Air fryer buying guide: 6 models compared from manufacturer information

Choosing air fryers: the decision in brief

An air fryer is a compact countertop appliance that circulates hot air around food, so the buying decision is mostly about fit rather than raw specification: how much food you cook at once, how much worktop or cupboard space you can spare, and how much you want to adjust by hand. Two models with similar-sounding names can differ in basket layout, controls and the way the food is reached, and those differences show up in daily use far more than a headline figure does.

Start with the people you cook for and the meals you cook most often, then use the manufacturer details below to see which models describe the capacity, controls and design you need. A single large cavity, a basket and drawer, or separate cooking zones suit different households, and none is automatically the right choice.

This guide covers 6 models: Ninja AF400UK, Ninja AF500UK, Ninja AF300UK, Ninja AF451UK, Ninja FN101UKST, Tefal EY901N40.

How this guide was put together

This guide is built from manufacturer information only. Each product detail below is a statement taken from the manufacturer's own product page for that model, kept in its approved wording and linked to the page it came from. MainBuyer has not tested these products hands-on, so nothing here describes how a model performs, sounds, feels or lasts in use.

Figures are not converted or combined, and models are not ranked, scored or recommended. The general buying guidance is editorial advice about the type of product as a whole; it does not imply that any listed model has, or lacks, a particular feature.

The 6 models at a glance

Manufacturer statements side by side

The tables below group manufacturer statements by topic. Each statement is repeated exactly as it was approved from the manufacturer's page. Two figures under the same heading may not measure the same thing, so read each statement in full before comparing models. A gap in a table means the information used for this guide did not include that topic, not that the feature is missing.

Capacity

Dimensions

Weight

Controls

Modes

Components and contents

Power

Design

Product by product

Ninja AF400UK

• The Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK has a total capacity of 9.5L.
• The air fryer offers 6 cooking functions: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate and Reheat.
• Each drawer fits up to 1.4kg of fries or a 2kg chicken.
• The air fryer has 2 separate cooking drawers, and cooking programs and times can be set to SYNC or MATCH between them.
• Product dimensions are 51.79 cm L x 42.19 cm W x 41.91 cm H.
• The air fryer weighs 11.5 kg.
• The power cord length is 81.28 cm.
• The box contains the main unit, 2 non-stick drawers, 2 non-stick crisper plates, an instruction booklet and an inspiration guide.
• The air fryer has dishwasher safe parts.
• The air fryer has variable temperature controls.

Source: Ninja AF400UK — manufacturer information.

Ninja AF500UK

• The air fryer offers 7 cooking functions: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate and Prove.
• The MegaZone can fit larger foods, including a whole 2kg leg of lamb with roast vegetables.
• The AF500UK weighs 11.1 kg.
• The AF500UK product dimensions are 56.79 cm L x 38.71 cm W x 41.91 cm H.
• The AF500UK is rated at 240 volts, 2,470 watts and 11 amps.
• The box contains the main unit, 1 x 10.4L non-stick drawer, 1 x divider, 2 x non-stick crisper plates, an instruction booklet and an inspiration guide.

Source: Ninja AF500UK — manufacturer information.

Ninja AF300UK

• Each drawer fits up to 1kg of fries or a 1.6kg chicken.
• The air fryer has 2 independent cooking zones, allowing different foods, times and programs to be cooked in each zone.
• It has 2 separate cooking drawers, and cooking programs and times can be synced or matched between the drawers.
• The air fryer offers 6 cooking functions: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Reheat and Dehydrate.
• The air fryer has variable temperature controls.
• Parts of the air fryer are dishwasher safe.

Source: Ninja AF300UK — manufacturer information.

Ninja AF451UK

• The air fryer has a total capacity of 9.5L.
• The air fryer has 6 cooking functions: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate and Reheat.
• The unit includes a Digital Cooking Probe that monitors food temperature.
• Product dimensions are 50.8 cm L x 40.59 cm W x 41.5 cm H.
• The air fryer weighs 12.9 kg.
• Box contents: main unit, 2 non-stick drawers, 2 non-stick crisper plates and 1 digital cooking probe.
• The air fryer has 2 independent cooking zones, so different foods can be cooked with different programs and times.
• The two separate cooking drawers allow cooking programs and times to be set to SYNC or MATCH.
• Each drawer fits up to 1.4kg of fries or a 2kg chicken.

Source: Ninja AF451UK — manufacturer information.

