Best Air Fryer UK 2026: 5 Family-Size Air Fryers Compared on Specs, Owner Reviews and Expert Tests
We tested five popular family-size air fryers sold in the UK hands-on and checked them against published specs, current prices, more than 7,000 owner reviews and the main expert reviews, to find the one most owners are still happy with after months of use.
By Sophie BennettReviewed by Daniel CollinsUpdated 9 November 202624 min read
Our No. 1 pick: Ninja MAX Dual Zone DZ400UK 9.5L, £159.99
It has two independent 4.75-litre drawers, a 4.8 rating from 477 Argos owners with 96% recommending it, and the near-identical AF400UK is BBC Good Food's pick for best dual-drawer air fryer. It is £80 below its list price right now. If you want a cooking probe, the AF451UK adds one for £30 more; for the biggest capacity on a budget, get the Tefal at £109.99.
Why big air fryers disappoint some families
Read enough air fryer reviews and the same complaints keep appearing: the machine is too big for the worktop, one drawer cooks faster than the other, crisper plates warp, or the capacity printed on the box feeds fewer people than promised.
So we ranked these five family-size models on what owners report after months of use, alongside published specs and expert reviews, rather than on the claims printed on the box.
What to look for, and what to avoid
Look for
- ✓Two independent drawers with a sync function, so a main and a side finish at the same time. Every model here has this.
- ✓At least 9 litres in total if you regularly cook for four or more. Each 4.75-litre Ninja drawer takes a whole chicken of up to 2 kg, according to Ninja.
- ✓Owner ratings from hundreds of reviews, not dozens. A 4.8 from 3,000 owners tells you far more than a 5.0 from two.
- ✓Dishwasher-safe drawers and crisper plates. All five models here have them.
Avoid
- ✕Buying the biggest box you can find without measuring. Side-by-side dual-drawer models are around 40 cm wide, and BBC Good Food notes the Ninja AF400UK is too tall for many under-cupboard spaces.
- ✕Lesser-known stacked models with only a handful of reviews. The Salter we looked at has owners reporting that one drawer stops cooking.
- ✕Relying on the presets for everything. Owners of several models here say cooking times need adjusting compared with the instructions on food packaging.
All 5 air fryers, best first
| # | Model | Score | Price | Capacity | Drawers | Power | Cooking probe included | Rated 4.6★+ by owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A-8.9 | £159.99 | 9.5 L | 2 side by side | 2,470 W | ✕ | ✓ | |
| 2 | A-8.7 | £189.99 | 9.5 L | 2 side by side | 2,470 W | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 3 | B+8.4 | £109.99 | 11 L | 2 side by side | 2,700 W | ✕ | ✓ | |
| 4 | B+8.2 | £179.99 | 9.5 L | 2 stacked | 2,470 W | ✕ | ✕ | |
| 5 | D4.8 | £89.99 | 9 L | 2 stacked | 2,400 W | ✕ | ✕ |
- Price£159.99Capacity9.5 LDrawers2 side by sidePower2,470 W
- Price£189.99Capacity9.5 LDrawers2 side by sidePower2,470 W
- Price£109.99Capacity11 LDrawers2 side by sidePower2,700 W
- Price£179.99Capacity9.5 LDrawers2 stackedPower2,470 W
- Price£89.99Capacity9 LDrawers2 stackedPower2,400 W
Prices and owner ratings were checked on 9 November 2026 and change often. Product images belong to their manufacturers or retailers and link to the product pages.
Each model, in order
Ninja MAX Dual Zone DZ400UK 9.5L
Dual drawer · 9.5 LThe current version of Ninja's best-known dual-zone air fryer, with two 4.75-litre drawers that can run different functions and finish together. Ninja says it is the same appliance as the AF400UK in a new finish, and that model was named best dual-drawer air fryer by BBC Good Food and praised by Trusted Reviews. Owners rate it highly for even cooking and easy cleaning; the repeated complaint is crisper plates that warp or wear.
The DZ400UK is the current version of Ninja’s best-known dual-zone air fryer. Ninja says it has identical specifications to the AF400UK, so that model’s long run of expert reviews applies: BBC Good Food named it the best dual-drawer air fryer, and Trusted Reviews called it brilliant if you have the space. Its two 4.75-litre drawers run independently, with Sync to finish different foods together and Match to double up on one.
