Lidl's air fryer deals are always impressive. However, in an unexpected twist, they've announced a £90 saving on the the famously good Philips 1000 Series Flexible Air Fryer now available for £79.99, rather than the usual RRP of £169.99.
With a 7.1-litre capacity and the option to split the drawers in to two, 3.55-litre sections, it's one of the best air fryers for flexible cooking, whether you're catering for the whole family and want to roast a chicken, or whether you want to make up a meal of multiple parts.
I tested the Series 1000 when it launched last year and loved the flexible design. The Lidl deal has already attracted a lot of attention, so make sure to look at Lidl's stock checker before you make your way to the middle aisle. And if it sells out, fear not, I've found comparably good deals too.
Dimensions: L29.5 x W43.7 x H30.1cm
Functions: 10 with 6 cooking programmes
Temperature range: 40–200°C
Capacity: 7.1L or two 3.55L drawers
Timer: 60 minutes
Power: 2450 Watts
Cable length: 1m
Warranty: 2 years
As someone who tests air fryers for a living, I love to see savings on models that I've tested and loved. So, if you find stocks have dwindled by the time you've located the car keys, there are still models that are just as good and deals that are equally impressive, if you know where to look. These three, for example, boast flexible designs, with their own benefits:
Here is the air fryer in question, discounted by £70 on Amazon. The saving is almost the same as at Lidl, but without the hassle of getting in the car and elbowing your way through the crowds.
I tested Cosori's version of this flexible drawer design, which is 1.5L bigger, making it a better option for families who might want to cook a full roast dinner in their air fryer. It's also coated in ceramic non-stick, meaning that it's firmly in the category of non-toxic air fryers.
The Tower has two 4-litre baskets, meaning that it can cook, overall, more food than the Philips. They are at a fixed capacity, but in this instance, you get some clever viewing windows, which let you keep an eye on how your food cooks.
When I tested the Series 1000 last year, it was one of the first models to emulate the Ninja FlexDrawer design. Having the choice to use either one large drawer or two smaller ones is a stroke of genius that I've found benefits creative cooks and family homes more than anyone else. I could fit half a pizza in the large drawer with no trouble, a rare feat as the shallow design of many air fryers often stops this. You could also squeeze a roast chicken in the drawer, or a deep dish for lasagne or a pasta bake. However, splititng the drawer in two will give you two separate sections of 3.55-litres, which work independently of each other, making two part meals ish and chips, sausage and mash, pasta and veg) effortless.
I was impressed with the speed and power of the Philips in particular, as it shaved minutes off the cooking time for chips, fish fingers, and vegetables. The full drawer could fit a 12-inch pizza cut in half, which is rare for the shallow design that most air fryers adopt. My greatest success, however, were cookies, made in eight minutes and totally delicious.
I've championed Phillips air fryers for a long time. Not only did they come up with the first air fryer design, they've consistently innovated and created the best air fryers for small homes, family homes, and flexible homes alike, which is why this deal is such a welcome surprise. And the best news is that if you don't manage to snag this saving in Lidl, there's one that's almost identical on Amazon.
