Now, you might have noticed that glass air fryers are becoming an increasingly popular choice in kitchens across the UK. But until now, Ninja’s viral crispi (Sharkninja.com) has dominated the conversation.

Costing more than £200, the premium air fryer has been praised for its “staggering seven functionalities and futuristic, stylish design”. When Vicky Jessop reviewed the appliance, she called it a “wonderfully versatile bit of kit.”

“With its seven different functions, it’s hard to find a task it isn’t suited to,” she added. “Plus, the fact it can go up to 240 degrees – 40 degrees higher than most other air fryers on the market – gives it an edge in crisping, frying and grilling your food.”

It’s been near-impossible to find an air fryer that rivals the Ninja crispi – particularly one that’s under £100. But after testing the best budget air fryers, I’ve found a model that gives Ninja a serious run for its money.

Salter’s crisp and go air fryer costs £74, but offers the same sleek looks and cooking versatility as Ninja. The two bowls – a larger 4L and a smaller 1.5L one – both come with lids, allowing you to batch cook or store leftovers without having another container to wash up. Here’s everything you need to know.

Read more: 9 best budget air fryers under £100, tried and tested

What we love: Brilliantly compact and great for keeping leftovers, the 4L glass base and smaller 1.5L arrive with lids, allowing you to batch cook or store leftovers without having to dirty another container

Take note: The lack of light is noticeable, and you do have to take a bit more care handling it than you would a traditional air fryer. The glass obviously gets very hot during the cooking process, so you do need to be extra careful when plating up your food

With the two glass bases, Salter’s air fryer has quickly become my go-to way to cook chicken and meats, as instead of having to use a separate bowl to marinade and then transfer the contents over to an air fryer basket, I could do it all in the glass bowl before setting it up ready to cook.

At the same time, it handled everything from chips and lunchtime staples like sausage rolls and pies with no issues, crisping them up perfectly. I also found it oddly satisfying to watch the food cook, with chicken crisping up before my very eyes, even if it could benefit from having a built-in light.

Yet, something about it having a glass base made it look and feel less bulky than a traditional air fryer, with it seamlessly blending into my kitchen. It’s also one of the most affordable glass air fryers on the market

What we love:

Take note:

“The Crispi is a wonderfully versatile bit of kit. With its seven different functions, it’s hard to find a task it isn’t suited to. There are two glass canisters – a big 5.7L one, and a smaller 2.3L one – and setup is easy.

The fact it can go up to 240 degrees, 40 degrees higher than most other air fryers on the market, gives it an edge in crisping, frying and grilling your food. One big bonus to the all-glass container is being able to see the food cook in real time. And it’s also helpful when it comes to cleaning – there’s nowhere for dirt to hide, and the most stubborn stains can be lifted with a warm water soak.

Food can be stored in the containers, which also came with lids, allowing me to put them in the fridge without even transferring them to another box. Roast chicken was cooked to perfection, while vegetables were more of a mixed bag (string beans were plated crispy and delicious, but the broccoli was charred, and the carrots were raw). One surprise winner? Reheated pizza.

Though the price is high, the fryer is so good that it genuinely feels like it could replace your oven, and maybe your hob too. The cooking (once you’ve set things up) is simple, the clean-up is simple, and the design looks wonderfully chic sitting on your countertop. And the two different-sized baskets mean that cooking for one, or for a family, feels equally easy. A winner.”

Reviewed by Vicky Jessop