Best air fryer 2025: January is the best time to upgrade your air fryer - these are the models I’ve tested that I recommend to everyone I know

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Air fryers have to be one of the most bought and well loved items in recent years - in fact more households have one than don’t nowadays.

Whether you’re a solo diner, couple, busy family or student - you’ll be able to find and choose an air fryer for your needs.

Touted as both money and time savers, the best air fryers act as more than just a countertop space hog. They’re quick to heat up compared to an oven and often quicker to cook too - bringing convenience and ease to mealtimes.

However, what you might not know is that many cheaper and even more affordable options only come with a couple of years warranty. This is because when the air fryer boom really kicked off a few years back, many weren't really built to last.

Most households own an air fryer but if you’ve had yours for a while now, you might have started to notice it isn’t working as well as it could be. From weird smells and noisey air fryer fans, to slow and uneven cooking, a broken air fryer is not only a nuisance but could be a hazard to your home.

If that sounds like you, it could be time for an air fryer upgrade.

We've tested dozens of machines to find the best in every category 

Major kitchen brands including Ninja, Philips, Salter and Tefal have, as well as lesser known brands, have all released their own versions of air fryers over the years and these have evolved significantly as needs have changed. You can read our roundup of the best Ninja air fryers if you're looking for a brand-specific one or our non-toxic air fryer recommendations if you're trying to avoid plastic and non-stick.

With such an overwhelming amount of choice, it’s really important to understand which air fryers offer the best performance, as well as finding one that is best suited to your individual needs.

I’ve been testing and reviewing air fryers for a long time, so have seen their rapid evolution as it happens. These are the ones I’d recommend for couples, families, those on a budget and those who simply want convenience above all else.

Best air fryers: Quick list

• Best for most people: Ninja Foodi Dual Drawer MAX
• Best for space saving: Salter VertiCook View
• Best value dual drawer: Instant Vortex dual drawer
• Best for beginners: Lakeland 8L slimline air fryer
• Prestige pick: Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer XL 
• Best for solo households: Ninja Crispi

How we test 

Our air fryer testing looks at energy efficiency, performance and how easy they are to use. We run every air fryer for 30 minutes at 200C and measure the energy use.

We then run a series of cooking tests to determine how quickly and evenly different foods cook. This includes potatoes cut into chips, cooking a whole chicken or leg of meat and popular vegetables like broccoli and asparagus.

We use a power meter to test energy consumption

We test how well oven chips cook, as well as making our own

Our testers also use the air fryer to cook regular meals throughout the day, using it as you would in a real home as that’s where you’ll be using yours.

Read more about how we test air fryers. 

The best air fryers to buy

1. Best for most people: Ninja Foodi Dual Drawer MAX

 Read our full Ninja Foodi Dual Drawer Max review.

2. Best for space saving: Salter VertiCook View 

 Read our full Salter VertiCook View review.

3. Best value dual drawer: Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer 

4. Best for beginners: Lakeland Slimline air fryer

5. Prestige pick: Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer XL

 6. Best for solo households: Ninja Crispi

Read our full Ninja Crispi review for more details

Our verdict

If you need a workhorse of an air fryer that will do most things really well, has a good capacity and great build quality, the Ninja Foodi Dual Drawer MAX is my top pick. 

 For those looking to save space, the SalterVertiCook View really impressed me. It's not quite as swish as the  Ninja models but it performed well in tests and has the clear viewing window, which I think is a nice feature.

The Ninja Crispi is one of our favourite air fryers for solo households

Why trust us

Danielle has worked in consumer journalism for a decade and has been testing air fryers for seven years. She’s been using these tabletop must-haves since the early days and always has at least one in her kitchen at all times.

The air fryers we recommend are great for crispy chicken

Whether she’s cooking a whole chicken, hash browns for breakfast or entertaining, her air fryer is in constant use. Danielle is also responsible for all our kitchen appliance tests, ensuring each product is held up to the highest standards.

FAQs

Do air fryers use a lot of electricity?

Air fryers typically use less electricity vs an oven due to their size and heat up times. On average, our tests have shown that an air fryer will use anywhere between 0.45kWh to 1.2kWh over an hour. In terms of cost, this equates to between 12p and 31p per hour.

For comparison, the average oven could cost you between 45p to 1.50 an hour to run. It’s worth noting though that this is an approximate cost and it will depend on an oven’s size, wattage and also the current cost of energy set by your supplier.

Are air fryers safe?

In general air fryers are very safe appliances but there are things you should do to ensure risks are minimised. You can read more about the most common air fryer mistakes in our guide.

Grease and food debris can build up over time, posing a fire or smoke risk.

To avoid this, we recommend regularly cleaning your air fryer basket and the area around the fan and heating element.You can do this with soap and water or a gentle cleaner, just ensure your air fryer is turned off and unplugged before you start and allow it to thoroughly dry before using it again.

Taking proper care of your air fryer keeps it in good, safe condition

Which is the best air fryer to buy in the UK?

The best air fryer for you will depend on your needs. If you’re a larger household, you should consider a dual drawer model, such as the Ninja FlexDrawer. Solo or two person households can get away with a single drawer but you might still want to consider a two drawer model for convenience.

For those on a budget, there’s less choice in the dual drawer section but the Salter VertiCook View or Instant Vortex Dual Drawer (when on offer) are worthwhile considerations. Good value single drawer models are easier to come by with Instant and Salter being two of our favourite air fryer brands for this.

Are air fryers easy to clean?

Most air fryers have dishwasher-safe baskets and accessories, which is convenient but the detergents used in your dishwasher can can erode their non-stick coating over time, meaning you might not want to put them through the wash regularly.

A non-stick sponge and hot soapy water after every use is the best way to keep your fryer clean

Many people complain that air fryers aren’t that easy to clean, which can be the case if you don't regularly wash them. 

Built up grease can bake onto the non-stick baskets, which becomes incredibly difficult to remove.

This is why it's so important to clean your air fryer after every use with soap and warm water.