The sun is out finally and if you are not a BBQ fan but still want to cook up a storm, you can try air fryer meals. Making fried calamari and prawn tempuras can’t be any easier with an air fryer, it keeps your costs low and uses less energy while you prepare a feast for your friends and family.
Thinking of hosting a Eurovision party? Letting your air fryer do all the work for you.
We have picked some options depending on your party size and budget.
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HOMCOM 12L 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer Oven – £64.99
(Image: wowcher.co.uk)
This air fryer oven is currently in “high demand” thanks to rave reviews with some claiming it’s the “best” they have ever had.
According to Wowcher, cooking has never been easier with eight preset cooking options, including chips, steaks, fish, and more. And if you don’t take Wowcher’s word for it, then just look at the reviews helping it achieve five-star status.
Another wrote: “Have had a couple of air fryers in the past but this one is the best yet, excellent item and fast delivery, highly recommend.” But another was left disappointed: “Started off amazing, then started to not restart when I opened the door, ie the display lit up for a second then turned off, so I let it cool down, tried again and it worked.”
Ninja Double Stack XL Air Fryer – £269.99
(Image: Ninja)
Hailed as a “revolutionary game-changer”, the new cookware allows you to cook four layers of food at the same time without compromising on kitchen space.
The unique slim-fit design stands out among other air fryers in the market and you will be surprised that each drawer is capable of accommodating a whole chicken. It also takes up 30% less space than an air fryer of similar capacity while still fitting under standard kitchen cabinets.
The Double Stack is hitting the shelves with an initial price tag of £269.99 and customers are already singing the praises of this nifty gadget, with early reviews giving it a stellar average of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
One tested it out and said: “I do find it doesn’t always cook stuff evenly, but halfway through the cooking time I give it a mix up and it’s fine. I also find buying the parchment liners very handy, as at the back of the drawers are holes for the fan, unlike the standard dual ones.”
Cosori 5.5L Air Fryer – £66.48 (usually £109.99)
(Image: Amazon)
The Cosori 5.5L Air Fryer is available on Amazon and has preset times which makes it super easy for beginners. It even comes with a book full of recipes for tasty, healthy meals. People have cooked stuff like courgette fries, falafel, and fried chicken.
A customer who loves their kitchen gadget left a glowing review on Amazon, saying: “Everyone needs this. There is so much you can make in it and it’s super easy to use. I’ve had it for almost two years now and it has been life-changing.
“I work full time so this is super helpful to make an easy meal in the evenings when I’m too tired. Cooks simple frozen foods like chips in half the time it would take in a conventional oven.”
But one cautioned: “The only downside I’ve noticed is that the screen has become somewhat matte over time, which affects its appearance. While this doesn’t impact the functionality, it’s something to keep in mind if aesthetic longevity is important to you.”
Philips 5000 Series XXL Air Fryer – £135.99
(Image: Liam McInerney / Daily Star)
As the name suggested, this air fryer is great for hosting barbecue parties and big family dinners, it serves up to six people and the large basket with a capacity of 7.2 litres is straightforward to clean – but that’s not what impressed our features writer Liam McInery most.
He said: “The best thing I found about the air fryer was that you can connect it to the HomeID app on your mobile where you are instantly exposed to hundreds of recipes. I’m not the most creative cook in the world and prefer to follow simple step by step instructions – and I could even monitor and control the progress of the meal via my phone.”
However, one shopper complained that the machine broke down after two weeks and suspected a thermostat fault, saying: “It didn’t get hot but just warm. All was working well until then.”
Ambiano Air Fryer 5.5L – £34.99
If there are two things shoppers like it’s an air fryer and a bargain and Aldi has brought back their popular air fryer at an even lower price tag. It retails at £34.99 and it offers 11 cooking presets, a preheat function and a temperature range from 80 to 200 degrees
It comes with a dishwasher-safe frying basket, a full three-year warranty and even a digital recipe book packed with ideas for home chefs not sure where to start with the gadget. The 5.5L basket serves four to five people and is cheaper than many air fryers on the market.
But you will have to act fast and check with your local store because this is likely to go out of stock soon.
One thing to watch out is some customers complain the air fryer “smells of plastic”, with one said: “I have washed/cleaned this air fryer but cannot get rid of the horrible plastic smell. I am asthmatic and just cannot live with this item.”
Geepas Vortex 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer – £94.99
(Image: Amazon)
This Geepas dual basket can be your affordable alternative to the popular Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer and you can save over £50 on this while cooking up a feast with two baskets at different temperatures and times.
A chuffed customer commented: “Great product used daily does everything a Ninja does at a fraction of the price.”
And a second shopper added: “Does what a Ninja does but half the price.” However, some people reckon the instructions are tricky to grasp so you may need to test it a few times.
One added: “Cleaning is a nightmare as every time you cook, the little windows at the front get dirty and looks awful.”