Best air fryers 2026, tried and tested

Tested by Mumsnet lifestyle editor Rebecca Roberts: Read our in-depth Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK review

The Ninja Foodi Max Dual Air Fryer AF400UK is the obvious choice for our best overall air fryer and we’re confident it’s also the best dual air fryer you can buy today. Not only does it come highly recommended by Mumsnet users, but it also has thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon, praising its generous capacity, versatile cooking functions and easy cleaning. 

With this in mind, I simply had to put it to the test - and it more than lives up to the hype. I’m not exaggerating when I say it has completely transformed my family's mealtimes, giving me more confidence in the kitchen to experiment with dishes like chicken schnitzel from scratch, shawarma, veggies, jacket potatoes, gyoza, and bao buns, to name just a few. It also excels at cooking homemade chips (and frozen too for that matter), creating the crispiest fries I've ever made.

Unlike single-drawer air fryers which can feel a little restrictive - such as our budget pick, the COSORI 5.5L - the Ninja AF400UK splits its generous 9.5-litre capacity across two large drawers, which offers more than enough space for my family of four.

You can also run each zone independently, prepare a main in one drawer and a side in the other, or even kick off each drawer to run with unique programmes, temperatures and timings. Whether you’re tucking into crispy roast potatoes or serving up a succulent chicken to share, I also love how you can sync both sides to finish at exactly the same time, helping cater for the entire family - regardless of their food preferences or dietary requirements. 

The only real downside is the cost, but this versatile Ninja air fryer offers excellent value for money in the long run. I'd definitely recommend it to families.

Tested by Mumsnet home and kitchen editor Natasha Gregson: Read our in-depth Cosori Air Fryer 5.5L review

If your budget doesn't quite stretch to the Ninja AF400UK or you're new to the world of air frying, the Cosori 5.5L is an excellent choice - coming highly rated by Mumsnet users and boasting over 14,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Despite its affordable price tag, I found this relatively compact air fryer super easy to use, and the generous 5.5-litre capacity is ideal for most small to medium households. 

With 11 pre-set cooking modes on the touchscreen control panel, you can pick the best programme for everything from french fries to frozen goods, steaks to seafood. During testing, I also liked how easy it was to manually set the temperature and timings, which made the Cosori a versatile choice, whatever I was cooking. 

The results speak for themselves: crispy, golden chips with fluffy insides, cheese toasties prepared to mouthwatering perfection, and juicy, evenly cooked chicken - all in a fraction of the time it would have taken in my fan oven thanks to the powerful heating elements.

I liked it so much, I even gave it to my parents after testing (I have a rotation of air fryers for testing purposes, otherwise I would have held onto it myself!). It got a big thumbs up from them too, with my mum declaring, "I couldn't live without it!", and even my sceptical foodie dad was a total convert.

My only grumbles were that this budget air fryer was quite noisy during use, and the vented design of the basket made it tricky to clean by hand (it can be thrown in the dishwasher, however). Also, while it is relatively spacious, larger families may prefer the flexibility of a dual basket design.

Related: The best bread maker for fresh loaves

Reviewed by MNHQ staff Sarah Murray-Muncila: Read our in-depth Cosori Dual Blaze Twinfry Air Fryer review

If you're looking for a versatile air fryer that’s big enough to feed the whole family, the Cosori Twinfry is certainly worth considering. It works in a similar way to other popular dual-zone models, but stands out thanks to its 10-litre capacity, which you can use as two separate five-litre baskets or as one large 'GrandZone' by removing the divider. This means I can just as easily throw in fish fingers and chips on hectic weeknights as I can roast a full chicken at the weekend.

While there aren’t any preset cooking programmes for specific foods, I’ve been impressed with the functionality the Twinfry offers. With sync, I can cook two different foods on different settings and have them finish at the same time, which is ideal when juggling the kids’ dinners. Match is also great when both baskets need identical settings. And although it sounds a bit gimmicky, the app connectivity has been surprisingly useful - being able to switch it on just before I get home means dinner is ready as we walk through the door.

