Best UK Air Fryers 2026: Family Pick, Solo Pick, and the Budget One That's Better Than It Looks
Air fryers went from “specialty gadget” to “kitchen staple” in roughly three years, and the Amazon UK listings have multiplied to match: hundreds of models, almost all branded as “the only one you need”, most of them basically the same hot-air convection box with a fancy lid.
Below is a curated guide to the picks that consistently come up in UK consumer press, owner reviews, and bestseller lists — with the trade-offs made explicit.
TL;DR
- Best for a family of 4: Ninja Foodi Dual Zone — the twin-drawer system genuinely solves the “chips and chicken finish at the same time” problem. Pricey but heavily used in households that own it.
- Best for solo / couples: Cosori Pro II 5.5L — right size for two portions, quieter than peers in its price band.
- Best budget: Tower T17087 4L — around £45 and the food it produces is genuinely the same as the £169 Ninja’s. You lose preset variety and build quality, not cooking quality.
- Skip: “8-in-1 multi” models with built-in rotisseries. The rotisserie rarely works as advertised and the extra modes are usually just temperature presets relabelled.
What actually matters when choosing an air fryer
- Capacity vs household size. A 4 L basket fits 2 portions of chips with room. 5.5 L fits 3 portions or a small chicken. The Ninja Dual Zone gives you 9.5 L total but split across two drawers — the right choice for families, overkill for one or two people.
- Drawer shape. Square-ish baskets hold food more evenly than deep narrow cylinders — consistent point in owner reviews.
- Coating type. PTFE non-stick is the standard. Ceramic coatings (advertised as “PFOA-free”) are slightly less durable but a perceived health win. “PFOA-free” doesn’t mean PFAS-free — they’re different things, see the FAQ below.
- Noise. Air fryers are louder than they look like they should be (the internal fan runs hard). Look for owner reviews that mention noise specifically.
Best for a family of 4 — Ninja Foodi Dual Zone
Search on Amazon UK →The twin-drawer Ninja is the air fryer most often recommended in UK family-focused press (Good Housekeeping, Which?, Wirecutter UK). The reason: the “Sync” function lets you cook chips and chicken in separate drawers at different temperatures and have both finish at the same time. This isn’t a gimmick; it solves an actual scheduling problem.
Trade-offs:
- It’s loud. Open-plan kitchens will hear it clearly.
- It’s bulky. 38 cm wide footprint, you’ll lose counter space.
- The price (typically £160–£200) is real but the build quality difference vs cheaper twins is visible.
If your household is one or two people, this is overkill. The single-drawer Cosori gives you better £/litre for the use case.
Best for solo / couples — Cosori Pro II
Search on Amazon UK →5.5 L is the right size for non-family households. The Cosori Pro II has the most usable basket shape in its price band (closer to square than cylinder) and runs notably quieter than competing 5-litre units. The touch controls are slightly fussy — you need a finger pad rather than a fingertip — and the preset count (11) is genuinely useful, even if half of them are temperature presets in disguise.
Coating: PTFE non-stick. The dishwasher-safe basket is the practical win versus cheaper Salter / Tower units where you have to hand-wash.
Best budget — Tower T17087
Search on Amazon UK →The honest budget pick. Around £45. Three things to know:
- The food it produces is, by general owner consensus, indistinguishable from air fryers three times the price. The science of hot-air convection at 200 °C is the same regardless of brand badge.
- The plastic feels cheaper because it is. Build longevity will be shorter than the Ninja or Cosori — budget for replacement in 3–4 years rather than 6–8.
- Only 3 presets vs the Ninja’s 11. If you’re an “I’ll just set the temp myself” cook, that’s fine. If you want one-button automation, pay more.
If your budget is £50 and you’re not sure you’ll use the air fryer daily, this is the low-risk entry point.
Comparison table
| Model | Capacity | Wattage | Drawers | Coating | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Foodi Dual Zone AF300 | 9.5 L (2 × 4.75) | 2,470 W | 2 | Ceramic | £160–£200 |
| Cosori Pro II | 5.5 L | 1,700 W | 1 | PTFE | £80–£100 |
| Tower T17087 | 4 L | 1,500 W | 1 | PTFE | £40–£55 |
| Salter EK4548 | 4.5 L | 1,500 W | 1 | PTFE | £50–£65 |
| Instant Vortex Plus | 5.7 L | 1,700 W | 1 | Ceramic | £100–£130 |
FAQs
What's the difference between 'PFOA-free' and 'PFAS-free' coatings?
PFOA is one specific chemical; PFAS is the entire family of 'forever chemicals' that includes PFOA. 'PFOA-free' labels do not mean PFAS-free — brands often swap PFOA for a different (and sometimes less-studied) PFAS. If this matters, look for ceramic-coated baskets or stainless steel inserts. For any non-stick coating, don't exceed the manufacturer temperature limit (typically 260 °C) and don't use metal utensils.
Will an air fryer replace my oven?
For families of four or more, no. Even the 9.5 L Ninja Dual Zone won't fit a Sunday roast or a large tray bake. Owners typically report covering around 60% of normal oven use: chips, chicken thighs and breasts, vegetables, salmon, frozen pizza, and reheating takeaway. The remaining 40% (large roasts, sheet-pan meals, multi-tray baking) still needs a full oven.
Are the energy savings from an air fryer real?
Yes, but modest. An air fryer typically uses about a third of the energy of a fan oven for the same meal — no preheat, smaller chamber, faster cooking. At UK 2025 electricity prices, that's roughly £30–£60 a year for a household that uses the air fryer daily for meals that would otherwise be oven-cooked. Worth having, but not transformative for the household bill.
Is '8-in-1' multi-function worth paying for?
No. 'Reheat', 'Bake', 'Roast', and 'Air Fry' are all the same fan-convection mode at different temperatures. The built-in rotisseries on multi-function units almost universally underperform — the chicken skewer wobbles, food doesn't rotate properly, and the rotisserie cage is hard to clean. Stick to a single-function basket model and use the manual temperature/time controls.
What size air fryer do I need?
A 4 L basket fits 2 portions of chips with room. A 5.5 L unit fits 3 portions or a small whole chicken. A 9.5 L dual-zone (like the Ninja Foodi) is right for families of 4+ because it lets you cook two foods at different temperatures simultaneously. For one or two people, anything above 5.5 L is overkill and takes proportionally longer to preheat.
Verdict
For most non-family readers: Cosori Pro II . Right size, quiet, good build.
For families: Ninja Foodi Dual Zone . The dual-zone is a meaningful upgrade if you cook for 3+ people.
For “I’m not sure I’ll use it”: Tower T17087 . Low risk, same food.
Skip the multi-function gimmicks. Skip anything called “8-in-1”. Anything with a built-in rotisserie is paying for a feature that rarely delivers.