Top 10+ best air fryers for 2025, expertly tested for fast, healthy meals

Air fryers are an indispensable kitchen appliance. While simple and inexpensive, these clever kitchen gadgets can cook everything from chips to baked goods using very little oil. Dishes are less calorific and have lower levels of saturated fats and cholesterol. Perhaps more importantly, though, they cook food faster than an oven and are cheaper to run, saving you money on your energy bills.

Depending on your needs, there are various models to choose from. Large air fryers, for example, are perfect for big households and can cook entire joints of lamb, while dual air fryers have two separate cooking compartments for making multiple dishes at once. There are also small tabletop air fryers that can be taken into the office, and models with injectors for baking perfect sourdough.

To help you find the one for your kitchen, I’ve put dozens to the test to find the best air fryers. As a home appliance tester, I’ve trialled dozens of different models and have whittled my list down to this guide to the top 10.

How I tested

I’m a home appliance tester and have a strong understanding of what makes a great air fryer. I trialled dozens of different models to get a good grasp on which ones performed best. To keep it a fair test, I cooked the same foods in each one, paying particular close attention to how well each one made chips.

Each air fryer was put through the all-important test of cooking chips (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

When testing, I considered the following factors:

• Cooking versatility: To understand how versatile each air fryer was, I put it through its paces by cooking items such as fries, chicken and reheating meals. To keep it fair, I cooked the same food in each model.
• Cooking chips: The main test came down to the humble chip. I wanted to see how quickly they cooked, how well they crisped up and whether there was any difference in the taste and texture, depending on the air fryer being used.
• Capacity: If you have a small household, you’ll want a capacity of around 1.5l to 2l, while larger households would benefit from one that has a capacity of 2.5l and above. I considered cooking capacity when forming this list of the best.
• Speed: A good air fryer can be twice as fast as a kitchen oven. I timed these appliances to see how quickly they could cook.
• Maintenance and cleaning: I considered how easy each machine was to maintain and clean after use. I favoured the models that were machine-washable.
• Noise: I also assessed how noisy the air fryers were as they cooked. They can be surprisingly loud appliances, so I wanted machines that can quietly run in the background.
• Wattage: It’s not an exact measure, but it tends to be the case that the more watts an air fryer has, the easier and quicker it will reach higher temperatures, and therefore, cook your food faster. I kept a close eye on the air fryers that had a high wattage.
• Additional cooking functions: Air fryers can now do a lot more than just air fry, so where relevant, I tested every additional cooking function, including microwave abilities, and even yoghurt-making settings.

Why you can trust IndyBest reviews

Rachael Penn is a journalist specialising in home appliances. She’s tried, tested and found the best toasters, the best microwaves, and more, so she’s earned a reputation for finding the kitchen gadgets that actually perform. Her experience is why you can trust her verdict on the best air fryers. Rachael hasn’t just done extensive research, but she’s used these appliances in the same way you would, cooking with them and deciding which ones truly deserve a spot on your kitchen counter.

The best air fryers for 2025 are:

• Best overall – Daewoo accurate smart AI air fryer: £99.99, Currys.co.uk
• Best budget buy – Judge 4l air fryer: £53.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Best air fryer and microwave – Salter duowave two-in-one air fryer and microwave: £199.99, Salter.com
• Best dual drawer model – Cosori dual twinfry air fryer: £234, Amazon.co.uk

Daewoo actuate smart AI air fryer

Rating: 5/5

(Daewoo)

Best: Air fryer overall

Capacity: 8l

Dimensions: 30.5cm x 32.2cm x 33.7cm

Wattage: 1,800W

Cooking presets: 12

Weight: 5.4kg

Why we love it

• Built-in AI camera
• Large viewing window
• Easy to use

Take note

• Only goes up to 200C
• Not dishwasher safe

If you want to take the stress out of cooking, the Daewoo AI air fryer is the ideal choice. Yes, you read that right – AI. The IndyBes team and I don’t always trust AI – it’s been used as a gimmicky buzzword in everything from vacuum cleaners to washing machines, so I wasn’t expecting much. However odd it sounds, this AI air fryer means business.

The model has a built-in camera which can recognise 12 common foods. It automatically adjusts the temperature and time based on the food type and quantity present. Want chips, sausages, fish fingers, chicken thighs? Just throw them into this air fryer – it will recognise them and cook them for you. It may take a little while to get used to the AI features, but once you’ve got them sussed, it’ll save you plenty of time.

It’s worth getting to grips with this model’s AI features (Rachael Penn)

This air fryer consistently provided good results during testing, especially with chips and chicken. It’s a joy to use, too – the digital display is bright and clear, and there’s a handy viewing window, so you can check on the progress of your food.

There’s also an optional internal lamp, which you can turn on and off. It’s not dishwasher safe, but the non-stick coating makes it easy to clean, as you can just wipe it with a damp cloth. I also found the 8l capacity incredibly generous, especially when cooking family-sized portions.

