The 5 Best Air Fryers in the UK: Tried, Tested, and Rated
Air fryers have officially transcended “kitchen trend” status to become an absolute countertop essential in the UK. With energy bills remaining a primary concern and busy schedules demanding quicker meal times, finding the right model can genuinely transform how you cook.
But with hundreds of options filling the shelves at Currys, Argos, and John Lewis, choosing one isn’t easy. To save you the guesswork, we have rounded up the 5 best air fryers available in the UK, catering to different kitchen sizes, budgets, and family needs.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
| Model | Best For | Capacity | RRP (Approx.) |
| Ninja Foodi FLEXDRAWER (10.4L) | Overall Versatility & Families | 10.4 Litres | £269 |
| Philips 5000 Series Steam Air Fryer | Healthy Cooking & Innovation | 9.0 Litres | £190 |
| Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer | Mid-Range Performance & Chips | 7.6 Litres | £150 |
| Ninja DoubleStack XL (SL400UK) | Small Kitchens / Saving Space | 9.5 Litres | £270 |
| Tower Vortx 5L Digital | Budget-Conscious Buyers | 5.0 Litres | £40 – £45 |
1. Best Overall & Best for Families: Ninja Foodi FLEXDRAWER (10.4L)
4.7 out of 5 ratings
The Verdict: The ultimate crowd-pleaser that successfully replaces a traditional oven for most weeknight meals.
If you struggle to choose between a single massive basket and two independent drawers, the Ninja FlexDrawer completely solves your dilemma. It features a mega-capacity 10.4-litre zone that easily fits a whole leg of lamb or a massive batch of traybake. However, insert the removable ZoneDivider, and it instantly transforms into two independent 5.2-litre cooking zones.
- Pros: Outstanding versatility; zero preheating time required; intuitive Sync and Match cook functions.
- Cons: It takes up significant counter space; you cannot open one side without letting heat out of the other.
2. Best for Healthy Cooking: Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Steam (NA555/09)
4.7 out of 5 ratings
The Verdict: A game-changer for anyone who wants juicy, perfectly steamed veggies alongside a crisp protein.
Awarded Air Fryer of the Year by tech reviewers, this premium option from Philips introduces a unique twist: integrated steam cooking. Alongside standard rapid-air crisping, it allows you to inject steam into the cooking cycle. This ensures that chicken breasts stay incredibly succulent on the inside while browning on the outside, and makes quick work of delicate vegetables like tenderstem broccoli.
- Pros: Combines steaming and air frying seamlessly; very easy to clean; dual-basket setup.
- Cons: Controls can feel a bit unintuitive out of the box; requires occasional descaling due to the water tank.
3. Best Mid-Range Performer: Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer
4.7 out of 5 ratings
The Verdict: Consistent, reliable, and features incredibly helpful clear viewing windows.
The Instant Vortex Plus strikes a brilliant balance between price and high-end features. Its standout feature is the ClearCook viewing windows paired with internal lights, allowing you to check on your chips without opening the drawers and dropping the temperature. It excels at crisping up foods evenly and features an incredibly effective odour-erase filter system to keep your kitchen smelling fresh.
- Pros: Excellent chip-frying performance; handy viewing windows; versatile 6-in-1 functionality.
- Cons: Baskets are slightly smaller than the massive Ninja models, making it tighter for massive roasts.
4. Best Seller: COSORI Air Fryer 4.7L
4.7 out of 5 ratings
COSORI Air Fryer 4.7L, 9-in-1 Compact Air Fryers Oven, 130+ Recipes(Cookbook & Online), Max 230℃ Setting, Digital Tempered Glass Display, Quiet, 4 Portions, Non-Stick, Dishwasher Safe, 1500W
The Verdict: Gives you massive dual-drawer capacity without sacrificing your precious counter space.
This air fryer is perfect for 1-4 people, with the capacity to cook 12 chicken wings, a 2.25 kg whole chicken, or 1.8 kg of chips. Easy to clean and dishwasher safe, it features a removable non-stick basket that can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher.
Its stylish design includes a tempered glass top and a digital panel, making it both fashionable and a great gift choice. With 9 function keys—Chicken, Fries, Frozen, Steak, Seafood, Veggies, Reheat, and Shake—you can opt for one-touch cooking or customize the time and temperature to match your cookbook.
- Pros: Perfect for small UK kitchens; brilliant performance; innovative space-saving vertical design.
