Air fryers are basically the kitchen equivalent of “why didn’t I do this sooner?” You get that crispy, roasted finish without firing up a full oven… and without turning your dinner into a greasy deep-fry festival.

But here’s the problem: the moment you search “best air fryer UK”, you’re hit with a million models, litres, drawers, stacks, and promises of “crispy perfection”. So let’s make it simple, practical, and genuinely helpful.

Quick answer: which type of air fryer suits your home?

Before we get into “top picks”, you need one quick decision: what style of air fryer fits how you cook. Think of it like choosing shoes trainers, boots, or sliders. All work… but not for the same day.

Basket (single drawer) air fryers

Best for 1-2 people, small kitchens, quick meals, and anyone who wants “press button → dinner appears.” They’re usually cheaper, smaller, and easier to clean.

Dual-drawer air fryers

Best for families, meal-preppers, and people who hate timing chaos. Two drawers means you can cook chips in one side and chicken/veg in the other without playing “who finishes first?”

Stackable / vertical dual baskets

A smart option when you want “two drawers” but don’t want a monster taking over your worktop. These go upwards, not sideways. Handy in real UK kitchens where counter space is precious.

Air fryer ovens + microwave/air fryer combos

These are the “kitchen transformers.” Great if you want more versatility (bake, toast, roast), but they can be pricier and take up space.

My top picks for the best air fryer UK (by “type of person”)

Affiliate disclosure: AurumPick.com participates in the Amazon Associates Programme. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability may change.

Best Air Fryer UK 2026: Premium Picks for Faster, Crispier Weeknight Meals

If you want oven-style crispness with less fuss (and less preheat), an air fryer is still one of the smartest upgrades for UK kitchens in 2026. The key is choosing the right format: compact single drawer for small spaces, or dual-zone for proper “main + side” dinners without timing chaos.

Short on time? Start with our #1 pick below, then match capacity to your household size.

---

Quick Glance: Top Air Fryers in the UK (2026)

---

Who This Guide Is For

• Busy households who want quicker dinners with less oven time.
• Small kitchens that need compact appliances that still deliver crisp results.
• Families who want dual-zone cooking (mains + sides) without juggling timings.

How We Chose (AurumPick Method)

• Format fit: single drawer vs dual-zone vs “air fryer oven”.
• Capacity that’s actually usable: basket shape matters as much as litres.
• Everyday convenience: controls, cleaning, dishwasher-safe parts (where offered).
• UK availability: models consistently stocked on Amazon UK and major UK retailers.

---

The Best Air Fryers You Can Buy in the UK (2026)

1) Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone (AF400UK) — Best Overall

Why it wins: For most UK households, dual-zone is the biggest real-world upgrade. You can cook two foods with different temperatures/timings, then use SYNC so everything lands on the plate together.

• Best for: families, meal preppers, “main + side” dinners
• Standout feature: Dual drawers with SYNC/MATCH
• Capacity: 9.5L total (2 drawers)

Check price on Amazon UK  |  Read our AF400UK review

2) Ninja Dual Zone with Smart Cook System (AF451UK) — Best Upgrade

Why it’s worth the premium: If you cook chicken, salmon, or thicker cuts often, the integrated probe can reduce guesswork and help you hit your preferred doneness more consistently.

• Best for: precision cooking for meat/fish
• Standout feature: Digital cooking probe (Smart Cook System)
• Capacity: 9.5L total (2 drawers)

Check price on Amazon UK

3) Ninja FlexDrawer (AF500UK) — Best for Big Items & Traybakes

Why it’s different: FlexDrawer is the “one appliance” answer if you sometimes want dual-zone, but also want the option to cook one larger item or a traybake-style meal in a single big zone.

• Best for: larger cuts, traybakes, batch cooking
• Standout feature: Converts from DualZone to 10.4L MegaZone

Check price on Amazon UK

4) COSORI TurboBlaze (6L) — Best Premium Compact

Why it’s a smart compact choice: A generous 6L basket in a more manageable footprint than most dual drawers, with a broad temperature range and multi-function programmes—ideal for everyday cooking without dedicating half the counter.

• Best for: most 1–4 person households
• Standout feature: wide temperature range + multi-speed airflow (brand feature set)

Check price on Amazon UK

5) Instant Vortex Compact (5L) — Best Small-Kitchen Value

Why it works: If you want a smaller footprint but still like “premium convenience” features (like a viewing window), this is a strong, practical pick for flats and compact kitchens.

• Best for: couples, flats, students
• Standout feature: compact format + window (model dependent)

Check price on Amazon UK

6) Ninja Air Fryer MAX (AF160UK) — Best Single-Drawer Value

Why it’s still relevant: If dual drawers feel like overkill (or too large), the AF160UK is a straightforward, reliable single drawer that covers the everyday essentials well.

