9 best air fryers for easier, healthier and quicker meals for busy families

Utilising a DC motor instead of AC, the Turboblaze fan achieves a 28% faster spin, consuming less energy and generating reduced noise. Cosori reckons this particular model can decrease cooking times by 46% compared to its older air fryers, all while maintaining a 55% reduction in energy consumption compared to a traditional oven.

Offering nine preset modes including preheat, reheat, dry, bake, proof, and warm, this appliance also includes four "turbo" fan modes called air fry, roast, grill, and frozen. Each mode provides predetermined heat and time settings, which can be altered using the responsive touch controls.

Tried and Tested by Closer:

“Addressing the challenge of speedily feeding my family of four in our modest kitchen while minimizing energy usage is what the Cosori Turboblaze is all about. This is because it has a DC motor, hailed as the next generation in air frying technology, which results in faster and quieter cooking. After several months of testing, I can vouch for both claims.

Not only does it significantly reduce cooking times compared to my previous air fryer (to the point where I initially overcooked most items), but it operates quietly enough that we can't hear it from outside the kitchen. The 6L drawer is an ideal size for us – avoiding excess capacity that would waste energy, but large enough to roast a whole chicken, which we’ve done a couple of times. This process takes less than an hour and yields a crispier and less dry result than our conventional oven.

"It's remarkably user-friendly, featuring touch-sensitive controls on a completely flat screen that is easy to keep clean. The dishwasher-safe drawer is just as easily washed by hand. The high-contrast information display consists of white digits on a black background, making it clear to read. Any drawbacks? The crisper plate can be a bit challenging to remove when hot, and the gaps, though beneficial for promoting airflow, may occasionally allow smaller food items to fall through.”

Capable of reaching temperatures from 30 to 230 degrees C, the 6L drawer accommodates food for 3-5 people, and its compact design ensures it fits on most countertops.

This 4-in-1 air fryer from Instant Pot can roast, bake and reheat as well as fry. With its sleek design and sturdy frame, this large Instant Pot Vortex Four-in-One Air Fryer has a capacity of 5.7L which makes it ideal for feeding a family or large household. It has easy touchscreen controls and timers which make dinner time a piece of cake. It comes with a cooking tray which is easy to clean. What are the reviews saying?

From over 6,000 customer reviews on Amazon, many love the quality, ease of use and cleaning, thanks to the non-stick surface. One customer commented that the air fryer's functionality is good - with clear controls. Not only is said to be excellent value for money, but its supremely large size means it can cook for the family, including a roast chicken. Cheeky. One customer commented that the adjustable temperature is a huge plus, promising "precise cooking every time" and praised the sleek design of any worktop. However, one customer does mention that its power cable is too short.

If you haven’t heard of the brand before, I’m sure you will soon. Named the number one leader in home appliances for the 15th consecutive year, Haier has an impressive reputation for only producing the best. And, the Series 5 Air Fryer is certainly one device not to be missed.

Tried and Tested by Closer:

Number one on my list is aesthetics, and Haier’s air fryer does not disappoint. It’s so chic that you can not only spot it a mile away, but it would fit any kitchen’s décor. It’s versatile, meaning the world is your oyster when it comes to cooking anything and everything.

Outside of the air frying function, you can roast, bake, grill, dry, reheat, defrost, and slow cook. You can even make yoghurt. Better yet, you can save all your favourite settings so you can cook to perfection every time. The user interface is super snazzy and easy to operate (not to mention a touch screen), so be prepared to feel like a pro when working your magic in the kitchen.

You can read the full review here.

I recently tried the COSORI 12L Air Fryer Oven, and it’s quickly become my go-to kitchen gadget. First off, the size is brilliant—12 litres is more than enough to whip up meals for the whole family. The sleek design fits nicely on my counter without taking up too much space, and the digital controls are straightforward and easy to use. What really stands out, though, is the versatility. Whether I'm air frying crispy chips, roasting a chicken, or dehydrating fruit for snacks, this little powerhouse does it all. Cleaning is a breeze (music to my ears) with removable trays that pop in the dishwasher.

If you're after a multifunctional kitchen appliance that delivers great results while making your life easier, the COSORI 12L is an absolute must-have.

If you want to cut down on appliances in your home, the HYSapientia® 24L Air Fryer Oven can help you do just that. It can be used as an air fryer, a toaster, an oven, a pizza oven, to dehydrate, defrost, and more. It is really affordable compared to others of this size on the market. Need an extra bit of space for the Christmas dinner? This HYSapientia can come in handy. Sleek, stainless steel and smart, this pick is said to be incredibly easy to use - and boasts a super large capacity for family-style dinners. Saving time and space in your kitchen, it's a safe and versatile appliance.

Tried and Tested by Closer:

"This is a great piece of kit that cooks evenly, fits loads in and is really versatile. It's great for larger families or those who want one gadget to take the place of multiple appliances. What are the only drawbacks? The annoying dinging sound it makes every time you turn the knob, plus the amount of counter space needed for it. However, if you're ditching your toaster or have a large kitchen, you're golden."

