An air fryer is a small, fast oven with a powerful fan. It cooks chips, chicken, vegetables and frozen food quickly and with little or no oil.
| Where an air fryer wins | Where it doesn't |
|---|---|
| Quick small and medium meals | Large roasts and big batches |
| Frozen food, chips, wings, vegetables | Wet batters and very runny food |
| Heats up fast, so less waiting | Takes worktop space |
| Generally uses less energy than a full oven for small portions | A small basket means cooking in batches |
Running costs: an air fryer heats a small chamber, so for small and medium portions it generally uses less energy than heating a full-size oven. The saving depends on how you cook and what you pay per unit of electricity, so check the wattage on the product page.
The verdict: if you cook for one to four people and eat a lot of frozen or quick food, an air fryer is usually worth it. If you rarely cook, or mostly roast large joints, it is less useful.
Well-reviewed examples are below. We haven't tested them ourselves. This comparison is based on the Amazon listings and customer ratings, so check the latest price and details before you buy.
1. Compact: Ninja 4.7L Air Fryer Pro
A 4.8 rating from more than 900 buyers. A good size for one or two people.
Check Price on Amazon2. Cheap and compact: Philips AirFryer 2000 Series 4.2L
A 4.7 rating from nearly 700 buyers at around £50, a low-risk way to see if you will use one.
Check Price on Amazon3. Family size: Ninja Foodi 7.6L Dual Zone
A 4.8 rating from more than 18,000 buyers, with two drawers for cooking two foods at once.
Check Price on Amazon