- Cons: Tall design might not fit comfortably under low-hanging kitchen cupboards; cannot easily accommodate wide, flat foods.
5. Editor’s Pick: Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer
4.7 out of 5 ratings
The Verdict: best for large families, meal-prepping households, and batch cooking.
2 INDEPENDENT COOKING ZONES: Cook 2 foods, 2 ways, both ready at the same time. Use different functions, times and temps in each drawer to create complete meals in one appliance, or cater to 2 tastes. 6 COOKING FUNCTIONS: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate. Cook from frozen to crispy. Up to 75% less fat* using the Air Fry function (*Tested against deep fried, hand-cut French fries). EXTRA-LARGE CAPACITY: Cook up to 8 portions. Each drawer fits up to 1.4kg fries or a 2kg chicken. Cook up to 75% faster than fan ovens* (*Tested against fish fingers and sausages, including preheat).
Who & What It Is Best For:
- Large Families (4 to 8 people): The extra-large 9.5L capacity divided across two independent 4.75L cooking zones easily accommodates full mains and side dishes—including fitting up to a 2kg chicken or 1.4kg of chips per drawer.
- Synchronized Meal Cooking: The Sync finish feature lets you run two entirely different functions, temperatures, and timers (e.g., roasting chicken in drawer 1 and air-frying veggies in drawer 2) so both complete at the exact same time.
How to Choose the Right Model For You
Before tapping “add to basket,” keep these three quick rules of thumb in mind:
- Capacity Matters: As a general rule, a 4L–5L model is ideal for 1-2 people. Families of 3 or more should look straight at 7.5L to 10L+ dual-zone options.
- Check Your Cupboards: Measure the clearance between your countertop and upper kitchen cabinets. Models like the Ninja DoubleStack save horizontal space but require vertical breathing room.
- Dishwasher Safety: If you hate washing up, look for models explicitly listing dishwasher-safe baskets and crisping plates—it saves hours of scrubbing over the lifetime of the appliance.
FAQs about: Air Fryers in the United Kingdom
Air fryers have become an essential kitchen appliance in the UK, prized for lowering energy bills and cutting down cooking time compared to conventional ovens.
Energy & Cost
Q: Is running an air fryer cheaper than a conventional oven?
Yes. Because an air fryer heats up almost instantly and has a much smaller cavity, it uses significantly less electricity per meal. For average cooking tasks (20–30 minutes), running an air fryer typically costs around 10p to 15p, whereas a full-sized 2,000–3,000W electric oven costs roughly 35p to 50p per use.
Q: Can an air fryer fully replace an oven?
For small to medium households, yes. It handles everyday tasks like roasting vegetables, baking sausage rolls, and reheating meals faster than an oven. However, traditional ovens are still better for batch-baking, large roasts (e.g., a full Sunday dinner for 4+ people), or using large sheet pans.
Practical Usage & Food Safety
Q: Can you put baking paper, tin foil, or silicone liners in an air fryer?
- Tin Foil & Silicone Liners: Generally safe as long as they don’t block the air circulation holes entirely.
- Baking/Parchment Paper:Safe only if weighted down by food.Unweighted paper can be sucked up into the heating element and catch fire.
Q: Do you need to add oil when air frying?
Not always, but a light spritz (about 1 teaspoon or a few sprays of oil) helps coat fresh foods like homemade chips or fresh vegetables to achieve maximum crispness. Pre-frozen items (like oven chips or breaded chicken) already contain oil and require none extra.
Q: What safety checks should be done before buying or using one in the UK?
Always ensure the unit comes with a standard UK 3-pin plug and fuse.Avoid buying unbranded appliances from unverified third-party online marketplaces, as they may lack UKCA/CE safety compliance. Never plug an air fryer into an overloaded extension lead, and keep it at least 10–15 cm away from walls to prevent heat damage to kitchen splashbacks.
Choosing the Right Model
| Model Type | Capacity | Best For | Key Advantage |
| Single Basket (3.5L – 5.5L) | 1–2 People | Quick daily meals, chips, single portions | Compact footprint, lower price point |
| Dual Zone / Double Drawer (7.5L – 10L) | 3–5 People | Cooking main and side dishes at once | Independent time/temp controls per drawer |
| Air Fryer Oven / Multi-Cooker | 4+ People | Whole chickens, pizzas, baking | Larger capacity, shelf levels instead of baskets |
