Honest Air Fryer Reviews: Is the Energy-Saving Hype Really Worth It?

Updated January 2026

With rising energy costs, the “air fryer revolution” is in full swing. But does switching from a traditional oven truly save you money? After trading my standard oven for a Tefal FW605840 Air Fryer Oven (20L, 1800W), I’ve broken down the data, the costs, and the culinary results to help you decide if it’s the right move for your kitchen.

The Financial Breakdown: Air Fryer vs. Oven vs. Microwave

Calculations are based on a standard electricity rate of 29p per unit (kWh).

The Verdict: While the microwave remains the cheapest to run, the air fryer is 60% cheaper than a traditional oven. Because air fryers heat up instantly and cook faster, the real-world savings are often even higher.

Air Fryer Reviews: The Pros & Cons

Based on my experience transitioning to a large-capacity Tefal Oven and researching compact alternatives like the COSORI Lite, here is the essential breakdown:

The Pros

• Significant Energy Savings: Drastically cuts down electricity bills compared to heating a full-sized oven.

• Healthier Cooking: Requires little to no oil, making it ideal for health-conscious and vegetarian diets.

• Speed & Convenience: Perfect for busy lifestyles; dishes like falafel crisp up in a fraction of the usual time.

• Versatility: Large models (like the 20L Tefal) offer functions for roasting and baking, not just “frying.”

The Cons

• The Learning Curve: They cook fast. You’ll need to watch your food closely at first to avoid burning.

• Taste Trade-offs: Some items (like homemade potato wedges) may lack the “deep-fried” richness unless you use specific settings like ‘Roast’.

• Counter Space: Larger, more efficient models have a significant footprint on your kitchen worktop.

Final Recommendations

When reading air fryer reviews, remember that the “best” model depends on your household:

• Small Households (1-2 people): Look for compact 3.8L models with lower wattage to maximise efficiency.

• Large Families: A 20L Air Fryer Oven can replace your main oven entirely, providing enough space for roast dinners.

Final Thought: If you want to save money without sacrificing the “crunch,” an air fryer is a brilliant investment. Just be prepared for a bit of trial and error as you master the lightning-fast cooking times!

“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Air Fryer Reviews 2026

COSORI Air Fryer Lite 3.8L | 75-230℃ | 7 Cooking Functions | Smart Control | 1500W | 1-3 Portions

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.8

Wattage:      1500 watts

Size:                3.8 litres 

👨‍🍳 Amazon Exclusive Edition: Stand out with the exclusive Amazon Edition of our air fryer, boasting a cutting-edge smart control feature. Seamlessly manage your cooking and access recipes with ease through your smartphone. Recognised with the prestigious 2023 If Design award, this air fryer combines stylish aesthetics with a remarkable 30% faster cooking speed* than the original model.

👨‍🍳 More Energy and Time Saving: Experience unparalleled energy efficiency with COSORI’s air fryer, featuring exclusive Even Heating Technology. With a maximum temperature of 230℃, it cooks 50% faster than conventional ovens.

👨‍🍳 Easy to Use: Indulge in the simplicity of one-touch food presets for chicken, fries, bacon, steak, and veggies. Take control with the free VeSync app on your smartphone and connect to Google Assistant for convenient, hands-free cooking.

👨‍🍳 Good Cooking Effect: Enjoy precise cooking with patented CrispFit Technology, ensuring secure food handling and protection against scratches. The Cosori Lite 3.8-Litre Air Fryer intelligently redistributes heat for uniform and thorough cooking results.

Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer | Dual Zone with Removable Divider | Large 10.4L Drawer | 7-in-1 Air-Fryer 

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.8

Wattage:      2470 watts

Size:               10.4 litres 

👨‍🍳 FLEXDRAWER ADAPTS TO FIT EVERY MEAL: Customise your cooking experience by removing the divider, transforming the 2 independent cooking zones into one extra-large 10.4L. This versatility allows you to prepare larger foods, traybakes, and complete meals, making it perfect for feeding 8+ people.

