How do you know if someone has an air fryer? Because they will not stop raving about it.
The small but mighty kitchen appliance may have been first introduced to mass market in 2010, but it has taken off in recent years largely thanks to TikTok fame.
A simple search of #airfryer on the video streaming platform results in videos that have amassed 6.4 billion views in total, with #airfryerrecipe coming back with a cool 2.4 billion views - no small feat.
What is an air fryer?
Essentially, an air fryer is like a mini oven in that it bakes and roasts food. It’s much smaller than an oven though and can sit on most counters comfortably. One of its main pulls is that it uses much less oil to cook food, making it a great option for those who want to eat healthier.
How does an air fryer work?
To use an air fryer, simply place ingredients in the drawer, set your desired temperature and time, and let it do its thing. The heating elements of an air fryer are located at the top of the machine, and the appliance’s fan is what circulates the piping hot air and results in perfectly crisp food.
Can an air fryer save me money?
In late 2022, after energy price caps surged, there was a shortage of air fryers after Britons bought the appliance in droves to save on household bills. Is it all hype, or can you really save cash? The answer is yes. If you switch from using a conventional oven to an air fryer, you will be using less electricity which means you should see a decrease in your energy bills.
Research by Utilita found that an air fryer only costs £52.74 to use for a year, compared to the £316.64 bill you face with an electric oven.
What can I cook in an air fryer?
Better question: what can’t you cook in your air fryer? One glimpse online and you’ll find home chefs cooking everything from veggies, to crispy chickpea snacks, dried fruit, meat, and even muffins in their air fryers. Air fryers are particularly great for cooking food that you might normally roast or fry with oil.
What aspects should you consider when buying an air fryer?
When buying an air fryer you need to consider how many people you are hoping to feed with it. If it’s just you, or you and your partner or a roommate, then a small 2L to 3L air fryer should do the trick. For families or larger groups of people, we would recommend any size above 4L as this allows you to pack more in. Other things to consider are ease of use, how easy it is to clean up, and of course, the price.
Best budget air fryers at a glance
- Best for one to two-person households: Russell Hobbs Satisfry Small - £49.44, Amazon
- Best for multifunctional magic: Ninja Air Fryer, 3.8 L - £93.99, Amazon
- Best for smart home fanatics: Xiaomi’s Mi Smart Air Fryer - £44.99, Mi
- Best for minimal washing up time: SALTER EK2818 3.2L Air Fryer - £59.87, Amazon
- Best for small kitchens: Nutribullet Magic Bullet 2.5L Air Fryer - £29.99, Nutribullet
- Best for families or larger households: Tower Vortx 4L Manual Air Fryer Black - £44.99, Tower
- Best for app lovers: COSORI Air Fryer Lite 3.8L - £49.99, Amazon
- Best for time-poor cooks: Instant 4-in-1 Vortex 4 3.8L Air Fryer - £39.99, Argos
- Best for busy office workers: Daewoo Manual Air Fryer - £44.99, Amazon
- Best for bang for buck: Russell Hobbs Air Fryer, 27160 - £53.27, Amazon
While you may expect to fork out a large chunk of your savings for this in-demand product, several affordable air fryers on the market are just as good - if not better - than their pricier competitors.
If you’re looking to save money on cooking but not put too large of a dent in your wallet, we’ve tried and tested the best air fryers for under £100.
See our favourite budget air fryers under £100 below
Russell Hobbs Satisfry Small
- Best for: One to two-person households.
- Capacity: 1.8L
- Wattage: 1500W
- Temperature range: 80°C to 200°C
If we were to judge an air fryer by its facade then the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Small would get top marks as the air fryer’s digital touchpad makes this one seriously sleek design. It takes up very little of that valuable kitchen bench space too, but don’t be fooled by its compactness.
Despite its smaller capacity, this air fryer packs a punch and it cooked everything we made to a crisp perfection. The smaller size makes it an ideal addition to any one or two-person household.
Buy now £49.44, Amazon
Ninja Air Fryer, 3.8 L
- Best for: multifunctional magic
- Capacity: 3.8L
- Wattage: 1550
- Temperature range: up to 220°C
The market-leading Ninja Kitchen has air fryers and multicookers coming out of its ears, which something to suit all budgets. For those who need a little coaxing onto the air fryer bandwagon, it's compact 3.8L air fryer is just within budget.
It may look small, but this bad boy can cook a small chicken, 900g family serving of fries and can reheat leftovers and dehydrate healthy snacks too, working up to 50 per cent faster than fan-assisted ovens. The single drawer is coated in a non-stick finish, meaning clean up is less of a hassle.
Buy now £93.99, Amazon
Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer
- Best for: Smart home fanatics.
- Capacity: 3.5L
- Wattage: 1500W
- Temperature range: 40°C to 200°C
If you’re after a stylish addition to your smart home, Xiaomi’s Mi Smart Air Fryer should do the trick.
The aesthetically pleasing all-white cubed design will fit neatly on any kitchen bench or island, and the OLED touch screen - from where you can control the temperature and the timing - is a nice substitute to multiple knobs and dials found on other models.
Along with being able to schedule your food to cook up to 24 hours in advance, Xiaomi’s design is also a yogurt maker, fruit dryer, and a microwave oven.
