of cooking quality for frozen chips, chicken drumsticks and frozen baguettes. For example, the best models turn out evenly cooked chips with a crispy golden brown exterior and fluffy insides. We mark down air fryers that produce greasy, soggy, undercooked or overcooked chips.

'We also find out how speedy they are, how much energy they use, and how tricky they are to clean. The quickest air fryers take just 20 minutes to cook four portions of chips, and you don't have to preheat. On the other hand, the slowest take over 45 minutes - that's simply way too long to wait.'

Read more about how we test air fryers.

Where to buy an air fryer

The buzz around air fryers means that popular models have been difficult to come by recently.

To help you find your choice, we've picked out a handful of the most searched-for sellers that have a wide range air fryers in stock.

• Amazon offers air fryers from brands including Instant Pot, Tower, Tefal and Ninja, priced between £90 and £150. Free two-day shipping is included for Prime members, standard shipping is free on orders over £20.
• George at Asda has a smaller range of air fryers than other retailers, but they are more budget-friendly, costing between £55 and £100. It mostly stocks Tower, Salter, Daewoo, and its own-brand air fryers. Click and collect is free from most UK stores. Standard delivery costs from £2.95 and next-day delivery starts from £4.95.
• Costco members can pick up air fryers at a discount, but since it stocks primarily high-end models, you'll still need to spend nearly £200. Its selection of air fryers is more limited than other stores, but it does carry high-end brands like Sage and Cuisinart. Shipping is included in the price. If you're not a Costco member, membership starts at £15 per year if you're only doing online shopping.
• Currys carries dozens of different air fryers from brands including Tefal, Ninja, Philips and Tower. Most models are available for under £150 with free standard shipping. If you want your order to come on a specific day, you can pay an extra £7 for delivery between 8am and 8pm, or £10 for delivery before noon.

Looking for an air fryer at a great price? We round up the best air fryer deals every month.

How to choose the best air fryer for you

This list of buying questions will help you narrow down your options and ensure you get the best air fryer for your needs:

• How much food do you typically cook? Most air fryers can cook around 800g (around four to six portions) of chips. Some can manage up to twice as much. If you have lots of people to cater for, opt for a larger capacity, or a model with double-level cooking or a second compartment.
• How much free worktop space or cupboard space do you have? Some air fryers are huge and heavy. The Ninja OP450UK is 36cm high and 42cm wide, and weighs 10kg out of the box. Some also come with lots of extra accessories that you'll need to find storage for. We always list power cable length in our reviews because it can determine how close you'll need to place your air fryer to a socket.
• Do you prefer digital or manual controls? Digital models can make it easier to see how much cooking time is left. Some air fryer models come with smartphone control via an app.
• Do you own a dishwasher? If you have a dishwasher, choosing a model with dishwasher-safe parts will help save on cleaning time.
• How much are you willing to spend? Basic air fryers start from around £60, but models with extra features – such as multiple compartments – can set you back well over £200. The cheapest models will usually have a smaller capacity, too.

Air fryer size vs capacity

Manufacturers usually quote the total internal volume of their air fryers in litres as a guide to their size. But we find that this doesn't always tally with our own measurements of how much food you can realistically fit inside an air fryer, as not all the internal space is usable.

This is why part of our lab test measures the optimal and maximum capacity of each air fryer in grams of food. The smallest air fryers we've tested can hold up to 400g of food – about two portions of chips and roughly equivalent to the amount of food you can fit on two baking trays in an oven. If you want to cook for more than four people – or you just have a particularly hungry household – air fryers such as the Tefal Actifry 2 in 1 can fit almost twice as much (1.7kg).

Dual air fryers are also an option if you're cooking for more people. They can fit between 0.6kg and 2.3kg of food.

By reading our air fryer reviews you can see exactly how much food, such as chips or chicken, you can comfortably fit in an air fryer.

It is also possible for an air fryer with large external dimensions to have less space available inside for cooking than a smaller one.

• Our review Tech Specs include the width, height and depth of every air fryer we’ve tested.
• The ‘Small’ filter will help you to find all the best air fryers for two people that we’ve tested, based on their capacity. 
• Our ‘Compare’ function makes it easy to compare your choice of small air fryers side by side.