Judge 4l air fryer

Rating: 4/5

Best: Budget air fryer

Capacity: 4l

Dimensions: 31.5cm x 26cm x 31cm

Wattage: 1,400W

Cooking presets: None

Weight: 4.69kg

Why we love it

• Basic operation
• Auto shut-off
• Reliable results

Take note

• Maximum temperature of 200C

If you’re looking for a basic, easy-to-use air fryer, you’ll love this Judge 4l air fryer. It’s ideal for couples or small families, and is operated by just two dials – one for the time, the other for the temperature – no fancy AI features here.

This simple air fryer is well suited to small households (Rachael Penn)

It cooks really well – my chips came out crispy, and the device did a good job of evenly cooking chicken. This faff-free appliance is also easy to clean, thanks to the non-stick coating, while its compact size means it won’t overwhelm your countertop. It won’t work for large families, and you’ll need to rely on recipes for all your cooking, but it’s a perfect option for couples on a budget.

Ninja crispi air fryer

Rating: 5/5

(Amazon)

Best: Portable air fryer

Capacity: 3.8l and 1.4l swappable containers

Dimensions: 34.5cm x 30.4cm x 34cm

Wattage: 1,700W

Cooking presets: Four

Weight: ‎6.82kg

Why we love it

• Genius modular design
• Can see your food cooking behind the glass
• Packs away neatly
• Cooking containers double up as food storage

Take note

• Roast function isn't completely necessary
• Too small for larger households

Ninja air fryers are never exactly cheap (nor as its appliances for that matter), but at £179, the Ninja crispi might just be the brand’s best value air fryer yet. Unlike typical air fryers, which are large countertop units, the crispi is a handheld air frying filament. You slot it onto the glass cooking bowl so you can meal prep food for work in one go.

This portable air fryer is a game-changer (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

It’s utterly versatile – you’re not locked into a single bulky unit, and it’s nice having two different containers to cook from. It’s honestly a game-changer being able to watch your food cook in the glass bowl.

The modular design also makes it easier to store, clean and maybe even upgrade in the future if Ninja releases bigger bowls. Even better, it cooked food fast, well and with a delightful crisp. Yes, it looks a little confusing at first, with all its various elements, but it’s so simple once you get your head around it. Plus, the controls are an absolute doddle. This could really be the future of air frying.

Salter duowave two-in-one air fryer and microwave, 26l

Rating: 4.5/5

(Salter)

Best: Air fryer and microwave

Capacity: 26l

Dimensions: 52.3cm x 45cm x 30cm

Wattage: 900/1,500W

Cooking presets: 10

Weight: 18.2kg

Why we love it

• Easy to switch between functions
• Simple to operate

Take note

• Large

This is a great solution for anyone who likes to keep kitchen appliances to a minimum. Although this microwave-and-air-fryer is quite large, its 26l capacity means you can cook multiple items or large portions effortlessly.

You can microwave food before crisping it up, thanks to this dual-use model (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

During testing, I found the combination of features super useful, as you can microwave your items a little before crisping them up with the air fryer function. It’s easy to operate, and the touch controls are responsive. It also has 10 preset options for common dishes, taking the guesswork out of cooking. It’s also easy to clean – unlike some air fryers I’ve tested, all the inserts are dishwasher-safe, and you can just wipe around the inside after each use.

Cosori dual blaze twinfry air fryer

Rating: 5/5

(Cosori)

Best: Dual drawer air fryer

Capacity: 10l

Dimensions: 51.8cm x 33.8cm x 31.3cm

Wattage: 1,750W

Cooking presets: 8

Weight: 9kg

Why we love it

• Good temperature range
• Dual elements mean even cooking
• Versatile drawer setup

Take note

• App is a bit up and down

With a whopping 10l capacity, Cosori’s dual blaze twinfry air fryer is ideal for larger families. It uses a divider to split the drawer in two, or you can keep it as one large space, if you’re cooking a leg of lamb or whole chicken, for example.

There are heating elements above and below, for a good, even cooking experience – I found this dual-heating system was particularly effective when cooking meat.

The divider in this capacious model can be removed when cooking larger items (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

This air fryer is easy to use, too – the digital display is clear and simple to operate, plus there’s an app that shows real-time monitoring of what’s cooking. The app is a good idea, but it can be a big buggy, so I wouldn’t rely on it. This model is so good, it even took the top spot in IndyBest’s dedicated guide to the best dual air fryers.

Cusinart airtwin XXL dual-zone air fryer

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Air fryer for large families

Capacity: 10.4l

Dimensions: 44.4cm x 40.7cm x 30.9cm

Wattage: 2,400W

Cooking presets: 7

Weight: 8.4kg

Why we love it

• Synchronised cooking function
• Auto-pause function
• Large drawer capacity

Take note

• Can’t cook with one drawer removed

This capacious model is great for anyone who wants to whip up whole meals in their air fryer. It has a generous 10.4l capacity, which is split into two 5.2l drawers.

During testing, Cusinart’s airtwin XXL dual-zone air fryer consistently delivered crispy results and really excelled at cooking chips and chicken. It’s easy to use, too, with the control panel sitting at the front of the air fryer. It has one-touch functionality, and you simply lightly touch the setting you need to get going.