We particularly liked the small grill plate that comes with the air fryer as it allows you to stack your ingredients on two levels for a more evenly distributed bake.
Buy now £44.99, Mi
Salter EK2818 3.2L Air Fryer
- Best for: Minimal washing up time.
- Capacity: 3.2L
- Wattage: 1300W
- Temperature range: 80°C to 200°C
One of the best things about an air fryer is that it can crisp up food you would normally oven cook or deep fry, just without all the oil.
Salter’s EK2818 3.2L Air Fryer goes one step further to giving you that deep fried feeling with its handy removable basket, which can be taken out and washed which means all the bottom of the air fryer barrel needs is a simple wipe.
The two dials allow you to adjust the temperature and the time - it can reach up to 200C and be on for 60 minutes, but the only downside to this Salter model was the noise. It was the loudest air fryer we tested.
Buy now £59.87, Amazon
Magic Bullet 2.5L Air Fryer
- Best for: Small kitchens
- Capacity: 2.5L
- Wattage: 1300W
- Temperature range: 80°C to 200°C
The Magic Bullet 2.5L Air Fryer is, quite simply, a steal. With a 2.5L capacity and an under £70 price tag, you truly do get bang for your buck with this model
It also helps that it is simple to use and compact enough to not take up too much bench space if that’s something your kitchen is lacking.
Food cooked in this air fryer was crisp thanks to the 1300W motor and the included crisping tray which lets the hot air circulate freely around your ingredients.
It’s also a great option for those new to air frying, as it comes with a timings guide printed on the top.
Buy now £29.99, Nutribullet
Tower Vortx 4L Manual Air Fryer Black
- Best for: Families or larger households.
- Capacity: 4L
- Wattage: 1400W
- Temperature range: 80°C to 200°C
If value for money is your kind of thing, then look no further than the Tower Vortx 4L Manual Air Fryer.
With a 4L capacity for under £60 it’s certainly a great option for families or for those who want to cook larger portions and it’s got a powerful 1400W fan oven to boot.
It can reach a high of 200C which is perfect for getting that crisp finish, but the 30-minute time is a little glitchy, as it’s hard to reset it if you twist it too far.
Buy now £44.99, Dunelm
COSORI Air Fryer Lite 3.8L
- Best for: App lovers
- Capacity: 3.8L
- Wattage: 1500W
- Temperature range: 75°C to 230°C
When it comes to cooking dinner, we love it to be as stress-free as possible - especially on a weeknight. Which is why the Corsori Air Fryer Lite’s no-hands approach is ideal for those who want to cook a meal without the faff.
Along with its one-touch cooking functions, you can monitor the cooking process on your phone via an app, or use your smart home devices to instruct the 1500W air fryer.
It also claims that it saves 55 per cent on energy bills compared to a conventional oven. That’s a win in our book.
Buy now £49.99, Amazon
Instant 4-in-1 Vortex 4 3.8L Air Fryer
- Best for: Time poor cooks
- Capacity: 3.8L
- Wattage: 1650W
- Temperature range: 49°C to 205°C
What’s better than an air fryer? An air fryer with multiple other functions, of course.
This is what you get with the Instant 4-in-1 Vortex 4 3.8L Air Fryer, as it can air fry, roast, bake and reheat food all at the touch of a button. The digital touch screen makes this one of the easiest air fryers to use and the 1650W oven sees your food cooked in less time that it takes to wash up. Genius.
Buy now £39.99, Argos
Daewoo Manual Air Fryer
- Best for: busy office workers
- Capacity: 2L
- Wattage: 1000W
- Temperature range: 80-200°C
With simple temperature and control dials, this compact two litre machine is perfect for single home-dwellers who want dinner on the table quickly after a hard day in the office. There’s a 30 minute timer as well as non-slip feet to make sure it won’t move about on the countertop. There’s also an auto shut-off function that stops the heating element when the time’s up so you won’t overcook your food or rack up the bills accidentally. Comes with a three year warranty.
Buy now £44.99, Amazon
Russell Hobbs Air Fryer, 27160
- Best for: bang for buck
- Capacity: 4L
- Wattage: 1350
- Temperature range: up to 200°C
Need more from your machine to justify taking up extra counter space? Russell Hobbs' device has multifunctions with 10 pre-set programmes to make all sorts of dishes under its hood, from wings and fries to a veggie lasagne. The 4L capacity is perfect for growing households, cooking food in a flash when time isn't on your side. Best of all, the energy saving means you'll use up to 46 per cent less energy than a conventional oven. Comes with a two-year manufacturer's guarantee.
Buy now £53.27, Amazon
Verdict
Choosing the right air fryer is like choosing between an Adele and a Beyonce concert: there is no wrong decision. What it comes down to is what works best for your needs. Do you need something that won’t take up much space? Something to feed a family? Or perhaps a machine that’ll hum quietly in the background so you can cook lunch during WFH meetings?
The Russell Hobbs Satisfry Small ticked all the boxes. It was compact enough not to take up the entire kitchen bench, quiet as a whisper, a barrel large enough for one to two-person meals, a super sleek and aesthetically pleasing design, and it resulted in the crispiest food by far. I may be in love (don’t tell my husband).
