Best Buy Air Fryer 2023: Expert Buying Advice
Explore the best buy air fryer that have aced our rigorous tests and gain invaluable insights into selecting the ideal air fryer based on type, price, capacity, and features.
When it comes to cooking, air fryers offer a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fat fryers by utilizing hot air and minimal, or even zero, cooking oil. These culinary marvels circulate scorching air within a compact cooking chamber, delivering crisp, golden-brown food in record time compared to conventional ovens.
Our expert analysis and buying advice on air fryers will aid you in making an informed choice that suits your needs perfectly.
What size of air fryer should I buy?
The smallest air fryers we’ve assessed can accommodate up to 800g of food – roughly equivalent to four servings of chips or the content of two baking trays in a standard oven.
For those who primarily cook for four people or fewer, any of our tested air fryers should suffice. However, if you require the option to prepare larger meals or have a particularly voracious household, consider air fryers like the Tefal Actifry 2 in 1 or Tefal Actifry Express XL, which can handle nearly twice the capacity (1.5kg).
How To Buy The Best Air Fryer
When making your air fryer selection, these essential questions will help you narrow down your choices and find the most suitable appliance for your preferences:
Do you prioritize the taste of fried food above all else? While air fryers deliver a fried quality to foods, particularly with items like chips, those accustomed to deep-fried cuisine may detect a discernible difference in taste.
How much food do you typically prepare? Most air fryers can manage around 800g (equivalent to four to six servings) of chips, with some handling double that amount. Opt for a larger capacity or a model with dual-level cooking or an additional compartment if you frequently cook for a large group.
What is your available worktop or cupboard space? Consider the dimensions and weight of the air fryer, as some models can be sizable and hefty. Additionally, account for any extra accessories that might require storage. Check the power cable length to determine its proximity to a socket.
Do you prefer digital or manual controls? Digital models offer greater visibility into cooking time, and some air fryers even feature smartphone control through dedicated apps.
Do you have a dishwasher? If you own a dishwasher, opt for a model with dishwasher-safe components to streamline the cleaning process.
What is your budget? Basic air fryers start at around £60, but models with advanced features, such as multiple compartments, can exceed £200. Keep in mind that more affordable models often have smaller capacities.
Air Fryer Types
Basket-type Air Fryers
Basket-type air fryers are the most prevalent variant. They feature a cooking bowl or basket with a convenient handle, allowing you to shake the contents during cooking for even results. While some come with a stirring paddle, we’ve found that this doesn’t always enhance the outcome.
Pros:
- Typically more affordable than oven-type air fryers.
- The bowl’s handle simplifies food manipulation.
- Generally user-friendly.
Cons:
- You can’t monitor food progress without stopping the air fryer and extracting the basket.
- Budget basket models may lack additional functions like preset programs.
- Often have smaller capacities compared to oven-type air fryers or multicookers.
Oven-type Air Fryers
Oven-type air fryers come equipped with one or more trays to arrange your food, which slot into the machine for cooking. Most include a viewing window on the front, allowing you to keep an eye on your culinary creations without disrupting the cooking process.
Pros:
- Multiple trays enable simultaneous cooking of various food types.
- Typically versatile and equipped with several preset programs.
- Most feature a convenient viewing window.
Cons:
- Generally pricier than basket-type air fryers.
- May require some adjustment time for users.
- Tend to be bulkier and occupy more space.
Best Buy Air Fryer 2023
Best air-fryers 2023 at a glance
5/5 stars
Best air-fryer for quick baking: Ninja Air-Fryer Max 5.2L, £129.99
Best rotisserie air-fryer for chips: Breville Halo rotisserie air-fryer oven, £119.97
Best dual-draw air-fryer: Instant Vortex Plus Dual air-fryer, £169
Best for cooking a complete meal in one: Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air-fryer, £170
Best blow-out multifunctional air-fryer: Ninja Foodi MAX health grill & air-fryer, £269
Best multi-tasking air-fryer: Sage the Smart Oven air-fryer, £329.95
Best air-fryer for families: Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone air-fryer, £219.99
Best of the rest
Best air-fryer for chicken: Lakeland Dual-Basket air-fryer, £99.99
Best air-fryer for large households: Proscenic T31 air-fryer, £159
Best WiFi-enabled air-fryer: Cosori Air-Fryer Lite 3.8L, £49.99
Best air-fryer with grill attachment: Tefal EasyFry Precision 2-in-1 air-fryer and grill, £69.99
Best air-fryer for all-round even cooking without shaking: Cosori Dual Blaze 6.4L Smart air-fryer, £149
Best affordable dual-draw air-fryer: Salter Dual Cook Pro 8.2L air-fryer, £149
Best large-capacity air-fryer for affordability: Cosori Pro 5.5-litre air-fryer, £79.99
Best air-fryer for versatility: Tefal ActiFry Genius 2-in-1 air-fryer, £149
Air Fryers Vs Multicookers
In the world of countertop cooking appliances, there’s a trend towards larger, bulkier, and more feature-rich devices that can handle a wide range of culinary tasks. While most air fryers boast the ability to roast, grill, and bake, multicookers expand their repertoire to include pressure cooking, steaming, and slow cooking. However, this enhanced versatility often comes with a higher price tag, prompting consumers to consider whether they’ll make use of all these functions before making the investment.
