Good Food 2025-07-11T13:06:49.000Z https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/feed/atom Laura Martin <![CDATA[How to visit London on a budget]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/travel/how-to-visit-london-on-a-budget 2025-07-11T13:06:49.000Z 2025-07-11T13:06:49.000Z A trip to London is a bucket list trip for many people, and it’s one of the most popular cities for tourists to visit in Europe – VisitBritain estimates 43.4 million people will visit in 2025.

A city steeped in a rich, royal history – with ancient palaces and stately homes across the capital – sitting side-by-side with cutting edge galleries and world-class museums, alongside a swath of green, sprawling parks and gardens as well as a celebrated food and drink scene, it’s easy to see what makes London such an attractive holiday destination.

But, like a lot of other major capital cities, there’s no denying that it can be really expensive – some travel companies have suggested that including accommodation and travel, costs could rack up to £350 a day, if you’re not careful with your money.

However, this article will guide you through how to spend a highly pocket-friendly holiday in the capital, whether it’s for a day trip or a full-length holiday, allowing you to see all that London has to offer. From how to dodge common costly mistakes to how to hack your holiday, we’ll share some insider tips, deals, freebies and easy ways to save money while you travel around this epic city.

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How to travel in London on a budget

While travel in London is unarguably pricey, at least it tends to be quick and efficient. The huge network of transport links mean much of the city is within easy walking distance of a tube or bus station (meaning you can save on cheaper hotels based outside the centre zone 1).

But some travel hacks can start saving you pounds from the moment you land in London. If you’re arriving by plane, skip the expensive Heathrow and Gatwick Express trains. These trains will set you back £25 (or £16.50 if booked 90 days in advance online) and £22 respectively, for a single trip. Instead, from Heathrow, while admittedly not quite as fast, you can take the Piccadilly line from the airport to central London which will cost from £5.80. From Gatwick, a Southern or Thameslink train to the centre will cost around £13.50 (if booked in advance online).

Once you’re in London, think about walking! Like many cities in Europe, most places – in the centre especially – are well within walking distance, and sometimes it’s more hassle to get the Tube than walk. Don’t fall for the (costly) tourist mistake of getting the tube from Leicester Square to Covent Garden – it’s just a four-minute walk overground; or Charing Cross to Embankment, which is only a three-minute walk. Download CityMapper to use for strolling around the city and navigating the different modes of transport, including buses and trams.

A full day’s travel card costs from £16.60 for Zones 1 to 4, or you can buy an Oyster card to top up on for individual journeys. Always make sure to use the same card to tap in and out on – card clash might mean you’re charged twice, but the fares are capped daily at £10.50. If you like a leisurely morning, try to travel after 9.30am when the off-peak ticket prices drop down.

Piccadilly Circus at dusk

There’s also boats which can speed you along the river Thames, from Barking, East London down to Putney in South West London, but they do tend to be a bit pricier than other transport modes – and can cost up to £15.40 for a single trip. However, save up to 30 percent by either pre-booking online, or using your Oyster card where it can drop down to £5.90 for a short trip. You can also book via Uber.

If you can pick up a cheap bike helmet (from around £10) you might want to brave the bikes, if you’re in a quieter part of the city, or taking a trip through one of London’s many parks. Download apps for Santander Bikes which are pedal bikes and cost £3.50 for a day pass, for unlimited rides less than 60 minutes long. Lime bikes are e-bikes – helpful if you’re travelling in hilly south London – and the trick on this app is to choose a bundle of minutes: 60 minutes, for example, which you have three days to use is currently £6.99.

London, England - august 26, 2024: An Uber Boat passenger ferry on River Thames with City Hall visible on the south bank of the river

What to do in London on a budget

Museums and galleries

For a city so stuffed with art, sport, history and culture, Londoners are in the lucky position of not only having it on their doorstep, but being able to enjoy much of it for free.

