How to get a great deal on an air fryer

Using airfryer to fry food in home kitchen, with tomatoes and potatoes nearby

Shutterstock / Marciobnws

With air fryer sales up 49% year on year, according to Currys, and one sold every two minutes in some shops, the trend for air fryer cooking continues to soar.

While a slow oven-cooked hot pot will never fail to keep the whole household content, air fryers are popular for different reasons, such as using less power.

‘There are various ways you can cook with an air fryer and the speed at which recipes come together, reducing electricity bills and saving you cash is very attractive,’ says Ben Dixon, Kitchen Expert at Currys.

Not needing as much power is one of the draws for older adults buying an air fryer – according to a survey in 2022, two thirds of those aged 55 and older said the lower running costs of these appliances was the main reason behind the purchase.

If you’re tempted to buy or upgrade your air fryer – be it because of a family member or the social media frenzy on Facebook – it’s important to know what to look for when choosing.

Knowing how much to spend and which kind of model you need – or if it’s even the right investment – can be a tricky thing to work out, so spend some time understanding what it takes to make a smart purchase.

Do I need an air fryer?

If you’re considering adding an air fryer to your kitchen set up, first consider what you want it to do.

Are you looking for it to replace your existing built-in oven? If so, you can now find air fryers with larger interiors or dual drawers that work much more like a small countertop oven.

Do you only sometimes want to use it instead of your cooker? A basic design with a single pull-out drawer, that works well for a batch of chips in a hurry, will be useful if you’re not looking to replace a tired oven.

These compact models also often have settings for roasting, baking, grilling, dehydrating, reheating and more, and can perform the tasks more quickly.

However, it’s also important to think about the drawbacks. Some of the best models are large and hard to store away in kitchen units, which makes coveted countertop space an issue. Once you’ve measured up, also think about how many portions you need to make.

“One of the biggest mistakes people make is buying the wrong size air fryer,” says Jenny Tschiesch, author of Air Fryer Cookbook.

“If your air fryer doesn’t have enough cooking capacity and you need to use it multiple times to prepare your entire meal, this won’t save you time or money.”

But perhaps you’re already a dab-hand at air frying and just looking to upgrade an existing model?

If your current air fryer doesn’t have enough capacity, is looking worse for wear or is frustratingly limited – with a timer that doesn’t easily adjust or presets that are hard to identify – there are more user-friendly and modern options now available.

“Many air fryers have a non-stick coating and once this starts to chip, it’s time to change,” points out Tschiesch.

Do air fryers save money?

If you buy the right design to suit your needs, an air fryer can cut cooking times in half, help you reduce food waste as you only cook what you need and, if used savvily, save you money on your energy bills.

According to the latest research from Greenmatch, the average air fryer uses around 1.4–1.7 kWh (kilowatts per hour) of electricity. In comparison, it says conventional ovens consume between 2-5 kWh.

Based on the current Ofgem price cap, electricity costs 22.36p per kWh, so using an air fryer for 30 mins would cost 33p, where an oven would cost 78p for the same cooking time.

“Anything for which you might otherwise switch your entire oven on to cook is going to save you money [when] cooked in the air fryer,’ says Tschiesche.

“For example, if I’m making a banana bread, I really don’t want to heat my entire oven. Likewise, if I only want one jacket potato I’ll cook it in my air fryer.”

How much should you spend on an air fryer?

Prices start from anything around the £30 mark for a basic air fryer that just cooks enough for one portion.

But you can expect to pay over £200 for something larger with a premium finish and enhanced functionality for baking, grilling, reheating, dehydrating and more.

Once you’ve worked out the style you need, search online to find a list of recommended models you think will fit.

“You’re not saving money unless it’s a purchase you’ve been intending to buy for some time, have budgeted for, have done your price research and know it’s a bargain,” says Consumer Champion Jane Hawkes, who runs the blog Lady Janey.

“And it’s easy to be swept up in the madness of countless deals and offers. So think to yourself, ‘would I buy this if it wasn’t on offer?’.

Buying an air fryer you won’t use can be a costly mistake, so if you’re unsure, Hawkes suggests taking it out your basket, putting it on a wish list and waiting to see if you still have the same desire at a later date.

Frying sliced potatoes in the airfryer, with potatoes and tomatoes next — Shutterstock / Marciobnws

What should I look for in an air fryer?

If you only want to use your appliance for basic cooking, you can dispense with the extra features and just choose something with simple temperature and timer controls on the display – but if you want more cooking options, it’s worth investing in extra features.

For instance, some come with an app that lets you monitor your food from the sofa or have one-button presets for certain types of food – for instance chips, chicken, fish or cake – making it easy to start the cooking cycle with one touch of a button.

The most generous designs come with extra-wide cooking drawers to fit large dishes or two drawers for cooking more than one portion at the same time without flavour transfer.

If you go for a model with two cooking drawers, make sure it has ‘Sync cooking’ mode. This ensures two foods with different cooking times are ready at the same time, so your chips won’t be cold when you serve up your steak.

Meanwhile, air fryer designs with cooking trays and accessories such as skewers and wire racks can accommodate an array of foods.

Instant pre-heat modes make it easy to warm up your air fryer just like you would an oven, while a ‘shake’ reminder will nudge you when it’s time to check your food.

Designs with a viewing window that lights up with a touch of a button also make it easy for you to check in without interrupting the cooking cycle.

This is ideal when you’re making a cake and don’t want anything to deflate your Victoria sponge, for example.

How to find the best price on an air fryer

If you’re a fan of the in-store experience, get a sense of the online cost of popular air fryers, using price comparison websites and the Google shopping tab, before heading to the high street.

However, if you’re waiting for the sales online, knowing whether a discount is real is useful. While key sale events such as Black Friday (in November) or Amazon Prime Day (in July) can be a great time to shop for kitchen appliances, some retailers will also raise their prices in the build-up.

“Planning ahead is the best way to pick up a bargain,” says Hawkes. “You should be tracking prices in the lead up to any big sales events so you are price savvy when looking for real deals and discounts.”

“To get the best deals you need to put some spade work in to establish if the item you’re about to buy is actually at its lowest price. There are lots of websites such as PriceRunner or CamelCamelCamel (a free price checker for Amazon) where you can check the price history of products.

“This is a great way to be sure you’re actually getting the best deal. Sometimes it may just be worth waiting another week or two for when the product drops in price again.

“You can also save money by using cashback websites or search ‘discount or voucher code’ + retailer name online to see voucher codes, which could be used towards the purchase.”

What about a refurbished air fryer?

If your budget doesn’t stretch to new, consider a refurbished air fryer. This can be a good way of getting a cheaper appliance, as well as helping the planet thanks to not buying new.

Refurbished (or ‘renewed’) models may have simply been returned as unwanted, and are no longer able to be sold as new.

Alternatively, they could have had a small issue that’s now been expertly repaired and inspected. They may not come in the original box but should have all the necessary leads.

These will usually be marked as Grade A / B / C, or ‘Excellent’, ‘Very Good’ and ‘Good’, ranging from practically perfect to used, with visible signs of wear.

Check to make sure your refurbished device comes with a warranty – most will offer at least a year, so you’ll be able to buy with some peace of mind.

However, refurbished air fryers aren’t as common as, say, smartphones, and you might struggle to find a decent second-hand price for the model you want. Keep an eye on places like eBay or BackMarket to spot a potential bargain.