Best Air Fryers in 2026: 10 Models for Every Kitchen and Budget

The Quick Verdict

If you want our honest recommendations without reading 3,000 words, here they are:

Best Overall: Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK (around £180). With nearly 37,000 Amazon reviews averaging 4.8 stars, this is the most proven dual-basket air fryer in the UK. The SyncFinish feature alone is worth the price — cook chips and chicken thighs in different drawers at different temperatures and have them both finish at exactly the right moment. For most households, this is the one to buy. Best Budget: Instant Pot VersaZone 8.5L (around £80). A dual-zone 8.5L air fryer for under £80 is genuinely remarkable. This was £220 at launch and the current price makes it the best-value air fryer available. Ideal for families who want dual-zone flexibility without paying Ninja prices. Best Premium: Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer AF500UK (around £230). The removable divider concept is brilliant — use the full 10.4L as one giant zone or split it into two independent 5.2L zones. If you batch cook or regularly cook for a large household, nothing else comes close. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations.

Best Air Fryers UK: Comparison Table

Our 10 Best Air Fryer Picks in Detail

1. Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer AF400UK - Best Overall

Price: £159 - £220 | Rating: 4.8/5 (37,000+ reviews) | Capacity: 9.5L

The Ninja AF400UK has earned its place as the UK's most popular dual-zone air fryer through sheer consistency. Nearly 37,000 Amazon reviewers have given it an average of 4.8 stars, which is an almost absurdly high score for a kitchen appliance. That kind of consensus does not happen by accident — this machine genuinely delivers.

The headline feature is the dual-zone system: two independent 4.75L drawers that can run at completely different temperatures and times. Cook chicken thighs at 200C in one drawer while sweet potato fries crisp up at 180C in the other. The SyncFinish mode then staggers the cook times automatically so both finish the moment you want to eat. It sounds like a small convenience until you have used it, at which point cooking in a single-basket air fryer starts to feel oddly limiting by comparison.

At 9.5L total and each drawer rated for up to 1.4kg of fries, this feeds six to eight people comfortably. The non-stick crisper plates and baskets go straight in the dishwasher. Compared to a conventional oven, Ninja claims up to 65% faster cook times and 75% less fat than deep frying. In practice, chips are genuinely crispier, chicken skin properly golden, and the overall cooking experience noticeably faster than waiting for a fan oven to preheat and finish.

The main drawbacks are the footprint and the noise at high temperatures. Neither is a dealbreaker. For most UK kitchens looking for one air fryer that handles everything, this remains the benchmark.

Pros:

• Dual zone lets you cook two different dishes simultaneously with independent temperature and time controls
• 9.5L capacity feeds 8 or more people with each drawer fitting up to 1.4kg of fries
• SyncCook and SyncFinish ensure both baskets finish at exactly the same time
• Up to 65% faster than conventional ovens with 75% less fat than traditional frying
• Non-stick dishwasher-safe baskets make cleaning effortless

Cons:

• Large footprint takes significant counter space
• Premium price vs single-basket alternatives
• Can be noisy at higher temperatures

Check price on Amazon

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2. COSORI Air Fryer 4.7L 9-in-1 CAF-L501 - Best Value Mid-Range

Price: £70 - £100 | Rating: 4.7/5 (79,500+ reviews) | Capacity: 4.7L

Nearly 80,000 Amazon UK reviews at 4.7 stars is an extraordinary data point. The COSORI CAF-L501 is the Amazon Number 1 Best Seller in air fryers and has held that position long enough that the review volume itself has become a selling point. When this many people buy something and most of them are satisfied enough to leave a five-star review, you can approach it with genuine confidence.

What makes the COSORI stand out beyond the numbers is the quietness. Most air fryers at full temperature produce a noticeable fan whirr. COSORI's Air Whisper technology results in a meaningfully quieter machine, which sounds trivial until you are trying to hold a conversation or watch television in an open-plan kitchen. The angled tempered glass touchscreen is also genuinely thoughtful design — visible and operable without bending down to counter height.

