After testing dozens of designs—these are the best air fryers money can buy, according to team Marie Claire UK

So, you're on the hunt for one of the best air fryers. No kitchen appliance has been quite as popular over the last couple of years (apart from coffee machines, of course). The kitchen contraption's popularity is showing no signs of slowing, with the best air fryer deals simply flying off the shelves of late.

Their USP? Well, the machines promise to cook food using less oil than appliances like a deep fat fryer, but still make the food as crispy. Similarly, they promise to use less energy than, say, an oven, making them a good investment during the current cost of living crisis.

While one 2015 study found that food cooked in an air fryer was lower in fat thanks to the cooking process, there aren't many other papers on their effectiveness. So what does a nutritionist think - do its promises stand true, and is it healthier and more energy efficient? 

Here, nutritionist and co-founder of ARDERE Lauren Windas shares her take, plus team MC share their pick of the best air fryers genuinely worth the investment. Don't miss our edits of the best wellness planners and sunrise alarm clocks to up your self-care as we head into Spring. 

Best air fryers to buy now: As chosen by team MC

1. Lakeland Dual Basket Air Fryer

"A little insider intel for you: this Lakeland Dual Basket air fryer was the best selling product in our air fryer deals roundup, despite not actually being on sale itself - it’s simply that good. I’ll explain why.

I’ve been using this air fryer for over a year and find it super easy to use thanks to the preset temperatures and timings needed for fish, vegetables, chips and more. I’m not the most culinarily blessed, so hate to fiddle around with multiple temperature settings. When I reach for my air fryer I’m after speed and efficiency, so this setup is perfect for me.

The dual basket design allows each section to be turned on separately - this means you don’t have to use the whole appliance if you’re just reheating a few pieces of pizza (which results in beautifully crispy slices, BTW). I use mine to cook chicken, sweet potato fries, reheat leftovers and much, much more. Unlike my oven, there’s no preheating required which saves time when cooking. It’s perfect for cooking entire meals for 1 to 2 people or cooking side dishes when there’s not enough room in the Big Oven while cooking large family meals.

You have been warned: it will take up a decent amount of space on your kitchen counter, but as I use mine all the time (probably more than my oven at this point), I don’t mind this. In fact, the sleek design makes it a welcome addition to my countertop.

At under £100, I really can’t fault it. If you’re planning to pick this one up, I’d be sure to check back on the Lakeland website too, as the brand offers regular deals on its own appliances. What can I say - as a shopping editor I love to bag a bargain, especially on products I use every day." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor

2. Ninja 3.8L Air Fryer

"If you're looking for something a bit smaller, you can't go wrong with this compact air fryer from Ninja. It arrived in minimal packaging, and I was pleasantly surprised by how narrow it was. That said, it is on the taller side, so it's still worth measuring your kitchen to ensure it will fit in the space."

"Something I really liked about this air fryer is that the instruction manual comes with lots of recipe ideas, making it ideal for someone like me who has never cooked in one before. The screen is a little smaller than other models but it's still super easy to use, and the minimal design compliments my kitchen perfectly."

"If you aren't the most experienced cook and only tend to prepare meals for no more than two people (I'm more of a beans-on-toast-for-two kind of person myself), I couldn't recommend this enough. However, if you are slightly more advanced and like to cook for the whole family, I would probably recommend one of the other designs." - Grace Lindsay, Ecommerce Writer

3. Instant Vortex Plus Dual Air Fryer

"I really have no negatives about this air fryer and can see why it's regarded as one of the best you can buy. It's easy to use, quick and efficient, and looks smart thanks to the stainless steel trim. I thought it might be a bit of a faff to use, but I was pleasantly surprised by just how many things you can cook in it."

"So far, we've cooked potatoes, chicken breasts, and sprouts for a roast and they all cooked in around 30 minutes - they tasted great and used minimal electricity and oil, too. I found the set up and controls pretty simple and intuitive, plus liked that there were two separate drawers, meaning you can cook, say, your chicken and potatoes at the same time (also handy if, like my partner and I, you have a vegetarian and a meat eater in the family)."

"Only thing to note - it's about the size of a large coffee machine and comes in lots of packaging, so do make sure you've got room for it in your kitchen before you buy. That said, I'm impressed and a fan - I'll definitely be continuing to use." - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor

4.  Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer

"I've barely used my oven since the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Dual Air Fryer landed on my kitchen counter. I've been umming and ahhing about investing in an air fryer since I came across the @boredoflunch Instagram page last year, and honestly I wouldn't be without it now. It's super easy to use (there are enough settings and functions without an overwhelming number of buttons) and the double drawer means I can seamlessly cook two meals at once by setting different temperatures and timers for each section. Multi-tasking at its finest. Crispy and delicious roast potatoes, excellent toasties and even fluffy loaves of bread - you'd be hard pressed to find something that you couldn't cook in it.  

One of the best features is the removable compartment separator. When detached, it turns the air fryer into an enormous 10.4L cooking space and offers enough room to cook a full dinner for four - think large joints of meat plus all the trimmings in one place. It's really easy to clean, heats instantly and looks chic on the counter - but it's worth noting that this is a big piece of equipment, so if you're working with limited kitchen space it might not be for you." - Jadie Troy-Pryde, News Editor

5. Salter Dual Air Fryer

"I recently tried the Salter Dual Air Fryer and it has revolutionised the way I cook. Why? Well, the product was really easy to set up and didn't take long at all. The unit itself is smaller than I thought, too, so it didn't take up lots of space in the kitchen (that said, the actual capacity proved to be more than expected, which was a real bonus)."

