Air fryer basics: what they actually do
An air fryer is a compact convection oven with a powerful fan. Hot air circulates rapidly around food in a perforated basket, producing similar results to deep frying but with significantly less oil – typically a light spray rather than submersion.
What air fryers do well:
– Chips, wedges, roast potatoes – genuinely better than an oven (crispier, faster)
– Frozen food (nuggets, fish fingers, mozzarella sticks) – faster and crispier than an oven
– Chicken thighs, wings, small cuts of meat – excellent results
– Reheating pizza, spring rolls, fried food – infinitely better than a microwave
– Vegetables – good caramelisation
What air fryers don’t do well:
– Large joints of meat (they fit but the cooking is uneven)
– Wet batters (tempura, beer-battered fish – the batter drips through the basket)
– Large quantities of food – overfilling kills crispiness
– Steaming, poaching, braising – that’s a different appliance
– True deep-fry results – very close for chips, less convincing for donuts
Are they worth it? For most households: yes. Energy consumption is significantly lower than an oven (typically 1.5kW vs 2 – 4kW), preheating takes 2 – 3 minutes vs 15 – 20 for an oven, and they’re meaningfully faster for small to medium portions.
Getting the size right
This is the most important buying decision. Air fryer capacity is measured in litres, but the shape of the basket matters as much as the number.
| Household | Recommended capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1.5 – 2.5L | Basket fits one portion of chips plus a protein |
| 2 people | 3 – 4L | The most popular size; fits most day-to-day cooking |
| 3 – 4 people | 5 – 6L | You’ll need this for family portions or batch cooking |
| 4+ or batch cooking | 6L+ or dual-basket | Consider a dual-basket model for cooking two things simultaneously |
Important: Most manufacturers rate capacity generously. A 4L air fryer does not hold 4L of chips – the usable cooking area is smaller once you account for the basket walls and the space needed for air circulation. When in doubt, size up.
Basket vs oven-style air fryers
Basket (drawer-style): The most common design. You pull out a basket like a drawer, add food, slide it back. Compact, fast, easy to clean. The basket limits the shape of food you can cook (round/square basket = works for most things).
Oven-style (shelf/rack): Larger machines with a door that opens like a mini oven. You can often fit a whole chicken, use multiple shelves, or cook on racks and trays. Better for large quantities. Takes more worktop space and usually costs more. Some also function as toaster ovens.
For most people, a basket model is more practical. Oven-style makes sense if you’re cooking large quantities or want one appliance that also toasts and bakes.
The best air fryers in 2025
Ninja AF100UK Air Fryer – Best overall (compact)
The Ninja AF100UK is consistently the benchmark for 3.8L basket air fryers. It heats quickly, produces consistently crispy results, and the single-zone basket is easy to clean (the basket and the inner pot separate, both dishwasher safe).
Four programmes (air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate), simple dial controls, 1,550W. It does everything the marketing claims without fuss. The design is compact enough to fit under most kitchen cabinets.
Best for: 1 – 2 people; anyone who wants reliable performance without complexity.
Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK – Best for families
The dual-basket design is the genuinely useful innovation in air fryers. Two independent 4.75L drawers that can be set to different temperatures and programmes, or synced to finish simultaneously. You cook chips in one drawer and chicken in the other, both done at the same time.
It’s large (requires significant worktop space), heavy, and expensive. But for households of 3 – 5 cooking two different things simultaneously, it’s genuinely transformative. The “SYNC” function that matches finish times is well-implemented.
Best for: Families cooking 3 – 5 portions; people who batch cook; anyone who currently has to do multiple oven runs for the same meal.
Cosori Pro Gen 2 – Best mid-range (3.8L)
The Cosori Pro Gen 2 has a well-designed app with a large recipe library, works with Alexa and Google Home for voice control, and includes 12 programmes on a touchscreen interface. The basket design is slightly more spacious than equivalently-rated competitors.
For people who want a connected air fryer – scheduling cooking, saving favourite settings, using recipe modes – the Cosori is the most complete option at this price.
Best for: People who want app connectivity and smart home integration.
Philips Essential Air Fryer XL HD9270 – Best for 3 – 4 people
Philips invented the modern air fryer and the XL model remains one of the most reliable options for medium-large households. The 6.2L capacity handles family portions without crowding, the rapid air technology is genuinely efficient, and the fat removal mesh on the basket is a useful (if overhyped) feature.
It’s more expensive than the Ninja for equivalent capacity, but Philips has the longest track record for consistent performance and durability.
Best for: 3 – 4 people; anyone who wants proven, reliable performance over multiple years.
Tower Vortx T17021 – Best budget option
For under $50 the Tower T17021 offers 4L capacity, manual temperature and timer dials, and reliable results for basic air frying. The app and smart features of premium models are absent. The build quality is adequate rather than excellent. But if you primarily want to make chips and reheat food quickly, it does the job.
