The controls are spelt out on the display, so you won’t need to refer to the instructions too much and there’s also a handy ‘keep warm’ mode. We had no issues mastering the basic functions, though the controls are dimly-lit so can be difficult to read. Our tests also prove that air fryers really can save you money, but only if you use them effectively by considering the cooking capacity and number of people you'll be cooking for. Depending on your budget, they’ll be controlled with either manual buttons or a touchscreen display. They were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, though slightly dry (the downside to most air fryers).

In fact, this increasingly popular appliance can cook everything from chicken to cupcakes (and much, much more) in a few simple steps, making it a great multi-purpose gadget to have in the kitchen.

Its controls were intuitive and easy to use – a single knob lets you switch between all the different settings – something our testers found useful. It doesn’t have a child-lock and the components aren’t dishwasher-friendly (although they’re easy to wipe clean). The smallest air fryers we've tested can hold up to 800g of food – about four portions of chips and roughly equivalent to the amount of food you can fit on two baking trays in an oven. All other things being equal, it is still cheaper to cook with gas, which at the time of writing cost 7p per kiloWatt hour, although the size and age of your gas oven may make still make it less efficient than the best modern air fryers.

Evenly browned chips with a crisp exterior and good flavour before seasoning are what we look for from each model tested.After 55 minutes, this model’s glass front panel and exterior was warm but not dangerously hot, which is a tick in the safety box for adults and kids. Right now, countertop cooking appliances are becoming bigger, bulkier and more feature-laden as they take on a multitude of cooking tasks.

Ninja’s dual zone air fryer is the most advanced fryer I’ve tried and the most powerful, drawing 2,470 Watts at its highest settings.

Recipe-wise, air-fryers are an excellent tool for not only knocking up traditional favourites, but aiding you in experimentation. Just be aware that at 1,760 Watts, it also costs a little more to use per hour than the average air fryer.