Best air fryers UK: 7 picks from Ninja, Cosori, Tower and Instant
Air fryers are a popular Christmas gift, and Black Friday is often when the big names get discounted. Here's how to choose the right size and style.
How we chose: We compared capacities, drawer layouts, programmes and dishwasher-safety from manufacturer listings, read independent UK testing (BBC Good Food, The Guardian, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar, Which?) and checked recurring praise and complaints across thousands of Amazon.co.uk owner reviews. We have not personally tested these products; this is a research-based roundup. Our research process.
Quick picks
- Best overall for familiesNinja Foodi MAX Dual Zone 9.5L Air Fryer AF400UKCheck price
- Best value dual-drawerNinja Foodi 6-in-1 Dual Zone 7.6L Air Fryer AF300UKCheck price
- Best for small worktopsNinja Double Stack XL 9.5L 2-Drawer Air Fryer SL400UKCheck price
- Best single basketCosori TurboBlaze 6L Air Fryer (DC601)Check price
- Best budget pickCosori 5.5L XXL Air Fryer CP158Check price
- Budget dual-drawerTower Vortx 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer T17088Check price
- Best with viewing windowsInstant Vortex Plus Dual Basket ClearCook Air Fryer (stainless)Check price
Air fryers have gone from fad to fixture in British kitchens, and for good reason. For small and medium portions they heat up in minutes, crisp food with a fraction of the oil, and often cost less to run than heating a full-size oven. They are also a popular Christmas gift and a regular Black Friday deal.
The big decision is dual-drawer vs single basket. Two independent drawers let you cook chips and chicken at different settings and finish together, which is ideal for families. A single large basket is simpler, smaller on the worktop and better for whole chickens or flat foods. After that, think about capacity (litres are a loose guide), footprint and how easy it is to clean.
Comparison table
| Pick | Type | Capacity | Functions | Best for | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UKBest overall for families | Dual drawer | 9.5L (2 × 4.75L) | 6 (incl. Max Crisp, Dehydrate) | Families | Check price |
| Ninja Foodi Dual Zone AF300UKBest value dual-drawer | Dual drawer | 7.6L (2 × 3.8L) | 6 | 2–5 people | Check price |
| Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UKBest for small worktops | Stacked dual drawer | 9.5L (2 × 4.75L) + 2 racks | 6 | Small kitchens, families | Check price |
| Cosori TurboBlaze 6LBest single basket | Single basket | 6L | 9 (incl. Proof, Dehydrate) | 1–4 people | Check price |
| Cosori 5.5L (CP158)Best budget pick | Single basket | 5.5L | 11 presets | Budget, 1–4 people | Check price |
| Tower Vortx 9L Dual BasketBudget dual-drawer | Dual drawer | 9L (2 × 4.5L) | 10 presets | Families on a budget | Check price |
| Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook DualBest with viewing windows | Dual drawer | Check listing (approx. 7.6L) | 6 | Watching food crisp | Check price |
Specs are from manufacturer listings as of 19 October 2026; claimed figures (running costs, runtimes) are the maker’s, not ours. Check the Amazon page for the current price and exact variant before you buy.
The picks in detail
Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone 9.5L Air Fryer AF400UK
Best for: Families of 4–8 who want two foods ready at the same time
- Type
- Dual drawer
- Capacity
- 9.5L (2 × 4.75L)
- Functions
- 6 (incl. Max Crisp, Dehydrate)
- Best for
- Families
The AF400UK is the air fryer most UK reviewers keep coming back to, and with 15,000+ Amazon ratings averaging around 4.8 stars, owners agree. Two independent 4.75L drawers each fit up to 1.4kg of fries or a 2kg chicken (per Ninja). Sync and Match let you run different foods at different settings and have them finish together. BBC Good Food recommends it for families who cook a lot.
Owners consistently praise even cooking, speed and how much it replaces the oven for weekday meals. The main trade-off is size: it's wide and needs a good stretch of worktop. If space is tight, the Double Stack below gives the same capacity in a narrower footprint.
