Back in 2020, all the best air fryers leapt from the supermarket shelves when a TikTok cooking craze (lockdown inspired) sent buyers into a foodie fanatic frenzy. Now, two - nearly three - years on from that cooped up time filled with nervous energy, the air fryer trend hasn't disappeared and TikTok users and Instagram Reel millennials and Gen-Z-ers alike are still obsessed with the low-oil, fast cooking appliances.
Whether you're a parent to a family of four looking for a fast-cooking alternative to a labour of love bolognese, or you're a single homeowner just on the hunt for an easier way to make your weekly food prep batches, chances are that an air fryer will be just the ticket for you. Nowadays you can get do-it-all air fryers - like the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker - that will save you time and counter space, and mean you don't have to seek out separate slow cookers and steamers for all your dumpling and birria taco creations. But, you ask, where to start? Here's everything you need to know…
The best air fryers at a glance
Scroll for our full edit of the best airfryers for quick, low fat and low faff cooking
Best air fryer toaster ovenRussell Hobbs Express 22.8L Mini OvenSpecifications:- Functions - Grilling, toasting, baking/roasting (twice as fast as a conventional oven), air frying and for use as a warming drawer
- Size - 30.6cm x 45.1cm x 35.8cm
- Best for how many people? One-two
- Wattage - 1500
Pros: Unlike lots of airfryers, which are usually somewhat of an addition to your conventional or fan oven, the Russell Hobbs mini oven can easily serve as a standalone product for smaller households, bringing buyers everything they'd get from a built in oven, countertop toaster and a deep fat fryer (without the excess oil).
Cons: Not as easy to clean as traditional ‘fryer basket’ style air fryer ovens.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Air fryers AmazonNINJA Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-CookerSpecifications:- Functions - Pressure cook, air fry, grill, bake, dehydrate, sear/sauté, steam, slow cook, make yoghurt, steam air fry and steam bake
- Size - 39.8cm x 39.1cm x 41cm
- Best for how many people? Up to four people
- Wattage - 1000
Pros: The Ninja Foodi Max really is quite the impressive piece of kit, offering buyers the functionality of 11 different appliances with its own recipe guide and even the capacity to place its accessories into the dishwasher (even the non-stick ones!) for no-fuss clean up.
Cons: While it has a large capacity, it doesn't come with more than one air fryer basket to separate different foods with varying cooking requirements.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
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Tower air fryerTower 4.3L Manual Air Fryer - Rose GoldSpecifications:- Functions - Hot air frying with 50% less energy than a traditional oven, plus 99% less oil
- Size - 35.2cm x 25cm x 32.5cm
- Best for how many people? Up to four people
- Wattage - 1500
Pros: With a slightly sleeker rose gold design, the Tower air fryer is not only affordable but cooks 30% faster than a traditional oven and reaches the same high - 200°C - temperatures.
Cons: Again, it's only got one pull out drawer, so whether it's veggies, french fries or chicken wings, you'll likely only be able to cook one or two of them together at a time.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Best Ninja air fryerNINJA Foodi Dual Zone 7.6L Air FryerSpecifications:- Functions - Air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate
- Size - 38cm x 26.5cm x 31.5cm
- Best for how many people? Up to eight people
- Wattage - 2400
Pros: In a dual basket style with a generous 7.6 litre capacity, the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone means you can cook all you'll need for the whole family with variable temperature control between the two zones and a hi-tech control panel that allows you to do so much as cooking from frozen all on a user-friendly touchscreen.
Cons: None of note!
GLAMOUR star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best rated air fryerInstant Pot® Duo Crisp™ & Air FryerSpecifications:- Functions - Air fry, roast, bake, broil, slow cook, pressure cook, sauté, steam, warm, sous vide and dehydrate
- Size - 38.8cm x 34.5cm x 37.5cm
- Best for how many people? Up to eight people
- Wattage - 1500
Pros: A top pick when it comes to multi cookers, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 11-in-1 saves you counter space by combining all the cooking functions of your oven, pressure cooker, slow cooker etc. and is generously reviewed by buyers, too. Plus, the delay start function is great for full-time workers - just pop your roast chicken and veggies into the pot before your morning commute and you'll come home to a golden succulent one-pot meal by dinnertime.
