10 best large air fryers, tried and tested by a kitchen tech expert

From family meals to dinner parties, Rachael Penn expertly selects large air fryers for feeding a crowdThe Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.I’ve spent weeks testing dual zone, stacked and modular air fryerrsRachael Penn/The Standard If you own an air fryer, then you’ll know that a standard-sized basket has its limitations. For those who host regularly or cook for a big household, it might be time to invest in one of the best large, family-size air fryers. “The larger capacity means you can cook complete meals in one go, and the flexibility of the dual-zone models allows you to prepare different foods at different temperatures and have them finish at the same time,” Clare Andrews, air fryer expert and cookbook author, says. “An air fryer can also use less energy than heating a full-sized oven, helping to save both time and money.” Appliances vary in both size and function. While dual-zone models cook your mains and sides simultaneously, modular setups have interchangeable containers for versatility when making family-sized meals. Best large air fryers at a glanceBest overall – Instant Pot Vortex Versazone 12L air fryer, £152.99, Amazon.co.ukBest budget buy – Asda black dual drawer digital air fryer: £69, Asda.comBest for flexible cooking – Rediffusion ClearCook 9L Dual Zone Air Fryer, £119, Amazon.co.ukBest for steam cooking – Philips AirFryer 5000 Series Flex 9.5L Megabasket with Steam, £199.99, Amazon.co.ukBest vertical stack – Vortx 11 Litre Dual Layer Air Fryer, £149.99, Towerhousewares.co.ukAnd let's not forget single-drawer models, deep enough for a whole chicken alongside a batch of roast potatoes. There’s plenty of choice when it comes to finding a large air fryer, but the right one for you depends on kitchen counter space, budget and cooking style. To help you on your way, I’ve spent weeks testing the best models available from brands including Ninja, InstantPot, Tower and Philips. These are the 10 large air fryers deserving of a space in your kitchen. How I testedNinja’s dual zone air fryer is among the most popular options Rachael Penn/The Standard Using each air fryer to cook a variety of dishes, a big test was how well each appliance cooked frozen chips – because let’s be honest, when it comes to air fryers, chips are a staple. I also noted ease of use, intuitive controls, and presets, while considering the clean-up. Instant pot vortex versazone 12L air fryerRachael Penn★★★★★Best: Overall large air fryer What we love: Super easy to use, PFAS-Free baskets, and 8 different functions if you’re short on spaceTake note: Divider is a bit stubborn to get in and outInstantPot Vortex Versazone’s features a 12l drawer that can be used as one big cooking space or split into two 6L zones. Ideal for cooking an entire meal in the air fryer or catering for a family, the split configuration – dubbed the SyncFinish function – cooks a main and sides so they’re ready at the same time. Despite its large capacity, the actual unit is pretty compact, fitting neatly on my countertop. There’s a clear viewing window to check in on food, and the air fryer heats up quickly for fast cooking. Cooking functions span Air Fry, Roast, Grill, Bake, Dehydrate and Reheat. Chips are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, thanks to even distribution of heat across the two zones. The reheat function did a brilliant job on last night’s pizza, and I even successfully cooked a small roast dinner. Cleaning is simple – all cooking parts are dishwasher-safe – but the ceramic coating meant that most of the time it could just be wiped clean. Capacity: 12LSize: 53 x 31 x 48cmWeight: 8.1kgNumber of zones: Two x 6L baskets or one large basketAsda black dual drawer digital air fryerRachael Penn★★★★☆Best: Budget large air fryer What we love: Dishwasher-safe baskets, simple to use, 8 cooking programs and affordable Cons: Noisy while it’s working, takes a little bit to heat, and no viewing window Asda’s air fryer’s 10L capacity is spread across two 5L baskets. Taking the guesswork out of cooking, there are eight preset cooking times for dishes including fries, chicken, meat and vegetables. Despite costing less than £70, the appliance still has functions such as sync, delay and reheat. Performance-wise, it’s impressive, serving up crispy chips with a maximum heat of 200C (lower than market leaders). It needs a little time to preheat and, unfortunately, there’s no viewing window. A standout feature is the delay timer, which goes up to 90 minutes. This means you can schedule your food to be ready when you are – ideal for busy households. The baskets are non-stick so they don’t really need the dishwasher, but the drawers are dishwasher-friendly if you don’t want to handwash. Capacity: 10LSize: 44.3 x 39.2 x 31.5cmWeight: 7.5kgNumber of zones: Two x 5.5L basketsHamilton