Should you even bother with an air fryer in 2025?

It’s the question I’ve been asked more times than I can count – by friends, family, readers, and even fellow food editors. Should I get an air fryer?

After all, take a look at social media for more than a minute and you’re bound to see someone raving about the best air fryers – whether they're using one to make crispy veggie fries for the kids, or clever, five-minute salmon bites for lunch prep.

I was skeptical to begin with. I got my first air fryer as a housewarming gift from my partner, as we’d just moved into a tiny apartment with no oven. I'm a trained cook and I was working for a healthy recipe box company at the time. I was worried that this small, overhyped machine would never stack up to my expectations or suit my needs.

Now, I use my air fryer almost daily to make breakfast egg bites, crispy carbs, and healthy desserts (seriously, the list of things you can cook in an air fryer is longer than you think). I constantly test new product launches for work, too, and air fryer designs only seem to get sleeker, quicker, more multifunctional – and many brands are expanding into non-toxic air fryers, too.

While I genuinely love my air fryer, I’ll be the first to admit – it’s not for everyone. So, who should get an air fryer? Let’s unpack all the pros and cons with some expert advice from consumer journalists, product testers, nutritionists, and chefs.

Do you really need an air fryer?

If you're looking for quick answers, I've summed it up in the bullet points below. You'll find further expert insights from nutritionists, chefs, product testers, and energy-saving specialists further down the page.

Who will suit an air fryer?

• Anyone who enjoys crispy, golden food
• Foodies who want to cook with reduced oil
• Families with young kids who need dinner on the table, fast
• Busy professionals without the time or energy to cook at the stove
• Anyone with a small kitchen that lacks an oven

Who won't suit an air fryer?

• Minimalists (air fryers can create countertop clutter)
• Anybody who hates washing up (air fryers need regular cleaning and more maintenance than ovens)
• Anybody who needs to serve very large portions (sizes can be limited)

What can you make in an air fryer?

Air fryers are famous for crispy quick results on French fries, nuggets, goujons, and tater tots. I can confirm – these guilty pleasures are even more delicious in the air fryer, and ideal for serving quick meals to your kids. But there is a whole lot more your air fryer can do.

I love using mine for roasting crispy asparagus, sweet potato fries and tender roasted aubergines. You can also crisp up frozen breakfast pastries, dehydrate fruit jerky snacks, and make desserts like cookies and brownies if your model has a 'bake' function.'

In 2025, air fryers have become a lot more multifunctional, allowing you to get interesting functions like steam cooking and pressure cooking, too. For example, our product tester Laura, actually replaced her oven and Instant Pot after reviewing the Ninja Combi, proving that with the right air fryer, you can cook almost anything you like.

Does air fryer food taste good?

In short: yes. Take it from Mob Kitchen chef Jodie Nixon, who confesses that she once turned her nose up at air fryers. Now, she swears by them for getting crispier textures and quicker results on her recipes, like baked chickpeas and fake-away chicken tikka.

Air fryers circulate hot air in a way that locks in moisture and creates that perfect crisp exterior. And because they are smaller than ovens and your food is closer to the heating element, it all cooks more evenly and quickly.

This is best exemplified on French fries. I have actually vowed to never cook fries in the deep fryer or oven again, since my Ninja DoubleStack creates great crispy exteriors and fluffy interiors in just 15 minutes. There is no oily residue, either, since you don't need to use much at all.

If your air-fried food tastes bad or burnt, that's most likely down to user error. You will need to adjust timings to avoid overcooking your food in the air fryer, since they are so quick and powerful. If you're just starting out, it's a good idea to try the air fryer recipes provided by your model's manufacturer (there is usually a recipe book included in the box). Plus, check your food and shake the basket a couple of times to ensure well-cooked results.

Are air fryers really faster than convection ovens?

In the battle of air fryers vs. convection ovens, there is one clear winner. Air fryers are quicker to preheat (some models heat up in mere seconds) and the cooking times are speedier, too.