Need a larger or smaller air fryer? See our guide on how to buy the best dual air fryers and the small air fryer reviews. 

Air fryer types explained

Basket-type air fryers

This is the most common type of air fryer. They have a cooking bowl or basket with a handle, so you can shake your food during cooking. This helps ensure the food cooks evenly and makes it easy to lift out of the air fryer once it's ready.

Sometimes they come with a stirring paddle, though we’ve found this doesn't always make for better results.

Pros

• Generally cheaper than oven-type air fryers.
• The handle on the bowl makes it simple to turn your food.
• Normally straightforward to use.

Cons

• You can't usually check on the progress of your food without stopping the air fryer and pulling the basket out.
• Cheaper basket models may lack additional functions such as preset programs.
• Often smaller in capacity than oven-type air fryers or multicookers.

Take a look at our basket air fryer reviews to see all of the models we've tested.

Oven-type air fryers

Oven-type air fryers come with one or multiple trays to place your food on and slot into the machine for cooking.

Most have a viewing window on the front so you can keep an eye on your food without disturbing the cooking process. 

Pros

• Multiple trays mean you can cook several types of food at the same time.
• Are usually versatile and come with several preset programs.
• Most have a viewing window.

Cons

• Usually more expensive than the basket type.
• May take some time to get used to.
• Can be large and bulky.

See our oven air fryer reviews to see the models we recommend.

Air fryers vs multi cookers

Right now, countertop cooking appliances are becoming bigger, bulkier and more feature-laden as they take on a multitude of cooking tasks.

While most air fryers can also roast, grill and bake, a multi cooker can also cook in other ways, such as pressure cooking, steaming and slow cooking.

All this versatility typically comes at a higher price, so it's worth considering if you'll use all the features before spending the extra cash.

Go to our best multi cookers guide to see test results for multi cookers from from Ninja, Tefal, Russell Hobbs and more.

Are air fryers worth it?

In most cases, yes. If you're after a convenient appliance that will save you time and potentially money, then an air fryer could be a worthwhile investment.

They are simple to use and don't require much work, apart from pressing a few buttons to adjust the time and temperature.

Our tests also prove that air fryers really can save you money, but only if you use them effectively by considering the cooking capacity and number of people you'll be cooking for.

A word of caution though: if you're looking to recreate that chip shop taste at home, then you are likely to be disappointed. We find that foods made in an air fryer, and chips in particular, do have a fried quality but if you're used to deep-fried food, you'll easily be able to taste the difference. If that fried food taste is your sole reason for buying, an air fryer may not be worth it.

Reliability is important too. See our guide to the most reliable air fryer brands.

Best air fryer features to consider

Don't pay over the odds for features that you'll rarely use. Consider this list before before you decide on a model.

Digital timer

All air fryers have timers that allow you to set how long you want your food to cook for, and show you how much cooking time is left. Some, such as the Philips Viva Airfryer and Russell Hobbs Purifry, have manual dials that you turn to set the time, but most other air fryers, including the Tefal Actifry, have digital timers instead. A digital timer can make it easier to see at a glance how much time is left on the clock.

Dishwasher-safe parts

You’ll need to wash your air fryer every time you use it, so you might appreciate being able to put the various parts in the dishwasher and let it do the work. Ideally, the basket/bowl, lid and stirring paddle should all be dishwasher safe, although this isn’t always the case.

Extra cooking rack or compartment

Some models, like Ninja Foodi Dual Zone, have a second cooking compartment that allows you to cook two different types of food (at different temperatures) at the same time, so you could make steak and chips without having to mix them together. See our guide to the best dual air fryers.

Preset cooking programs

• Grill – which give you the option of grilling your food instead of air frying it, handy for cooking things like meat and fish.
• Bake – gives you the option of baking, handy for making desserts or even pastries.
• Roast – good for roasting the potatoes and vegetables.
• Dehydrate – gives you the option of dehydrating fruit or veg.
• Reheat – handy for reheating leftovers.