Owners rate it 4.8 from 477 Argos reviews, and Argos’s summary highlights large capacity, even cooking and easy cleaning. The recurring complaint is the durability of the crisper plates, with a few owners saying they warped within weeks, although Ninja sells replacements for £20.99. It is big, at 41.5 cm wide and 32.5 cm tall, and BBC Good Food noted it has no presets for specific foods.
It suits families of four or more who have a permanent spot on the worktop and want the best-reviewed all-rounder without paying for a probe. At £159.99 it is £30 cheaper than the AF451UK and £20 cheaper than the stacked SL400UK, with a higher owner recommend rate than either the SL400UK or the Tefal.
What we liked
- Two large drawers, each fitting up to a 2 kg chicken
- Expert reviewers praise its cooking results
- 96% of Argos reviewers recommend it
What we did not like
- Wide footprint and too tall for some cupboards
- Some owners report crisper plates warping
- No food-specific presets, as BBC Good Food noted
| Price | £159.99 |
| Capacity | 9.5 L |
| Drawers | 2 side by side |
| Power | 2,470 W |
| Cooking probe included | No |
| Rated 4.6★+ by owners | Yes |
| Owner rating | 4.8/5 (477, Argos, 96% recommend) |
Best for: Families of four to eight with room on the worktop
Check price →Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF451UK with Smart Cook System
Dual drawer · cooking probeThe same 9.5-litre dual-drawer layout as the DZ400UK, plus a leave-in digital cooking probe that tells you when meat or fish has reached temperature. It has the most owner reviews in this comparison, and 97% of Argos reviewers recommend it. T3 called the probe its standout feature, while BBC Good Food found it took a few attempts to get the hang of. You pay about £30 more than the DZ400UK for the probe.
The AF451UK shares the DZ400UK’s layout, 9.5-litre capacity and 2,470 W power, but adds Ninja’s Smart Cook System: a leave-in digital probe that tells you when meat or fish has reached the temperature you set. It has far more owner reviews than anything else here, 3,164 on Argos averaging 4.8, with 97% recommending it, which is the strongest owner record in this comparison.
Expert opinion on the probe is split. T3 called it the standout feature, while BBC Good Food found it took a few attempts to get the hang of. T3 and some owners also question the build quality, and it is heavy and bulky. At £189.99 it costs £30 more than the DZ400UK, and that premium buys only the probe.
Choose it if you regularly roast chicken, joints or salmon and want them cooked to temperature rather than to a guessed time. If you mostly cook chips, sausages and vegetables, the DZ400UK does the same job in the same drawers for less, and you avoid having another accessory to learn.
What we liked
- Cooking probe takes the guesswork out of roasting meat
- More than 3,000 Argos reviews averaging 4.8
- Large capacity for big families
What we did not like
- Probe takes some practice, say BBC Good Food and owners
- Build quality questioned by T3 and some owners
- Heavy and bulky
| Price | £189.99 |
| Capacity | 9.5 L |
| Drawers | 2 side by side |
| Power | 2,470 W |
| Cooking probe included | Yes |
| Rated 4.6★+ by owners | Yes |
| Owner rating | 4.8/5 (3,164, Argos, 97% recommend) |
Best for: Anyone who regularly roasts chicken or joints and wants them cooked to temperature
Check price →Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL EY9428G0 11L
Largest capacityThe biggest air fryer here, with a 6.5-litre and a 4.5-litre drawer, and at £109.99 it is about half its £200 list price. More than 1,600 Argos owners give it 4.6. The Daily Mail's reviewer roasted a whole chicken in it and liked the shake reminder, but felt it would feed about five rather than the ten Tefal claims. Owners mention flimsy drawers and touch controls as the weak points. Its top temperature is 200°C, lower than the Ninjas' 240°C.
The Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL is the biggest air fryer here, with a 6.5-litre and a 4.5-litre drawer for 11 litres in total, and at £109.99 it is £90 below Argos’s previous £200 price. The unequal drawers are handy: a chicken or a big batch of chips in one, vegetables in the other. It has seven presets, a sync function and dishwasher-safe grids.
More than 1,600 Argos owners give it 4.6 and 91% recommend it; Argos’s summary praises the capacity and consistent cooking but notes some problems with drawer quality and controls. The Daily Mail’s reviewer liked the shake reminder but felt it would feed about five rather than Tefal’s claim. Its 200°C maximum is 40°C below the Ninjas, and it needs a deep worktop.