Best for: Budget buyers; people who want to try air frying before committing to a premium model.
Instant Vortex Plus 6L – Best for oven-style
If you want the shelf-and-rack approach with multiple cooking positions and the ability to cook a whole chicken, the Instant Vortex Plus is the most practical oven-style air fryer. Six programmes (air fry, roast, bake, grill, broil, dehydrate), 1,700W, and it rotates a spit for even cooking. Takes substantially more counter space than a basket model.
Best for: People replacing a small countertop oven; households that cook large quantities regularly.
Best air fryer for french fries
This is the most common use case and the one where air fryers most clearly outperform ovens. The best results come from:
- Cut size: 1cm – 1.5cm for chip-shop thickness; thinner for shoestring. Inconsistent cuts produce inconsistent results.
- Drying: Pat raw potatoes thoroughly dry before adding oil. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
- Oil: A light spray or toss in 1 – 2 tsp of neutral oil (sunflower, vegetable). More than this doesn’t help.
- Don’t overcrowd: Single layer with gaps. If you’re cooking for 4 people, do two batches. Overfilling = steaming, not frying.
- Shake halfway: Most baskets benefit from a mid-cook shake.
For chip results, the Ninja AF100UK and Cosori Pro Gen 2 consistently rank highest in independent testing. The Philips XL is slightly better for larger batches.
Air fryer noise levels
Noise is rarely mentioned in reviews but matters if your kitchen is open-plan or if you cook while people sleep. Air fryers range from about 55dB (quiet – comparable to a conversation) to 70dB (fairly loud – comparable to a busy restaurant). Budget models tend to run louder.
The Philips Essential range and Ninja AF100 are among the quieter options. The Cosori runs slightly louder. No air fryer is silent.
Cleaning and maintenance
After every use: Remove the basket and inner pot, wash with warm soapy water or put in the dishwasher (most baskets are dishwasher safe – verify for your model). Don’t let grease build up; it becomes increasingly difficult to remove and can start smoking at high temperatures.
Weekly: Wipe the inside of the main unit and the heating element with a damp cloth. The element occasionally accumulates grease splatter.
Non-stick care: Don’t use metal utensils in the basket. The non-stick coating will scratch and degrade. Silicone tongs or wooden utensils only.
Common questions
Do I need to preheat an air fryer?
Most manufacturers say to preheat for 2 – 3 minutes. Some models have an automatic preheat mode. For quick things (reheating, thin cuts), you can skip it. For chips and meat, preheating produces noticeably better results.
Can I use baking paper in an air fryer?
Yes, but only place it when there’s food on top. Loose paper can blow up into the heating element and catch fire. Use air fryer-specific liner paper with holes punched through it for better airflow.
Is an air fryer the same as a convection oven?
A convection oven also uses a fan to circulate hot air, but the airflow in an air fryer is much more intense relative to the cooking volume. The result is faster cooking and better browning. A dedicated air fryer outperforms the “air fry” mode on most combination ovens.
Can I cook frozen food directly from frozen?
Yes – this is one of the air fryer’s best use cases. Most frozen items (nuggets, fish portions, frozen chips) cook from frozen in 12 – 20 minutes at 180 – 200°C. No defrosting needed.
Are budget air fryers worth buying?
Yes, with caveats. Budget models (Tower, Salter, Daewoo) produce comparable cooking results to premium models for basic use. They typically have less precise temperature control, louder operation, shorter warranties, and less durable non-stick coatings. If you’re unsure whether you’ll use it, a budget model is a fine way to find out.
Summary comparison
| Model | Capacity | Best for | App/Smart | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja AF100UK | 3.8L | 1 – 2 people | No | Mid |
| Ninja Foodi Dual Zone | 2×4.75L | Families | No | Premium |
| Cosori Pro Gen 2 | 3.8L | Smart home users | Yes | Mid |
| Philips Essential XL | 6.2L | 3 – 4 people | No | Mid-premium |
| Tower T17021 | 4L | Budget | No | Budget |
| Instant Vortex Plus | 6L | Oven-style | No | Mid |
Bottom line
For 1 – 2 people: Ninja AF100UK. Proven, compact, easy to clean.
For families (3 – 4+): Ninja Foodi Dual Zone if budget allows (two zones change how you cook). Philips Essential XL for a single large basket.
For smart home integration: Cosori Pro Gen 2.
On a budget: Tower T17021. The results are genuinely good for basic use.
The most important thing: get the right size. A 3.8L basket for two people and a 6L+ for families. When in doubt, go bigger – you can always cook a small portion in a large air fryer; you can’t fit a family’s chips in a 2L basket.
