Our tests show that better air fryers tend to be more expensive. But that doesn't mean that all expensive air fryers are decent, nor the opposite.
Here’s what you need to know before you buy a cheap air fryer.
1. Many cheap air fryers only make small portions
Air fryers at the cheaper end of the spectrum tend to be the basket type, which are often only suitable for smaller households or for preparing side dishes.
Most cheap air fryers only have one cooking chamber, which can limit variety in the meals you prepare and will require you to cook in batches if you're making food for more than one or two people.
2. Some cheap air fryers cook unevenly
Some larger models come with in-built paddles, which automatically turn your food while it cooks. Cheaper options are unlikely to have these.
Without a self-turning mechanism, you'll need to keep checking on your food during cooking and stir it to get the best results.
Cheaper air fryers rarely come with viewing windows. These can be useful for checking on your food while cooking.
While many of the air fryer manuals advise that your food won't require stirring or moving, in our tests, we find that you do need to be hands-on to get the best results.
Discover which air fryer brands owners rate the most highly: .3. Most tend to have a single function...
Don't expect too many frills from your cheap air fryer. Multiple cooking functions are generally reserved for more expensive models. You should certainly expect it to handle the basics, but it will be more limited than a pricier multi cooker or a dual model with multiple cooking functions.
Looking for a genuine deal? Take a look at our4. ...but might still take some getting used to
Even the cheapest and most basic air fryer models still have special settings for foods such as chicken and chips.
However, our tests have shown that these programs don’t always cook as well as you’d expect them to.
You can't always adjust the temperature or timing of presets on cheaper models, so you’ll need to play about with the manual controls until you get the hang of cooking times for your favourite dishes.
5. Our Great Value recommendation can help
If you're on a budget or can't find a good deal on a model you've had your eye on, look no further than our Great Value air fryers.
These models do pretty well in our tests – scoring 60% or more – while also being at least 20% cheaper than the average price of the air fryers we’ve tested.
By choosing a Great Value model, you can be sure you're getting a good balance between quality and price. Some Great Value air fryers even score well enough to be Best Buys.
Cheap air fryers we've tested
In our rigorous lab tests, we've put some cheaper models under the microscope to see how they performed.
Instant Vortex 4-in-1
We like: We don't like:
This single basket-type model has a 5.7-litre capacity, which translates to around 1kg of food.
It's not the lightest. If portability is your highest priority, it’s not the best choice.
It’s a 1,700W air fryer, which is in the middle of the range that we normally find.
See how this air fryer compares to similarly priced rivals with ourCosori CAF-L501
We like: We don't like:
The basket air fryer from Cosori has plenty of auto programs, including chicken, french fries, frozen foods, steak, seafood, vegetables and bacon.
It also comes with two additional functions – reheat and keep warm.
It weighs around 4.5kg and measures 31 x 27 x 38cm (HxWxD).
Get more tips and advice on shopping the sales.undefinedsource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/5-things-you-should-know-before-you-buy-a-cheap-air-fryer-aRM3Z4S0Ar7k