The main drawback is the size - it’s a bulky unit, so you’ll need plenty of counter space. But for families, it’s a total game-changer. We use it five days a week, and for something that’s replaced most of our oven cooking, I feel it offers really good value for money.

Tested by Mumsnet staff Sajana Neil: Read our in-depth Instant Vortex Plus Dual Air Fryer review

If you love chips (either homemade or frozen) and want an air fryer that cooks up crispy, golden goodness every time, the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer is a safe bet. During testing, I used it for everything from reheating leftovers to cooking steak and crisping up roast potatoes and chips, and the results were always excellent.

The dual-drawer design is a game-changer, especially in a household with a vegetarian, as it let me cook meat and veg separately with no risk of cross-contamination. The SyncCook feature is another highlight, aligning both baskets to finish cooking at the same time, even on different settings.

However, what really sets this air fryer apart from its Ninja counterparts is the viewing windows and interior lights, which make it easy to check on food without letting heat escape. And while it’s not the most compact model, the 7.6-litre capacity was perfect for my household of three, though larger families might need something bigger.

Reviewed by Mumsnet home and kitchen editor Natasha Gregson: Read our in-depth Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer review

If you like the idea of a dual-drawer air fryer but don’t have the counter space for one of the bulkier models, the Ninja Double Stack XL is a clever alternative. Instead of side-by-side baskets, it stacks them vertically, making it noticeably slimmer without sacrificing capacity - it still holds an impressive 9.5 litres, which is plenty for a family meal. I found it really easy to use; the control panel is simple, and the sync function is brilliant for making sure different foods finish cooking at the same time.

I used it to make crispy jacket potatoes, mozzarella sticks, salmon fillets, chicken, garlic bread, frozen food, and much more, and it cooked everything quickly and evenly. However, some reviewers mention uneven cooking due to the air fryer baskets being heated at the back rather than overhead like other models, but I didn’t run into any issues during testing. I did give the baskets a shake halfway through the cooking time though, which likely helped.

Cleaning is straightforward, with the baskets, crisper plates, and racks all being dishwasher safe, though Ninja does recommend handwashing them for longevity. It does take up a bit of space in terms of depth though, so make sure you measure up before you buy.

The only real downside is the price. With an RRP of £270 (depending on which colour you go for), it’s the most expensive air fryer on our list at full price, but it's one of my all-time favourites.

Tested by MNHQ staff Sajana Neil: Read our in-depth Cuisinart Tri Zone Air Fryer review

You’ve heard of a dual air fryer, but let us introduce the new kid on the block: the triple air fryer. The innovative design of the Cuisinart Tri Zone really impressed me during testing, and it’s honestly taken over our kitchen. It looks smart and feels properly sturdy, but it’s the layout that won me over - two air fryer drawers on top and a larger oven-style tray underneath, giving you a generous 13.6 litres of cooking space. In a household with a mix of vegetarians and meat eaters, having three totally separate zones has made midweek meals so much easier and far less chaotic.

When it comes to cooking, it’s been consistently quick and reliable. We’ve thrown everything at it - crispy homemade chips, Korean fried chicken, veggies, pizzas and the usual freezer favourites - and it’s handled the lot beautifully. The bottom tray works like a mini oven, which is great for pizzas, even if it can’t quite match the crisp of a full-sized oven. The touchscreen controls are straightforward, and the viewing windows are such a handy touch for checking on food without interrupting the cooking. My only real complaint is the auto-pause; pull out one drawer and all three zones stop, which can be a bit annoying when you’re juggling multiple dishes.

It is a big appliance, so you’ll need the counter space for it, but given how often we use it, I’d say it more than earns its spot. It’s replaced our oven for most day-to-day meals, and if you’re after an air fryer that goes beyond the standard dual-drawer setup, the Cuisinart Tri Zone is a brilliant step-up in both capacity and versatility.

This Tower air fryer has five different cooking modes to choose from, including a handy rotisserie function - capable of preparing a succulent spit roast chicken big enough to feed the entire family. 