Nine cooking presets cover the full range from chips and chicken through to baked goods and dehydrating. A maximum temperature of 230C delivers properly crispy results on frozen foods. The 4.7L basket suits two to four people for most meals. It will not cook for a family of six, but for couples and small households it is arguably the perfect size: enough capacity for a proper meal without the machine dominating the worktop.

The included 130-plus recipe cookbook is a genuine bonus for air fryer newcomers rather than just a marketing afterthought.

Pros:

• Amazon UK Number 1 Best Seller with nearly 80,000 reviews confirming extraordinary reliability
• Whisper-quiet Air Whisper technology makes it one of the quietest air fryers available
• Nine cooking presets with angled tempered glass touchscreen for easy visibility
• Includes 130-plus recipe cookbook and reaches 230C for extra crispy results
• Compact enough for most kitchen counter tops with a dishwasher-safe basket

Cons:

• 4.7L limits cooking to around 4 portions and is not suitable for large families
• Single compartment only with no dual zone capability
• Some reviewers feel it is slightly overpriced vs competing single-basket models

Check price on Amazon

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3. Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer AF500UK 10.4L - Best Family Size

Price: £200 - £270 | Rating: 4.8/5 (13,000+ reviews) | Capacity: 10.4L

The FlexDrawer is a genuinely clever piece of engineering. The removable divider concept — converting a single 10.4L MegaZone into two independent 5.2L cooking zones — sounds like a simple idea but it solves a real problem. Most dual-drawer air fryers force you to use both compartments even when you only need one large cook. The FlexDrawer lets you choose.

Use the full MegaZone to roast a whole leg of lamb surrounded by root vegetables. Remove it the next day to cook two separate meals simultaneously for different family members with dietary restrictions. The flexibility is not marketing language; it changes how you actually use the machine day to day. With 10.4L of usable space, this is one of the very few air fryers large enough to be a genuine oven replacement rather than merely a supplement to one.

Seven cooking functions include Prove, which maintains low heat for bread dough to rise — something most air fryers do not offer. Dehydrate runs for extended periods at low temperatures for jerky, fruit leather, and dried herbs. The non-stick drawer and crisper plates are dishwasher safe. Cook times are up to 65% faster than a fan oven.

The caveats are real: this machine is 49.6cm deep, weighs 9.3kg, and costs £200 or more even when discounted. If you have a large kitchen and regularly cook for four or more people, those are acceptable trade-offs. For a smaller household or limited worktop space, the AF400UK at a lower price makes more sense.

Pros:

• Removable divider transforms from one 10.4L MegaZone into two 5.2L independent zones
• MegaZone fits a whole leg of lamb with roast vegetables or a complete traybake meal
• Seven cooking functions including Prove for bread dough and Dehydrate
• Cooks for eight or more people up to 65% faster than fan ovens
• Non-stick drawer and crisper plates are fully dishwasher safe

Cons:

• Very large at 49.6cm deep and requires significant counter and storage space
• Premium price with typical cost of £200 or more even when discounted
• Heavy at 9.3kg and not easy to move around the kitchen

Check price on Amazon

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4. Ninja Double Stack XL Air Fryer SL400UK 9.5L - Best for Small Kitchens

Price: £230 - £270 | Rating: 4.7/5 (3,000+ reviews) | Capacity: 9.5L

The Double Stack solves a specific problem elegantly: how do you get dual-zone air frying with a full 9.5L capacity without the wide footprint that dual-drawer models require? Ninja's answer is to stack the drawers vertically rather than place them side by side. The result is a machine that is 30% slimmer than a conventional dual-drawer model while offering the same capacity and independent zone control.

The design uses two 4.75L drawers stacked above each other, with racks that allow each drawer to be split into two cooking levels. In practice, you can cook four different things simultaneously: two items per drawer across two levels each. Expert Reviews gave it a Recommended badge and TechRadar described the results as exceptional. The included racks add real versatility — smaller items like chicken wings or fish fillets can be cooked at different heights within the same drawer.

Each 4.75L drawer fits a whole 1.4kg roast chicken, making the per-drawer capacity competitive with the wider models. The independent zone controls, SyncCook, and SyncFinish all work identically to the AF400UK.