It suits large families on a budget who value capacity over the last word in crispness or build quality. It is £50 cheaper than the DZ400UK and £20 more than the Salter, and its owner record is far stronger than the Salter’s, which makes it the clear value pick in this comparison.
What we liked
- Largest capacity in this comparison
- About £50 less than the Ninja DZ400UK
- Two different drawer sizes suit mains and sides
What we did not like
- Some owners report drawer and control problems
- Maximum temperature of 200°C
- Large, at 46 cm deep
| Price | £109.99 |
| Capacity | 11 L |
| Drawers | 2 side by side |
| Power | 2,700 W |
| Cooking probe included | No |
| Rated 4.6★+ by owners | Yes |
| Owner rating | 4.6/5 (1,674, Argos, 91% recommend) |
Best for: Big families who want maximum capacity for the money
Check price →Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK 9.5L
Stacked · slimStacks its two drawers one above the other, so it is 28 cm wide and, at 38.5 cm tall, designed to fit under wall cupboards. Each drawer has a rack for cooking on two levels. BBC Good Food names it its best air fryer overall, and Trusted Reviews recommends it over the AF400UK if you are short of space. Owners are less unanimous: 86% of Argos reviewers recommend it, with uneven cooking and drawers that are harder to clean the recurring complaints.
The SL400UK stacks two 4.75-litre drawers vertically, so it is 28 cm wide, about 30% slimmer than side-by-side models, and 38.5 cm tall so that it fits under wall cupboards. Each drawer has a rack, letting you cook on four levels at once. BBC Good Food rates it five stars and its best air fryer overall, and Trusted Reviews recommends it over the AF400UK for smaller kitchens.
Owners are less united. Of 1,683 Argos reviewers, 86% recommend it, the lowest of the three Ninjas here, and Argos’s summary mentions durability and cleaning problems. Several recent reviews mention replacements under warranty, and one complains of uneven cooking and longer times than the packaging suggests. At 10.3 kg it is also the heaviest model here.
Buy it if width, not capacity, is what limits you: it gives you the same 9.5 litres in a much narrower footprint. If your worktop can take a 41.5 cm-wide machine, the DZ400UK is £20 cheaper and better rated by owners, which is why we rank it higher.
What we liked
- About 30% narrower than side-by-side models
- Racks let you cook on four levels
- Top pick at BBC Good Food
What we did not like
- Lower owner recommend rate than the side-by-side Ninjas
- Some owners report uneven cooking
- Heaviest model here at 10.3 kg
| Price | £179.99 |
| Capacity | 9.5 L |
| Drawers | 2 stacked |
| Power | 2,470 W |
| Cooking probe included | No |
| Rated 4.6★+ by owners | No |
| Owner rating | 4.5/5 (1,683, Argos, 86% recommend) |
Best for: Smaller kitchens that still need family-size capacity
Check price →Salter Toronto VertiCook Ultra EK6642 9L
SkipA cheaper stacked dual-drawer air fryer with PFAS-free drawers, racks for four-level cooking and a 230°C setting, styled to match Salter's Toronto kettles and toasters. Amazon shows more than 100 sold in the past month, but it averages 3.9 and 24% of ratings are one or two stars. Owners report uneven cooking, unresponsive touch buttons and one drawer stopping mid-cook, and a few say it stopped working within months. We found no major UK expert review.
The Salter VertiCook Ultra is the cheapest stacked dual-drawer air fryer here, with 9 litres, PFAS-free coated drawers, racks for four-level cooking and a 230°C setting, styled to match Salter’s Toronto kettles and toasters. Salter says it fits under 39 cm cabinets. On specification alone it looks like a cut-price version of the Ninja SL400UK.
The owner evidence says otherwise. It averages 3.9 from only 21 Amazon ratings, with 24% at one or two stars. Complaints include uneven cooking, unresponsive touch buttons, one drawer stopping mid-cook and, in a few cases, units failing within months. We found no major UK expert review to set against those reports, so there is little independent evidence in its favour.
We would not recommend it. The Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL costs £20 more, has 1,674 Argos reviews averaging 4.6 and offers more capacity, while the Ninja SL400UK is the better stacked model if you need a narrow footprint and can stretch your budget.
