Best Air Fryer 2023: A Comprehensive Guide to Popular Air Fryers
We have put together what we believe to be the best air fryers of 2023. These air fryers have been tested so you don’t have to waste your money buying the wrong one.
Air fryers have revolutionized the way we cook our favourite fried foods. With their ability to fry food with minimal oil, they offer a healthier alternative to traditional frying methods. The market is flooded with a wide range of air fryers, each claiming to be the best.
To help you make an informed decision, we have extensively researched and tested various models to bring you a comprehensive guide to the best air fryers in 2023.
Introduction to Air Fryers
Air fryers have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their ability to cook fried food with significantly less oil. These appliances work by using convection technology, which circulates hot air around the food to create a crispy texture. The Maillard reaction, a chemical process that occurs when heat interacts with food, gives the fried-like results with minimal oil usage.
The temperature range of air fryers typically falls between 150 and 200˚C, although this may vary among models. While air fryers cannot perfectly replicate the results of deep frying, they come close to achieving the desired texture with a fraction of the fat content.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Air Fryer
When selecting the best air fryer for your needs, several factors should be taken into account. These factors include price, style, machine capabilities, and capacity. Let’s explore each of these factors in detail:
Price
Air fryers come in a wide price range, with basic models starting at around £80. While these entry-level fryers can fry food with minimal fat, they may have slower cooking times and limited features. For larger capacity and faster cooking, expect to pay in the range of £150 to £250.
Style
The style of an air fryer refers to its design and additional features. Some air fryers come with quick cook functions and stirring paddles, which automate the cooking process. Other models offer additional cooking methods such as grilling or baking. Consider your cooking preferences and choose a style that suits your needs.
Machine Capabilities
The capabilities of an air fryer can greatly enhance your cooking experience. Look for models with adjustable temperature and time settings, as well as preset functions for popular dishes. Dishwasher-safe removable parts and pull-out loading trays also make cleaning and loading the fryer easier.
Capacity
The capacity of an air fryer determines how much food it can cook at once. Smaller fryers are suitable for single portions or small kitchens, while larger fryers can cater to family meals. Consider your cooking needs and choose a capacity that suits your requirements.
Standard Functions of Air Fryers
The best air fryers on the market offer several standard functions that make cooking a breeze. These functions include weight and temperature settings, allowing you to adjust the heat and cook time according to your ingredients. Look for models with preset functions for popular dishes, as they calculate the ideal timings and temperatures for you.
Most air fryers also come with a recipe booklet to provide culinary inspiration. This is especially useful if you are new to air frying and need guidance on different recipes and cooking techniques.
Accessories for Air Fryers
While most air fryers come with a standard frying basket, there is a range of accessories available that can transform your fryer into a versatile cooking tool. For example, certain brands offer compatible grill pans and roasting trays, enabling you to expand your cooking options. These accessories can be purchased separately to enhance your air frying experience.
Cooking a Full Meal in an Air Fryer
While budget or compact air fryers may have limitations in terms of cooking capacity, larger models can cook multiple dishes simultaneously. With additional compartments or dual-zone capabilities, premium air fryers allow you to cook an entire meal in one appliance. Imagine roasting a whole chicken alongside potatoes and vegetables for a delicious and energy-efficient Sunday roast.
Advancements in Air Fryer Technology
Air fryer technology is continually evolving to improve performance and user experience. Older models may take longer to heat up and require more oil compared to newer designs. Cheaper models may even require you to pre-boil certain foods for faster cooking times. Consider these advancements when choosing an air fryer, especially if you plan on using it for a wide range of recipes and cooking techniques.
Our Testing Methodology
To ensure the accuracy and reliability of our recommendations, we put every air fryer through a rigorous series of tests. Our testing process involves cooking various foods, including potatoes, vegetables, fish, and chicken, to evaluate the fryer’s performance. We assess factors such as cooking time, evenness of cooking, and overall taste and texture of the food.
In addition to testing individual portions, we also fill each air fryer to its advertised capacity to assess its cooking consistency across a larger quantity of food. This allows us to determine whether a four-portion air fryer can truly accommodate a family meal.
We conduct these tests using both manual cooking settings and any automatic presets that the fryer offers. If the fryer has additional functions such as baking and roasting, we evaluate the results for speed and evenness.
The Best Air Fryers of 2023
After extensive research and testing, we have compiled a list of the best air fryers available in 2023. These fryers offer a combination of performance, features, and value for money. Let’s take a closer look at each of our top picks:
Ninja AF100UK: Best Mid-Range Air Fryer
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The Ninja AF100UK is our top pick for a mid-range air fryer. Priced at £150, it offers versatility and excellent cooking performance. With a removable crisper plate and two fan speeds, this air fryer can do more than just fry food. It can roast, fry, and even dehydrate, allowing you to create a variety of healthy snacks. The AF100UK also features a reheat setting, making it convenient for reheating leftovers and crisping up single slices of pizza. If you need a larger capacity, Ninja also offers a 5.2l MAX version for £1670.