The downsides are pricing and evenness. At £230 to £270, this is the most expensive model on this list. The smaller fans needed for the vertical footprint can result in slightly uneven browning, and items at the front of each drawer tend to crisp faster than those at the back, requiring a mid-cook shuffle. For worktop-constrained kitchens where the slim profile is genuinely needed, those are acceptable trade-offs.

Pros:

• Revolutionary vertical stacked design is 30% slimmer than side-by-side dual drawer models
• Full 9.5L capacity across two drawers with four cooking levels using the included racks
• Independent zone control lets you cook four things at once using the racks
• Expert Reviews Recommended and TechRadar calls results exceptional
• Each 4.75L drawer fits a whole 1.4kg roast chicken

Cons:

• Most expensive model on this list at £230 to £270
• Smaller fans cause slightly uneven browning compared to wider dual-drawer models
• Items nearest the front crisp faster than those at the back requiring mid-cook shuffling

Check price on Amazon

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5. Ninja Air Fryer MAX PRO AF180UK 6.2L - Best Single Basket

Price: £130 - £150 | Rating: 4.8/5 (2,500+ reviews) | Capacity: 6.2L

Not everyone needs dual-zone cooking. If you are cooking for one to four people and want the best possible single-basket air fryer available, the AF180UK is the answer. Expert Reviews calls it a "pretty perfect package" and Trusted Reviews praises its speed and consistency. The 4.8-star average from 2,500-plus reviews confirms it is not just critical opinion — buyers agree.

The square basket design is a smarter use of space than the traditional round basket most budget models use. A round basket wastes the corners; a square basket uses every cubic centimetre. The result is a 6.2L capacity that genuinely fits a whole 1.5kg chicken without forcing the lid closed. For a single-basket machine, that is genuinely large.

Max Crisp mode stands out from the AF100UK further down this list: the temperature reaches 240C, which is hot enough to cook frozen food from frozen to properly crispy without needing to thaw first. That extra 10C over competitors makes a noticeable difference to frozen chips and breaded products. Six cooking modes include Dehydrate, which runs at low temperature for up to 12 hours for preserving herbs and making jerky.

The absence of a viewing window is the only notable omission. It is not a dealbreaker but worth mentioning if you frequently cook delicate items that need monitoring mid-cook.

Pros:

• Square basket design maximises usable cooking area and fits a whole 1.5kg chicken
• Max Crisp mode reaches 240C for cooking frozen food extra crispy straight from the freezer
• Six cooking modes including Dehydrate that runs up to 12 hours at low temperature
• Expert Reviews calls it a pretty perfect package with good value for money
• Trusted Reviews praises speedy and consistent cooking with sleek design

Cons:

• Single basket only with no simultaneous multi-dish cooking capability
• 6.2L serves one to four people comfortably but not enough for larger families
• No viewing window to check on food mid-cook

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6. Philips Airfryer 5000 Series with Steam NA555/09 9L - Best for Healthy Cooking

Price: £190 - £250 | Rating: 4.4/5 (500+ reviews) | Capacity: 9L

The Philips 5000 Series with Steam is the most genuinely innovative air fryer on this list. No other air fryer currently available in the UK combines steam cooking with air frying in the same appliance, and the practical implications are significant. Steam cooks vegetables without stripping nutrients the way high heat alone can. Dumplings that would turn leathery in a standard air fryer come out properly tender. Fish fillets remain moist rather than drying out from direct heat alone.

Winning Air Fryer of the Year at the Expert Reviews Product of the Year Awards 2026 is meaningful recognition from the publication most rigorous about air fryer testing. Nineteen cooking methods is a headline number that actually holds up: SteamFry, steam alone, grill, bake, reheat, dehydrate, and standard air fry are all distinct modes with practical applications. The Auto SteamClean function, where you run a steam cycle to loosen residue inside the machine, simplifies the cleaning process compared to hand scrubbing.

The asymmetric drawers (6L and 3L rather than two equal compartments) reflect real cooking patterns better than symmetric dual-drawer designs. Mains in the larger drawer, sides in the smaller one.

The trade-offs are a lower maximum temperature (200C versus 230 to 240C on competitors) and a relatively small Amazon review count for a premium-priced appliance. For health-conscious cooks or anyone who has found standard air frying too drying for fish and vegetables, this is worth the premium.