A major part of this is the decision to make most of the city’s museums and galleries free entry (though many will often have paid-for ticketed exhibitions inside too). Your starting point is museum mile in South Kensington, west London, where there’s the triple-header of the Natural History Museum (for dinosaur and animal-lovers), the Science Museum (for those with a love of inventions, vehicles and technology), while opposite, the V&A always has great historical artefacts on show (and usually a good pop-culture exhibition on, too).

The Natural History museum generally is the busiest of the three, so during holidays especially, head there first thing in the morning, or an hour before closing time, when it won’t be so busy. For the Science Museum, if you have young kids, make sure to head to the basement for the ever-popular water play and soft play area. Make sure to book ahead with a chosen time slot for both these museums.

If the three big-hitters are too busy, head out east to Bethnal Green for the Young V&A, which is a charming and fun way for kids (and big kids) to learn about toys throughout history, and get hands on with some fun specimens. Just opened even further out east in the former London Olympics site, dubbed London’s new cultural hub, is the V&A East Storehouse – where their non-exhibited artworks are stored – and where you can join Object Encounters, a free group session highlighting some of the exciting different objects in the Storehouse.

Elsewhere – and also for free – the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square has recently had a big facelift, and is still the best place to be awed by the Old Masters paintings, while the next door National Portrait Gallery portrays famous faces from everyone from King Henry VIII to the Spice Girls.

The National Gallery and the church St. Martin's in the Fields at dusk. Trafalgar Square, London, UK

Affordable sightseeing

A picturesque walk from the National Gallery, through Trafalgar Square and to Embankment and the bridge over the river Thames (posing for selfies, of course) will bring you to another great outdoor cultural hub of South Bank. While the film-buffs favourite BFI, Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery usually charge for entry, if you have small children, head to level 5 of the Royal Festival Hall where there’s a cute little poetry reading area that’s free to hang out in. In the summer – and when it’s hot – a temporary splash park opens up outside the Hall (it’s actually an artwork called Appearing Rooms), so bring swimmers and get stuck in for some free, cool-down fun.

A little further along South Bank, there’s a playground just in front of the London Eye, but it’s also the best place to see Westminster and Big Ben – and an even better spot for photos. After you’ve snapped it, you can walk back over to Westminster Bridge to explore further and take a closer look at the Houses of Parliament, where the UK Government sits. Walk back across the river, and a 20-minute walk along South Bank to the east will take you to the Tate Modern – free to enter – and the foodie paradise of Borough Market.

HOWARD KINGSNORTH +442077398655

The Shard is one of London’s tallest buildings, but it is pricey to visit the top. However, there are other places to get a birds eye view of London, like Sky Garden, in the City of London, near Liverpool Street. Housed in the building known as the “walkie-talkie”, tickets are free to head up to the top, but you must book online beforehand (and don’t forget to bring photo ID as well). It’s the same for Horizon 22, which is also free to visit, but must be booked online first. Or, for the price of a coffee (£4.75 for a latte), head up to the nearby Duck and Waffle restaurant on the 40th floor which has an absolutely stellar view of the city. Pro tip – in the autumn/winter, time your visit for sunrise (they open from 6am) for an even more spectacular, core-memory experience.

The Sky Garden is a free entrance public space at the top of 20 Fenchurch street (also known as the walkie-talkie building). The Sky Garden is London's highest garden and also includes two restaurants, a bar and a viewing platform. Free public entrance tickets are ordered online in advance.

As for the classic sightseeing trips, you can’t visit London without going to say a “how do you do” to the King. Walk through St James Park or Pall Mall to view the huge palace from the gilded gates outside (if the Union Jack flag is flying on top, it means he’s at home). The Changing Of The Guard is an atmospheric look at the historic ceremonies of the Royal family – every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am, visitors can watch King Charles’ guards change over. On Sundays, the band accompanies the parade, playing music and marching from the Wellington Barracks to Buckingham Palace around 10.45am.

