Most have a viewing window on the front so you can keep an eye on your food without disturbing the cooking process. In our tests, some cheaper air fryers were so poor, we named them Don't Buys. We also found some pricier models that gave disappointing results –including soggy, limp or tasteless chips. Some basket-type air fryers have baskets that are set at an angle. This tilt, combined with a rotating action tumbles your food around, helping it to cook more evenly. Smart controls

MENGYUAN Household Multi-function Air Fryer, Oil-free Air MENGYUAN Household Multi-function Air Fryer, Oil-free Air

To help you decide whether an air fryer is a worthwhile investment, we cooked 320g of chips (two to three portions) in an air fryer, a halogen oven and a built-in electric oven.

Do you prefer digital or manual controls? Digital models can make it easier to see how much cooking time is left. Some air fryer models come with smartphone control via an app. You can keep an eye on the cooking time using the app on your phone, and it will let you know once cooking is finished. Do you own a dishwasher? If you have a dishwasher, choosing a model with dishwasher-safe parts will help save on cleaning time. A 'smart' air fryer is one you can control from your phone or tablet. You select the recipe you want to use from the app, which then sends instructions to the air fryer to cook the food to a particular temperature and length of time.

MENGYUAN Home Smart Air Fryer, 3L Large Capacity, 1400W High

Some models, like Ninja Foodi Dual Zone, have a second cooking compartment that allows you to cook two different types of food (at different temperatures) at the same time, so you could make steak and chips without having to mix them together. See our guide to how to buy the best dual air fryer. Preset cooking programs Whether you want to upgrade to a newer model, or your air-fryer has reached the end of its life, knowing how and where to dispose of your appliance is important to avoid creating more e-waste. The smallest air fryers we've tested can hold up to 800g of food – about four portions of chips and roughly equivalent to the amount of food you can fit on two baking trays in an oven. Grill – which give you the option of grilling your food instead of air frying it, handy for cooking things like meat and fish.All this versatility typically comes at a higher price, so it's worth considering if you'll use all the features before spending the extra cash. This list of buying questions will help you narrow down your options and ensure you get the best air fryer for your needs: Do you value the fried food taste above all else? We find that foods made in an air fryer, and chips in particular, do have a fried quality. But if you're used to deep-fried food, then you won't be fooled: most people can taste the difference. Sometimes they come with a stirring paddle, though we’ve found this doesn't always make for better results.