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Which air fryer brand to buy in 2023

Our unique survey data reveals which brands, including Ninja, Phillips, Tefal and Tower, are loved most by their owners and which develop the fewest faults over time
Manca Virant

In this article

Damaged or cracked body, auto programs not working properly and cooking performance malfunctions are some of the most common air fryer faults, according to surveyed owners. If you're looking to invest in one, buying from a top brand might save you some money and stress in the long run.

Knowing which brands are more likely to develop faults is vital when you're buying a new air fryer. That’s why this year, in our unique customer satisfaction survey, we've asked 2,330 Which? Connect panel members and members of the public to tell us whether they're happy with their air fryer and if they've experienced any problems.

Our survey data takes into account which brands had faults reported and whether they needed to be repaired or replaced as a result.

We've crunched the numbers for the biggest manufacturers – including Ninja, Tefal, Phillips, Instant Pot and Russell Hobbs – and have calculated a customer score for each, so you know which brands come recommended by owners.

 Need help deciding? Read all about the best air fryers worthy of a spot on your kitchen counter.

Air fryer brands rated

The table below summarises this year’s results, based on air fryers bought in the past seven years. Brands are ranked by their customer score, which reflects whether customers would recommend each brand and their level of satisfaction.

The 'proportion faulty' is the percentage that experienced a fault and the 'proportion repaired or replaced' is the percentage that were fixed or thrown away due to a fault.

Only logged-in Which? members can see which brands achieved the scores in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

BrandCustomer scoreProportion faulty in the first five/seven yearsProportion repaired or replaced due to a fault
86%3%3%
78%0%0%
77%23%18%
76%12%6%
76%14%9%
76%7%2%
75%14%8%

  • Table notes: The customer score, proportion faulty and proportion repaired or replaced are based on a survey of 2,330 people who own air fryers, conducted in May 2022. 
  • The proportion faulty and proportion repaired or replaced is based on appliances bought in the past seven years.

Best vs worst air fryer brands

As you can see in our table, there's a big difference between the best and worst air fryers in both the satisfaction score reported by customers and the proportion of appliances that developed faults. 


BestWorst
Customer score86%66%
Proportion faulty in the first five/seven years0%32%
Proportion repaired or replaced due to a fault0%26%

To see how individual models perform, head over to our air fryer reviews.

Which air fryer brand is most reliable? 

Air fryers have only been around for about a decade, but they've slowly become a UK kitchen staple with their popularity surging over the past few years. In fact, John Lewis reported a 400% increase in air fryer sales during 2021. 

Since they're a fairly new appliance, we're only starting to understand how the brands perform over time, and as our table of survey data below shows, there are marked differences between some brands.

 It's worth noting that the average air fryer warranty is two years, but you'd expect a decent appliance to remain fault-free for far longer than that.


Proportion repaired or replaced due to a fault
Best brand
0%
Average for all air fryers
6%
Worst brand
26%

Verdict: air fryer brands in-depth

We've pulled together our fault data, customer insight and their average performance in our independent air fryer tests to give you an in-depth look at each brand. 

Only Which? members can log in to view our verdicts on the brands listed below and whether they're worth buying.

If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access to the following air fryer brand verdicts: Asda George Home, Breville, DeLonghi, Instant Pot, Lakeland, Morphy Richards, Ninja, Philips, Russell Hobbs, Salter, Tefal and Tower.

Already know which air fryer brand you want? Use these links to go straight to our reviews and find your ideal model for each brand:

The three most common air fryer faults

1. Body cracked or damaged (17% of all faults reported)

A damaged or cracked body can be an issue before you even start using a product. If you discover an air fryer you've ordered is damaged when you open the box, you should either return it to the store or, if you bought it online, report the problem to the retailer, supplying photographic evidence. In both cases, you're entitled to a refund or a replacement.

In our survey, 26% of owners that reported this fault, stated that they carried on using the product as usual. However, using a faulty product – even if it is still working – can be dangerous, especially if you don't know the cause. We recommend replacing the appliance or taking it to a specialist at an approved repair centre who should be able to repair it. 

2. Auto programmes not working (15%)

Although this is one of most common air fryer faults according to our survey, 49% of air fryer owners that reported this issue decided not repair the product, stating it was not a big deal and they could live with the problem. 

From display issues to interior electrical problems, there could be a number of reasons for this fault, but sometimes the solution is fairly simple. For example, it could happen because the air fryer's display is on standby mode, which can be fixed by turning the appliance on and off again to reset it. 

If you suspect your air fryer has an electrical fault, you should never attempt to open it up and fix it yourself. Take it to a specialist at an approved repair centre who should be able to identify and repair the issue.

3. Cooking performance malfunction (10%)

If the food in the air fryer isn't cooking properly, the most likely cause is uneven distribution of the food inside the fryer. An air fryer should always be loaded evenly and food kept in it for the appropriate amount of time, using the recommended temperature setting for the best results.

If the issue is internal and the fault is affecting your appliance to the point of no longer being usable, check with the retailer or manufacturer to see if your appliance is still within warranty as you might be able to get it repaired or replaced, depending on how long you've had the product.

One of the key ways to make sure your air fryer lasts is by making sure you clean it thoroughly after every use. Always unplug the unit from the wall outlet before cleaning.

Need more information? see Faulty product? How to get a refund, repair or replacement.

How we calculate the best and worst air fryer brands 

Which? has a wealth of information on Britain's favourite brands. Every year, we ask Which? members to tell us about the home appliances they own – from how likely they would be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once they get them home.

This year 6,997 Which? Connect panel members and 3,003 members of the public told us about more than 20,454 individual products. We calculate a brand's customer score, fault rate and proportion replaced or repaired based on the results of our annual survey.

Our surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best air fryer to buy.

To find out more about our rigorous lab tests and what makes a Best Buy, head over to how we test air fryers page.

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