London, UK - June 28, 2016: Musical support from the Regimental Band during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the summer. The soldiers can be seen wearing scarlet tunics and bearskin caps

Budget London activities with kids

As well as the above-mentioned museums and galleries, London is a place where a great deal of planning has gone into public parks, green open spaces and playgrounds for kids. While you’re at Buckingham Palace, check out St James’ playground just three minutes walk away for children to run off some energy in the city centre. Over in Bloomsbury, the 90-year-old playground Coram’s Field has playgrounds, splash parks and picnic areas, with the unique rule: all adults must be accompanied by a child to enter.

A short bus-ride away from museum mile in Knightsbridge is the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, boasting a giant pirate ship to loll about on, while to the south-west of the city – near the iconic Battersea Power Station building, which often has free, family fun events in holidays across the year – Battersea Park has one of the best playgrounds in London. With three zones (one for babies, toddlers; another for older kids, then climbing frames and zip-wires for even bigger kids) you can happily spend hours here, especially if you bring a picnic and explore the rest of the stunning park, which includes a tropical garden, a peace pagoda and lake with pedalos. When you’re back at Battersea Power Station, ignore the pricey cafes in the main building. Instead, visit a little cafe off a side street for one of London’s best gelato shops, Two Little Giraffes, which has home-made flavours from just £3 a scoop. They also have colouring pens and books to keep children entertained if you decide to stay for a plate of their also excellent lasagne.

Greenwich, in south-east London is a perfect, cheap day out for families. Jump on a boat from central – use your Travelcard or book online for the discount, remember – and wander round the impressive Cutty Sark ship at the historic borough’s centre. Take a stroll through Greenwich Market, trying a few free tasters of the food, then wander over to the National Maritime Museum. For anyone who loves to play Pirates, or around the world sailors, this museum is the one for you. Their Greenwich park children’s play area. A giant sandpit, many climbing frames, water area, swings: it’s really got the lot (and a handy coffee kiosk at its centre).

Cutty Sark, Greenwich, London, England

Regents Park is lovely for a great big walk – if you visit in autumn, there’s usually a free sculpture trail set up by Frieze Art Fair to enjoy – and the view from Primrose Hill is worth the climb. Inside Regent's Park, London Zoo is very pricey, from £35 for an adult ticket. Instead, not too far away in Hampstead Heath, there’s the cute Golders Hill Park Zoo, which is completely free to enter. Or there’s several city farms worth a visit too, to see more animals that come from British climes – check out Hackney City Farm (at the bottom of the much-loved Broadway Market at weekends), Mudchute Farm or Surrey Docks Farm to spend the day feeding some chickens, pigs or goats.

Primrose hill london

Where to eat in London on a budget

London is an incredible, multi-diverse city and nowhere is that reflected more than in its food. Pick pretty much any country or cuisine from around the world, and chances are there’ll be a neighbourhood, street or selection of restaurants that offer a taste of some of the great eats to be found in the city.

Of course, there’s a fair share of fine-dining, Michelin-starred restaurants, but there’s also lots of incredible budget eats if you know where to look. Starting in central London, there’s often lots of good lunchtime deals to be had. If it’s the finer end of dining you’d like to experience, a set, three-course lunch is a popular choice, with a range of restaurants offering this during the day. For modern British restaurants Noble Rot is always our go-to for this, with three restaurants in the city and just £28 for three courses. The Devonshire is one of the hottest restaurants in the city at the moment, but if you can bag a table, it’s a fantastic £29 for a trio of courses. Just opposite, there’s always classic French fare available at the classy Brasserie Zedel – think steak frites and red wine for the grown ups; steak hache and chips for the kids (basically hamburger and fries). The Prix Fixe menu is a wallet-busting £19.95.

Look out for workers cafes for lunch in whatever neighbourhood you’re staying in – here you’ll find cheap and hearty dishes at low prices, like sandwiches, jacket potatoes and various toppings, or the Full English breakfast, a plate stuffed with bacon, sausages, eggs, baked beans and tomatoes. Try the famous E.Pellicci in East London (pick up a bacon roll for just £3); the Regency Cafe in Westminster (near Big Ben, for sightseeing, too) or Kennington Lane in Vauxhall. For a lighter lunch or snacks (and great cheesecakes) head east to one of the two famous Brick Lane bagel shops, where you can get a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel for less than a fiver – and they’re open 24/7 for late night munchies.