👨‍🍳 DUAL ZONE TECHNOLOGY: Experience the convenience of cooking two different foods in two ways, ensuring both finishes simultaneously. Whether cooking mains and sides in one appliance or catering to diverse tastes, each 5.2L zone can accommodate a 2kg chicken or 1.5kg of fries.

👨‍🍳 7 COOKING FUNCTIONS: Elevate your culinary creations with seven cooking functions, including Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate, and Prove. Achieve quick family meals up to 65% faster than traditional fan ovens.

COSORI Air Fryer | 5.5L Capacity | Energy and Time Saver | 11 Presets | 1700-Watt

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.7

Wattage:      1700 watts

Size:                5.5 litres 

👨‍🍳 Classic COSORI CP158 Series: Achieving top ratings in air fryer tests, the Classic COSORI CP158 Series has earned the trust of over 50,000 real users and influential social media personalities.

👨‍🍳 Energy-Efficient: With the exclusive Even Heating Technology, COSORI outpaces conventional ovens, cooking 50% faster.

👨‍🍳 Spacious 5.5L XL Capacity: The air fryer provides a generous 5.5L XL capacity for family-sized meals. Enjoy 15% more cooking space compared to dual-basket air fryers, ensuring an even cooking finish.

👨‍🍳 100 Complimentary Recipes: Unlock a world of delightful, beginner-friendly dishes with COSORI’s 100 complimentary recipes. Benefit from portion sizes, cook times, and temperature guidance to replicate seasoned chef results in the comfort of your home.

👨‍🍳 COSORI Guarantee: Purchase with confidence. COSORI prioritises customers and offers a 2-year guarantee and lifelong support.

Tefal FW605840 AIR Fryer Oven | 1800 W | 20 litres

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.4

Wattage:      1800 watts

Size:                20 litres 

👨‍🍳 DO MORE: Tefal’s groundbreaking combination air fryer and oven features a generous 20L/6-serving capacity and user-friendly digital controls. Accommodate 1.3kg of chips, a 12″ pizza, a 3kg chicken, and more!

👨‍🍳 3-LEVEL COOKING: Versatility is key with this spacious air fryer oven, making it ideal for substantial dishes like traybakes. Utilise oven-safe dishes just as you would in a regular oven.

👨‍🍳 COOK FASTER AND SAVE ENERGY: The Easy Fry Air Fryer Oven enables you to prepare a diverse range of meals 50% faster than a conventional oven, all while saving up to 70% energy. 

👨‍🍳 AN OVEN, BUT BETTER: Unlock a world of culinary possibilities with 10 auto functions that allow you to roast a whole chicken, grill fish, bake pastries, toast bagels, and more. The appliance comes complete with a fry basket, wire rack, food tray, and crumb tray, encouraging creativity in the kitchen.

👨‍🍳 NO PREHEAT NEEDED: Thanks to the Exclusive Extra Crisp air frying technology, there’s no requirement for preheating. Choose from 10 automatic programs or set your preferred temperature (50-230°C).

To help you find the right fit for your kitchen and budget, here is a quick-glance comparison of these four top-rated models.

Air Fryer Quick Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

1. The Tech-Savvy Starter: COSORI Lite (3.8L)

If you are cooking for 1–3 people and love smart home gadgets, this is the one. It’s the most energy-efficient (1500W) and allows you to monitor your dinner from your smartphone. Its 230°C max temp ensures your food is extra crispy.

2. The Versatile Giant: Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer (10.4L)

The ultimate “party” air fryer. Its unique FlexDrawer means you can cook a whole meal for 8+ people at once or split it into two independent zones to cook fish and chips at different temperatures, finishing at the exact same time.

3. The Crowd Favourite: COSORI Classic (5.5L)

This is the “Goldilocks” of air fryers—not too big, not too small. It offers 15% more cooking space than typical dual-basket designs, making it perfect for families who want a reliable, award-winning machine that comes with 100 free recipes to get you started.

4. The Full Oven Alternative: Tefal FW605840 (20L)

If you want to ditch your traditional oven entirely, this is your best bet. Because it has 3-level cooking, you can bake a 12″ pizza or roast a 3kg chicken. Despite its massive size, it only uses 1800W, making it incredibly cost-effective for large-scale roasting and baking.