Getting a new piece of kit for your kitchen requires some proper thought and research to make sure it’s something you’ll get years of use out of. So here’s a list of questions to think about while you’re weighing up your options.
Air fryers are essentially mini ovens for your kitchen countertop that you can unplug and store away when not in use. They’re a great alternative to traditional ovens as they take up considerably less space and can cook food much faster thanks to their compact cooking chambers and intense fan systems. They’re also considerably easier to clean as the racks, baskets and trays are removable and can simply be washed in hot soapy water.
What does an air fryer do? Just like an oven, air fryers use hot air to cook your food, circulating the air around the basket or racks.
But, unlike conventional ovens, air fryers move the air around much more quickly, meaning they can heat and cook your food significantly faster. This movement also helps create the signature crispy finish you get from using an air fryer. And because they use air rather than oil, it’s a healthier way to cook foods you might otherwise fry such as homemade chips or chicken tenders.
Air fryers come in a range of sizes from mini options of around 2 litres to multi compartment 20 litre machines. Smaller air fryers are ideal for two-person households and can fit 2-3 servings of food: a couple of portions of salmon, enough chips for two or several chicken wings.
If you’re looking for an air fryer to suit a family of four or more, larger models of over 6 litres can cook 5-6 portions, so there’s more than enough room for you to cook up a delicious Sunday roast of chicken plus veg or roast potatoes.
Whether an air fryer is right for you largely depends on your cooking habits and lifestyle. If you’re short on time and kitchen space, or are simply looking for a healthier way to cook dishes like fried chicken, spring rolls or samosas, then air fryers are ideal as you’ll get the same crispy result as a deep fryer, minus the large amount of oil.
They’re also perfect for preparing a fast and fuss-free meal for the kids in between getting them home from school and taking them to dance classes or footy practice, as you can quickly cook up a batch of fish fingers or nuggets with chips, minus the hassle of having to heat up a large oven.
But there are some areas where air fryers fall short compared to a traditional oven:
You can’t cook certain foods in them – Sauce based foods such as bolognaise or chili con carne don’t cook well in an air fryer and can splatter as the hot air circulates. Wet battered foods like fish are also unlikely to cook evenly as there isn’t enough oil to fully set the batter.
There’s a learning curve – While packaged foods now often come with air fryer cooking instructions to take the guesswork out, it might still take you a few tries to get the timings and temperatures right for your favourite foods.
You might run out of space – Even with larger models, air fryers are much smaller than traditional ovens so there’s less compartment space for meals with lots of different ingredients or sides.
Since they cook food faster than an oven or traditional deep fryer, they can often cost less to run due to the lower energy usage. As an example, two chicken breasts might take 30-40 minutes to cook in the oven (depending on the size and thickness), but could take as little as 15 or 20 minutes in an air fryer.
Their efficiency when compared to a traditional oven will depend somewhat on your energy tariff, but overall, cooking a single portion of food in a small air fryer is much more energy- and cost-efficient than heating your whole oven.
Air fryers come in a range of different designs. The most common are basket air fryers which have one or two basket compartments for your food that you can slide in and out – easy peasy!
Compact design
Energy efficient
Easy to clean
There’s also oven-style air fryers which have racks and baking trays, just like a miniature version of your traditional oven. They take up a little more room but they’re also more versatile as they often come with multiple cooking functions like baking, roasting and grilling.
Large capacity
Multiple cooking functions
Visibility while cooking
Rotisserie air fryers come with a special attachment or component that rotates your food as it cooks, resulting in a nice, even finish. These air fryers are great for cooking meat like chicken thighs or beef kebabs, but can also give veggies an even char around.
Even cooking
Crispy finish with less oil
No more dry meat
Finally, paddle air fryers have a built-in paddle that stirs your food as it cooks, again making sure everything is cooked evenly. This also means you don’t need to shake or stir the food yourself, so you’re free to get on with other things while your meal is cooking. Alongside crispy chips, these kinds of air fryers are great for dishes like stir-frys and fajitas.
Versatile cooking options
Time-saving automatic stirring
Energy efficient
Most air fryers will come with a built-in timer to help you keep track of your cooking. Some models will have traditional timers that let you know when a set time has finished, whilst others have timers which can automatically turn off the air fryer when your cooking is done to avoid burning or drying out your food.
If you’re going to be using your air fryer a lot, picking one with removable dishwasher-safe parts is going to be a real time-saver. ‘Dishwasher safe’ means its components are able to withstand high temperatures, aggressive wash sprays and any chemical detergents without damage, so you can stack and go, safe in the knowledge that all your air fryer parts will be good as new - much easier than tackling that dreaded deep oven clean!
Just like traditional ovens, some air fryers come with a range of cooking functions or modes such as bake, fry, roast or grill. This versatility gives you plenty of options for cooking, making meal preparation easier and more flexible.
