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)
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)
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
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 Space-Saver: Ninja DoubleStack XL Air Fryer (SL400UK)
The Verdict: Gives you massive dual-drawer capacity without sacrificing your precious counter space.
Traditional dual-basket air fryers are notorious “worktop hogs.” Enter the Ninja DoubleStack. By vertically stacking the two 4.75-litre drawers on top of each other rather than side-by-side, it cuts its countertop footprint down significantly. Despite the slim silhouette, it packs a massive 9.5-litre total capacity and comes with wire racks so you can technically cook up to four layers of food simultaneously.
- 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. Best Budget Option: Tower Vortx 5L Digital Air Fryer
The Verdict: Proof that you don’t need to spend over £100 to get crisp, fast, and reliable air frying.
Tower is a household staple in the UK appliance market, and the Vortx 5L proves why. Retailing well under £50, this single-basket model is perfectly sized for couples, individuals, or student accommodation. It handles standard air-frying duties like sausages, frozen snacks, and homemade chips brilliantly without any complex bells and whistles.
- Pros: Exceptionally good value for money; simple touchscreen interface; lightweight and compact.
- Cons: Lacks dual-zone flexibility; the basic build feels a bit more plastic-heavy than premium competitors.
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.