This family run business is opened 24h and 7 days a week the clientele is very different according to the day and hour "for lunch during the week it will be mostly workers coming from the city, at weekend it will be tourists or people enjoying the market outside and evening or early mornings we will have workers in the building sector, cleaners, public transport or taxi drivers, and party goers" described Nathan Cohen. Between a "love" and a "darling" the members of staff behind counters serve the never ending queue of clients while joking together and with the six bakers in the kitchen. "Some of us have been working here for so many years that there is a sense of family" explained Fiona behind her counter. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Indian cuisine is very popular in the UK – so much so, chicken tikka is one of our national dishes. Some of the best and best-value Indian restaurants in the city can be found in Whitechapel and Brick Lane (our favourites that we make repeat visits to are Tayyabs, Lahore Kebab House and Needoo), but there are several cheap spots in central worth a trip, too. The vegetarian South Indian cafe Sagar – which has a couple of branches in London – is great for their set lunch of masala dosa, curries and chutney, with dessert of the day, for just £6.95.

In the middle of Soho is Chinatown, where tasty dumplings and noodle-based cheap eats can be found – Wong Kei is a long-standing favourite, as is Cafe TPT (a six-dish meal is just £11). An excellent selection of regional Chinese dumplings can be found at the aptly titled Dumplings Legend, with little steamed and fried pockets of joy from £4.50 a plate. Just off Leicester Square towards Covent Garden is Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar, a small, cheap and cheerful spot where they make the noodles by hand just a metre away from the sharing tables. The fiery, nutty Dan-Dan noodles are the best dish here at just £12 for a big bowl.

Chinatown in central London is decorated with lanterns in

For snacks, head to the Japan Centre, which is hands-down one of the cheapest and tastiest places for Japanese-snacks and food. An onigiri on the go costs as little as £1.99, while a full platter of sushi, made on site, starts from just £8.95 – and they reduce the food just before they shut at 9.30/10pm most nights if you're out late. Don’t forget to pick up some sweet treats here like iced mochi balls, mochi doughnuts or matcha cookies, too.

Oysters still do big business in London. They're a food steeped deep in the city’s history, as they were transported from the Kent and Sussex coast in their millions in the Victorian times – apparently there was an oyster shucker slinging the shuckers on practically every street corner in London in this era. Now, they are seen as a more expensive seafood treat, but you can still find some great little places doing an oyster happy hour – try Nessa (weekdays, 5-6pm, £1 each), or the classic Soho restaurant Manzi’s (Tues-Fridays, 5.30pm-6.30pm, £2).

You can’t visit London without trying traditional fish ‘n’ chips, and the quality of this dish (expect to pay around £12) will vary widely across the city, with the best, smaller “chippies” as they’re known, generally to be found out of the centre, and with the food eaten as a take-out. Brockley’s Rock in south east London has been bestowed with many accolades, but honourable mentions also go to the long-standing Fryer’s Delight in Holborn (note: they’re cash only) and The Laughing Halibut in Westminster. Don’t forget to try the traditional mushy peas!

Where to grab a deal in London

Think of London and the chances are you’ll think of the theatre. London’s West End is known internationally for bringing the best actors and the best productions on stage; from classic, long-running musicals to more edgy modern productions. At any one time, there’s likely to be more than 30 plays running in Theatreland, and while tickets can be expensive, there are still deals to be found.

Think first of all about going to see a matinee performance in the afternoon – these often take place on Wednesday and Saturdays, for cheaper tickets. Check out discounted, last-minute tickets through sites like TKTS London (or their booth in Leicester Square) or TodayTix, with savings of up to 60% on seats.

Night view of the Sondheim Theatre with Les Miserables.

