You have been eyeing up air fryers for months. Every time you scroll social media, someone is making crispy chips, roast chicken, or even a full English in one. You have decided to buy one, set a budget of £100, and immediately discovered there are about forty options in that price range — Ninja, Tower, Cosori, Tefal, Salter — all claiming to be the best. Some have dual zones. Some have digital displays. One has a window you can see through. Another is bright red. You just want crispy food with less oil and no idea whether you need 4 litres or 8 litres, one drawer or two.
In This Article
- Why Under £100 Is the Sweet Spot
- Our Top Pick: Ninja Air Fryer Max AF160UK
- Best Air Fryers Under £100
- Single Drawer vs Dual Zone
- Capacity Guide: What Size Do You Need?
- Features That Actually Matter
- Features You Can Ignore
- Air Fryer vs Oven: When to Use Which
- Running Costs Compared
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Under £100 Is the Sweet Spot
Air fryers range from about £30 to £300. The under-£100 bracket is where you find the best value because you get proper brand-name build quality, useful features (digital controls, multiple cooking modes), and enough capacity for a family without paying for premium extras you will never use.
Below £50, you are in budget territory — basic analogue dials, small capacity, unknown brands that may not last. Above £150, you are paying for smart app connectivity, oversized capacity, or brand premiums that do not meaningfully improve the cooking.
The sweet spot for most UK households is £60-100 for a single-zone fryer and £80-100 for a dual-zone. At this price, every major brand competes hard, which means excellent options at every capacity.
Our Top Pick: Ninja Air Fryer Max AF160UK
About £80-90 from Argos, Amazon, and Ninja directly.
The AF160UK is a single-drawer air fryer with 5.2 litres of usable capacity — enough for a family of four’s chips or a whole chicken. It heats to 240°C (most competitors max out at 200°C), which means genuinely crispy results. The digital controls are intuitive, and it comes with a crisper plate that elevates food for better air circulation.
Why It Wins
- Max Crisp technology — the higher temperature (240°C vs the usual 200°C) makes a real difference. Chips come out crispier, chicken skin gets properly golden
- 5.2L capacity — sweet spot for 2-4 people without being enormous on the counter
- Easy to clean — the drawer and crisper plate are dishwasher safe and have a ceramic non-stick coating that genuinely releases food
- Reliable brand — Ninja has excellent after-sales support in the UK and a two-year warranty
Limitations
- Single zone only — you cannot cook two things at different temperatures simultaneously
- The base unit is quite tall and takes up counter space vertically
- No window — you have to open the drawer to check progress (which pauses cooking)
If dual-zone matters to you, look at the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone AF300UK (about £120-140, sometimes on sale under £100). But for most people, the single AF160UK delivers the best results per pound spent.
Best Air Fryers Under £100
Best Budget: Tower T17088 Vortx 4L (about £40-50)
The entry point for a decent air fryer. Tower is a British brand based in Oldham, and the Vortx range is their best-selling air fryer line. The 4L capacity is fine for 1-2 people. Manual dial controls are simple and reliable — no screen to break. I bought one of these for my mum and she uses it daily for everything from toast to jacket potatoes. The basket coating is not as durable as pricier models, but for under £50, it is excellent value.
- Capacity: 4 litres
- Temperature range: 80-200°C
- Controls: Manual dial
- Dishwasher safe: Basket only
Best Dual Zone Under £100: Salter EK4750 Dual Air Fryer (about £80-90)
If you want dual-zone cooking (two independent baskets, two temperatures, two timers) for under £100, the Salter is the most accessible option. Each basket holds 4.5 litres, which is plenty for a family. Cook chips in one side and chicken in the other, finishing at the same time.
- Capacity: 2 x 4.5L baskets (9L total)
- Temperature range: 80-200°C
- Controls: Digital touchscreen
- Sync function: Matches both baskets to finish simultaneously
- Available from: Argos, Amazon, Currys
Best Mid-Range: Cosori Pro LE 4.7L (about £70-80)
Cosori consistently scores well in independent testing. The Pro LE has a square basket design (fits more food than round baskets of the same volume), a shake reminder that beeps halfway through cooking, and 11 preset cooking functions. Build quality feels a step above budget models — the basket slides smoothly and the controls are responsive.
