There are some good reasons to invest in an air fryer. They cook more quickly than an oven, give crispy results without the need to add extra oil and, perhaps most importantly now – when bills are skyrocketing – they’ll use significantly less electricity than oven cooking. An air fryer isn’t really a fryer at all. It’s essentially a mini convection oven, so you can use it to cook anything you would in a conventional oven. But, if you buy one, it’ll take up a chunk of your kitchen counter space, so you should consider what you’re going to cook most often, and see if you can spot one with additional features that would be useful to you. If you need more help, we’ve got buying advice under the chart. Otherwise, read on to see our top picks.
Buying guide
If you’re not sure what to look for when buying an air fryer, we’ve got some advice.
ClearCook window OdourErase technology Fantastic for chips and roast joints
No cooking pre-sets Tricky to serve from drawer Rubber tray feet must be removed for cleaning
There are six programmes to choose from: air fry, bake, grill, dehydrate, reheat and roast. But there are no pre-sets, so there’s no guidance as to the time and temperature you should use when cooking. This won’t be a problem for people accustomed to air fryer cooking but novices might have to do a bit of online research and be prepared to experiment at first. There are some excellent features to recommend it over rival products: there’s a window to allow you to see how your cooking is getting on without opening the door, and the OdourErase technology really works. But if you’re buying specifically for these features, make sure you get the right model as Instant makes a number of similar models, with none, one, or both of them.
Touchscreen Pared-back design Easy to use and cookbook included
No keep warm setting Medium capacity: not for large families
The air fryer switches off when it’s finished, so there’s no chance of overcooking, but there’s no keep warm function. It’s a 1500 watt appliance, so it’s not very power hungry. It would be a good option for people new to air frying as not only is it solidly made and easy to use, but it comes with a 50-recipe cookbook that’ll give you plenty of ideas beyond beige frozen food.
6 cooking functions in one Large grill plate Wide temperature range for air frying Smart Cooking System & Digital Probe
Very bulky, takes up a lot of room 3.8L capacity is small compared to some air fryers Expensive and hard to come by
Bear in mind that this is a really bulky appliance with a comparatively small internal capacity (4 quarts/ 3.8 litres) and at 2460 watts, it is more expensive to run than many of its rivals. Also, Ninja products tend to sell out quickly, so if you want it and you see it in stock, grab one while you can.
Capacity Ease of use One-button programmes Connected recipe feature
Takes up a chunk of space Other smart functionality is of limited use
But the smart features are well organised and a definite plus. The app contains over 100 recipes and if you select one, it’ll show you the ingredients you need, take you through the prep stages and automatically set the right cooking time and temperature for your food. If you get held up while cooking, you can pause the cooking programme in the app. You’ll also get an alert to your phone when your food is done.
Rotisserie spit and basket 3 cooking surfaces Easy to use
Max 1.3kg rotisserie weight Used accessories may require a pre-wash soak Changing oven light might be tricky
One of the reasons to opt for this and not a traditional air fryer is its versatility: it can do everything that an air fryer can, and then some. The rotisserie spit is good for a whole, 1.3kg chicken and the drum can hold 750g of chips. It has touchscreen controls, and you can opt for one of the pre-set cooking programmes (chips, chicken, vegetables, and steak) or one of the manual options (air fry, bake and dehydrate). Another handy feature is that it’ll switch itself off after cooking, so your food won’t be burnt to a crisp if you get distracted during the cooking process.
Attractive design Easy to use Recipes included
Not very robust build Smart features limited Small capacity
The sole control beyond an On/Off switch is an innovative dial which houses a digital screen. There’s a top level menu of food options, including the expected fries, chicken wings and fish, but also steak and cake. There are eight pre set programmes in all. You can also set the time and temperature yourself, using the dial – or perform any of these actions via the app.
Because clearly, one of the key reasons to buy this model is its app control. Download the Xiaomi Home app and you can create custom recipes, monitor your cooking and pause or end the cooking programme remotely. It’ll also alert you when your food is done or needs to be turned over. There’s also a database of recipes you can try, with automatic cooking programmes and step-by-step instructions.
Retro styling in many colours Easy to use Consistent results
Loud fans Basket wobbly in drawer
It has a large, 6 litre capacity, which makes it a good option for families. But what sets the Swan air fryer apart from rivals is its retro design. If you want something with a bit more character than your standard kitchen appliance, its chrome-effect trim, old-fashioned dial and curved exterior make it an attractive option. Our only reservation is its slightly wobbly drawer, which can catch when you’re sliding it back in.
Size
Air fryers are quite large appliances – around the size of a small bread maker. To get the most from one, you really want to find a dedicated spot for it on your kitchen counter. So, the first thing to check is the external dimensions. But really, the internal dimensions are more important. The cooking space inside an air fryer ranges from around 2 to 6 quarts or 1.5 to 6+ litres. At the lower end, you’ll be able to cook fries for one to two people, two burgers, or two servings of chicken. At the higher end, you can fit in a main course for four people. There are also supersized air fryers with a 10 quart/ litre capacity. These are often be divided into two drawers you can use separately. If you’re in a single person household and generally just cook for yourself, you can go for a smaller appliance but in general, we’d advise that if you have the space for it, go larger. It’ll give you more cooking options and, as it cooks food by circulating hot air inside, it’ll be faster and give better results with more space. Bear in mind though that larger air fryers will likely have a higher voltage, and will likely cost more to run. If you’re looking to save money on your electricity bills, a smaller simpler appliance is best.
Controls
If you’re new to air fryers, choosing an appliance with pre-sets will help you cook popular food types perfectly, from your first time. Typically, air fryers with pre-sets will just require you to press a single button (for example, for fish, burgers or fries) and the appliance will take care of the rest. Otherwise, you’ll be able to set the time and temperature manually. This is easy to do but it may mean you need to experiment before you get it right. Most air fryers will have digital controls, but some have manual dials or sliders to set the time and temperature.
Smart features
Smart features on cooking appliances are limited by safety. Some appliance makers may suggest that you can fill your air fryer before going out and schedule cooking, or set it to start cooking remotely, via an app, so that you can come home to hot food. We wouldn’t advise this. First off, it’s never a good idea to leave food at room temperature for a long time before cooking, or to use cooking appliances when you’re not home. That being said, there are some genuinely handy smart features that you may use. If you get stuck doing something while your food is cooking, you can pause or stop the programme via the app. There may also be a database of recipes you can use for inspiration. Browse recipes in the app, pick up the ingredients on the way home and start the programme when you get in: the app will guide you through the steps of cooking and automatically set the time and temperature. You can even monitor the cooking progress from your phone, while you relax on the sofa – and you’ll get an alert when your food is done.
Combination cookers
An air fryer is simply a mini convection oven. That means that it cooks in the same way that your oven does when you select the fan-assist setting. Depending on the design of the air fryer, this cooking method can be supplemented by others. You can get air fryers that also grill or have multi-cooker functions such as making soups, stews and rice.
Emma is Home Tech Editor at Tech Advisor. She covers everything from kitchen appliances to smart home devices, from floor care to personal care to air care technology. She’s particularly interested in environmentally conscious brands and products that save people time and money.