beach professional dualstack 14.5L air fryer ovenRachael Penn★★★☆☆Best: Biggest capacity air fryerWhat we love: Plenty of cooking space, doesn’t take long to warm up, and quiet while in useTake note: Really large, and difficult to work the menuWith its huge 14.5L capacity, this dual stack air fryer is one of the biggest on the market. While great for large households, it might be too tall for those with wall cupboards or limited counter space. Designed with a stacked basket and 7.5L oven-style drawer with a viewing window, the air fryer comes with a shelf and crisping basket for extra versatility. The controls are difficult, with too much emphasis on stylish looks over functionality. The interface images on the pre-cook settings are hard to make out, while the touch-screen has some lag. That said, the air fryer performed above my expectations. Chips cooked quickly with perfect crunch, while burgers and jacket potato came out equally well. There are 12 preset cooking times and various functions, from air frying to grilling. A great all-rounder, if you have the space. Capacity: 14.5LSize: 48.8 x 36.5 x 29cmWeight: 9.2kgNumber of zones: Two, one basket, one shelf. Rediffusion clearcook 9L dual zone air fryerRachael Penn★★★☆☆Best: Large air fryer for flexible cooking What we love: Compact size, removable divider for flexibility, viewing window and light to keep an eye on your foodTake note: The menu wasn’t very intuitive and lags quite a bitWith its 9l capacity, split into two 4.5l baskets, the Rediffusion air fryer is great for cooking multiple dishes simultaneously. Surprisingly compact, it won’t take up too much space on your countertop. Standout features include Match Cook and Sync Cook – both cooked two lots of food without me having to work out timers. Food cooks fast, so it’s worth keeping an eye on your dishes through the viewing window, even though it only goes up to 200C. It cooks fries, chicken breast and tofu fingers exceptionally well. My only gripe is the interface with lag. I found myself pushing buttons multiple times – not the end of the world, but still frustrating. Capacity: 9LSize: 29.2 x 36.5 x 40cmWeight: 5.8kgNumber of zones: Two x 4.5L zonesPhilips airfryer 5000 series flex 9.5L megabasket with steamRachael Penn★★★★★Best: Large air fryer for steam cooking What we love: Flexible cooking space, air frying, steam cooking and steam frying all in one machine, and self-cleaning function Take note: There’s quite a lot of condensation when using the steam function This Philips air fryer combines sleek, grey metal looks with a standout steam function. The results are amazing: chicken breasts come out juicy, but the outside is perfectly cooked. Regular air frying is great, too. The modular design features one 9.5l basket – plenty of space for cooking chicken and all the trimmings – or you can add the divider and use it as a 3.5 and 6L basket, which is the ideal size for a main and sides. The automatic self-clean function is a particularly welcome addition. After cooking greasy items, the air fryer just needs a quick swill and wipe over (no scrubbing required). The level of condensation is a drawback – I’d suggest placing it where there’s plenty of airflow. However, if you’re cooking meat regularly, this air fryer is a must-have. Capacity: 9.5LSize: 49.6 x 32.9 x 35.5cmWeight: 8.75kgNumber of zones: Two a 3.5L and 6L basket or one large basketTower vortx 11 litre dual layer air fryerRachael Penn★★★★★Best: Large vertical stacked air fryer What we love: Space-saving vertical design, smart finish function, and good-sized viewing windowTake note: Difficult to soak the baskets as they have a grill-style back A space-saving air fryer that doesn’t compromise on cooking capacity, Tower’s stacked two 5.5L drawers perform impressively. The interface is user-friendly with six preset meals, including fries, steak, bake, wings, veg and manual. There’s a smart finish mode so you can cook food to finish together. The appliance’s airflow is designed so you don’t need to shake or turn chips – they come out crispy and golden brown either way. It handles meat with barely any oil (juicy on the inside and perfectly coloured on the outside). However, the grill design is tricky to clean. Capacity: 11LSize: 43.3 x 26.3 x 46.5cmWeight: 7kgNumber of zones: 2 x 5.5L basketsBuy now£149.99, Towerhousewares.co.ukDaewoo 10L mega drawer air fryerRachael Penn★★★★☆Best: Large air fryer for families What we love: Heats up quickly, eight cooking presets, and easy to cleanTake note: The outside gets very hotDaewoo’s air fryer boasts a 10l cooking capacity, plus the option of splitting into two 5l zones. The divider prevents flavours or juices from flowing between the drawers – ideal for when you’re cooking meat on one side and veggies on the other, or for households like mine with vegetarians and meat eaters. Chips were great, but it heats up really