What owners and reviewers like
- Two independent zones that finish together
- Large capacity for families
- Very strong owner ratings
- Dishwasher-safe drawers and plates
Watch-outs
- Wide; takes a lot of worktop
- No viewing window
- Pricier than single-basket models
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Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 Dual Zone 7.6L Air Fryer AF300UK
Best for: Couples and small families who want two drawers without the bulk
- Type
- Dual drawer
- Capacity
- 7.6L (2 × 3.8L)
- Functions
- 6
- Best for
- 2–5 people
The AF300UK is the smaller sibling of the AF400UK and one of the best-reviewed air fryers on Amazon UK, with more than 18,000 ratings averaging about 4.8 stars. It has the same dual-zone features and functions, just with two 3.8L drawers. Ninja says each fits up to 1kg of fries or a 1.6kg chicken, which is plenty for 2–5 people.
Owners say it's worth the money, cheaper to run than their oven and quick enough that they rarely preheat the main oven any more. If you regularly cook for a crowd, go up to the AF400UK. Otherwise this is the sweet spot.
What owners and reviewers like
- Same dual-zone features as the MAX
- Smaller footprint
- Huge, very positive owner review base
- Usually cheaper than the AF400UK
Watch-outs
- Drawers fill quickly for larger families
- Still a sizeable unit
- No viewing window
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Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L 2-Drawer Air Fryer SL400UK
Best for: Big capacity in a narrow kitchen
- Type
- Stacked dual drawer
- Capacity
- 9.5L (2 × 4.75L) + 2 racks
- Functions
- 6
- Best for
- Small kitchens, families
Ninja stacked the drawers on top of each other, so the SL400UK has 9.5L of capacity but is about 30% slimmer than the AF400UK (per Ninja). Two included racks let you cook on four levels. The Guardian named it the best compact air fryer and liked how easy it is to programme, though its tester found some chips still pale at Ninja's recommended times and suggested you may need to adjust settings.
Amazon owners like the space saving and easy cleaning. Reviews are more mixed on cooking evenness than for the side-by-side Ninjas, which matches the Guardian's experience. Check the height if you want to tuck it under wall cupboards.
What owners and reviewers like
- Narrow footprint for its capacity
- Four cooking levels with racks
- Easy to programme
- Easy to clean
Watch-outs
- Some report uneven cooking; may need longer times
- Tall: check clearance under cupboards
- Hand-washing recommended to extend life
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Cosori TurboBlaze 6L Air Fryer (DC601)
Best for: 1–4 people who want one big, fast basket
- Type
- Single basket
- Capacity
- 6L
- Functions
- 9 (incl. Proof, Dehydrate)
- Best for
- 1–4 people
The TurboBlaze uses a DC motor with five fan speeds that Cosori says adjust automatically for each mode. It's one of the highest-rated air fryers on Amazon UK, with more than 21,000 ratings averaging around 4.8 stars. A single 6L basket fits a whole chicken, and BBC Good Food rates it a strong single-drawer pick for smaller households.
Professional reviews are more divided. Trusted Reviews praised its speed and results, while TechRadar found results inconsistent on some foods. Owners mostly praise the easy controls, quick cooking and easy-clean basket. If you want two foods at once, choose a dual-drawer model.
What owners and reviewers like
- Fast, quiet DC-motor fan
- Fits a whole chicken
- Large, very positive owner review base
- Proof and dehydrate modes
Watch-outs
- Only one cooking zone
- Mixed results in one professional review
- Big footprint for a single basket
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Cosori 5.5L XXL Air Fryer CP158
Best for: First air fryer on a tighter budget
- Type
- Single basket
- Capacity
- 5.5L
- Functions
- 11 presets
- Best for
- Budget, 1–4 people
Cosori's CP158 is a long-running bestseller with almost 32,000 Amazon UK ratings averaging about 4.7 stars, one of the largest owner review bases of any air fryer. It's a straightforward single-basket model with one-touch presets, a non-stick dishwasher-safe basket and enough room for a small family.
It lacks the TurboBlaze's DC motor and newer functions, but owners keep calling it good value and quick. If you're buying your first air fryer or a gift, it's a safe choice.
What owners and reviewers like
- Excellent value
- Enormous, positive review base
- Simple presets
- Dishwasher-safe basket
Watch-outs
- Older design than TurboBlaze
- Single zone
- Fewer functions than newer models
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Tower Vortx 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer T17088
Best for: Families who want two drawers for less than Ninja
- Type
- Dual drawer
- Capacity
- 9L (2 × 4.5L)
- Functions
- 10 presets
- Best for
- Families on a budget
Tower's Vortx 9L offers Ninja-style dual drawers, Smart Finish and Match Cook, usually for noticeably less. With 9,500+ ratings averaging around 4.6 stars, owners are mostly happy: they say it cooks evenly and quickly, and the baskets fit a medium chicken.
