Updated on: 19 Oct 2025 | By Actual Article
If you want a small-kitchen upgrade that genuinely saves time (and splashes less oil), an air fryer is still the easiest buy in 2025. This guide picks compact winners, budget bargains and family-sized options available now in the UK, plus quick shopping tips so you don’t waste your money.
The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone remains the most talked-about air fryer and for good reason. Its two independent cooking baskets mean you can roast a chicken in one and crisp chips in the other, all at different temperatures. It’s a real time-saver for families who don’t want to juggle multiple pans or oven timings.
The interface is straightforward, presets are genuinely useful, and the build quality is solid. If you have space on the counter, this model can easily replace your oven for everyday meals. It’s slightly pricier than basic models, but the flexibility and reliability justify the cost.
For couples or small families who want a balance between size, performance and price, the COSORI TurboBlaze 6L is one of the smartest picks in 2025. It’s compact enough for kitchens but roomy enough to fit family portions, think 1.5 kg of chips or a small roast chicken. COSORI’s heating technology promises even circulation, so you don’t have to keep pulling the basket out to shake every few minutes. It also has dishwasher-safe components, a clear display, and a temperature control. If you’re after something modern and simple, this is the sweet spot to buy.
The Tower Vortx Platinum Xpress 30L offers plenty of space for cooking at cheap price. Its unique design features multiple racks, perfect for families or batch cooking. You can roast, bake, toast, and air fry all in one appliance. Despite its large capacity, it's priced very competitively. The glass front lets you check on your food without opening the door, and the digital controls are user-friendly. While it may not be the most stylish option, its versatility and value make it a great choice.
Small / 2–3 portions: perfect for singles, couples or small kitchens. Faster preheat, takes less counter space. Look at Instant Vortex Mini (2L) for ultra-compact needs.
Explore at Amazon UK.
Medium: the sweet spot, feeds 2–4 people comfortably. COSORI 5–6L models are popular here. Amazon UK
Family / Dual-basket: ideal for families, roast chickens and batch cooking. Ninja’s Dual Zone and larger Instant dual drawers sit here. Dual baskets let you cook different foods at once without flavour transfer.
(Click the links to go straight to the Amazon UK product pages.)
Instant Vortex Mini 2L — tiny, quick, great for students or small kitchens. Amazon UK
COSORI 5.5L / 6L models — reliable heating, presets, and dishwasher-safe baskets. Amazon UK
Instant Vortex 5.7L - straightforward controls, solid performance. Amazon UK
Ninja Foodi Dual Zone / Dual Drawer - two baskets, multi-function and excellent crisp. Amazon UK
COSORI Dual / 8.5L family models - double capacity and advanced features. Amazon UK
Tower Vortx Platinum Xpress 30L - ideal if you want an air-fryer + countertop oven hybrid. Amazon UK
Short answer: not much if used sensibly. Here’s a quick worked example based on the current UK unit rate (Ofgem price cap Oct–Dec 2025: 26.35p per kWh):
A 1,500W air fryer running for 30 minutes uses 0.75 kWh → ~19.8p per session.
A 1,800W model for 30 minutes uses 0.9 kWh → ~23.7p.
A larger 2,200W unit for 30 minutes uses 1.1 kWh → ~29.0p.
(Reference: Ofgem unit rate 26.35p/kWh for Oct–Dec 2025.) Ofgem
Practical takeaway: even a 30–40 minute roast in an air fryer costs less than £0.50, much lower than running a full oven - a real household need on busy nights.
Even circulation (no hot-spots): look for models with dual heating or a no-shake promise.
Dishwasher-safe, non-stick basket: saves time and keeps upkeep low.
Crisp tech (reheat/recip) and presets: helpful for breakfast and reheats.
Size vs storage: a 6L model often hits the sweet spot — big enough for a family portion, small enough to store.
Accessories & spares: extra trays, divider or liners help expand use. COSORI and Ninja ecosystems are strong here.
Crispy oven chips in 18–22 minutes (no pre-fry)
Whole small roast chicken - 35–60 minutes depending on capacity & method
Quick home fries, little oil, big flavour
Frozen fries — super fast
cheese snacks - 8–12 minutes
If you're new to air fryers, consider a mid-size (5-6L) model from a trusted brand like COSORI, Instant, or Ninja. If you're looking to replace your oven, a dual-basket or oven-style air fryer might be a better fit. Keep an eye out for seasonal discounts, such as those in October or during major sales events, and check the return policy before buying. According to recent reviews from trusted sources like BBC Good Food, The Telegraph, and The Independent's IndyBest, Ninja, COSORI, and Tower are reliable brands to consider.
