Air fryers went from niche gadget to kitchen staple faster than almost any appliance in recent memory — and there’s a good reason for that. They’re quick, energy-efficient compared to a full oven, and they genuinely do make chips, chicken wings, and roasted veg taste better than most ovens manage at the same temperature. The problem is the market has been flooded. Here’s what actually separates a good air fryer from one that’ll be gathering dust in six months.
Capacity: Get This Wrong and You’ll Regret It
This is the number one mistake people make. A 3-litre air fryer sounds reasonable until you realise it’ll only comfortably cook chips for two people. For a family of four, you want at least 6 litres. Dual-basket air fryers — where two compartments run at different temperatures simultaneously — are genuinely one of the best kitchen innovations of recent years. The Ninja Double Stack XL (around £179–£199) is the gold standard: two 4.75-litre drawers that stack vertically with a SyncFinish function so everything finishes together.
What the Spec Sheet Won’t Tell You
Wattage matters for speed, but above 1,500W most air fryers perform similarly. What does matter: basket coating (cheap nonstick flakes within months — look for reinforced or ceramic coatings that are dishwasher-safe), noise level (some are surprisingly loud — the Philips 3000 Series at £80–£100 is consistently praised for being quieter), and control panel (digital touchscreens look sleek but can be fiddly with greasy hands — rotary dials are often more practical day-to-day).
For the full range of kitchen appliances — Instant Pots, coffee machines, smart kettles — check our Kitchen Appliances section on rationalpicks.com, where we compare prices across Amazon UK, Currys, and Argos.