Pros:

• Unique steam function found in no competitor and steams vegetables fish and dumplings properly
• Won Air Fryer of the Year at Expert Reviews Product of the Year Awards 2026
• Nineteen different cooking methods including SteamFry grill bake and standard air fry
• Auto SteamClean function simplifies deep cleaning
• Asymmetric drawers of 6L plus 3L are practical for cooking mains and sides simultaneously

Cons:

• Newer product with fewer Amazon reviews than established competitors
• Premium price and some reviewers feel the steam feature adds less than expected
• Maximum temperature of 200C is lower than competitors reaching 230 to 240C

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7. Tefal Easy Fry Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer EY901840 8.3L - Best Non-Ninja Dual Basket

Price: £110 - £135 | Rating: 4.5/5 (940+ reviews) | Capacity: 8.3L

If you want dual-zone air frying but the Ninja price point is out of reach, the Tefal EY901840 is the most credible alternative available. At £110 to £135, it undercuts comparable Ninja dual models by £50 to £90 while delivering a well-built machine from a brand with decades of kitchen appliance manufacturing behind it.

The asymmetric drawer sizes are a thoughtful design choice. A 5.2L main drawer and a 3.1L second drawer reflects how most people actually cook: a large portion of the main meal and a smaller side dish. Equal-sized drawers sound balanced but in practice you often find one only half-used. The larger drawer fits a proper family-sized portion of chips or a full tray of chicken pieces.

Eight cooking presets cover the essentials, and the Extra Crisp mode delivers genuinely golden results on chips and breaded food. Cook times are approximately 40% faster than a conventional oven. The non-stick baskets are dishwasher safe and the construction feels solid rather than plasticky.

The most notable quirk is the timer behaviour: it beeps halfway through as a reminder to shake the basket, but does not beep when cooking finishes. There is also no SyncFinish equivalent, meaning you need to manage the timing between both drawers yourself if you want them to finish simultaneously. These are real inconveniences rather than dealbreakers, but they explain the slightly lower rating compared to Ninja's dual models.

Pros:

• Asymmetric drawer sizes of 5.2L plus 3.1L are more practical than equal-size drawers
• Strong non-Ninja alternative at significantly lower price than comparable Ninja dual models
• Eight cooking presets with cooking 40% faster than conventional ovens
• Extra Crisp mode achieves golden results on chips and fried foods
• Non-stick dishwasher-safe baskets with sturdy well-built construction

Cons:

• Timer beeps halfway through as a shake reminder but does not beep when cooking finishes
• No SyncFinish equivalent so you manage timing between drawers manually
• Smaller brand recognition than Ninja in the UK air fryer market

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8. Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK 3.8L - Best Budget Ninja

Price: £79 - £100 | Rating: 4.7/5 (11,800+ reviews) | Capacity: 3.8L

The AF100UK is where most people started their air fryer journey, and for good reason. Under £80 for a Ninja-built machine with 11,800 reviews and a 4.7-star average is exceptional value. If you are unconvinced by air fryers and want to try one without committing serious money, or if you cook primarily for one to two people, this is the obvious starting point.

The controls are simple: four cooking modes (Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate) on a clean digital interface. No complex presets, no multi-zone management, no learning curve. You set the temperature, set the time, and the machine does the rest. The 3.8L basket fits a 1.35kg chicken whole or approximately 900g of fries — enough for two, possibly three people depending on appetite.

What you are paying for beyond the capacity is build quality and brand reliability. Ninja's manufacturing consistency is evident from the review data: the same 4.7-star average holds across 11,800 reviews, which means very few outlier failures pulling the average down. The non-stick basket and crisper plate go in the dishwasher.

The limitations are clear: single basket only, no dual zone, and the 3.8L capacity is genuinely too small for four or more people as a primary cooking vessel. It also lacks the Max Crisp mode found on the AF180UK, so frozen food from the freezer is handled at standard temperatures rather than the higher 240C option. For the target user — a one or two-person household wanting reliable entry-level air frying — none of those matter.