Cons: No complaints here!
GLAMOUR star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Best air fryer for chicken wingsTefal ActiFry Genius XL 2-in-1 Health Air FryerSpecifications:- Functions - Roast, broil, bake, steam, reheat
- Size - 19.25cm x 14.96cm x 11.61cm
- Best for how many people? Up to eight people
- Wattage - 1500
Pros: One of the better picks for small kitchens, the Tefal ActiFry Genius XL 2-in-1 has over 300 air fryer recipes on the iPhone compatible Tefal app so, whether you're looking to make fried chicken or healthier crispy chips, you'll have a handy guide at the tip of your fingers. Plus, it has nine preset cooking modes so you really don't need to fret about what and how you're going to get dinner on the table.
Cons: 20cm mains cable means you'll need to have an outlet nearby!
GLAMOUR star rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best air fryer for punchy flavours and less oilCuisinart Air Fryer Mini OvenSpecifications:- Functions - Air fry, bake, roast, grill, toast, pizza oven, panini maker and keep warm
- Size - 35cm x 40cm x 38cm
- Best for how many people? Up to four people
- Wattage - 1800
Pros: One of the only oven air fryers with a tasty pizza setting, the Cuisinart air fryer may have a slightly higher price tag, but it'll save you energy and, as such, money longterm by cooking your food 30% faster than a traditional fan or convection oven.
Cons: At almost half a metre at its widest part, the Cuisinart air fryer in one of the bigger selections in this buying guide.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨
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Air fryers that are top rated by expertsPHILIPS Viva Collection XXL Air FryerSpecifications:- Functions - Fry, bake, grill and roast
- Size - 39.5cm x 39.5cm x 39.8cm
- Best for how many people? Up to six people
- Wattage - 2225
Pros: With special fat removal tech for a lower calorie meal (if that's what you're into), the Philips XXL air fryer has sold over seven million units, and it's no surprise with its huge 7.3 litre capacity. Not to mention you can actually rotisserie a whole chicken in that huge basket!
Cons: Will take one to two months to dispatch.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨
Air fryers that are US favouritesChefman TurboFry 3.5 Litre Air Fryer OvenSpecifications:- Functions - Roast, broil, bake, steam, reheat
- Size - 23.5cm x 30.5cm x 30.5cm
- Best for how many people? Two people
- Wattage - 1200
Pros: A big hit across the pond, this dishwasher safe Chefman air fryer is designed for busy households with its up-to-60-minute cooking time monitor, reheating function and cooking versatility given that it works well on frozen food, too.
Cons: While it will fit a whole chicken, it doesn't have a turning rotisserie function.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Air fryers for fast flavour and no more oil smellCOSORI Air Fryer XXLSpecifications:- Functions - Roasting, baking, frying with the same effects as deep frying (and a lot less oil), grilling, toasting, defrosting and reheating
- Size - 23.5cm x 30.5cm x 30.5cm
- Best for how many people? Between three and five people
- Wattage - 1700
Pros: With an impressive 13 one-touch preset functions, the Cosori air fryer XXL features specialised Thermo IQ technology to ensure even cooking with better airflow. It'll make chicken that's crisper on the outside and more succulent on the inside, and fried food that's just as crunchy and whisper light without all those mls of oil.
Cons: While it promises to be able to feed up to five people, it will only fit two steak fillets at any one time.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Best small air fryersDash AirCrisp Pro Electric Air Fryer + Oven CookerSpecifications:- Functions - Air fryer and oven cooker
- Size - 25.91cm x 20.57cm x 29.46cm
- Best for how many people? Up to two
- Wattage - 1000
Pros: Another one that's popular over in the US of A, the Dash AirCrisp Pro is not only one of the most attractive air fryers on the market, but is really simple to use with its user-friendly dial and none of the faff of a digital display. A top pick if you want a simple device for cooking chips that won't dominate your countertop.
