The best air fryers
Crisp chips with a spoonful of oil, and a roast chicken without heating the whole oven.
An air fryer is really a small, powerful fan oven that lives on the worktop. It heats up in a couple of minutes, crisps food with little or no oil, and for everyday meals it usually costs less to run than the big oven.
The main choice is one drawer or two. Two drawers let you cook a main and a side at different temperatures and have them finish together. One drawer is smaller, cheaper and plenty for one or two people.
What matters
- Two drawers suit families; a single 4–5L basket suits one or two people.
- Measure the worktop: dual-drawer models are wide.
- Dishwasher-safe drawers make cleaning easy.
- Time and temperature controls matter more than the number of presets.
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Best overall
#1 of 5
9.5/10
Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer (7.6L, AF300UK)
£199.99 RRP
Two drawers that cook separately and finish together, so the chicken and the chips land on the table at the same time. For most weeknight dinners it quietly takes over from the oven.
- Two 3.8L drawers (7.6L)
- Both drawers finish together
- 6 functions, including dehydrate
- Dishwasher-safe drawers
- Serves 4–6
What owners say: Brilliant results and simple controls. Owners love cooking two things at once, and say it’s quicker and cheaper to run than the oven.
Heads up: At 38cm wide it takes a fair bit of worktop, so measure before buying.
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A closer look: Put the chips in one drawer and the chicken in the other, give each its own time and temperature, and set them to finish together. Each drawer takes up to 1kg of fries or a 1.6kg chicken, and the drawers and crisper plates go in the dishwasher. The dehydrate setting is a fun extra for dried apple rings.
Best for: Families and anyone cooking a main and a side
- Drawers
- 2 × 3.8L
- Capacity
- 7.6L
- Holds
- 1kg fries or a 1.6kg chicken per drawer
- Cooks two things at once
- Yes
- Cooking modes
- 6 functions
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Yes
Best single drawer
#2 of 5
9.4/10
COSORI 4.7L Air Fryer
£99.99 RRP
A roomy single basket for the money, with space for a whole chicken and a glass-topped panel of one-touch presets.
- 4.7L basket
- Up to 230°C
- 9 one-touch presets
- Dishwasher-safe basket
- Recipe book included
What owners say: Easy to clean and cooks well, with a smaller footprint than a deep fat fryer yet room for a whole chicken.
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A closer look: Shake the basket halfway through for evenly crisp chips; there’s even a Shake button to remind you. It reaches 230°C, hot enough for properly coloured roast potatoes, and fits a 2.25kg chicken. The recipe book’s 30-odd recipes are a good starting point for anyone new to air frying.
Best for: Couples and small families who want one big basket
- Drawers
- 1
- Capacity
- 4.7L
- Holds
- 1.8kg chips or a 2.25kg chicken
- Cooks two things at once
- No
- Cooking modes
- 9 presets
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Yes
Best compact
#3 of 5
9.3/10
Philips Airfryer 2000 Series (4.2L)
£89.99 RRP
Philips launched the very first Airfryer at a Berlin tech show in 2010, and this neat 4.2L model shows they still know the recipe.
- 4.2L pan
- StarPlate for even airflow
- 13 cooking methods
- Touchscreen, 9 presets
- Dishwasher safe
What owners say: Reliable, even cooking with crispy results from very little oil, and quick and quiet. The size is just right for two.
Heads up: Better for one or two people than a family.
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A closer look: The 4.2L pan holds about 500g of fries or six drumsticks, so it suits one or two rather than a crowd. The touchscreen has presets for breakfast and cake as well as the usual chips and chicken, plus a keep-warm setting for when dinner’s ready before everyone else is. Everything that touches food is non-stick and goes in the dishwasher.
Best for: One or two people with a small kitchen
- Drawers
- 1
- Capacity
- 4.2L
- Holds
- 500g fries or 6 drumsticks
- Cooks two things at once
- No
- Cooking modes
- 13 methods, 9 presets
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Yes
Best-value dual drawer
#4 of 5
9.2/10
Tefal Easy Fry Dual Zone Air Fryer (8.3L)
£129.99 RRP
Two drawers of different sizes, which makes more sense than it sounds: a single portion goes in the small one instead of rattling round a big basket.
- 5.2L and 3.1L drawers
- Sync so both finish together
- 8 programmes
- No preheating
- 40–200°C
What owners say: Easy to use for a main and a side at once, quick, good value and easy to clean. Owners say there are far fewer pans to wash.
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A closer look: Use the smaller 3.1L drawer for a single portion and the 5.2L one for the main event, then sync them so the sides aren’t left going cold. There’s no preheating, and the temperature runs from 40 to 200°C. Handy for households where one person eats early and the rest later.
Best for: Mixed households: a solo lunch or a family tea
- Drawers
- 2 (5.2L + 3.1L)
- Capacity
- 8.3L
- Holds
- –
- Cooks two things at once
- Yes
- Cooking modes
- 8 programmes
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Yes
#5 of 5
9.1/10
Russell Hobbs SatisFry 4L Digital Air Fryer
£94.99 RRP
Simple, quick and well made, with presets for everything from chips to eggs, and a guarantee that stretches to three years once registered.
- 4L basket
- 10 presets
- Up to 220°C
- 7 cooking functions
- 2-year guarantee, 3 if registered
What owners say: Easy to use and good value, and just the right size for one or two. Owners cook everything in it, from fish and veg to bread and pizza.
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A closer look: The basket takes up to 800g of chips, but 500g gives the best browning, so cook in two rounds for a crowd. Ten presets cover chips, eggs, chicken and veg, and it reaches 220°C. Register it online within 28 days to add a third year to the two-year guarantee.
Best for: A first air fryer on a budget
- Drawers
- 1
- Capacity
- 4L
- Holds
- Up to 800g chips
- Cooks two things at once
- No
- Cooking modes
- 7 functions, 10 presets
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- –
How they compare
| Feature | #1Ninja Dual ZoneBest overall | #2COSORI 4.7LBest single drawer | #3Philips 2000Best compact | #4Tefal Dual ZoneBest-value dual drawer | #5Russell Hobbs 4L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 |
| Price | £199.99 RRP | £99.99 RRP | £89.99 RRP | £129.99 RRP | £94.99 RRP |
| Drawers | 2 × 3.8L | 1 | 1 | 2 (5.2L + 3.1L) | 1 |
| Capacity | 7.6L | 4.7L | 4.2L | 8.3L | 4L |
| Holds | 1kg fries or a 1.6kg chicken per drawer | 1.8kg chips or a 2.25kg chicken | 500g fries or 6 drumsticks | – | Up to 800g chips |
| Cooks two things at once | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Cooking modes | 6 functions | 9 presets | 13 methods, 9 presets | 8 programmes | 7 functions, 10 presets |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Best for | Families and anyone cooking a main and a side | Couples and small families who want one big basket | One or two people with a small kitchen | Mixed households: a solo lunch or a family tea | A first air fryer on a budget |
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