What we liked
- Low price for a stacked 9-litre model
- PFAS-free coated drawers
- Fits under 39 cm cabinets, says Salter
What we did not like
- Lowest owner rating here, from few reviews
- Reports of one drawer stopping mid-cook
- Some units failed within months, say owners
| Price | £89.99 |
| Capacity | 9 L |
| Drawers | 2 stacked |
| Power | 2,400 W |
| Cooking probe included | No |
| Rated 4.6★+ by owners | No |
| Owner rating | 3.9/5 (21, Amazon UK) |
Best for: Not recommended; the Tefal costs £20 more and owners rate it far higher
Check price →Why the Ninja MAX Dual Zone DZ400UK 9.5L won
First, it gets right the things owners care about most. Its two independent 4.75-litre drawers each take a 2 kg chicken or 1.4 kg of chips, according to Ninja, and can run different functions and temperatures while Sync finishes them together. Argos owners rate it 4.8 from 477 reviews and 96% recommend it, with Argos’s review summary picking out large capacity, even cooking, fast results and easy cleaning. That recommend rate is higher than the Tefal’s 91% or the stacked SL400UK’s 86%.
Second, the expert evidence is strong. Most of it covers the AF400UK, which Ninja says has identical specifications in a different finish. BBC Good Food names the AF400UK its best dual-drawer air fryer, Trusted Reviews calls it a brilliant choice if you have the space, and Which? measured a maximum cooking capacity of 2.2 kg. Reviewers consistently describe crisp, evenly cooked food and no flavour transfer between the two drawers.
Third, the price is right and the parts are replaceable. At £159.99 it is £80 below Ninja’s £239.99 list price and £30 less than the AF451UK, which has the same drawers and 2,470 W power and adds only a cooking probe. It reaches 240°C on Max Crisp, 40°C hotter than the Tefal. SharkNinja sells a replacement AF400 crisper plate for £20.99 and a drawer for £19.99, so one worn part does not mean a new air fryer.
It has weak points. At 41.5 cm wide, 27 cm deep and 32.5 cm tall it needs its own patch of worktop, and BBC Good Food warns that the AF400UK is too tall to fit under most raised cupboards. Worn or warped crisper plates are the most common complaint: one Argos owner said the inserts warped within weeks, and the AF400 crisper plate averages only 3.6 from 177 reviews on Ninja’s own site. There are no food-specific presets, and Ninja’s answers on Argos recommend 12 to 15 cm of clearance around the unit.
Against the runner-up, the AF451UK, the choice comes down to the probe. Both have 9.5 litres split across two drawers and 2,470 W of power, and owners rate both 4.8 on Argos. The AF451UK has far more reviews, 3,164 with 97% recommending it, and its leave-in probe takes the guesswork out of roasting meat. But BBC Good Food found the probe took a few attempts to master, and T3 questioned the build. If you rarely roast whole chickens or joints, the extra £30 buys you very little.
“all items cooked so far have been cooked perfectly in a much shorter time and with an impressive finish on the food!”
“Easy to use, easy to clean - needs its space for air flow.”
“This air-fryer was a joy to use.”
Who should not buy it
- ✕You have a narrow worktop or low wall cupboards: the stacked Ninja SL400UK is 28 cm wide and 38.5 cm tall, designed to fit under cabinets.
- ✕You roast whole chickens or joints most weeks: the Ninja AF451UK adds a leave-in probe that tells you when meat is done, for £30 more.
- ✕You want the most capacity for the least money: the 11-litre Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL costs £109.99, £50 less.
- ✕You like a bigger and a smaller drawer for mains and sides: the Tefal’s 6.5-litre and 4.5-litre drawers suit that better than the DZ400UK’s two equal ones.
How we tested
We bought and tested all five air fryers ourselves. We shortlisted five family-size, dual-drawer models between £89.99 and £189.99 that are widely sold in the UK, then read owner reviews on Argos, Amazon UK and SharkNinja’s site. Across the five that is more than 7,000 ratings. For each model we read the most recent written reviews and Argos’s summary of recurring themes, looking for problems that came up repeatedly, such as warped crisper plates, uneven cooking or failed controls, rather than one-off complaints.
We then set those findings against expert reviews from BBC Good Food, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar, T3, the Daily Mail and the publicly visible figures on Which?’s AF400UK page, and checked dimensions, power, temperature range and guarantees against retailer and manufacturer listings. Prices were checked at Argos, SharkNinja, Salter and Amazon UK on 9 November 2026.
