SalterEK5106

How we test quality of cooking

We cook chunky frozen chips in our tests as our surveys show this is more popular than fresh chips or thin french fries. We look for chips that are golden and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, evenly cooked, and not too greasy or oily. Chicken drumsticks are also cooked in all the air fryers to see how well each does at creating a crisp coating without overcooking and drying out the insides. Chocolate cakes should be evenly risen and moist, with a soft fluffy texture and no overcooked dry patches.

How we test machine performance

We measure how much energy uses, per 100g of chips and chicken cooked in our tests. The more energy efficient it is, the higher the star rating and overall test score. We also record how long each air fryer takes to heat up and cook. The faster an air fryer is, per 100g of chips and chicken cooked in our tests, the higher the star rating for cooking time.

How we test ease of use

Our ease of use assessment considers a lot - from setting up and using the controls, to watching your cooking and cleaning up after.

How we test build quality

This is a subjective rating based on the construction of each part of the air fryer. We particularly pay attention to the hinges and joints, such as where the lid joins the base, as well as the buttons and switches.