Under €100 is where most first air fryers are bought — and where the gap between 'cheap and good' and 'cheap and disposable' is widest. The five below all crisp properly and carry real warranties; the differences are capacity, controls and how much shaking the basket demands. One of them embarrasses machines twice its price.
Price and availability accurate as of publishing; subject to change.
Buying guide: how to choose
Size by household
1–2 people: 3.5–5L. Families of 3–4: 6–8L or dual-zone. Batch cookers and big families: 9L+. Under-buying is the #1 regret in reviews — a too-small basket means cooking in frustrating rounds.
Dual-zone or single?
Two drawers let you cook mains and sides simultaneously at different temperatures — the feature families keep once they've had it. Singles are cheaper, smaller on the counter, and fine for one or two people.
Energy savings are real
An air fryer at ~1,500 W cooking for 20 minutes uses roughly 0.5 kWh (~18 cents). A fan oven preheated and run for 45 minutes uses 1.3–1.8 kWh (~45–65 cents). Cook five times a week and the machine pays for itself within a year or two.
What actually matters
Skip the 12-preset marketing. What separates good from bad: drawer build quality, even cooking without shaking religiously, dishwasher-safe parts, and a max temp of 200°C+. Ninja dominates because it nails these four.
Frequently asked questions
Ninja vs Tower vs Tefal — which brand?
Ninja leads on build quality, even cooking and resale value, at a price premium. Tower undercuts everyone with respectable quality. Tefal sits between, strong on capacity innovation. Our testing-based view: buy Ninja if budget allows, Tower if it doesn't.
How much electricity does an air fryer use?
Typical units draw 1,400–2,400 W but only heat intermittently. A 20-minute cook uses about 0.4–0.6 kWh — 15–22 cents at standard Irish rates. Night-rate owners on smart meters can batch-cook even cheaper.
What can't an air fryer do?
Anything with wet batter (it drips before setting), very large roasts, and big baking trays. Steaks are better in a pan. Everything else from frozen chips to whole chickens (in 7L+ models) is fair game.
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