That's because air fryers are much smaller and therefore more efficient than full-sized ovens. They constantly whip hot air around your food rather than relying on ambient heat, and they heat your food from all directions. Air fryers can hit peak temperatures much faster, and because they're smaller, your food is simply closer to the heating element.

Sometimes, I like to make a cooked English breakfast on the weekend, and to save time, I'll air fry the sausages and hash browns. It takes 10 minutes in an air fryer with no oil, where it used to take half an hour or 40 minutes in my oven. If you're looking for the quickest air fryer, I've pitted the most famous brands against each other, and Ninja air fryers are the speediest I have tried so far, since they don't even need to preheat.

Do air fryers actually save money on your utility bills?

One area to be slightly sceptical about is the energy-saving credentials. Air fryers are often touted as reducing your energy consumption. Ben Dhesi, an expert in saving energy, says that 'any utility cost savings are generally minimal and contingent upon usage habits'.

Hypothetically, air fryers are more economical than an oven. 'Air fryers heat much faster, so little preheating is needed; money and energy could be saved at that point,' says Ben. He adds that 'Air fryers also use less oil, so the ingredient savings could offset some energy costs.'

But Ben ultimately told me that 'the shorter cook times likely won't outweigh the wattage difference between a 1200-1400W air fryer versus a 2000-5000W oven'. He concluded that 'while air fryers are more energy efficient for smaller tasks, they likely won't make a significant dent in most households' utility expenses'.

It's definitely cheaper to use an air fryer for your tater tots, rather than firing up a big convection oven for a small task. But ultimately, you'll save a few cents, not the big bucks. Still, every little helps.

Ben Dhesi

Ben Dhesi, the creator of the energy-saving mobile app HUGO, built his career providing energy-saving software to businesses. He has won two ‘Energy Buyer of the Year’ awards and the Energy Awards ‘Energy Technology Innovation of the Year’.

Are air fryers healthy?

They can be. I recently interviewed 6 expert nutritionists for their healthy air frying tips, and the consensus was clear. When used correctly, air fryers make it easier to cook with less oil and enjoy delicious whole foods without much effort. Think: frozen veg, crispy chickpea snacks and quick salmon fillets for a lunch box.

But let’s be honest, many people use their air fryers for fries, nuggets, and processed foods (myself included, no shame here). And a French fry is still a French fry, no matter how you cook it. Although nutrition expert at Zoe.com, Fiona Lawson, explains 'the evidence so far suggests that [air-fried foods] have fewer potentially harmful compounds than deep-fried foods,' she caveats this by saying: 'No single way to cook is automatically better all the time. Instead, it’s best to use a range of methods to make a wide variety of foods.'

More importantly, there are some concerns over toxicity. Many models use non-stick coatings that contain PTFE, PFOA, or PFOS chemicals that, if overheated or damaged, might leach into food. We asked medical experts: 'are air fryers toxic?' and they reassured us that the risk is low if you take certain precautions. But if you're worried, look for the best non-toxic air fryers with ceramic or stainless steel cooking surfaces – like the KitchenAid Digital Toaster Oven for example.

Air fryer FAQs

Final verdict: Is an air fryer worth it?

If you value speed and ease in the kitchen (really, who doesn’t?) then yes, an air fryer is worth it.

If you don’t have space or budget, never fear. You can just use your oven – it will just be a little slower, more energy-consuming, and results will be less crispy.

If you love the idea of an air fryer already, but you want a do-it-all appliance to avoid an extra piece of counter clutter, you might prefer one of the best toaster ovens (which can usually air fry, toast, steam, and proof too). You just need to sacrifice some counter space and budget, but it will be worth it for the multifunctionality.

In my opinion, an air fryer suits most people. If you need guidance on which specific model suits you, have a look at our guides to the best air fryers 2025 and the best non-toxic air fryers 2025 – all tried and tested by our team.