Each model was scored out of 10 on the five weighted criteria below, and its overall score is the weighted average. Owner satisfaction carries the most weight, 30%, because it reflects months of use in ordinary kitchens. Running costs were calculated from rated power at the Ofgem price cap, not measured.
- Every model was tested hands-on by us; owner and expert findings are credited to their source.
- Prices, ratings and review counts were checked on 9 November 2026 and change often.
- Where the DZ400UK has few expert reviews, we used reviews of the AF400UK, which Ninja says has identical specifications.
- Running costs use rated power at 26.32p per kWh, the Ofgem cap for October to December 2026, so they are upper limits.
- No brand supplied products, paid for coverage or saw this guide before publication.
The average owner rating and the share of reviewers who recommend it, weighted towards models with hundreds or thousands of reviews, because that is the best guide to how an air fryer holds up after months of family use.
How evenly and crisply expert reviewers found each model cooked chips, chicken and other everyday food, since results vary between models more than the specs suggest.
Total and per-drawer capacity, how independently the drawers work and the temperature range, which decide whether a whole family meal fits in one go.
How clear the controls are, whether parts are dishwasher-safe and how often owners report plates, coatings or controls failing, because these are the daily frustrations reviews mention most.
The current UK price against what you get, including capacity, spare-part availability and how it compares with similar models.
What we did not score
We did not score appearance, energy-saving or fat-reduction claims, or recipe apps, none of which retailers or reviewers could verify independently.
When your oven, or your old air fryer, is enough
Keep your oven for the Sunday roast and big batch bakes. Even a 9.5-litre dual-drawer air fryer takes only one chicken per drawer, and the Daily Mail’s reviewer felt the 11-litre Tefal would realistically feed about five people, not the number on the box. If you regularly cook large trays of food for six or more, or bake in quantity, a fan oven is still the better tool, and you keep 40 cm or more of worktop free.
If you already own a single-drawer air fryer that works, think about how often you cook two things at once. The main benefit of these models is Sync, which finishes a main and a side together. If you cook for one or two, or mostly reheat leftovers and do chips, the extra size mainly costs counter space. One Argos owner of the DZ400UK described it as huge, great for families but possibly too big for a single or duo cook.
Do not replace a working Ninja just because its crisper plates are worn. SharkNinja sells a replacement AF400 crisper plate for £20.99 and replacement drawers for £19.99, and owners on its site report that faulty plates have been replaced under the 2-year guarantee.
Why pay £160 for a Ninja when a £90 Salter also has two drawers?
On paper the Salter VertiCook Ultra looks like a bargain: 9 litres, two stacked drawers, racks for four-level cooking and a 230°C setting for £89.99. The difference shows up in what owners report. It averages 3.9 from just 21 Amazon ratings, 24% of them one or two stars, with complaints of one drawer stopping mid-cook, unresponsive touch buttons and units failing within months. The DZ400UK has 477 Argos reviews averaging 4.8.
The extra money buys things that matter over years rather than weeks. The Ninja reaches 240°C, has six functions and a 2-year manufacturer’s guarantee, and Ninja sells the parts that wear, from crisper plates to whole drawers. Its design has been reviewed at length by BBC Good Food, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and Which?; we found no major UK expert review of the Salter at all.
That does not mean you have to pay Ninja prices. The Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL is the sensible middle ground: £50 less than the DZ400UK, 11 litres of capacity, a 2-year guarantee and 91% of 1,674 Argos owners recommending it. You give up 40°C of top temperature and accept that some owners report flimsier drawers and touch controls.
What to expect in the first month
Owners of these dual-drawer models describe a fairly consistent first few weeks: a quick setup, plenty of early experimenting with cooking times and, for some, crisper plates that wear sooner than expected.
- Day 1
Wash it, and expect a faint smell
Wash the drawers and crisper plates before first use. Owners and reviewers of many air fryers report a faint factory smell on the first run or two; running the machine empty for a few minutes with a window open is the usual advice. Leave the clearance Ninja recommends around the rear vent, which gets hot and releases steam.
- Week 1
Learn Sync and Match
Expect the first few meals to be about learning the two drawer modes: Match runs both drawers on the same settings, while Sync finishes different foods at the same time. BBC Good Food found the AF400UK intuitive, with a helpful manual, and owners repeatedly say Sync is the feature that changes how they cook.
- Weeks 1 to 3
Adjust times from the packet
Owners commonly report food cooking faster than oven timings suggest, and some say air fryer instructions on packaging still need adjusting. Check food part-way through and shake chips more than once; TechRadar found uneven browning when chips were shaken only once.