If you have an early dinner, there’s plenty of good deals to be found on pre-theatre menus, designed to be eaten before a show. Check out chef Jason Atherton’s love-letter to exceptional seasonal British produce, Sael, in St James, where three courses – between 5pm and 6.30pm – will set you back just £28.50. Or get a taste of Italy at Bocca Di Lupo in Soho, where three courses (including one of their excellent pasta dishes as a main) is £25, served until 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

For anyone who has their heart set on visiting some of the city’s most famous attractions, such as the London Eye, it’s worth checking out certain deals that package a few of these up together at a discounted rate. Try a 3-in-1 combination ticket at Tourist England (£55); a Go City Explorer Pass (£54) where you can choose two attractions from a list of 101 in London, or create your own deals at the London Pass.

If you’re desperate to visit somewhere like Legoland – be prepared to spend an eye-watering amount of money. However, if it’s a must-do while in the capital, look out for discounts for tickets, which run regularly on Kellogg’s cereal boxes. Most recently, it offered 25% off on two online tickets – more information can be found here.

Where to stay in London on a budget

The average price of a night in a hotel in London is around £158, but this obviously jumps up at peak times like summer holidays, Christmas and New Year. For no-frills, clean but basic rooms, the Premier Inn or Travelodge chains offer good value for money, with double rooms across London from £77 a night.

If it’s a more unique, budget stay you’re after, try the fun Mama Shelter in Hackney, East London, with rooms from £90, the stylish The Pilgrm in Paddington (from £117) or the Georgian townhouse-housed The Judd in Bloomsbury, with rooms from £97.

A serviced apartment or aparthotel is a good idea if you’re planning a slightly longer stay in the city – try the Bob W Holland Park in west London (from £103 a night) or Staycity London Dalston in east London for around £100 a night (sign up for free as a member to get 10% off).

If you’re on a really tight budget, there are several hostels in the city, with beds from £50 in places like Park Villa Boutique Hostel in the East End, or from £30 YHA Central London, by Tottenham Court Road; or you might even want to look into house or pet-sitting sites such as House Sitters UK or house swap sites like People Like Us to make your pounds go that extra mile for you on your trip to London.

Check out more London restaurant and travel guides:

Best rooftop bars in London
Best pizza in London
Best pasta restaurants in London
Best bakeries in London
Best food markets in London
Best ice cream parlours in the UK

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Rosalind Ryan <![CDATA[Top 5 foods that are surprisingly bad for the planet]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/sustainability/top-5-foods-that-are-surprisingly-bad-for-the-planet 2025-07-11T13:05:56.000Z 2025-07-11T13:05:56.000Z It’s well established by now that meat and dairy products are bad for the environment – the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization says they’re responsible for 14.5% of all global greenhouse gases. But they aren’t the only foods causing ecological harm.

Find out how your morning coffee or one of the most popular foods in the world – rice – could be damaging the environment, and their alternatives if you want to eat more sustainably.

Problematic prawns

What’s the impact on the environment?

We love these little seafood staples; the WWF says we eat about 2lb of prawns per person, worldwide, every year. To keep up with demand, there’s been an explosion in tiger prawn and king prawn farms in countries like Thailand, Indonesia, India and Vietnam.

The Marine Conservation Society says these farms often use illegal chemicals, including antibiotics, which pollute the local water; destroy mangroves that support many essential ecosystems and rely on fish pellets made from wild fish that are, in turn, depleting local fish stocks.

Many of the boats catching the ‘trash fish’ used for these pellets have also been accused of human rights abuses, including slavery and human trafficking.

If your prawns haven’t come from a fish farm, they may have been caught by a trawler. This is when a giant net is dragged across the seabed to catch prawns and langoustines for scampi – and anything else in its way, known as ‘by-catch’.

The practice causes incredible harm to the marine ecosystem, and campaigners are currently calling on UK supermarkets to take greater responsibility for how and where the scampi they sell is caught.

What’s the alternative?

If you are going to eat prawns, the MCS says small Northern or coldwater prawns are the most sustainable option. Farmed prawns with an EU organic or Soil Association label are also a good bet. For scampi, look for creel-caught langoustine or Dublin Bay prawns – a creel is a type of pot or wicker basket.

