The Tower T17087 Vortx Compact Air Fryer we reviewed is currently sold out but the Tower T17023 Compact Air Fryer is a great substitute and a little larger in capacity.
- Price from £44.99
- Dimensions & weight 31 x 18 x 23cm (H x W x D)
- Capacity 2L
- Warranty 3 years
- Dishwasher safe? No
Tower air fryers are some of the most popular models around. They offer a range of designs, from investment oven-style rotisserie air fryers to more compact, budget-friendly styles, like the Tower Vortx Compact Air Fryer we reviewed below.
Tower air fryers are some of the most popular models around.
How energy efficient is the Tower Compact Air Fryer?
The YourHomeStyle team used an energy monitor plug to work out just how much the Tower Compact Air Fryer cost to run.
- Total time to cook a Sunday roast 1 hour 15 mins
- Energy cost 27p
Testing the Tower Compact Air Fryer
We tried one of the brand's bestselling air fryers, the Tower Compact Air Fryer. To test it, we tried cooking a Christmas dinner, but these ingredients can easily work for a Sunday roast instead. We used a 700g chicken, chopped carrots, sprouts, roasted potatoes and Aunt Bessie’s stuffing balls.
We scored the Tower Compact Air Fryer on how easy it was to use, the cooking results, its value for money and the tech specs.
How to use the Tower Compact Air Fryer
Tower’s Compact Air Fryer was the smallest air fryer we tested, but the size didn’t compromise on performance. Out of the box it was easy to get going and an instruction booklet gave us a good guideline for timings and temperature.
The model itself has a no-fuss design that is lightweight and simple to use. There are two dials, one for temperature and one for timings. It’s worth noting this model only goes up to 200 degrees and only lets you cook for up to 30 minutes, for anything longer you'll need to manually reset the timer and cook again.
There are no additional air fry accessories so we put our chicken crown directly in the basket skin-side up at 160 degrees for 30 minutes. We thought we had closed the basket drawer at first but realised we hadn’t so keep an eye out when closing and make sure it is properly shut.
After 30 minutes we checked and decided the chicken needed another 10 minutes. By then it looked great and was ready to eat. We popped it out and kept it under foil while we cooked the veg and stuffing. We turned the temperature up to 180 and set the timer for 30 minutes again.
Taste test
Overall the veg, stuffing and potatoes were delicious and we were impressed by how yummy they were out of this more, straightforward affordable model. The chicken was juicy and flavoursome too, with no complaints.
OUR VERDICT: Should you buy the Tower Compact Air Fryer?
For people looking to air fry food occasionally or are cooking for one or two, this is the model for you. The price point is amazing (around £45 currently), it’s easy to set up and doesn’t require much space on the countertop thanks to its compact size. The instruction manual included was helpful and the cooking results spoke for themselves.
- The Tower T17087 Vortx Compact Air Fryer we reviewed is currently sold out but the Tower T17023 Compact Air Fryer is a great substitute and a little larger in capacity. Buy the Tower T17023 Compact Air Fryer now (£49.99)
How does the Tower Compact Air Fryer compare to other models?
Check out our round-up of the best air fryers to buy now and our individual reviews for the Ninja 9-in-1 air fryer, Tefal air fryer, Cosori air fryer and Ninja Mini 6-in-1 air fryer too. Or if you're inspired in the kitchen, check out our review of the best bread makers.