Cons: While it's a cracking air fryer, it doesn't have any of the multifunctional warming drawer, steaming etc. functions of some of the more high-end air fryers, for instance the Instant Vortex Plus.
GLAMOUR star rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Best budget air fryerSalter EK4221 Digital Family Hot Air FryerSpecifications:- Functions - Air fryer with different minute timers and temperature settings for different foods
- Size - 32cm x 27.4cm x 32.7cm
- Best for how many people? ‘Family sized’ so we'd estimate four
- Wattage - 1300
Pros: Air fryers work as steamers, pressure cookers and much more; this one doesn't, but it's a great compact air fryer with a generous capacity and a small price tag. We're big fans of the sleek touch sensitive display and it's got some great air fryer reviews on Amazon, too.
Cons: Much like the old Breville air fryer, we have a sneaky feeling this one is slowly being discontinued off retailer sites, so nab it while you can.
GLAMOUR star rating: 3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Best air fryer 2022 for luxury householdsPanasonic 4-IN-1 steam combination microwave ovenSpecifications:- Functions - Steam, microwave, roast, bake, grill and crispy low-oil frying
- Size - 34.7cm x 51.4cm x 45.6cm
- Best for how many people? ‘The whole family' - we'd say six-eight
- Wattage - 1000
Pros: More of a microwave in appearance, the Panasonic combi oven does it all and it'll look oh-so-chic on your kitchen counter, too. Compared to a basket air fryer, the Panasonic 4-in-1 has a handy pull down door, space for two trays and a viewing window, meaning you can not only check in on your meals as they're cooking but you'll be able to take different components of the meal out when you like, as opposed to taking a one-pot combo approach.
Cons: You'll need lots of counter space and, despite the £400-ish price point, it can't be used as a pressure cooker or slow cooker.
GLAMOUR tested review: Having put the Panasonic combi microwave oven to the test, I was super impressed with all the things I was able to make. Steamed bao buns without a bamboo steamer, crispy katsu chicken curry without a deep fat fryer - the possibilities are endless. Figuring out how to use all the heating elements on the digital display may take a few minutes of reading the handbook, but it really is quite the impressive piece of kit.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Best air fryer to reduce energy costsNinja Foodi MINI Multi-CookerSpecifications:- Functions - Pressure cook, air crisp, slow cook, steam, sear/sauté and bake/roast
- Size - 38cm x 32cm x 35cm
- Best for how many people? Up to two
- Wattage - 1460
Pros: Another one of our faves and with a one year warranty, too, the Ninja Foodie mini air fryer has a super easy-to-use control panel, is dishwasher safe and, compared to some similar models on the market, it's pretty lightweight at 9kg.
Con: It doesn't have an auto shut-off function but it will keep your food warm for up to 12 hours after it finishes cooking.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Air fryers families will loveInstant Pot Vortex PlusSpecifications:- Functions - Air fry, roast, bake and reheat
- Size - 32.6cm x 31.4cm x 37.9cm
- Best for how many people? Up to six
- Wattage - 1700
Pros: Features a great preheating setting so it'll be a ok and ready to go when you need it, not to mention you can save energy with the clear view window to prevent losing any heat while checking in on your food. Plus, lastly, if you prefer a dual zone air fryer, there's one of those available in the Instant Pot Vortex, too!
Cons: Though it is lightweight, the plastic makeup isn't quite as high-quality as a stainless steel air fryer.
GLAMOUR star rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What is the best air fryer for cooking frozen food?
In our experience, there are two top rated air fryers that function well when using with frozen food and they are:
The latter is going out of stock left, right and centre so grab it while you can and the former - a big hit in the US, is actually pretty reasonably priced. It all depends on what you're looking for!
After more foodie content? Check out the best dinnerware sets, the best saucepans sets and the best casserole dishes now.
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