Why Air Fryers Became Essential
Air fryers use rapid hot air circulation to cook food with up to 80% less oil than traditional frying. They're faster than a conventional oven, cheaper to run (typically 1–1.5kWh vs 2–2.5kWh for an oven), and produce crispy results that rival deep frying. For UK households looking to reduce energy bills and eat healthier, they've become genuinely indispensable.
What Size Do You Need?
Solo or couple households do well with a 2–4 litre basket. Families of 3–4 need at least 5–6 litres. For larger families or batch cooking, look for dual-basket models (7–9 litres) that let you cook two different foods simultaneously at different temperatures.
Best Budget Pick (Under £50)
The Ninja AF100UK remains one of the most popular air fryers in the UK. The 3.8-litre capacity suits 2–3 people, it reaches temperature in under 3 minutes, and it's regularly available for £79 but drops to £49–£59 in sales. For a smaller budget, the Tower Vortx T17021 at around £39 is a solid no-frills option.
Best Mid-Range Pick (£80–£120)
The Cosori Pro Gen 2 is a 5.5-litre square basket model with 12 presets, a preheat function, and a shake reminder. At around £99, it consistently tops UK review sites for its combination of cooking performance, ease of use, and value. The square basket design also fits more food than equivalently sized round baskets.
Best Dual Basket (£120–£180)
The Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK is the UK's best-selling dual-basket air fryer. Its two 4.75-litre drawers can cook different foods at different temperatures simultaneously, finishing at the same time via the Smart Finish feature. At around £149–£169 at Currys or Amazon UK, it's the top recommendation for families.
Energy Running Costs
Based on the current UK energy price cap of around 24p/kWh, running a 1,500W air fryer for 20 minutes costs approximately 12p. Compare this to a full-size oven at around 25–30p for the same duration. Over a year of daily use, switching from oven to air fryer for suitable meals can save £50–£100 on energy bills.