The Russell Hobbs Essentials Air Fryer – 3.5 Litre has four different pre-set cooking functions that take the guesswork out of cooking –fries, chicken, steak and fish – or the option of manually adjusting the temperature from 80°C to 200°C, and you can even manually set cooking times from 1 minute to 60 minutes. We were lucky enough to test this Russell Hobbs 3.5L Air Fryer ourselves...

Tried and Tested by Closer:

Our tester loves how easy it is to use and wash up. After all, the removable parts are non-stick and dishwasher safe, making them super speedy to clean. Thank you, Russell Hobbs (!) Despite the compact size, our tester thinks you can fit around 400g of fries within the tray, just enough for two people. They add that overall, this air fryer "works like a dream and comes highly recommended". For anyone needing a quick helping hand or mid-week meals and sides, this is a great pick.

The Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF451UK Air Fryer has two independent cooking zones and an in-built probe to take the hassle and guesswork out of air frying. Said to be 75% faster and requiring 75% less fat than an oven, this Ninja Foodi is the answer for healthy weekday snacks and meals. But it's more than an air fryer - it's your best friend, from roasting to baking to dehydrating. You can feed the family easily as it has a stunning capacity - and doesn't take up too much space. We were lucky enough to test this Ninja pick...

Tried and Tested by Closer:

This popular air fryer lives up to the hype, says our tester. The control panel is easy to understand, and it has six pre-set functions: air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate. This model has two pull-out trays which can be used together or one at a time, so it’s easy to cook a complete meal or two separate meals at the same time – the sync function ensures everything is ready simultaneously. Our tester cooked a whole chicken and was very impressed. The in-built probe comes in handy to check temperatures and reassure you that the food is cooked. Although this air fryer is bigger than the others tested, it doesn’t take up too much room on the kitchen top. Overall, our tester couldn’t fault it.

The Tefal Easy Fry Precision 2-in-1 Digital Air Fryer and Grill maximises crispiness but doesn't compromise on the health or flavour of your meals. Much faster than an ordinary oven, this Tefal pick requires no pre-heating and eight programmes to choose from. Fast, as well as easy. Thanks to the grill plate, this air fryer sets itself apart from the other air fryers on the list. Enjoy grilling indoors, whatever the weather - with very little smoke and that to die for smoky flavour. Unbeatable, we know. Cooking has never been this easy and faff-free. It's easy to clean, too...

Tried and Tested by Closer:

This air fryer looks premium, and our tester loved the fact that it has a grill – they made stuffed chicken breasts with mozzarella, spinach and pesto, and the chicken had lovely bar marks and tasted chargrilled. The one downside to this product was that they wished the grill and fryer were separate so that you could operate both at the same time. The actual fryer capacity isn’t huge, so it would only be ideal for 1-2 people. Our tester could also only fit two chicken breasts in there, and if they were having big steaks, they’d have to be cooked separately.

If you're into bulk cooking or meal prep, this XXL air fryer by Philips will suit your needs. It has a huge basket and roasts a whole chicken or 1.4kg of chips easily and quickly. This is definitely the most powerful pick of the bunch, with easy controls, temperature settings and pre-sets to make cooking as straightforward and flexible as possible. Equipped with Fat Removal Technology, the Philips Viva will help you cook food with less fat despite being totally crispy and tasty. Clean-up is done in a snap with the QuickClean basket and dishwasher-safe parts. We love the Keep Warm mode, too - for flexibility at mealtimes. Healthy and no hassle - what's not to love?

Customers, from over 550 reviews, love the quality, ease of cleaning and speed of the air fryer. With a legendary 4.7/5 star rating, customers praise this Philips model highly. One customer commented that it cooks "anything you throw at it" and takes little time to clean, too. Winner. Easy to use and said to cook everything to perfection, this Philips Viva appliance is well-loved by reviews. With a fabulous build quality and reliable pre-set, it's a force to be reckoned with in the air fryer world. As for negatives, some customers have mixed opinions on its appearance and value due to one drawer.

The Breville Halo Air 9L Air Fryer saves money on your energy bill. It's said to be 50% more efficient than cooking in the oven, claims the brand. And, with the 9L capacity but a space-saving design, this air fryer won't take up too much space on your countertop. Complete with six cooking pre-sets for chips, fish, chicken, veggies, steak and baking. It'll help you craft healthy meals for the family - thanks to the 360 air circulation and the need for very little oil - for crispy, tasty results. We were lucky enough to test this easy-to-use appliance with its smart LED controls...

Tried and Tested by Closer:

Our tester’s first impressions of this were great. The touchscreen display keeps it minimalist, and the boxy design means it sits neatly on a countertop without wasting an inch of space. It’s incredibly intuitive and easy to use – there are presets available to help you cook chips, chicken, vegetables, steak, fish, and even bake. There is only one drawer, but on their first attempt, our tester cooked a chicken breast joint and roast potatoes together by adding the chicken first and the potatoes halfway through. On the second attempt, they opted for sausages and roast potatoes, and the food came out perfectly cooked in less time and with less mess than using an oven. Cleaning up afterwards is a breeze, too – the drawer and insert tray are both dishwasher safe.