Rotating basket

Some basket-type air fryers have baskets that are set at an angle. This tilt, combined with a rotating action tumbles your food around, helping it to cook more evenly.

Smart controls

A 'smart' air fryer is one you can control from your phone or tablet. You select the recipe you want to use from the app, which then sends instructions to the air fryer to cook the food to a particular temperature and length of time.

You can keep an eye on the cooking time using the app on your phone, and it will let you know once cooking is finished.

This is a fairly uncommon feature and products with smart capabilities that we've tested have come and gone from the market. But when we come across any more, we'll be sure to flag them.

Stirring paddle

Some air fryers come with a paddle that automatically moves the food around as it cooks. We've found that some air fryers that stir your food for you don't do a very good job of it, so while a stirring paddle does make it more likely that your food will be evenly cooked, it's not guaranteed.

Temperature control

With most air fryers, you can set the temperature you want the food to cook at. Typically, you can choose anything from 80°C to 200°C.

Find out more about the most popular air fryer brands: Ninja Foodi vs Tower air fryer vs Tefal ActiFry.

Common air fryer questions

Here we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about air fryers.

What can you cook in an air fryer?

Any food that does well when roasted, baked or fried will do well in your air fryer.

As well as chicken and chips, other popular choices include potatoes, roasted vegetables, falafel, fish, pizza and even baked goods such as cookies and cakes.

Air fryers can also be useful for quickly cooking and crisping up frozen foods and snacks such as fish fingers, chicken nuggets, spring rolls and pies.

Things you should avoid putting in your air fryer include fresh greens, cheese and any food covered in wet batter. Cooking whole roasts such as roast chicken can also be problematic, so joint your bird first before frying.

Some air fryer manufacturers offer starter recipes to get you going: take a look at these Ninja recipes and Philips recipes.

Are air fryers a healthy way to cook?

Unlike deep-fat fryers, which use a large amount of oil to cook your food, air fryers rely on the intense circulation of hot air to produce crispy, perfectly cooked meals. 

Manufacturers are known to highlight the health benefits of air fryers, even labelling them 'health fryers'. And while some of those claims are exaggerated, air fryers can be a healthier way to cook food due to the small amount or no oil used in the air frying process.

Most standard air fryers come with auto-programs such as air fry, bake, roast and grill, but some premium models or multicookers will come with programs such as dehydrate, reheat, pressure cook, slow cook, steam and sauté – so you can get as creative as you like.

Can you put foil in an air fryer?

Yes, it's fine to put foil in an air fryer. They work in a completely different way to microwaves, so putting foil inside should not result in sparks and fire. It can also make the clean-up process easier and quicker.

When putting foil in an air fryer, make sure you don't cover any holes, fans or other heating elements and use only as much foil as you need to cover the basket or tray. You can also use baking paper.

For more advice, see how to clean an air fryer.

Are air fryers cheap to run?

Yes, they can be if you use them correctly. But it depends on the size of your air fryer and how many people you’re cooking for.

The main drawback with the air fryer is the amount of food you can cook. The cooking capacity of the air fryers we’ve tested ranges from 0.3kg and 2.2kg, a huge variance, so choose a model that caters for your needs. 

In general, small households cooking single batches of food will benefit most. As an alternative to switching on a full-sized oven several times a week to cook a meal for two, the benefits really stack up.

However, if you’re feeding several people, or want to cook a few different food items at the same time, an oven has more space and may work out cheaper than cooking several batches in an air fryer.

Do small air fryers use less energy?

Sometimes. You would think that air fryers with a smaller capacity would use less energy, but our tests show that's not always the case. Many medium-sized and even large-capacity air fryers use less energy and have lower annual running costs than smaller ones. This is why it's important to do your research before you buy. 

Another important thing to consider before you buy a smaller air fryer is that it will actually be big enough to accommodate all your food. If you're in doubt, it's a good idea to go for a slightly larger model, since cooking multiple rounds is less energy efficient than cooking only one round in a larger air fryer.

See how air fryers compare to ovens when it comes to energy, in our air fryer vs oven guide.