Seafood with a ‘blue tick’ from the Marine Stewardship Council was seen as the gold standard, but it has recently come under suspicion. Conservationists and campaigners say the MSC is certifying fisheries with unsustainable practices  – like high levels of by-catch – while certifiers are also paid by the fisheries they assess.

For a truly sustainable alternative, buy mussels instead. They’re rich in protein, help clear up the ocean, don’t need any extra feed and are often cheaper than prawns. And if they’re local and seasonal, that’s miles better for your carbon footprint, too.

Mussels with chorizo, beans & cavolo nero

The trouble with rice

What’s the impact on the environment?

A report from Oxfam found more than half the world’s population rely on rice as their major source of calories, but growing rice uses around a third of the planet’s freshwater every year. The WWF says it takes between 3,000 and 5,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of rice, giving it a significant water footprint.

The method used to produce rice – flooding paddy fields to prevent weeds growing – allows methane-producing microbes to flourish too. Rice cultivation actually creates 12% of all global methane emissions, so some farmers have adopted a different method that switches between flooding fields and letting them dry out.

Unfortunately, scientists now believe intermittently flooded farms can release up to 45 times more nitrous oxide than continuously flooded fields; nitrous oxide is another harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) that can stay in the atmosphere for over 100 years.

Rice is also a mono-crop: growing the same crop species in the same field year after year. This has an impact on soil health, depleting natural nutrients, and increases the risk of disease and pest outbreaks. Farmers then have to use more fertiliser and pesticides on their crops, which isn’t good for us or the environment.

Young rice saplings are seen neatly planted in rows in a waterlogged paddy field during monsoon rains in Bhivpuri, on the outskirts of Mumbai, India, on July 3, 2025. The southwest monsoon is vital for rice cultivation, providing essential water for millions of farmers across the country. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

What’s the alternative?

Rice has a huge cultural (and caloric) significance for billions of people, so not eating it simply isn’t an option. So, the announcement that a new rice variant can slash methane emissions by 70% is really good news. The scientists behind the new crop are now testing it in different types of soil to see how sustainable it really is.

A new farming method has also been created that means farmers can produce up to 50% more rice with less water. The System of Rice Intensification uses less fertiliser, less human labour and moist soil (rather than alternating between flooding and drying), to reduce its environmental impact.

If you want to buy sustainably farmed rice, look for products verified by the Sustainable Rice Platform. These include brands such as Nice Rice, Riso Gallo and some of Lidl’s own varieties. Or go for substitutes like sushi rice grown in Spain or Italy that will have a lower carbon footprint than rice flown in from countries in Asia.

Rather not rely on rice? You can mix up your diet – and avoid eating a mono-crop – by choosing alternatives like freekeh, teff, spelt and farro. Or go for lentils and pulses, like kidney beans and chickpeas, to broaden your nutrient intake.

Ecological issues with asparagus

What’s the impact on the environment?

Peru is the largest asparagus producer in the world, exporting 75% of their crop around the globe. In 2023, the UK imported roughly 6 million kilograms of fresh and chilled asparagus from Peru, worth around £23.3million, making us their third largest importer behind the US and Spain.

Research found asparagus has the greatest environmental impact of any of the fruit or vegetables we import. This is largely due to the food miles – asparagus is mainly air freighted to the UK – and its water footprint.

In 2010 it was revealed industrial asparagus farms in the Ica Valley in Peru were depleting local water resources. Nearby villages found their wells drying up, while the water table in the valley was dropping by eight metres a year in some places. But things haven't improved over a decade later.

Studies show the Ica Valley is still facing severe water shortages as a result of the ‘agro-export boom’, and local water resources are still being exported as ‘virtual water' in the asparagus. Plus, climate change will put even more pressure on Peru’s water supplies as their glaciers melt faster and the risk of drought increases.

What’s the alternative?