Key Specs:
Power: 1,550W
Capacity: 3.8l
Display: Digital
Accessories: Removable crisper plate
2. Tower T17005: Best Budget Air Fryer
If you’re on a budget, the Tower T17005 is an excellent choice. This affordable air fryer is sturdy and easy to use, producing great quality fried foods. It has a capacity of 1.5L, making it suitable for two people. The T17005 reduces fat content by up to 99% compared to traditional frying methods. Its dishwasher-safe parts simplify the cleaning process, and additional accessories like a basket divider can be purchased separately.
Key Specs:
Power: 900W
Capacity: 1.5L
Display: Manual timer
Accessories: Several available, sold separately
Tower Xpress Pro Combo 10-in-1: Best Air Fryer for Chicken
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For those who love chicken, the Tower Xpress Pro Combo 10-in-1 is the perfect air fryer. It offers a range of functions, including baking, roasting, and air frying. The standout feature of this fryer is its automatic rotisserie function, which allows you to cook a whole small 1kg chicken in just 45 minutes. The results are fantastic, with crispy skin and a juicy, perfectly cooked interior. The Xpress Pro Combo 10-in-1 also comes with kebab skewers, silicone oven mitts, and a small pizza crisping tray.
Key Specs:
Power: 2,000W
Capacity: 11l
Display: Digital touchscreen
Accessories: Rotisserie spit, kebab skewers, crisping trays, pizza crisping tray, multipurpose rack, silicone heatproof mitts
Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer Air Fryer: Best Air Fryer for Most People
The Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer Air Fryer is a versatile and well-designed option that caters to a wide range of cooking needs. Its dual-drawer feature sets it apart from other air fryers on the market. The Sync Cook and Sync Finish settings allow you to cook different dishes simultaneously, even if they require different times, temperatures, or cooking modes. With air frying, roasting, grilling, baking, reheating, and dehydrating functions, the Vortex Plus offers endless cooking possibilities. The clear basket windows and lights inside the machine make it easy to monitor the cooking process, while the digital touchscreen ensures a user-friendly experience.
Key Specs:
Power: 1,700W
Capacity: 7.6l
Display: Digital
Accessories: Two non-stick grill plates
Ninja Foodi Dual Zone: Best Ninja Air Fryer
The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone is a game-changer for those who want to cook multiple dishes simultaneously. With its two separate cooking baskets, you can set different times and temperatures for each basket, ensuring everything finishes cooking at the same time. This fryer offers air frying, baking, roasting, dehydrating, and reheating functions. The Max Crisp function is particularly impressive, cooking thinner frozen foods in a fraction of the time it would take in a standard oven. The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone is a versatile tabletop multi-cooker that can handle a wide range of recipes.
Key Specs:
Power: 2,400W
Capacity: 7.6l
Display: Digital
Accessories: None
6. Tefal Actifry Genius XL 2in1: Best High-End Air Fryer
The Tefal Actifry Genius XL 2in1 offers a whopping 1.7kg capacity, making it one of the largest air fryers on our list. It comes with preset options for cooking classic meals like chicken and chips, stir-fries, and more. The 2in1 function allows you to cook two different elements of your meal in one place, saving time and reducing the number of dishes to clean. During testing, chicken and homemade chips came out beautifully crisp with just one tablespoon of oil. The stirring paddle eliminates the need to flip or check on the food during cooking.
Key Specs:
Power: 1,500W
Capacity: 1.7kg
Display: Digital
Accessories: Measuring spoon, removable 2-in-1 tray
Tefal Actifry Genius+: Best Self-Stirring Air Fryer
The Tefal Actifry Genius+ is a top-of-the-range air fryer that offers a convenient alternative to deep frying. With a capacity of 1.2kg, it can cook up to six portions of food effortlessly. The 360-degree stirring paddle ensures even and consistent cooking without the need for manual intervention. Nine automatic cooking functions take the guesswork out of air frying, and the Genius+ adjusts the temperature and stirring paddle automatically during cooking to prevent overcooking. Although Tefal’s Genius range is relatively expensive, it offers unparalleled performance and reliability.
Key Specs:
Power: 1,500W
Capacity: 1.2kg
Display: Digital touchscreen
Accessories: Measuring spoon
Air fryers are an excellent addition to any kitchen, offering a healthier way to enjoy your favourite fried foods. When choosing the best air fryer for you, consider factors such as price, style, machine capabilities, and capacity. Our top picks for the best air fryers in 2023 include the Ninja AF100UK, Tower T17005, Tower Xpress Pro Combo 10-in-1, Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer, Ninja Foodi Dual Zone, Tefal Actifry Genius XL 2in1, and Tefal Actifry Genius+. Each of these fryers offers unique features and performance, catering to different cooking needs and budgets.
Now armed with this comprehensive guide, you can confidently make an informed decision and choose the best air fryer that suits your requirements. Happy air frying!