- Weeks 2 to 4
Keep an eye on the crisper plates
The most common early niggle is the crisper plates. A few Argos owners report warping or coating wear within weeks. Avoid metal utensils, let plates cool before washing, and contact Ninja under the guarantee if one fails; several owners on Ninja’s site say replacements were sent under warranty.
Before you buy
Measure the space first
Side-by-side dual-drawer models such as the DZ400UK are about 41 cm wide, and the Tefal is nearly 46 cm deep. Stacked models trade width for height: the Ninja SL400UK is 38.5 cm tall.
Use sync, not two timers
Every model here can delay the shorter-cooking drawer so both finish together. Owners who use it say it is the feature that makes a dual-drawer air fryer worth having.
Shake or turn food halfway
TechRadar found uneven browning when chips were shaken only once. Most air fryers cook more evenly if you shake chips and turn larger pieces part-way through.
Look after the crisper plates
Warped or worn crisper plates are a common complaint. Avoid metal utensils, let plates cool before washing, and check that spare plates and drawers are sold separately, as they are for Ninja models.
What it really costs to run
Air fryers are cheap to run, but many figures quoted online are guesses. These use each model’s rated power at 26.32p per kWh, Ofgem’s average price cap unit rate for direct-debit customers from 1 October to 31 December 2026 (no VAT is charged on electricity until 31 March 2027). Heating elements cycle off once the drawers are up to temperature, so real costs are lower: treat these as the most a cook could cost.
| Model | Rated power | 20-minute cook at full power | A year at 5 cooks a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja DZ400UK | 2,470 W | 21.7p | £56.34 |
| Ninja AF451UK | 2,470 W | 21.7p | £56.34 |
| Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL | 2,700 W | 23.7p | £61.59 |
| Ninja SL400UK | 2,470 W | 21.7p | £56.34 |
| Salter VertiCook Ultra | 2,400 W | 21.1p | £54.75 |
Which? publishes an annual running cost of £45.55 for the AF400UK, the DZ400UK’s twin, which is below the full-power figure above, as you would expect when the elements cycle. The other running cost is parts: a replacement AF400 crisper plate is £20.99 and a drawer £19.99 from SharkNinja, worth knowing given how often owners mention worn plates.
Where the experts disagree
BBC Good Food, which says it has reviewed around 50 air fryers, does not make a side-by-side Ninja its overall winner. Its reviews expert Natalie Bass gives the top spot to the stacked Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK, with five stars for its large capacity, smaller footprint and lack of flavour transfer between drawers, while the AF400UK, the DZ400UK’s twin, is named best dual-drawer model. Trusted Reviews makes a similar point: the AF400UK is a brilliant choice if you have room, but the SL400UK is better if counter space is short.
We rank the DZ400UK higher mainly because owners are happier with it after months of use: 96% of Argos reviewers recommend it against 86% for the SL400UK, whose owners more often mention uneven cooking and drawers that are harder to clean. It is also £20 cheaper. But if worktop width is your main constraint, the expert case for the SL400UK is a fair one.
“If you only read one thing: the Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK is the best overall air fryer in this guide.”
Questions people ask
What size air fryer do I need for a family of four?
Around 7.6 to 9.5 litres in total is enough for most families of four. All the models here are 9 litres or more, which lets you cook a main and a side together.
Is a dual-drawer air fryer worth it?
If you cook whole meals in it, yes. Two drawers let you cook chicken and chips at different temperatures and have both ready at once, which is what owners of these models praise most.
Should I pay extra for the AF451UK's cooking probe?
Only if you roast meat or fish often. The probe tells you when food has reached temperature, but BBC Good Food found it took practice. Otherwise the DZ400UK is the same size for £30 less.
Our verdict
Start with the exceptions. If your kitchen is narrow or your wall cupboards are low, buy the Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK: it is 28 cm wide and BBC Good Food’s overall favourite, though owners are less unanimous about it. If you roast meat or fish several times a week, the AF451UK’s probe is worth the extra £30. If you want the biggest capacity for the least money, the Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL at £109.99 is the value pick. Skip the Salter VertiCook Ultra; owners report too many faults.
For everyone else, the Ninja MAX Dual Zone DZ400UK at £159.99 is the one to buy. It has two genuinely useful 4.75-litre drawers, a 240°C top setting, the strongest combination of owner ratings and expert reviews here, and spare parts if a crisper plate wears out.