It may hog my kitchen counter, but this air fryer can cook for the whole family and more (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

You can cook at different times and different temperatures in each drawer, and it also has a synchronised cooking setting, which means everything will be ready to serve at once. It takes up a substantial amount of counter space, but the dual-zone functionality is enough to justify this.

Dualit 5.5l air fryer

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Premium air fryer

Capacity: 5.5l

Dimensions: 32cm x 37cm x 31cm

Wattage: 1,700W

Cooking presets: 7

Weight: 5.1kg

Why we love it

• Looks great
• Easy to use
• Cooks evenly

Take note

• High price point for functions included

If you’re looking for an air fryer that looks as good as it performs, you’ll love this Dualit model. During testing, I was blown away by its robust construction and precise temperature control, but keep in mind that the maximum temperature is just 200C.

I was really impressed with the level of temperature control (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

It cooked food quickly and evenly, handling everything from chips to chicken with consistent ease. The digital control panel is easy to use, and it has seven preset programs to choose from, which takes the guesswork out of cooking. All removable parts are dishwasher-safe, too.

Zwilling 4l air fryer

Rating: 4/5

Best: Space-saving air fryer

Capacity: 4l

Dimensions: 34cm x 29cm x 30cm

Wattage: 1,400W

Cooking presets: 6

Weight: 3.88kg

Why we love it

• Compact
• Excellent temperature accuracy

Take note

• The buttons are fiddly

If your kitchen lacks counter space, this could be the air fryer for you. With precise temperature control, it cooked food well, especially chips, which came out perfectly crispy. It’s operated with a one-touch control panel, which is based at the top of the machine, but I found this a bit fiddly – especially when my hands were a bit greasy from the food.

This is a compact and speedy model for smaller kitchens (Rachael Penn/The Independent)

However, when it works, it works fast. This machine has a 4l capacity, so it is best suited to those who are cooking for just a couple of people. It’s easy enough to clean, but be sure to leave the basket to cool, as the insert is quite tricky to remove.

Panasonic air fryer, NF-CC600

Rating: 4/5

(Panasonic)

Best: Steam air fryer

Capacity: 6l

Dimensions: 35cm x 26cm x 35cm

Wattage: 1,450W

Cooking presets: 11

Weight: 7.34kg

Why we love it

• Sleek design
• Clear viewing window
• Dual heating design

Take note

• The stickers leave a residue that’s hard to remove

This Panasonic air fryer is a premium model that uses steam to create crispy, crunchy dishes. It comes complete with 11 preset menus that show up on the LED panel. Like many air fryers, there are chips and steak settings, but the steam feature means this appliance can also handle doughy foods like pizza and toast without drying them out.

There’s no need to shake your food when cooking with this model (Rachael Penn)

The LED panel is easy to use, and the buttons are highly responsive. On top of that, the air fryer uses 360-degree air flow, so the food cooks evenly – you don’t need to shake or turn your food as much as in other air fryers.

One thing I really loved was the fact that the cooking plate drained away any excess fat. There is also a handy viewing window, so you can check how your food is progressing without opening the drawer and letting out the heat. It’s a lovely-looking machine, too, and its square-like design will fit neatly into most kitchens with ease. Clean-up is also a breeze, as the removable parts are dishwasher-safe.

Ninja 15-in-1 foodi max air fryer

Rating: 4/5

Best: Multi-function air fryer

Capacity: 7.5l

Dimensions: 36cm x 35cm x 36cm

Wattage: 1,760W

Cooking presets: 15

Weight: 11.7kg

Why we love it

• Internal probe for meats
• SmartLid system

Take note

• Awkward to get things in and out

More than just an air fryer, this Ninja model has 15 functions, including one for making yoghurt. It uses a SmartLid system, which makes it easy to switch between the different functions. As an air fryer, it is fantastic. The temperature goes up to 240C, so you get a good crispy finish, and it even sounds an alert halfway through cooking, so you know when to give the basket a little shake, to get a good even cook.

The internal probe will be a main selling point for meat-eaters (Rachael Penn)

One thing that really stands out, though, is the internal probe – if you’re cooking meat, the preset functions will alert you when your protein of choice reaches the perfect internal temperature, depending on your preference.

If you like your beef medium-rare, you won’t have to guess at timings ever again. With a 7.5l capacity, it handles large amounts of food with ease, and it’s straightforward to clean, as you can remove the inserts and pop them in the dishwasher.

Your air fryer questions answered

What is the best air fryer?

My tests found that the Daewoo accurate smart AI air fryer came out on top. This air fryer uses AI technology to scan the food in the basket and adjust the time and temperature accordingly, and it produced consistently good results, regardless of what I was cooking. If you want to cook a whole meal using your air fryer, or if you’re cooking for a large family, the Cuisinart airtwin XXL dual-zone is a perfect fit. With a generous 10.4l capacity, it can cook plenty for everyone. Plus, with seven cooking functions, including roast, air fry, bake and dehydrate, there’s not much you can’t do with this air fryer.

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