Pros:

• Entry-level Ninja quality at under £80 with excellent brand reliability at a budget price
• Simple digital controls with four cooking modes including Air Fry Roast Reheat and Dehydrate
• 3.8L basket fits a 1.35kg chicken or 900g of fries and is perfect for two to four people
• Compact footprint suits smaller kitchens and lighter than dual-zone models
• Non-stick basket and crisper plate are fully dishwasher safe

Cons:

• Single basket only with no dual zone cooking capability
• 3.8L is too small for families of four or more
• Lacks the Max Crisp mode found on more expensive Ninja models

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9. Instant Pot VersaZone Dual Air Fryer 8.5L - Best Budget Dual Basket

Price: £70 - £110 | Rating: 4.4/5 (4,500+ reviews) | Capacity: 8.5L

The Instant Pot VersaZone is the most remarkable value proposition on this list. This machine launched at £220 RRP and currently sells for under £80 on Amazon, sometimes significantly less. That price trajectory has made it the go-to recommendation for anyone who wants dual-zone capability but cannot justify Ninja-level prices. Amazon's Choice badge and 4,500-plus positive reviews confirm buyers are not disappointed.

The VersaZone divider system converts the 8.5L basket between a single large cooking zone and two independent 4.2L compartments. SyncCook and SyncFinish are both present and function identically to Ninja's implementation — both drawers can run at different temperatures with coordinated finish times. EvenCrisp technology claims 80% energy savings versus traditional ovens, which is on the high end of what we would verify independently, but the cooking performance is genuinely solid for the price.

Eight smart programmes cover the main cooking modes. The build quality is acceptable for the price point, though not at the level of Ninja. The main practical frustrations are weight when full (the drawer becomes unwieldy when tipping food onto a plate), the absence of a viewing window, and the need to preheat between back-to-back cooks where competitors can often skip the preheat.

For families who want dual-zone air frying as their introduction to the technology before potentially upgrading later, or as a second air fryer for overflow cooking, the VersaZone at current street prices is difficult to argue against.

Pros:

• Incredible value with dual-zone 8.5L capacity frequently available under £80 compared to £220 RRP
• VersaZone divider converts from a single 8.5L basket to dual 4.2L independent zones
• Eight smart programmes with SyncCook and SyncFinish for coordinated dual cooking
• Amazon's Choice badge with over 4,500 positive reviews confirming buyer satisfaction
• EvenCrisp technology claims 80% energy savings versus traditional ovens

Cons:

• No viewing window on the standard black model
• Drawer is heavy and unwieldy when full making tipping food onto plates awkward
• Needs to preheat even for back-to-back cooks which is slower than some competitors

Check price on Amazon

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10. Ninja CRISPi Portable Glass Air Fryer FN101UKST 3.8L - Most Innovative

Price: £130 - £180 | Rating: 4.5/5 (300+ reviews) | Capacity: 3.8L

The CRISPi is the most unusual product on this list and the hardest to recommend without qualification. Nothing else on the market uses glass cooking containers in an air fryer, and the concept is genuinely compelling: cook in the glass vessel, clip on the lid, put it straight in the fridge for storage, then reheat in the microwave or recrisp in the CRISPi without transferring food between containers. For meal preppers and batch cookers, the cook-store-reheat workflow in a single vessel is a real quality-of-life improvement.

The Recrisp mode is a standout feature. Air-fried food that has been refrigerated typically turns soggy on reheating; a microwave makes it worse. The CRISPi's dedicated Recrisp programme is specifically calibrated to restore crispness to leftovers without drying out the interior. The results are noticeably better than reheating in a standard air fryer.

The design is also genuinely attractive in a way most air fryers are not. Multiple colourways, a compact footprint, and glass containers that look premium rather than purely functional. On a kitchen counter, it reads as an object rather than an appliance.

The limitations are significant for some users. There is no manual temperature control; you choose a preset and the machine manages the rest. The containers are small for practical everyday cooking of full meals. And at £130 to £180, Expert Reviews has fairly questioned whether the price is justified relative to what a larger conventional air fryer in the same range would deliver. As a primary air fryer for one person who meal preps, it works well. As a family cooking tool, it does not.

