At first, we were convinced that air fryer turkey was a lie. It's certainly a question that's been on everyone's minds since getting hold of this beloved gadget. Whether you're wanting to take the pressure off hosting a Thanksgiving feast or free up room in your oven for Christmas, we're looking to go hard or go home when cooking a plump piece of poultry.
Many retailers have already slashed the prices of these popular convection ovens on Black Friday, but if you're struggling to work out which models can fit a whole bird, crown, or joint in — walk this way. We've measured up Ninja, Cuisinart, Breville, and Cosori (and reviewed most of them) to ensure you can fit your festive bird in.
Most of the machines pictured do show a chicken being cooked inside, but if you're looking to tuck into a turkey crown, we've served up some great options including those with rotisserie options (for even cooking), multicookers (great for slow cooking a turkey curry), and air fryers with drawers so you can cook turkey breast and roast potatoes separately with different temperature controls.
We hate waste and don't believe you should be obliged to buy a whole fowl if there are just a few of you. So we've also looked at which machines can fit a rolled and stuffed turkey breast as well as wings too. Perfect for a more informal meal you can tuck into whenever.
Here are the best air fryers to cook a turkey in, so you can gobble gobble away!
The best air fryers to cook a turkey
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Do check the size and weight of your turkey. The majority of these air fryers will only fit a turkey crown in with some trimmings around the sides, of course.
The most powerful
RRP: £179.99 / $213.97
Capacity: 11.6 qt / 11 L
Wattage: 2000 W
Price to run (per hour): 27c / 68p
Interface: Digital
Dimensions: H15.04" x W13.35" x D12.78"
Read our Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer review for more info.
Best for busy families
RRP: $142.65 / £120
Capacity: 5.8 qt / 5 L
Wattage: 1700 W
Price to run (per hour): 25c / 58p
Dimensions: H17" x W13.39" x D15.7"
Read our Breville Halo air review for more info.
Best for your turkey and trimmings
RRP: $297 / £250
Capacity: 18 qt / 17 L
Wattage: 1800 W
Price to run (per hour): 27c / 61p
Interface: Manual dial
Dimensions: H14" x W16" x D15.5"
Read our Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster review for more info.
Best-looking
RRP: $329.99 / £278
Capacity: 5.7 qt / 12 lbs
Wattage: 1800 W
Price to run (per hour): 27c / 61p
Interface: Digital
Dimensions: H13.34" x W20.22" x L17.09"
Best smart model
RRP: $149.99/ £175
Capacity: 26 qt / 25 L
Wattage: 1800 W
Price to run (per hour): 27c / 61p
Interface: Digital with dial
Dimensions: 16.3" x 16.9" x 15.5"
Best for versatility
RRP: $279.99 / £229.99
Capacity: 8 qt / 7.5 L
Wattage: 1700 W
Price to run (per hour): 25c / 58p
Interface: Digital
Dimensions: H5.4" x W6.5" x D5.9"
Read our Ninja Foodi Max 9-in-1 Multi Cooker 7.5L review for more info.
- Better yet? Find an air fryer in the Black Friday sale to make a saving
Are air fryers good for turkey?
"While most air fryers won’t be large enough to accommodate a standard size turkey, turkey crowns will fit perfectly in some of those fryers with a large drawer," says Jenny Tschiesche, author of Sunday Times Bestseller, Air Fryer Cookbook.
"One such appliance is the air fryer," notes Tschiesche. "With its 8.5 L capacity, it’s ideal for not only a crown but also some trimmings such as vegetables or even stuffing alongside."
- Read our expert tips on cleaning an air fryer to ensure yours is ready to roast!