When choosing the best air fryer, it’s crucial not to overspend on features you may rarely use. Take a moment to review the following factors before deciding on a specific model:
Digital Timer: All air fryers come equipped with timers to allow you to set precise cooking durations and monitor the remaining time. While some, like the Philips Viva Airfryer and Russell Hobbs Purifry, feature manual dials, most others, including the Tefal Actifry, employ digital timers for added convenience. Digital timers make it easier to glance at the remaining cooking time.
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Cleaning your air fryer after each use is a necessity, so having dishwasher-safe components can be a huge convenience. Ideally, the basket/bowl, lid, and stirring paddle should all be dishwasher safe, although this may not always be the case.
Extra Cooking Rack or Compartment: Certain models, such as the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone, come with a secondary cooking compartment that enables you to prepare two different types of food simultaneously at varying temperatures. This feature eliminates the need to mix foods together, allowing you to cook items like steak and chips side by side.
Preset Cooking Programs: Air fryers often offer preset cooking programs, including options like grilling, baking, roasting, dehydrating, and reheating. These programs can be especially handy for specific culinary tasks.
- 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-style air fryers feature baskets set at an angle with a rotating mechanism. This design helps evenly cook food by gently tumbling it during the cooking process.
Smart Controls: Smart air fryers are controllable through a mobile app, allowing you to select recipes and remotely instruct the appliance to cook your food to the desired temperature and duration. You can monitor the cooking progress and receive notifications when it’s done. Although not very common, this feature offers added convenience.
Stirring Paddle: Certain air fryers come with a built-in stirring paddle that automates the process of moving food around as it cooks. While this can contribute to more even cooking, the effectiveness may vary among models.
Temperature Control: Most air fryers allow you to set the cooking temperature within a range typically spanning from 80°C to 200°C.
How Much Do You Need To Spend To Get A Good Air Fryer?
When considering the cost of a quality air fryer, keep in mind that you can find budget options starting at around £40. However, for a decent model, expect to spend between £70 and £80. While price often correlates with quality, it’s important to note that not all expensive air fryers are top performers, and vice versa. In our testing, we’ve encountered both disappointing results from pricier models, including soggy or tasteless food, and poor performance from some cheaper air fryers, which we labeled as “Don’t Buys.”
Read other air fryer reviews we have made in our previous posts:
Crux Air Fryer Manual – Mastering Crux Air Fryer
Hamilton Beach Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Air Fryer vs Toaster Oven: Making the Right Choice for Your Kitchen
7 Best Costco Air Fryer on Sale (2023) Reviews & Guide
Best Small Air Fryer Toaster Ovens
The Perfect Way to Reheat Pizza in Air Fryer
13 Best Ninja Air Fryers and Toaster Ovens for Your Kitchen
12 Best Microwave Air Fryer Combo (2023 Guide)
Where to buy an air fryer
The recent surge in popularity of air fryers has made it challenging to find the most sought-after models. To assist you in your search, we’ve compiled a list of top retailers offering a diverse selection of air fryers, presented in table format below:
- Amazon boasts an extensive selection of air fryers featuring renowned brands such as Instant Pot, Tower, Tefal, and Ninja. Typically, these appliances fall within the price range of £90 to £150. Prime members enjoy the added perk of complimentary two-day shipping, while non-Prime members can opt for free standard shipping on orders exceeding £20, albeit with a slightly longer wait.
- Argos, on the other hand, carries a limited assortment of air fryers, most of which exceed the £100 mark in terms of cost. Shoppers can avail themselves of free click and collect options at numerous UK stores. Alternatively, home delivery is available at a fee of £3.95 for deliveries scheduled between 8am and 5pm, or £5.95 for evening deliveries spanning from 6pm to 10pm.