- Capacity: 4.7 litres
- Temperature range: 75-205°C
- Controls: Digital touchscreen with 11 presets
- Dishwasher safe: Yes, basket and crisper plate
Best for Families: Tower T17100 Vortx Dual 9L (about £85-95)
If you need to cook for four or more people and want dual zone capability, the Tower T17100 gives you 9 litres of total capacity at a price that undercuts the Ninja dual zone. The build quality is not quite Ninja-level, but the cooking results are hard to distinguish in a blind test.
- Capacity: 2 x 4.5L baskets
- Temperature range: 80-200°C
- Controls: Digital LED
- Sync and match functions: Yes
Best Compact: Tefal Easy Fry Classic EY201840 (about £55-65)
Tefal’s entry-level air fryer is compact enough for small kitchens while still offering 4.2L capacity. The build quality is solid (Tefal’s non-stick coating is class-leading), and the simple mechanical timer and temperature dial mean there is nothing electronic to fail. Available from most UK supermarkets, Argos, and Amazon.
- Capacity: 4.2 litres
- Temperature range: 80-200°C
- Controls: Manual dial
- Dishwasher safe: Basket only
Single Drawer vs Dual Zone
Single Drawer
One cooking basket, one temperature, one timer. Simpler, cheaper, takes less counter space. The limitation: if you are cooking chips and chicken nuggets, they go in together even though they cook best at different temperatures.
Dual Zone
Two independent baskets, each with its own temperature and timer control. Cook different foods at different temperatures and use the sync function to have everything ready at the same time. The trade-off: larger footprint, higher price, and many people find they use both zones less often than they expected.
Which Should You Choose?
If you are cooking for 1-2 people: single drawer. The capacity is sufficient and the smaller unit is easier to store.
If you are cooking for 3-4 people or regularly make multi-component meals: dual zone is worth it. The ability to cook chips at 200°C and fish at 180°C simultaneously, finishing at the same time, is a genuine convenience.
I started with a single-drawer fryer and upgraded to a dual-zone after about six months because I was tired of cooking in batches. If budget allows, go dual from the start. Our cooking times guide has temperatures and times for common foods in both formats.
Capacity Guide: What Size Do You Need?
2-4 Litres
Enough for 1-2 people. A portion of chips, two chicken breasts, or a small batch of vegetables. Not enough for a whole chicken or a large family’s worth of food. Best for couples, students, or kitchen-space-limited households.
4-6 Litres
The sweet spot for 2-4 people. Handles a standard portion of chips for four, a medium chicken (up to about 1.8kg), most vegetables, and a good range of meals. This is the capacity most UK households need. Our air fryer buying guide has more detail on matching capacity to cooking habits.
6-10 Litres (Dual Zone or XL)
Family-sized cooking for 4-6 people. Dual-zone fryers typically offer 8-10 litres total across two baskets. Single-basket XL models at this size are available but enormous — check your counter space before buying.
The Counter Space Question
Measure your kitchen counter before buying. Air fryers need about 30cm x 30cm of counter space for a compact model and 40cm x 35cm for a dual-zone unit. They also need clearance above for the lid or basket to open. Many UK kitchens have limited workspace, so a larger air fryer might displace your toaster or kettle. Our small kitchen organisation guide has tips for fitting more appliances into tight spaces.
Features That Actually Matter
Temperature Range
The wider the better. Most air fryers go from 80°C to 200°C. A few (like the Ninja AF160UK) reach 240°C, which makes a noticeable difference to crispiness. The lower end (80°C) is useful for gentle dehydrating or warming.
Digital vs Manual Controls
Digital controls with presets are more precise and convenient. Manual dials are simpler and cannot break. Both produce the same food. If you want set-and-forget convenience, go digital. If you want reliability, manual is fine.
Non-Stick Coating Quality
The basket coating determines how easy the fryer is to clean and how long it lasts. Ceramic non-stick (Ninja, Cosori) is more durable than PTFE-based coatings (most budget models). If food sticks regularly, it becomes annoying fast.