Still wondering how to choose an air fryer that’s right for you? One particular feature we recommend looking out for is custom temperature controls. Nowadays, most air fryers come with preset temperatures for certain foods, but there are models that also let you set the temperature manually, giving you more control over your cooking.
With a compact size that won’t take up too much counter space, this Manual Air Fryer by Morphy Richards is great for smaller kitchens. A 3.5 litre capacity is just right for cooking up meals for two or smaller families, while the temperature and timings can be easily adjusted using the manual control knobs (no fiddly buttons to worry about here!). It may be small on size but it’s big on performance. With a temperature range between 160-220°C, its powerful 1300W motor circulates the heated air around your chips, chicken wings, pasties and other tasty treats in super-quick time, so you won’t have to wait long to tuck into them.
Let’s face it, life’s too short to waste time washing up! That’s why NINJA made this Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer with dishwasher safe parts – how’s that for a fuss-free way to feed the family?
The extra-large 9.5 litre capacity allows you to fit an entire chicken in each drawer, and you can also cook on two different settings at two different temperatures so each side finishes at the same time. The smart cooking system uses digital probes to monitor your food’s temperature, ensuring perfectly cooked steak, chicken, fish and more. With 6 different cooking functions, it’s so much more than an air fryer, allowing you to roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate or max crisp. Just sticking to air frying? You can cook with up to 75% less oil, so not only will your food be a little healthier, the trays will be even easier to wash up after.
We love the versatility of this air fryer oven by Instant. A real all-rounder, the key to its ease is the 9-in-1 cooking functions that allow you to air fry, toast, bake, proof bread and so much more. Fed up with fruit going to waste? Use the dehydrate function to remove moisture and preserve it for long-lasting flavour – perfect for sprinkling on yogurt or breakfast cereal. It can dehydrate strawberries in just 4 hours.
And if you love the taste of succulent chicken, give the rotisserie function a go. It will slowly rotate your chicken to ensure even cooking and that all-round crispiness you can never seem to achieve in a traditional oven. The shelf gives you twice the space for food – this combined with a 12-litre capacity makes it ideal for larger families.
Boasting a pair of 4.5-litre drawers to create a generous 9-litre capacity, they can be used alone or simultaneously. Perfect for cooking for the whole family, it’s big enough to prepare mouthwatering mains and sides at the same time. The Dual Cook function allows you to duplicate the settings from one basket to the other, so you can cook twice as much food when extra guests come to dinner. And because we know how distracting busy family homes can be, there’s also a clever Shake function, which lets you set an alarm to remind you to shake and flip over the contents, ensuring evenly cooked food.
Capable of cooking two different foods in two different ways, this best- seller from Ninja is much quicker at cooking than a regular fan oven and offers lots of versatility if you’re looking to get a bit more adventurous with your dishes.
It has a total of 6 great ways to cook - air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, dehydrate and reheat – so you can make anything from crispy chicken breasts to fluffy cakes to sumptuous beef jerky.
*Air frying based on Ofgem Apr-Sep '22 price cap, 28p/kWh
The healthiness of an air fryer all depends on what you’re cooking, but generally air fryers can be a healthier way to cook certain foods as they don’t require as much oil. This means they provide a lower-calorie alternative, particularly for dishes like chicken wings, French fries, and onion rings, which traditionally require a significant amount of oil for frying.
The biggest thing to decide on before buying an air fryer is if it suits your lifestyle. If you’re looking for a quick, relatively healthy way to cook your meals, or you’re energy-conscious, then getting an air fryer could be a great solution. The fact that you can unplug and move your air fryer when not in use also makes them perfect if you don’t have much surface space in your kitchen.
While you can cook most things in an air fryer, anything with wet batter like fried chicken, or any sauced-based dishes such as Bolognese, won’t cook properly and can end up causing quite a mess. Anything that you usually boil, like rice or pasta, is also a no-go.
An Actifry is a type of air fryer, made by the brand Tefal. The main feature that sets this product apart is its pedal attachment which keeps food moving during cooking, giving you a nice, crispy finish.
Thanks to their compact size and removable compartments, air fryers are fairly easy to clean, especially compared to large ovens. Baskets and trays can be taken out and left to soak and while the main unit can’t be submerged, soap and water should be enough to keep this part clean.
Now that we’ve covered all the essentials, we hope you’re ready to make an informed decision about which air fryer suits your needs. Whether it’s for quick meals, healthier cooking, or feeding a crowd, there's an air fryer that fits the bill. All our air fryers come with a manufacturer’s guarantee but to be extra safe, you can add our optional Very Protect insurance to have your air fryer repaired or replaced if something isn’t quite right. Now all that's left to do is pick your perfect match and get cooking!