With a substantial 11-litre capacity split across three non-stick wire racks, it’s also ideal for preparing family favourites like fish, chicken wings, fries and pizza. Unlike drawer air fryers, however, you do have to be a little cautious when stacking the contents and avoid overloading the shelves to ensure consistent cooking. 

As well as a selection of fuss-free presets, we love the easy-to-adjust dial that helps you select your choice of temperature and timings (up to 60 minutes in duration). With removable, dishwasher-safe components, cleaning up after cooking is a breeze. However, you will need to make sure you have enough space on your countertops as oven-style air fryers tend to be quite bulky.

While the generous capacity of a dual air fryer is ideal for families and large households, couples and solo diners may prefer the smaller size of the Ninja AF100UK. A single-drawer design with a 3.8-litre capacity, this compact model has a stylish design and small footprint that takes up very little surface space in your kitchen. 

A trusted brand and one of Ninja’s more affordable models, the AF100UK comes highly rated for its ease of use and energy efficiency. With a choice of four cooking modes, including air fry, roast, dehydrate and reheat, it could quickly become your new best friend for quick and convenient lunches when working from home. 

We love how intuitive this model is to use; it's ideal for air frying beginners. However, its single drawer is more suited to small portions, snacks and solo meals. If you’re hoping to serve up a big batch of food or impressive culinary feasts, or simply want the freedom to cook two meals simultaneously, you’re likely to need a more substantial model like the brand's AF400UK or SL400UK models.

Tested by Mumsnet home writer Lucy Cotterill: Read our in-depth Ninja Foodi Max AG551UK Health Grill & Air Fryer review

While there’s no getting away from its fairly ginormous size, the Ninja Foodi MAX Health Grill & Air Fryer 5.7L AG551UK can make a welcome addition to your kitchen, especially if you enjoy tucking into meals including meat and fish. 

With six cooking modes, a 5.7-litre cooking pot and 3.8-litre crisper basket for traditional family favourites like french fries and fish fingers, the built-in health grill is a dream for serving up steaks and chicken breasts, and it includes an integrated meat probe for additional peace of mind. I loved the smart cooking system that allows you to specify exactly how rare you like your steak, before sitting back and letting the Ninja do the rest. 

As well as an easy-to-use touchscreen, the visual progress bar means the impatient amongst you won’t be left wondering how long is left till you can tuck in. While the non-stick pan, crisper and grill are all dishwasher safe, it can be tricky to wash by hand after greasy food like sausages and burgers - I found it useful to wipe the grill down with kitchen roll, as this made lighter work of the washing up.

Tested by Mumsnet home and kitchen editor Natasha Gregson: Read our in-depth Lakeland Dual Basket Air Fryer review

For less than £100, the Lakeland Dual Basket Air Fryer is quite the bargain. It doesn’t have the polish of the Ninja AF400UK, but what it lacks in finish it makes up for in practicality and value. The clear viewing windows and internal lights were a particular highlight during testing, allowing me to easily check in on food without removing the baskets - something none of the Ninjas on our list offer.

I was disappointed that it doesn’t include a ‘match’ function (to copy settings from one basket to the other), but it does have ‘sync’ - arguably the more useful of the two. This let me whip up wedges or veg on one side while fish cooked at a different temperature in the other. Cooking performance was great too: homemade chunky chips came out fluffy inside and crispy outside, and it handled frozen food, vegetables, cheese on toast and plenty of other dishes really well.

At this price, there are drawbacks of course. The plasticky build doesn’t feel as premium as pricier rivals, and the baskets can’t go in the dishwasher, which means handwashing is part of the deal. Cleaning can be difficult, especially with water getting trapped in the viewing windows where a tea towel can’t quite reach. Some of the icons on the control panel aren’t instantly obvious either, so there’s a short learning curve while you figure out what’s what.

But for the money, it’s hard to knock. You’re getting dual-basket flexibility, a decent 8-litre capacity and a clever viewing window, all with an impressive three-year guarantee for peace of mind. If a Ninja feels out of reach, this is a brilliant alternative that still packs a punch.