Air fryers are an indispensable kitchen appliance. While simple and inexpensive, these clever kitchen gadgets can cook everything from chips to baked goods using very little oil. Dishes are less calorific and have lower levels of saturated fats and cholesterol. Perhaps more importantly, though, they cook food faster than an oven and are cheaper to run, saving you money on your energy bills.
Depending on your needs, there are various models to choose from. Large air fryers, for example, are perfect for big households and can cook entire joints of lamb, while dual air fryers have two separate cooking compartments for making multiple dishes at once. There are also small tabletop air fryers that can be taken into the office, and models with injectors for baking perfect sourdough.
To help you find the one for your kitchen, I’ve put dozens to the test to find the best air fryers. As a home appliance tester, I’ve trialled dozens of different models and have whittled my list down to this guide to the top 10.
How I tested
I’m a home appliance tester and have a strong understanding of what makes a great air fryer. I trialled dozens of different models to get a good grasp on which ones performed best. To keep it a fair test, I cooked the same foods in each one, paying particular close attention to how well each one made chips.
When testing, I considered the following factors:
- Cooking versatility: To understand how versatile each air fryer was, I put it through its paces by cooking items such as fries, chicken and reheating meals. To keep it fair, I cooked the same food in each model.
- Cooking chips: The main test came down to the humble chip. I wanted to see how quickly they cooked, how well they crisped up and whether there was any difference in the taste and texture, depending on the air fryer being used.
- Capacity: If you have a small household, you’ll want a capacity of around 1.5l to 2l, while larger households would benefit from one that has a capacity of 2.5l and above. I considered cooking capacity when forming this list of the best.
- Speed: A good air fryer can be twice as fast as a kitchen oven. I timed these appliances to see how quickly they could cook.
- Maintenance and cleaning: I considered how easy each machine was to maintain and clean after use. I favoured the models that were machine-washable.
- Noise: I also assessed how noisy the air fryers were as they cooked. They can be surprisingly loud appliances, so I wanted machines that can quietly run in the background.
- Wattage: It’s not an exact measure, but it tends to be the case that the more watts an air fryer has, the easier and quicker it will reach higher temperatures, and therefore, cook your food faster. I kept a close eye on the air fryers that had a high wattage.
- Additional cooking functions: Air fryers can now do a lot more than just air fry, so where relevant, I tested every additional cooking function, including microwave abilities, and even yoghurt-making settings.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Rachael Penn is a journalist specialising in home appliances. She’s tried, tested and found the best toasters, the best microwaves, and more, so she’s earned a reputation for finding the kitchen gadgets that actually perform. Her experience is why you can trust her verdict on the best air fryers. Rachael hasn’t just done extensive research, but she’s used these appliances in the same way you would, cooking with them and deciding which ones truly deserve a spot on your kitchen counter.
The best air fryers for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Daewoo accurate smart AI air fryer: £99.99, Currys.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Judge 4l air fryer: £53.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best air fryer and microwave – Salter duowave two-in-one air fryer and microwave: £199.99, Salter.com
- Best dual drawer model – Cosori dual twinfry air fryer: £234, Amazon.co.uk