"The instruction manual was easy to follow and came with suggested recipes to try. A quick Google search did prove to be essential to clarify a few set-up points not covered in the manual (I also watched a few online videos, which definitely helped)."

"I started off with a low-key dinner of French fries which were cooked to perfection with just a little spray of oil. The controls are simple and can either be synced together or set manually, which allows you to cook different foods at different times and temperatures. The two trays also come in handy when cooking multiple foods simultaneously."

"Cleaning the air fryer was easy, too - all I had to do was remove the cooking trays and wash with warm soapy water. All in all, I would highly recommend it." - Grace Lindsay, Ecommerce Writer

6. Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer

"It might be on the pricier side, but if you're looking for a family-approved, quick, and no-mess guaranteed air fryer, then look no further. This versatile appliance allows you the option of cooking two foods two different ways. It holds six different cooking functions from frying to roasting and baking. You are also able to adjust the cooking programmes to make sure both items cooking in the separate drawers are ready at the same time. All in all, this air fryer has become my absolute go-to that has truly replaced my oven. Not only because of its practicality, but also because of its cooking speed which is 75% faster than your average oven. 

Whilst testing, I was able to cook a variety of meals, pre-prep snacks, and even do some light baking like baked oats and brownies. As for cleaning, it was as easy as removing the cooking trays and washing them alongside the dishes. It is important to note that it is a hefty appliance that does require counter space, so definitely one thing to consider for those with smaller spaces. But regardless, this option is an all around winner in my eyes." - Sofia Piza, Producer

7. Tefal EasyFry 3in1 Digital Air Fryer

"Last but by no means least, if you want something a little bit more hi-tech, say hello to this digital air fryer by Tefal. This product offers a whole host of cooking options, from frying, to grilling, to steaming."

"After speaking to Windas, I opted for the steam setting, knowing it was an easy way to retain more of the nutrients in my meals."

"Not only does it come with this handy steam setting, but it also looks sleek thanks to the monochrome design and digital screen. The touchscreen controls are easy to navigate, but if you get stuck, the air fryer also comes with handy diagrams to show you how to use it."

"If you're after a somewhat compact air fryer with a large single-drawer design, you can't go wrong. Plus it's currently on sale at John Lewis - win-win." - Grace Lindsay, Ecommerce Writer

Air fryer nutrition need-to-knows:

What is an air fryer?

In short, a new kitchen appliance that promises to cook your food quickly, efficiently, and healthily. "Air fryers have grown in popularity over the last couple of years," shares nutritionist Lauren Windas. "These appliances are used to make fried foods such as meat and chips, by circulating hot air around the food to produce a crunchy outer texture," she explains.

That said, as we've highlighted, you can cook pretty much anything in an air fryer - meat, potatoes, veg and more. 

"This is considered as a healthier alternative to cooking food in a deep fat fryer," the nutritionist goes on. "Deep fat frying involves submerging food in extremely hot oil until it reaches a safe internal temperature."

What are the nutritional benefits of cooking with less oil?

By cooking with less oil, you're reducing the risk of releasing free radicals in your body, which are atoms that can cause inflammation and in turn heart disease, diabetes, low immunity and more.

Similarly, your food will likely have a much lower calorie content compared to foods that have been submerged in high amounts of cooking oil, she continues. 

It's worth pointing out here that nutrition is about far more than calorie density (high calorie foods, like avocados, are powerhouses of nutrients and minerals, for example), and calories are only really important if you're dieting or tracking your macros. That said, if you are looking to lower your daily calorie intake, then an air fryer could help.

Finally, according to Windas, when air frying, your food you won’t be exposed to acrylamide, a known carcinogen produced when starchy foods are cooked at very high temperatures such as in deep fat fryers.

What foods would you recommend cooking in an air fryer?

Good question. Windas recommends cooking nutrient-rich foods like:

• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Fatty fish
• Lean meats

However, she does advise also utilising other modes of cooking alongside air frying, such as steaming, boiling and oven-baking.

Still not sure what to opt for? These Deliciously Ella recipes, vitamin D recipes and healthy snack ideas might help. 

Can air fryers destroy nutrients in your food?

If you're wanting to preserve nutrients in your food, you may want to think about how you are preparing it. 

As Windas explains, "any food that is cooked at a high temperature can lose some of the nutrients during the cooking process. Steaming is one of the best cooking methods for preserving nutrients."

Is an air fryer a healthier option when it comes to cooking?

Overall, when comparing air frying to deep fat frying, it's definitely a healthier alternative, according to the nutritionist. However, when comparing air frying to conventional oven frying, it's a little bit harder to work out which one is better for you.

As Windas points out, "it ultimately boils down to what foods you cook in the air fryer. You want to go for nutrient-rich foods, and be careful about what oils you cook with as well. I would advise heart-healthy fats such as extra virgin olive oil, for example."

So, there you have it. Everything you need to know about air fryers. Will you be trying one out?