I tested air fryers under £50 – the winner makes crispy food in no time and costs just 17p an hour to run

ALLOWING us to cook crispy, delicious food both faster and cheaper than a traditional oven, it's no wonder air fryers are such a hit.

These appliances were first introduced to the mass market in 2010 but sales soared when the cost of living crisis hit in 2022 and families were desperately searching for ways to save money on bills.

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Recent research by Utilita found that an air fryer only costs £52.74 to use for a year, compared to the £316.64 bill you face with an electric oven.

And now you can buy your own without breaking the bank.

Lynsey Hope tried out a range you can buy for less than £50 to see how they fared. 

Here she shares her verdict:

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Daewoo Healthy Living 4L Air Fryer

• £44.99, robertdyas.co.uk
• Capacity: 4L
• Watts: 1,400
• Cost to run for 30 minutes: 21p

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This 4L air fryer delivers a decent size for an affordable price.

Featuring simple controls - one dial for temperature and a 30-minute timer - it enables you to whip up healthy family meals in no time.

It wouldn't be big enough to fit a whole chicken but it cooked portions very well.

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Some food could have crisped up a little better so there might be some trial and error.

It's easy to wash up, the removable pot just needs a quick scrub by hand when you're done.

• Ease of use: 8/10
• Cooking: 6/10
• Value for money: 7/10
• Overall score: 7/10

George at Asda Air Fryer

• £40, direct.asda.com
• Capacity: 6.2L
• Watts: 2,000
• Cost to run for 30 minutes: 30p

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A generous size for £40, Asda's version is big enough to cook a whole roast chicken.

It can comfortably cook three to four portions and the digital display with a touchscreen panel is easy to navigate.

The basket is dishwasher safe and it comes with a two-year guarantee. Amazing price for an air fryer of this size.

It's a little pricier to run than some of the other budget air fryers, but that's because of the size.

This is a brilliant option for bigger families from Asda.

• Ease of use: 9/10
• Cooking: 8/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall score: 9/10

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Air Fryer

• £49.99, uk.russellhobbs.com
• Capacity: 1.8L
• Watts: 1,100
• Cost to run for 30 minutes: 17p

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A great option for those who are new to this style of cooking and don't have much space in their kitchen.

This is small and really only suitable for one person meals. It has a sleek design and is easy to use.

I loved the digital LED display and the presets were easy to navigate.

There is a fish symbol for example, when you want to cook fish. It was easy to clean.

Fat and grease came off easily thanks to the non-stick coating and it can go in the dishwasher too.

It's quiet as a whisper when it cooks and resulted in the crispiest food by far.

The only thing I didn't like was it showed up dust and fingerprints quite badly, so I was constantly wiping it to keep it looking shiny and clean.

• Ease of use: 10/10
• Cooking: 10/10
• Value for money: 8/10
• Overall score: 10/10

Vonshef 2L Air Fryer

• £34.99, vonhaus.com
• Capacity: 2L
• Watts: 1,000
• Cost to run for 30 minutes: 15p

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Easy to use and doesn't take up too much room at all, this air fryer with a 2L basket is the perfect size to rustle up a meal for one or to cook a side such as chips for two.

You can't cancel the timer once it is running, but it's good quality for the price.

• Ease of use: 7/10
• Cooking: 8/10
• Value for money: 7/10
• Overall score: 7/10

Belaco Air Fryer 2L

• £29.90, amazon.co.uk
• Capacity: 2L
• Watts: 1,000
• Cost to run for 30 minutes: 15p

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This only has a small 2L capacity so it probably suits someone who cooks for one or two people.

I liked the black high gloss finish and it is small so perfect if you are lacking in space.

The digital display is user friendly and the basket can go in the dishwasher, making it easy to clean and the non-stick was effective.

It cooked well - the chicken came out crispy and delicious and took half the time it would usually take in an oven.

For less than £30, I thought this was a bargain, and it's cheap to run too.

• Ease of use: 9/10
• Cooking: 9/10
• Value for money: 10/10
• Overall score: 9/10

Tower Vortx 2 Litre Air Fryer

• £44.99, towerhousewares.co.uk
• Capacity: 2L
• Watts: 1,000
• Cost to run for 30 minutes: 15p

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Well made and cost-effective, this is plenty big enough to cook for two people.

The food cooked quickly and came out well, I especially loved the chips which came out perfectly cooked and crispy.

The non-stick crisper tray does have to be hand-washed but it came up well.

For an extra few quid, I'd probably go for the 4L version which seems better value for money but this is cheap to run if you are on your own or a couple.

• Ease of use: 8/10
• Cooking: 8/10
• Value for money: 4/10
• Overall score: 6/10

Tower T17061 4L Air Fryer

• £47.50, argos.co.uk
• Capacity: 4L
• Watts: 1,400
• Cost to run for 30 minutes: 21p

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Loved the sleek design of this air fryer and it doesn't take up too much counter space.

It has a 4L capacity and says it can cook three to four portions, which I thought was reasonable unless you're a big eater.

It has a digital timer but it's a little hard to set this to be very specific.

It's easy to use, easy to clean and currently a bargain at Argos for less than £50.

• Ease of use: 7/10
• Cooking: 9/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall score: 9/10

Cooks Professional Digital Air Fryer 5L 

• £44.99, cooksprofessional.co.uk
• Capacity: 5L
• Watts: 1,500
• Cost to run for 30 minutes: 23p

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For the price, this has a good five-litre capacity so a good budget option for bigger families.

You can select from eight pre-set cooking times on a clear, digital LCD display and choose temperatures between 80 and 200C.

The basket has a release button and safety cover to prevent accidental release and an automatic cooling system to ensure it doesn't overheat.

The fryer has a clear, digital LCD display.

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One of the best features was the pause function, which means you can take the drawer out, add seasoning and extra ingredients, then replace it and the fryer will continue cooking without you having to reset anything.

• Ease of use: 8/10
• Cooking: 9/10
• Value for money: 8/10
• Overall score: 8/10