# The best air fryers, tried and tested for crisp and crunch

Air fryers have taken over our kitchens, but which wins the crown for the crispiest cooking? Our expert peeled 5kg of potatoes to find out.

## The best air fryers in 2025



Air fryers are best thought of as smaller, modified convection ovens with a fast fan. Rather than having the fan and element at the rear, these are above, producing powerful fanned heat that’s circulated around the drawer.

Food sits on a perforated crisper plate, allowing heat to reach the underside, while a thin layer of oil on the surface “fries” the exterior to create browning and crunch. Shaking the contents in the drawer roughens up the surface, creating more area for crisping.

## Why we love it

While Air Fryers have gained a reputation for being economical, and while they offer great versatility, they don’t always achieve the best results. In this section, we’ll focus on those that are tested by our editorial team.

## It didn’t make the final cut because

The drawer doesn’t feel as durable as it should be for this type of air fryer. It’s not the easiest to program: for example, there are no separate up and down buttons for time and temperature.

## Size

38.5 x 28.4 x 32cm (WDH); capacity: 8 litres; power draw: 0.79kWh = 26p an hour; dishwasher safe: yes; program: manual, chip, roast, bake, grill, dehydrate, reheat

## What you need to know

Air Fryers are best thought of as smaller, modified convection ovens with a fast fan. Rather than having the fan and element at the rear, these are above, producing powerful fanned heat that’s circulated around the drawer.

Food sits on a perforated crisper plate, allowing heat to reach the underside, while a thin layer of oil on the surface “fries” the exterior to create browning and crunch. Shaking the contents in the drawer roughens up the surface, creating more area for crisping.

## How do air fryers work?

Air Fryers are best thought of as smaller, modified convection ovens with a fast fan. Rather than having the fan and element at the rear, these are above, producing powerful fanned heat that’s circulated around the drawer.

Food sits on a perforated crisper plate, allowing heat to reach the underside, while a thin layer of oil on the surface “fries” the exterior to create browning and crunch. Shaking the contents in the drawer roughens up the surface, creating more area for crisping.

## Are air fryers healthier than regular frying?

Yes, both because you need a lower amount of oil – a tablespoon should be enough to coat a 500g batch of chipped potato, while other foods require no oil at all – but also because the way food is “fried” is different.

Conventional frying uses the oil in the pan to seal the exterior. This prevents moisture from escaping, which is then heated, steaming the inside. To do this, oil penetrates the food’s surface, meaning that more fat is retained than when air frying.

## Are air fryers less energy-efficient?

Air Fryers have gained a reputation for being more energy-efficient, but this is not always the case. For small amounts of food, Air Fryers use less energy, heating up quickly and only circulating hot air within a small space. An example of an A+-rated 72-litre oven might use 1.395kWh to cook a roast chicken over 90 minutes, while an Air Fryer could do the same job in less than an hour and use only 0.782kWh – almost half the energy and cost.

However, if you were cooking large amounts, such as a whole roast dinner – chicken, roast potatoes, yorkshire pudding, roast veggies and so on – running several cycles of Air Fryer would cost more, making an oven the more energy-efficient choice.

## **Rachel Ogden has worked as a consumer journalist for decades, becoming an expert unboxer before it was a thing, although she is much less successful at repacking. Her home has hosted hundreds of small appliances from blenders and air fryers to robot vacuums, while outside, you’ll find her messing about with pizza ovens, barbecues and heaters. Unsurprisingly, it takes a lot to impress her – many have tried and failed**




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