The simple answer is don’t buy asparagus from Peru. We don’t need to eat it year-round and cutting it out of your diet is one of the easiest ways to cut down your carbon footprint – importing 1kg of asparagus from Peru creates 11kgs of carbon dioxide, but UK asaparagus only produces 2.1kgs of CO2 per kg.

Buy locally produced when it’s in season – from April to June in the UK – to enjoy the taste and the feeling you’re helping to reduce virtual water exports. Agricultural exporters often say their product is driven by consumer demand, so let’s try to reduce that demand.

A bunch of asparagus

Unethical chocolate

What’s the impact on the environment?

The chocolate industry will be worth over $106 billion by 2027, but our love of the sweet stuff is having a huge negative impact on the planet. Scientists say cocoa farming is driving deforestation on the Ivory Coast and Ghana, where most of the world’s cocoa is produced – and 70% of this is illegal deforestation.

Some of the other ingredients used in chocolate also have large carbon footprints. Dairy milk uses a lot of land and freshwater, and produces GHGs – mainly methane from cow burps – while palm oil is responsible for the loss of huge areas of rainforest in Southeast Asia.

Cocoa cultivation is both causing and is a victim of climate change. Deforestation releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but as the planet warms, a lack of rainfall and higher temperatures damages cocoa trees, which forces farmers to find new areas to grow cocoa. And the cycle continues.

Apart from environmental damage, cocoa production is known for several human rights abuses. Most cocoa farmers earn just 6% of the final value of a chocolate bar, while child labour, human trafficking and even slavery are common practices.

Cocoa Pots from Vietnam

What’s the alternative?

Look for Fairtrade chocolate, which focuses on improving living and working standards for cocoa farmers, and choose ethical producers that only buy cocoa from sustainable sources. Organic chocolate and those that are palm-oil free are also good for your conscience and your tastebuds.

Not sure where to start? We’ve done the hard work for you; read our round-up of the 10 most planet-friendly chocolate brands.

Sticking to dark chocolate will reduce the environmental impact from dairy milk and it could be good for your health, too. Dark chocolate is rich in active plant compounds called flavanols that may help protect your heart, improve brain function and reduce your risk of chronic conditions like diabetes.

Climate-changing coffee

What’s the impact on the environment?

Research shows producing just 1kg of coffee creates about 15kg of carbon dioxide, putting it second only to beef in terms of its carbon footprint – or about the same as Denmark’s annual emissions! Coffee’s GHG emissions mainly come from deforestation, farming – particularly the use of fertilisers – and transportation.

Over the past 20 years, roughly 130,000 hectares of forest has been lost every year to coffee cultivation. A report by the WWF found land-use change (i.e. deforestation) contributed nearly half a cup of coffee’s total GHGs.

Fertilisers used by coffee farmers release large amounts of nitrous oxide, while processing coffee cherries using the ‘wet’ method uses significantly more water than simply drying them in the sun. The green beans are then transported to another destination; transport makes up around 15% of the GHGs in coffee’s lifecycle.

When you add in roasting, packaging and final transportation to shops and homes, it’s no surprise that coffee has such an enormous impact on the environment. And that’s before we even consider the cost on human lives, such as slavery, child labour or coffee farmers not earning enough to lift them out of poverty.

Coffee grounds on a plate by a plant

What’s the alternative?

Good news  – you don’t have to give up your morning brew. Experts from University College London found sustainable coffee has a 77% lower carbon footprint than conventionally produced beans. Most of this reduction comes from using cargo ships rather than air freight, so find out how your coffee is transported.

Buying organic coffee guarantees it doesn’t use chemical fertilisers or pesticides, but check to see if it’s also shade-grown. This agroforestry system plants coffee among taller trees that shade the coffee plants, help reduce temperatures – tackling global warming – and boost biodiversity.

Some shade-grown UK coffee brands include Bird & Wild, Cafédirect, Easy Jose Coffee, Coromandel Coast and Owens Coffee. Buying coffee from producers who deal directly with the growers, or Fairtrade certified brands, means farmers also receive much better prices for their coffee crop.