The recurring complaint is durability. Some owners report the plastic on the drawer handles cracking, or units failing after several months, and others find the instructions thin. It's a good-value choice, but if you cook every day the Ninja has the stronger long-term reputation.
What owners and reviewers like
- Dual drawers for less
- Smart Finish and Match Cook
- Roomy baskets
- Mostly positive owner reviews
Watch-outs
- Some handle and durability complaints
- Basic instructions
- Feels less premium than Ninja
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Instant Vortex Plus Dual Basket ClearCook Air Fryer (stainless)
Best for: Cooks who like to see food without opening the drawer
- Type
- Dual drawer
- Capacity
- Check listing (approx. 7.6L)
- Functions
- 6
- Best for
- Watching food crisp
Instant's dual-basket Vortex Plus adds ClearCook windows and internal lights, so you can check browning without pulling the drawers out and losing heat. SyncCook and SyncFinish match or co-ordinate both drawers. Owners rate it highly, around 4.7 stars, for speed and results.
The common criticism, from owners and The Guardian (on a related VersaZone model), is the sparse instructions and recipes. It's better suited to people who already know their way around an air fryer. Note that the windows are harder to see through once they get greasy.
What owners and reviewers like
- Viewing windows with lights
- SyncCook/SyncFinish
- Stainless finish
- Well rated by owners
Watch-outs
- Sparse instructions and recipes
- Windows need regular cleaning
- Fewer owner reviews than Ninja/Cosori
Check current price on Amazon Affiliate link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Dual drawer or single basket?
Dual drawers are best if you cook complete meals (chips plus chicken, veg plus fish) or have fussy eaters. Single baskets give a bigger flat area for whole chickens, pizza slices and gratins, and are usually smaller and cheaper. Stacked designs like Ninja's Double Stack save width but add height.What size do you need?
As a rough guide, 3–4L suits one or two people, 5–6L suits two to four, and 7.6–9.5L dual-drawer models suit families of four or more. Flat area matters more than litres: food crisps best in a single layer.
Running costs
In The Guardian's tests, air fryers used roughly 0.55–1.2kWh running empty for an hour at 200C. At about 26p per kWh (Ofgem's average cap rate for October–December 2026), that's roughly 14–31p an hour, and real cooks are usually much shorter. For small and medium portions that's typically cheaper than a full-size oven. For a whole roast dinner, the oven can be more efficient.
Cleaning and coatings
Check whether drawers and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe. To make non-stick coatings last, avoid metal utensils and abrasive scourers, and use liners if you cook messy foods. If you'd rather avoid non-stick, look for ceramic-coated or glass designs.
Gifting tip
If you're buying one as a Christmas gift, check the worktop space and whether the recipient already has a multi-cooker. Ninja and Cosori models come with decent recipe guides, which helps first-time users.
FAQs
Are air fryers cheaper to run than an oven?
Usually, for small and medium portions, because they heat a small space quickly and cook faster. For very large meals that need several batches, a conventional oven can work out cheaper.
Is Ninja better than Cosori or Tower?
Ninja's dual-zone models have the strongest reputation across UK reviews for even cooking and longevity. Cosori offers excellent single-basket models, and Tower is a good-value option with more mixed durability feedback.
Can you put foil or baking paper in an air fryer?
Generally yes, as long as it's weighed down by food and doesn't block airflow. Never preheat with loose paper inside. Check your model's manual.
What capacity air fryer do I need for a family of four?
Around 7.6L–9.5L in a dual-drawer layout, or at least a 6L single basket if you mostly cook one-tray meals.
Why don't you show prices?
Prices on Amazon change often, especially around Black Friday. Follow the links to check the current price.
Sources we consulted
- BBC Good Food: best air fryers, tested
- The Guardian, The Filter: best air fryers tested
- Trusted Reviews: Cosori 6L TurboBlaze review
- TechRadar: Cosori TurboBlaze 6L review
- Which?: best dual air fryers
Prices change constantly, so we don’t list them here. Always check the current price, seller and delivery details on Amazon before buying. If anything on this page looks wrong or out of date, tell us.