Dishwasher-Safe Parts
Check that the basket, crisper plate, and any other removable parts are dishwasher safe. Hand-washing a greasy air fryer basket is nobody’s idea of fun.
Features You Can Ignore
Smart App Connectivity
Some air fryers connect to your phone via Wi-Fi. You can start cooking remotely, monitor progress, and access recipes. In practice, you still have to put the food in manually, and most people just press start and set a timer. The app adds cost without meaningful convenience.
Built-In Recipe Libraries
The presets on the fryer itself (chips, chicken, fish, etc.) are genuinely useful. A 200-recipe book in the companion app that you will never open is marketing, not a feature.
Viewing Windows
A window in the basket door lets you see the food without opening it. Nice in theory, but in practice the window steams up within minutes and you cannot see anything. You will still open the drawer to check. The Which? air fryer reviews note that window models often have slightly less insulation than solid-door equivalents.
Rotisserie Functions
Some larger air fryers include a rotisserie spit. Unless you plan to spit-roast whole chickens regularly (and your fryer is large enough to accommodate one), this goes unused.
Air Fryer vs Oven: When to Use Which
Air Fryer Wins
- Chips and fries — crispier, faster, less oil
- Chicken wings and thighs — skin gets crispier than in an oven
- Reheating leftovers — faster and better results than a microwave
- Small batches — no need to heat an entire oven for one portion
- Vegetables — roasted veg in 15-20 minutes instead of 35-40
Oven Wins
- Large roasts — a full Sunday roast with chicken, potatoes, and yorkshires needs oven space
- Baking — cakes, bread, and pastries need even heat distribution from all sides
- Batch cooking — when making food for 6+ people, the oven’s capacity wins
- Anything that needs broiling/grilling from above — air fryers circulate heat from above but cannot achieve the direct radiant heat of a grill element
The Real Answer
Most air fryer owners end up using both. The air fryer handles 60-70% of daily cooking (small meals, reheating, snacks, quick dinners), and the oven handles the big weekend cooks and baking. The Energy Saving Trust confirms that air fryers use less energy than conventional ovens for equivalent tasks.
Running Costs Compared
Air fryers are cheaper to run than conventional ovens because they heat a smaller space, heat faster, and cook faster.
Typical Running Costs (at 24p per kWh)
- Air fryer (1,500W): about 36p per hour, but most meals cook in 15-25 minutes. A typical cook costs 10-15p
- Electric oven (2,000-2,500W): about 50-60p per hour, plus preheating time. A typical cook costs 25-40p
- Gas oven: cheaper per unit of energy, but slower and less efficient for small meals
Annual Savings
If you replace three oven-cooked meals per week with air fryer meals, you save roughly £40-60 per year on energy. Not life-changing, but it adds up — and the time savings (faster preheating, faster cooking) are arguably worth more than the energy savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are air fryers actually healthier than deep frying? Yes. Deep frying submerges food in oil (typically 500ml-2 litres). Air frying uses a tablespoon or less. The food still gets crispy because hot circulating air creates the Maillard reaction (browning) on the surface. The result tastes similar to deep-fried food with a fraction of the fat.
Can you cook frozen food in an air fryer? Yes — frozen chips, nuggets, fish fingers, spring rolls, and most other frozen convenience foods cook excellently in an air fryer. They often come out better than oven-cooked because the circulating air crisps the coating more evenly. No preheating needed for most frozen foods.
Do air fryers smell? During cooking, yes — the same way an oven does. There is no lingering deep-fry oil smell because you are not using significant amounts of oil. Some models produce a slight plastic smell when brand new (run it empty at max temperature for 15 minutes before first use to burn this off).
How long do air fryers last? With normal use, 3-5 years for the basket non-stick coating and 5-8 years for the heating element. The basket coating is usually the first thing to degrade. Cheaper models with thin PTFE coatings may need basket replacement within 2 years.
Is it worth getting a dual-zone air fryer? If you regularly cook for more than two people or want to cook different foods at different temperatures simultaneously, yes. If you cook for one or two people and mainly make single-ingredient dishes, a single drawer is perfectly adequate and cheaper.