Pros:

• Unique glass containers are microwave-safe freezer-safe and dishwasher-safe for cook-store-reheat in one vessel
• Incredibly compact and portable taking up minimal counter space
• Two removable glass containers with lids ideal for batch cooking and meal prep
• Stylish design in multiple colourways that looks genuinely premium on the counter
• Recrisp mode specifically designed to revive leftover food without drying it out

Cons:

• No manual temperature control and relies on preset modes only
• Smallest container is very small for practical everyday cooking
• Expensive for the capacity with Expert Reviews questioning the £180 price vs a larger model

Check price on Amazon

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The Air Fryer Buying Guide

Single Basket vs Dual Basket: Which Do You Actually Need?

The dual-basket premium is worth paying if you regularly cook complete meals from scratch. A single basket is perfectly capable of cooking one thing at a time — chips, chicken, fish, vegetables — but it cannot cook two things simultaneously at different temperatures. That limitation becomes apparent the moment you realise your protein needs another eight minutes and your sides are done, or that your main is at 200C while your vegetables need 160C.

Dual-basket air fryers solve this entirely. The SyncFinish feature (available on Ninja and Instant Pot dual models) staggers the start times of each drawer automatically, so both finish simultaneously even if one drawer runs for 20 minutes and the other for 12. For households where cooking a complete meal every evening is the routine, dual-zone is transformative. For someone who primarily reheats leftovers, makes chips, or cooks single items, a single basket is simpler, cheaper, and takes up less space.

What Capacity Do You Actually Need for Your Household?

The honest answer is to buy one size larger than you think you need. People consistently underestimate how quickly a basket fills up when cooking for multiple people.

For one to two people, 3.8L to 4.7L is sufficient. The Ninja AF100UK and COSORI 4.7L sit comfortably in this range. For two to four people, 6L to 7L is the sweet spot and the Ninja AF180UK at 6.2L is ideal. For four to six people, 8.5L to 9.5L handles a full family meal without compromising airflow, and both the Ninja AF400UK and Instant Pot VersaZone sit here. For six or more people or anyone who batch cooks, 10L-plus is the only practical choice and the Ninja FlexDrawer at 10.4L is your only credible option in this range.

Air fryers cook best when the basket is not overfilled. Overpacking reduces airflow, causes food to steam rather than crisp, and defeats the purpose of the appliance. If you are between sizes, size up.

Do Air Fryers Actually Save Energy Compared to Ovens?

Yes, meaningfully. A typical electric fan oven draws 2,000 to 2,200 watts and takes 10 to 15 minutes to preheat. An air fryer draws 1,400 to 1,700 watts, preheats in two to three minutes, and cooks food faster due to more efficient hot air circulation in a smaller chamber. For the same meal, an air fryer typically uses 50 to 70% of the energy a fan oven would consume. Over the course of a year of daily use, the saving is real and measurable, particularly given current UK energy prices.

The comparison is less clear for large roasts or baking that fills a full oven tray. In those cases, the volume advantage of an oven can offset the efficiency gap. For everyday cooking of portions, the air fryer wins on running cost every time.

What Do SyncFinish and SyncCook Actually Do?

These two features cause more confusion than any other aspect of dual-basket air fryers. SyncCook starts both drawers simultaneously. Both run at their respective temperatures and finish together because they started together. Use this when both items need the same cooking duration.

SyncFinish is the smarter mode. You set the cook time for each drawer independently, and the machine calculates when to start each one so they both finish at the same moment. If one drawer needs 20 minutes and the other needs 12, SyncFinish holds the shorter-cook drawer idle for eight minutes before starting it. Both finish at the same time. You do not need to calculate anything manually.

Do You Need Any Accessories?

Most air fryers include everything needed for standard cooking. Silicone liners (reusable parchment-style inserts) reduce cleaning and prevent sticking for marinaded meats — worth buying for around £8 to £12. A meat thermometer is essential for verifying whole chickens are cooked through, regardless of the appliance used. Skewer racks expand cooking options for kebabs and allow more food to cook per cycle. None of these are necessary to get started; all of them are worth adding after a few weeks of regular use.

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Upgrading more of your kitchen? Check out our guides to the best coffee machines in 2026, the best slow cookers in 2026, and the best stand mixers in 2026.

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