Air fryers have taken over our kitchens, but which wins the crown for the crispiest cooking? Our expert peeled 5kg of potatoes to find out

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Air fryers inspire the sort of feelings that microwaves did in the 1980s. I vividly remember those new-fangled boxes being spoken about often, either dismissively or with delight. A rash of cookbooks followed, and dinner changed across the land. Fast-forward a few decades and air fryers have become the same kind of kitchen “disruptors”, offering time-saving convenience and healthier cooking, but with the added allure of easily achieved, mouth-watering crispiness.

Since launching with a single-drawer design, air fryers have evolved. Sizes range from compact to XL, while drawer configurations can be double, split or stacked. Alongside air frying, many will grill, roast and bake, and some will dip to lower temperatures for dehydrating, fermenting and proving dough. One we tested features steam cooking, allowing you to whip up dim sum as easily as a roast dinner, while another included racks for cooking on four levels.

Best air fryer overall:
Tefal Dual Easy Fry XXL EY942BG0
_{£149.99 at Amazon}

Best single-drawer air fryer:
Lakeland Slimline air fryer
_{£89.99 at Lakeland}

Best air fryer for chips:
Philips 5000 Series NA555/09 dual basket steam air fryer
_{£179.99 at John Lewis}

Best air fryer grill:
ProCook air fryer health grill
_{£179 at ProCook}

Best compact air fryer:
Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK air fryer
_{£214.21 at Amazon}