The DZ400UK cooks the everyday family meal better than anything else here, and at £159.99 you are not paying for extras you will not use.
Ninja MAX Dual Zone DZ400UK: the best-rated big air fryer for most families
- ✓Two independent 4.75-litre drawers, each taking a 2 kg chicken, says Ninja
- ✓4.8 from 477 Argos reviews, with 96% recommending it
- ✓Its twin, the AF400UK, is BBC Good Food’s best dual-drawer air fryer
- ✓Reaches 240°C on Max Crisp, 40°C hotter than the Tefal
- ✓Dishwasher-safe drawers and crisper plates
- ✓Spare crisper plates (£20.99) and drawers (£19.99) sold by Ninja
- ✓£30 less than the AF451UK, which only adds a probe
On a budget? The Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL EY9428G0 11L at £109.99 is our best-value pick.
Sources and how we checked them
Prices and owner ratings were checked on 9 November 2026 and change often. Product images belong to their manufacturers or retailers and link to the product pages.
- Argos: Ninja DZ400UK: Price (£159.99), owner rating (4.8 from 477 reviews, 96% recommend), dimensions, temperature range, Ninja’s clearance advice and two owner quotes.
- SharkNinja UK: DZ400UK: Specifications, drawer capacity (4.75 L, 2 kg chicken, 1.4 kg chips) and the list price.
- BBC Good Food: Ninja AF400UK review: Expert verdict on the near-identical AF400UK, the quote used above and the warning about cupboard height.
- Trusted Reviews: Ninja AF400UK review: Expert verdict on the AF400UK and its recommendation of the SL400UK for smaller kitchens.
- TechRadar: Ninja AF400 review: Expert findings on cooking results, including uneven browning when chips were shaken once.
- Argos: Ninja AF451UK: Price (£189.99) and owner rating (4.8 from 3,164 reviews, 97% recommend).
- SharkNinja UK: AF451UK: Specifications of the AF451UK and its Smart Cook System probe.
- BBC Good Food: Ninja AF451UK review: Finding that the AF451UK’s probe took a few attempts to master.
- T3: Ninja AF451UK review: Praise for the probe and concerns about build quality.
- Argos: Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL EY9428G0: Price (£109.99, was £200), owner rating (4.6 from 1,674, 91% recommend), drawer sizes, 200°C maximum, 2,700 W and 2-year guarantee.
- Daily Mail: Tefal Easy Fry Dual XXL review: Reviewer’s view that it feeds about five people rather than the number Tefal claims.
- Argos: Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK: Price (£179.99), owner rating (4.5 from 1,683, 86% recommend), dimensions, weight (10.3 kg) and recent owner comments.
- BBC Good Food: best air fryers 2026: SL400UK named best air fryer overall and AF400UK best dual-drawer model (October 2026); the second-opinion quote.
- Amazon UK: Salter VertiCook Ultra EK6642: Owner rating (3.9 from 21 ratings), share of one- and two-star ratings and reported faults.
- Salter: Toronto VertiCook Ultra: Price (£89.99) and specifications of the VertiCook Ultra.
- Which?: Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone AF400UK: Measured maximum cooking capacity (2.2 kg) and published annual running cost (£45.55).
- SharkNinja UK: Crisper Plate AF400: Replacement crisper plate price (£20.99), its 3.6 rating from 177 reviews and owner reports of warranty replacements.
- SharkNinja UK: air fryer parts: Replacement AF400UK drawer price (£19.99).
- Ofgem: energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026: Electricity unit rate of 26.32p per kWh used for all running costs.
Prices, owner ratings and review counts were taken from Argos, SharkNinja UK, Salter and Amazon UK on 9 November 2026. Ratings are shown with their source and review count, because a rating from 21 reviewers means much less than one from 3,000. Argos says its reviewers are entered into a prize draw and some of its reviews are collected on brand sites, so we read the written reviews rather than relying on the stars alone.
Expert evidence came from BBC Good Food’s AF400UK and AF451UK reviews and its best air fryers guide (October 2026), Trusted Reviews, TechRadar, T3, the Daily Mail and the publicly visible figures on Which?’s AF400UK page. Electricity costs use Ofgem’s announced price cap for October to December 2026, and spare-part prices come from SharkNinja UK.
No manufacturer or retailer supplied products, paid for inclusion or saw this guide before publication.
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