• Best for: simple daily cooking without dual-zone size
• Capacity: 5.2L

Check price on Amazon UK

7) Tower Vortx Dual Basket (9L) — Best Budget Dual Basket

Why it’s here: If you want the dual-basket lifestyle on a tighter budget, Tower’s dual basket options are often competitively priced. J

Quick heads-up: “best” depends on your kitchen and habits, not just specs. Still, there are a few stand-outs that keep appearing in reputable UK testing round-ups.

Best overall: Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK

If you want a crowd-pleaser that suits lots of households, BBC Good Food rated the Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK as “best overall” in its tested list.
Why people love it: big capacity, clever layout, and it’s built for doing more than one thing without drama.

Internal link idea: /reviews/ninja-double-stack-xl-sl400uk/

Best single-drawer (simple + fast): Cosori TurboBlaze

BBC Good Food also picked Cosori TurboBlaze as its best single-drawer air fryer.
If you mostly cook for one or two, this style is often the sweet spot: fewer moving parts, less countertop real estate, still super quick.

Best dual-drawer (two foods at once): Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK

Another regular in UK “best of” lists BBC Good Food calls out the Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK as its best dual-drawer pick.
If you’ve ever tried to time chips + chicken + veg in one basket… you already know why dual-zone is popular.

Best stackable / small worktop friendly: Philips 4000 Series stacked dual basket

Vertical, stackable designs are having a moment, and a Philips stacked dual-basket model has been praised for using space efficiently (great for families, but tall).

Best budget-friendly option (tested lists often flag these): Chefman TurboFry Touch

BBC Good Food includes the Chefman TurboFry Touch as a budget dual-drawer option in its tested round up.
Budget tip: don’t just chase litres make sure the basket shape fits your food (wide beats tall-and-narrow most days).

Best for big families / batch cooking: Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer 10.4L

If you cook bigger trays of food or want loads of room, Ideal Home highlights the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Dual Air Fryer 10.4L as its “best overall” for its list.

Best “something different” (combo style): Samsung Combi Smart Microwave Oven

If you want one appliance that can microwave, grill, and air fry, TechRadar highlights a Samsung combi model as a top pick in its best air fryer guide.
Not for everyone but for tiny kitchens, combo appliances can be a lifesaver.

Comparison table (add after this paragraph)

Model	Type	Best for
Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK	Stack / multi-level	Most households, fast dinners (Good Food)
Cosori TurboBlaze	Single basket	1–2 people, quick & simple (Good Food)
Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK	Dual drawer	Families, two foods at once (Good Food)
Philips 4000 stacked dual basket	Vertical dual basket	Saving worktop width (Woman & Home)
Ninja FlexDrawer 10.4L	Large drawer	Batch cooking / big portions (Ideal Home)
Chefman TurboFry Touch	Dual drawer (budget)	Value pick (Good Food)
Samsung Combi (microwave/air fryer)	Combo appliance	One-box solution (TechRadar)

What to look for before you buy (so you don’t regret it)

Capacity: litres vs real-life portions

Litres are useful… but they can be sneaky. A “9L” air fryer might be two smaller drawers, while a “6L” single basket might feel roomier for chips because it’s wider.

The “portion reality check”

• 1-2 people: ~3-5L single basket often feels perfect
• 3-4 people: dual drawer or 6-9L total capacity tends to be comfy
• 5+ people / batch cooking: big drawers or oven-style air fryers shine

If you regularly cook things like whole chicken portions, chunky veg, or multiple items, go bigger than you think. Overcrowding is the #1 way to get “sad, pale chips.”

Wattage and speed (why higher isn’t always better)

Higher wattage can mean faster heating, but it also can mean… more noise, more power draw, and not necessarily better results. What matters most is airflow + basket design + temperature stability.

Controls: dials vs touchscreen vs app

Be honest with yourself: are you an “app person” or a “turn dial and forget” person?
Touchscreens look premium, but dials can be quicker when you’re hungry and annoyed.

Cleaning and coatings (the unglamorous truth)

The best air fryer is the one you’ll actually clean. Look for:

• dishwasher safe basket/crisper plates
• fewer crevices
• a coating that feels durable (and don’t scrape it with metal tools)

Noise, size, and where it’ll actually live

Air fryers are basically mini convection ovens with fans so yes, they make noise. Also, measure your space properly. UK kitchens can be tight, and some dual models are wide.

Running costs: is an air fryer cheaper than an oven in the UK?

In many cases, yes, especially for smaller portions. The Energy Saving Trust compared typical cooking costs for the same portion in different appliances and found air fryers can be cheaper for small meals.