Ninja FN101UKST

• The Ninja CRISPi FN101UKST weighs 5.08 kg.
• Product dimensions are 24.84 cm L x 29.74 cm W x 29.26 cm H.
• Electrical rating is 240 volts, 1,700 watts and 8 amps.
• The box includes a 1.4L glass container, a 3.8L Ninja glass container, an adaptor, a large crisper plate, a small crisper plate, a large lid and a small lid.
• The Ninja CRISPi is a 4-in-1 portable glass air fryer cooking system.
• The CleanCrisp glassware is dishwasher-safe.

Source: Ninja FN101UKST — manufacturer information.

Tefal EY901N40

• The air fryer has a rated power of 2700W.
• The air fryer measures 418mm x 402mm x 305mm (L x W x H).
• The drawers and cooking plate are dishwasher safe.
• The Sync Finish function allows two foods to be cooked in the two drawers with different settings so both finish at the same time.
• The larger (XL) drawer fits a whole roast chicken.
• The air fryer uses Air Fry technology with air pulse, time and temperature control.

Source: Tefal EY901N40 — manufacturer information.

What to look for when buying air fryers

Capacity and household size

Capacity is usually stated in litres, but the figure may describe a basket, a drawer or the combined cooking space, and it says little about how much food fits in a single layer. Think about batch size: cooking for one or two people rarely needs the space that feeding a family or preparing several items together does. When a manufacturer lists a capacity, check what it measures before setting it beside another model's figure.

Basket, drawer or multi-zone layout

Compare how each layout is loaded and cleaned. With dual drawers or separate zones, check whether the manufacturer documents separate controls or synchronised finishing rather than assuming those functions are included. A stated capacity may be shared between zones. Oven-style designs with shelves offer a different shape of cooking space again. Look at how food is loaded, whether the basket lifts out and how easily you can reach the food during cooking.

Controls and programmes

Manual dials for temperature and time are quick to learn, while digital panels and preset programmes can save effort on dishes you repeat. Consider whether you want to adjust settings mid-cook, whether the controls sit where you can reach them, and whether a companion app is something you would really use. Programme names are not a measure of results, so look for the temperature and time ranges the manufacturer lists.

Size, weight and storage

Air fryers take up more room than their capacity suggests because of the space around the cooking chamber and the vents. Measure the spot where the appliance will stand, leave the clearance the manufacturer's instructions describe and compare the listed dimensions and weight. If you will put it away between uses, weight and footprint matter as much as capacity.

Cleaning and maintenance

Removable baskets, trays and accessories make cleaning simpler, but whether a part is dishwasher-safe, coated or hand-wash only differs between models and should be confirmed from the manufacturer's own instructions. Think about the routine after greasy food and whether a worn part could be replaced later.

Power, noise and kitchen setup

Air fryers draw a substantial load while heating, so check the listed power rating against the socket you plan to use and avoid assuming an extension lead is suitable. A power rating does not establish cooking results or running costs. When noise measurements are absent from the manufacturer information, if it matters in an open-plan space, look for independent measured data instead of guessing from the specification.

Accessories and what is in the box

Racks, skewers, liners or extra trays can change what a model can cook, but accessories vary between variants and sellers. Treat the manufacturer's list of included components as the reference and confirm that the variant you buy matches the one described.

What this guide cannot tell you

• The details come from each manufacturer's own page as it was checked, and pages change; confirm the current details on the manufacturer's page before buying.
• Only a selection of each page's details is included, so a feature that is not mentioned under a model has been neither confirmed nor ruled out.
• Prices, availability, running costs and retailer offers are not covered.
• Manufacturer statements describe design and specification. They are not independent measurements of performance.
• Cooking results, such as how evenly food browns or how crisp it becomes, are not covered by manufacturer specifications.
• Capacity figures may measure different things from one model to the next, so they are shown as written and not ranked.
• Fan noise, outer casing heat and the effort of cleaning cannot be judged from the listed details.

Buyer checklist

• How many people do you usually cook for, and in how many batches?
• Does the listed capacity refer to a basket, a drawer or a combined space?
• Do you need one cooking zone, or the option to cook two foods separately?
• Where will it stand while in use, and is there clearance around it for the vents?
• Are the controls dials, buttons or a touch panel, and can you reach them comfortably?
• Which parts come out for cleaning, and what does the manufacturer say about washing them?
• Does the manufacturer list the accessories you expect to find in the box?
• Does the variant you are buying match the one described on the manufacturer's page?
• If noise or even cooking matters to you, have you looked for independent measurements?

Sources

Manufacturer information, not hands-on testing.

• Ninja AF400UK — manufacturer information
• Ninja AF500UK — manufacturer information
• Ninja AF300UK — manufacturer information
• Ninja AF451UK — manufacturer information
• Ninja FN101UKST — manufacturer information
• Tefal EY901N40 — manufacturer information