quickly, so they will burn if you leave them in too long – the viewing window helps. Various functions and modes take the guesswork out of cooking, while presets span chicken, fish, bread and more.One thing to note is that the air fryer gets very hot on the outside, so it’s wise to keep it out of children’s reach. Cleaning is a breeze thanks to the non-stick coating, which only needs a quick wipe or wash with warm soapy water. Capacity: 10LSize: 29.8 x 46.5 x 37.7cmWeight: 8.2kgNumber of zones: 2 x 5L or one large 10L basketBuy now£119.99, Daewooelectricals.comNinja dualzone xl 9.5L 2-drawer air fryerRachael Penn★★★★★Best: Large air fryers with high temperatures What we love: Max crisp mode, easy to use and operate, and compact feel for the sizeTake note: Max crisp mode can burn foods quicklyNinja knows its stuff when it comes to air fryers. The DualZone Xl is best in class, featuring two 4.75L drawers. The appliance is surprisingly compact, but the baskets are deep enough for a small chicken. It requires no preheating – just don’t adjust the temperature too high. Instead of preset food settings, there’s a range of cooking functions including air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate. Thanks to the Max Crisp function, it passed the chips test with flying colours. Food cooks evenly without any need to turn or shake. A dream to use, there’s a sync finish button so both baskets can finish cooking together. The baskets are dishwasher-friendly, but their non-stick coating is good enough that it’s just as easy to wipe or wash with some warm water.Capacity: 9.5LSize: 51.8cm x 42.1cm x 41.9cmWeight: 10.3kgNumber of zones: Two x 4.75L drawersCosori turbo tower™ 10.8-l air fryer pro smartRachael Penn★★★★☆Best: Large air fryer for non-toxic cooking Pros: Smart controls, heats super quick, and gets up to 230ºCons: The app isn’t worth getting excited about A rival to Ninja, Cosori’s turbo tower is small and compact thanks to its vertical design. Packing in two generously sized 4.5L baskets, the air fryer boasts a good range of temperatures, ranging from 80-230º (the highest temperature is really good for crisping up dishes). I was impressed how well and fast it cooked, without any preheating. Chicken is perfectly done and juicy, while chips are crispy yet fluffy. There are seven cooking functions – including air fry, roast, bake, grill, reheat, dry and proof – so there’s very little that you can’t cook in it. The ceramic plates make clean-up super easy, too. The smart functions are a unique design detail: you can connect it to your phone and monitor your cooking remotely. You can also save custom programs, which is ideal if you like to cook the same thing week in, week out. Some might appreciate the function, but I personally found it pointless. You can only use the app when in the vicinity of the air fryer, and it often lost connection even then.Capacity: 10.8LSize: 41.3 x 30 x 40.5cmWeight: 8.2kgNumber of zones: Two x 4.5L basketsI-master series 3 dual drawer 8-in-1 air fryerRachael Penn★★★★☆Best: Large air fryer for smaller kitchens What we love: Lots of functions, small footprint, and a good choice for batch cookingTake note: Limited max temp of 200ºIf you have a small kitchen or don’t want another appliance cluttering up your counter, then the Haier is perfect. This compact air fryer still has an impressive 11l capacity, and you can use the 5.5l drawers individually thanks to a divider. I found it great for cooking trickier dishes, such as a steak with jacket potatoes and sweetcorn, which can be difficult to fit in a regular-sized drawer.The interface is easy to use and navigate, with various functions including reheat, defrost and slow cooking – brilliant if you want to slimline your kitchen appliances.Designed with a handy viewing window and light, it’s also easy to clean with a non-stick coating and dishwasher-safe baskets. Capacity: 11L Size: 30.4 x 36.3 x 49.5cmWeight: 8.6kgNumber of zones: 2 x 5.5L baskets or one large basketWhat is the best large air fryer?The Instant Pot Vortex Versazone 12L air fryer impressed me with its generous capacity, flexible functions and compact design. Elsewhere, the Asda digital air fryer does everything you’d expect from a premium option, while you can’t go wrong with the Ninja DualZone XL 9.5L, especially if you enjoy chips or melted cheese – the max crisp function is next-level good. Why trust me?I’m a freelance journalist with over 15 years of experience in reviewing consumer technology. I’ve tested out kitchen appliances from air fryers to ice machines, so I know what works well for an everyday kitchen and whether it’s worth parting with your cash. For this piece, I spoke to air fryer expert and founder of the Ultimate Air Fryer Club and author of The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook Clare Andrews to find out why large air fryers are a good investment.