A real example (same food, different appliances)

Energy Saving Trust’s example for cooking a 600g chicken breast portion showed:

• Air fryer: typical cost £0.15 in Great Britain
• Electric oven: typical cost £0.21 in Great Britain

That difference sounds small, but add it up over the week and it can matter—especially if you’re someone who cooks quick meals often.

Graph suggestion: simple bar chart comparing the example cost for “air fryer vs electric oven” (GB + NI).
Alt text: “Bar chart comparing typical cost to cook a 600g chicken breast portion in an air fryer vs electric oven.”

When the oven can be better value

If you’re cooking loads of food at once (traybakes, multiple portions, batch cooking), the oven can win on value because you’re using that big hot box efficiently. Energy Saving Trust points out ovens are better suited for batch cooking. Energy Saving Trust

Getting better results: my favourite “air fryer rules”

Don’t overcrowd (air needs space)

Air fryers don’t “fry” with oil they crisp with moving hot air. If you pile food up, you block airflow. Result: steamed chips. Nobody wants that.

Shake/flip once, then leave it alone

You don’t need to babysit it. One shake or flip halfway through is usually plenty. Constant opening dumps heat (and wastes energy), and Energy Saving Trust specifically advises avoiding opening the air fryer unnecessarily (source: Air fryer, oven, microwave, hob, slow cooker: which is cheaper for cooking?).

Go for “golden”, not “burnt”

For starchy foods like chips and roast potatoes, UK food safety guidance on acrylamide generally recommends aiming for a golden yellow colour or lighter rather than very dark browning.
So yes, crispy is great. Charcoal is not the goal.

Food safety basics (especially chicken)

You don’t need to fear your air fryer, but you do need to cook properly. The Food Standards Agency gives safe time/temperature combinations (for example, 70°C for 2 minutes or 75°C for 30 seconds).
A simple food thermometer makes this ridiculously easy.

Easy starter foods (so you actually use the thing)

If you’re new to air fryers, don’t start with a full roast dinner and chaos. Start with guaranteed wins:

• frozen chips / wedges
• chicken thighs or wings
• salmon fillets
• roasted veg (broccoli is unreal when it gets crispy edges)
• reheating pizza (trust me)

BBC Good Food has beginner friendly air fryer recipes if you want inspiration.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying too small → you’ll overcrowd and hate the results
• Ignoring footprint → it doesn’t fit where you planned
• Never cleaning the basket properly → smells + smoke + sadness
• Cooking everything at max temp → outside burnt, inside meh
• Expecting it to replace every appliance → it’s brilliant, not magic

The best air fryer in the UK is the one that matches your home and your habits. If you want a safe “all-rounder,” tested lists frequently point to models like the Ninja Double Stack XL or Ninja Dual Zone styles, while Cosori shines for simple single-basket cooking.

Think about how many people you cook for, whether you need two zones, and if you’ll realistically clean it without cursing. Get that right, and you’ll use it constantly like, “why is my oven jealous?” constantly.

FAQ

Is an air fryer cheaper to run than an oven in the UK?

Often, yes, especially when you’re cooking smaller portions. Energy Saving Trust’s comparisons suggest air fryers can cost less than electric ovens for the same meal because you’re heating a smaller appliance. For example, it estimates a lower typical cost for cooking a 600g chicken portion in an air fryer versus an electric oven (Great Britain figures) (source: Air fryer, oven, microwave, hob, slow cooker: which is cheaper for cooking?).

What size air fryer do I need for a family of four?

Most families of four do best with either a dual drawer model (so you can split foods) or a larger capacity single basket that’s wide enough for chips and protein without stacking. If you regularly cook full meals in one go, dual zone can feel like a cheat code for timing.

Are dual-drawer air fryers actually worth it?

If you cook more than one component most nights (protein + chips + veg), yes. Two drawers reduce compromise: you can run different temps/times and sync finishes. If you mainly do single items (reheats, snacks, one-pan style food), a single basket can be simpler and cheaper.

How do I avoid dry chicken in an air fryer?

Don’t cook chicken breasts like they owe you money. Use a light oil spray, don’t overcook, and consider a quick marinade. Most importantly, use a thermometer and cook to safe doneness based on reliable temperature/time guidance the Food Standards Agency (FSA) sets out safe cooking advice here: Cooking your food.

What’s the healthiest way to use an air fryer?

Use it for foods that benefit from crisping with less oil (veg, lean proteins, homemade wedges). And for starchy foods, aim for “golden” rather than very dark browning to reduce acrylamide formation UK guidance explicitly recommends that colour target (see the Food Standards Agency guidance: Acrylamide).