Air fryer buying guide: size, drawers and the wattage myth

Air fryers went from novelty to standard kitchen kit in about three years, and the range is now enormous: single drawers, dual drawers, oven-style, and everything from £40 to £250. The right one depends on two questions: how many people, and how often.

Capacity

Quoted in litres, and the number is generous — it's the drawer volume, not the cooking area. As a rule: 3 to 4 litres for one or two people; 5 to 6 litres for three or four; 7 litres and above for a family that will cook a whole meal in it. A single drawer at 9 litres is big enough for a small chicken.

Single or dual drawer

Dual drawers (Ninja's Dual Zone, and its many imitators) let you cook two things at different settings and sync them to finish together — chips and chicken, say. If you cook meals rather than snacks, it changes how you use the machine. If you mostly reheat and do chips, a single drawer is simpler and cheaper.

The wattage myth

Higher wattage is sold as more power. In practice, anything from 1400 W upward heats fast enough; the difference between 1500 W and 2400 W is seconds on preheat and nothing on results. Don't pay for watts.

What does matter

Dishwasher-safe baskets (most are; check). A window or a light, if you like to look. Temperature range up to 200°C or above. A crisper plate that lifts out. Non-stick that isn't flaking in year two — the reason to buy Ninja, Tefal or Philips over an unknown brand is the coating, not the cooking.

Price and timing

Ninja discounts constantly and its RRPs are set for it; a Ninja at 30 percent off is at its normal price. The moment to buy is when the price history on the deal page shows a new low, which typically happens around Black Friday, Prime Day and when Ninja launches a new model (annually). Tefal and Philips run similar patterns at lower price points.