- George at Asda may offer a more compact range of air fryers compared to other retailers, but these options are notably budget-friendly, priced between £55 and £100. The inventory mainly comprises brands like Tower, Salter, Daewoo, and George’s in-house air fryers. Shoppers can enjoy free click and collect services at most UK stores, while standard delivery starts at £2.95, and next-day delivery commences at £4.95.
- Costco members are in for discounted air fryer options, although the store predominantly stocks high-end models, necessitating an expenditure of nearly £200. While the assortment of air fryers is somewhat limited in comparison to other retailers, you can find prestigious brands like Sage and Cuisinart. Shipping costs are included in the price. For those not yet Costco members, an annual membership is available starting at £15 for online shoppers.
- Currys boasts an extensive array of air fryers, showcasing brands such as Tefal, Ninja, Philips, and Tower. The majority of models are priced below £150 and qualify for free standard shipping. If you prefer delivery on a specific day, you can opt for a £7 fee for deliveries between 8am and 8pm or £10 for deliveries before noon.Can an Air Fryer Reduce Electricity Bills?
Can An Air Fryer Save Money On Your Electricity Bills?
Yes, an air fryer can potentially save you money on your electricity bills, but the extent of the savings depends on the air fryer’s size and the number of people you’re cooking for. Air fryers have varying cooking capacities, ranging from 0.3kg to 2.2kg. For small households preparing single batches of food, the cost savings can be significant compared to using a full-sized oven for smaller meals. However, if you regularly cook for multiple people or require more cooking space, an oven might be a more economical choice.
Air Fryer vs. Halogen Oven vs. Electric Oven
To help you make an informed decision, we conducted a test using 320g of chips (equivalent to two to three portions) in an air fryer, a halogen oven, and a built-in electric oven. Here are the results:
|
| Air fryer | Halogen oven | Built-in electric oven |
| Cooking time
| 23 minutes | 35 minutes | 33 minutes |
| Energy used to cook
| 0.287kWh | 0.679kWh | 0.863kWh |
| Cost to cook
| 8p | 19p | 24p |
| Saving (compared to electric oven)
| 16p cheaper | 5p cheaper | n/a |
| Quality of cooking (out of 5)
| 3 – some cooked perfectly but the chips at the bottom were undercooked | 3.5 – some chips were overcooked and some were undercooked | 3.5 – inconsistent cooking as some chips were too crispy |
These results are based on an electricity cost of 27p per kWh, as per the Ofgem price cap effective from 1 October 2023.
What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is versatile and suitable for foods that roast, bake, or fry well. Popular choices include chicken, chips, potatoes, roasted vegetables, falafel, fish, pizza, and even baked goods like cookies and cakes.
Additionally, air fryers are great for quickly cooking and crisping up frozen foods and snacks such as fish fingers, chicken nuggets, spring rolls, and pies.
However, avoid putting fresh greens, cheese, or foods covered in wet batter into your air fryer. Cooking whole roasts, such as roast chicken, can also be challenging; it’s advisable to joint the bird first before frying.
Can you repair a broken air fryer?
If your air fryer is no longer under warranty, replacing it can be quite costly, making you wonder if it’s worth the trouble. Typically, air fryers come with relatively short warranties, usually lasting one or two years, leaving you with limited coverage after purchase.
While some manufacturers offer spare parts for air fryers, these are often limited to easily accessible and replaceable components. You can easily find spare racks and baskets, but internal components are generally difficult to access and not sold separately. Here are a few examples:
- Ninja offers replacement baskets and racks for their air fryers but does not sell internal components.
- Philips provides replacement dials, handles, baskets, racks, and more.
- Tefal has a comprehensive spare parts shop, but for air fryers, you’re likely to find spare paddles, baskets, drawers, and easily accessible components.
- Tower sells replacement pots, lids, baskets, thermometers, pressure regulators, and more.
As a general rule, if you’ve damaged a detachable part of your air fryer, there’s a chance you can find a replacement. However, if a more complex issue has arisen, such as a malfunctioning internal component, a decline in performance due to problems with the heating element or fan, you may need to consider professional repair if it’s not a straightforward fix.
If your air fryer is beyond repair, consider taking it to your local council’s recycling or reuse center. You can use Recycle Now’s recycling locator to find the nearest center.
