Best Air Fryer 2026: Cook better quality meals, quickly

Of all the kitchen appliances that have sprung up over the last two decades are so, very have been quite so consequential as the air fryer. This compact cooker has completely changed how we go about making the various meals of the day, so it’s no wonder that it’s taken off as an immensely popular product – the only problem is that with more companies getting into the market than ever, it can be tricky to know which air fryers are actually the best ones to buy. Well, that’s where this very guide comes into play.

We’ve been testing air fryers long before they enjoyed the degree of popularity they’re subjected to today, and what that means is that our team of tech experts have an unparalleled amount of knowledge over what makes an air fryer great, how each one compares to the rest and the type of air fryers that work best for certain situations.

Of course, if you’ve yet to embrace the air fryer revolution then we’re probably getting ahead of ourselves by not explaining what it is that makes air fryers so great to begin with. As you might have guessed from the name alone, air fryers are able to provide a healthier alternative to frying foods with oil in the pan, as the way heat is circulated within the appliance means that you don’t have to use any oil to give food items a proper cook.

As an extension of the way in which heat is contained during the air frying process, these devices can also whip up meals at a faster rate than with traditional cooking methods, making them great to have available when you’re strapped for time and need to put together a quick meal. For saving you a small fortune on take-outs alone, an air fryer is a worthy addition to anyone’s kitchen.

The air fryers within this list have been tested by a member of our team and used in their home to see how they perform with all sorts of meals. We’ve also made sure to include a good variety where price is concerned, so you can find an option to suit all budgets. If you want to add even more appliances to your kitchen then we also have guides to the best microwaves, the best kettles and the best toasters.

Best air fryers at a glance

• Best air fryer: Instant Pot Vortex Compact 5L Air Fryer
• Best alternative air fryer: Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer SL400UK
• Best large air fryer: Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer 10.4L AF500UK
• Best air fryer for complete meals: Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer ON400UK
• Best oven and air fryer: Sage the Smart Oven Air Fry
• Best air fryer for grilling: Tower T17076 10-in-1 Digital Air Fryer
• Best single-drawer air fryer: Dualit Air Fryer
• Best for looks: Ninja Crispi Pro
• Best grill/air fryer: Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer EG351UK
• Best budget dual drawer: Cuisinart AirTwin XXL Dual-Zone Air Fryer AFD100
• Best for crispy results: Instant Pot Vortex Dual Drawer 8L Air Fryer
• Best for futuristic looks: Typhur Dome 2
• Best budget FlexDrawer air fryer: Philips 1000 Series FlexDrawer Air Fryer
• Best air fryer for precision cooking: Typhur Sync Air Fryer

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How We Test

We cook real food in each air fryer, appropriate to each model, such as making chips, frying sausages and cooking frozen hash browns. This lets us compare quality between each air fryer that we test.

Instant Pot Vortex Compact 5L Air Fryer

Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer SL400UK

Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer 10.4L AF500UK

Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer ON400UK

Sage the Smart Oven Air Fry

Tower T17076 10-in-1 Digital Air Fryer

Dualit Air Fryer

Ninja Crispi Pro

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer EG351UK

Cuisinart AirTwin XXL Dual-Zone Air Fryer AFD100

Instant Pot Vortex Dual Drawer 8L Air Fryer

Typhur Dome 2

Philips 1000 Series FlexDrawer Air Fryer

Typhur Sync Air Fryer

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How important are temperature settings?

Most air fryers work at a standard temperature of 200°C, which is required to crisp the outside of your food. If you find air fryers with higher temperature settings, they can cook food faster, which can be handy when dealing with frozen foods.

Can an air fryer do everything a deep fat fryer can do?

Not quite. While you will see similar results for most food, air fryers aren’t very good when it comes to wet batters, such as for fish and chips. Here, you’ll find that the batter drips off and you won’t get even results.

Most air fryers require you to remove the food and regularly shake it, too, in order to evenly coat food in oil. Some models have clever features and layouts to reduce this, but it’s something to keep in mind.

What accessories do I need?

Accessories vary by device. Some air fryers have optional basket separators, which let you cook different foods at the same time. Grill pans can help you cook other types of food. Some models even have muffin or cake trays, although you’ll probably find it easier to just use a regular oven.

Is size important?

Make sure that you buy an air fryer large enough for your needs. If you’ve got a large family, then you’ll want a model that can cook enough chips for you all.

Most budget models suffer from small baskets that are good for one or two people, so you may need to up your budget to get a larger model. A larger basket also upgrades what you can cook, with some models even managing an entire chicken.

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