If you really want to make your coffee greener, switch to drinking tea – a scientific analysis comparing tea and coffee production found coffee produces 2.5 times the GHGs of tea, and tea only needs 25% of the water used in coffee cultivation. But that might be a step too far for even the most ethically minded coffee drinker.

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Isabella Keeling - Deputy health editor <![CDATA[Is your loaf of bread as healthy as you think?]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/is-your-loaf-of-bread-as-healthy-as-you-think 2025-07-11T13:03:50.000Z 2025-07-11T13:03:50.000Z Not all bread is created equal, some loaves are more nutritious than others. That's not surprising considering some is made by hand, in a bakery or at home, using wholegrain flour and seeds. While other bread is mass produced, using refined white flours, which means it brings little to the party in terms of nutrients.

It can be confusing to know which bread is still worth eating. Read on to find out whether all bread is ultra-processed and which loaves are healthiest.

Next, find out all you need to know about low-carb diets, how to hit the right balance of protein and carbohydrates and the truth about ultra-processed foods.

Is bread healthy?

In its simplest form, bread is made using flour, water, yeast and salt.

None of these ingredients are inherently bad for you – yet bread has a reputation for being unhealthy.

This is because much of the bread available in supermarkets is made using additives that help to speed up production and extend shelf life, but this also reduces the nutrients. Importantly, ultra-processed bread, especially white bread, is lacking in fibre and we need this for everything from good digestion to supporting the immune system.

If you're looking for a healthy bread, try to choose one that's made with wholegrain flour. Wholegrains, including rye and spelt, are nutrient-rich and, when eaten regularly, may protect against chronic diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Is bread a carbohydrate?

Yes, bread is a carbohydrate but carbs are not something to be feared! Far from it – they are one of three important macronutrients, along with protein and fat, that we need to function. Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy and they provide the body with glucose, which fuels our muscles and organs, including our brain.

If possible, choose bread made from wholegrains as complex carbohydrates provide a slow-release of energy and don't spike blood sugar levels. They also contain vitamins, minerals and fibre, making them a more nutritious choice.

Is bread ultra-processed?

While not all bread is ultra-processed, the stuff you find on supermarket shelves is likely to be.

Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are foods that you wouldn’t be able to recreate in your own kitchen. If you don’t recognise some of the ingredients on the label, it’s likely to be ultra-processed. These foods are manufactured to be convenient and cheap with a prolonged shelf life – both of which are important when it comes to mass producing bread.

If you were to make white bread at home, you wouldn't need more than water, flour, salt, yeast and a little oil. But the soft, sliced loaves in supermarkets are made with additives, resulting in tasteless bread that lacks nutrients.

Even wholegrain bread may contain additives, such as emulsifiers and sugar. These ingredients are typically added to improve the colour, texture and crumb of a loaf, as well as to improve dough stability and volume.

One of the reasons ultra-processed foods are so popular is that they are often cheaper and more budget-friendly. However, when it comes to bread this isn't always the case. Once you've stocked up on the ingredients, including flour and seeds, it's may be cheaper to make your own.

Give it a go with our easy and fool-proof bread recipes.

What are the healthiest breads?

One of the best ways to ensure your bread is a healthy option is, of course, to bake your own.

However, even shop-bought bread can provide a valuable source of fibre and nutrients and make a convenient and healthy carb to include in a balanced diet.

Here are five of the healthiest breads try

1. Ezekiel

Ezekiel bread sliced

This is a bread made from a mix of sprouted wholegrains, typically wheat, barley, spelt and millet, as well as lentils and soya beans.

Sprouting the grains lowers the levels of phytic acid, which makes it easier to digest. Sprouting also kick-starts the breakdown of protein and carbohydrates in the grains, which minimises the spiking effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.

Ezekiel is a good source of protein, fibre and B vitamins.

2. Pumpernickel

A traditional German bread with a heavy texture and distinctive flavour. Made from wholegrain rye flour, pumpernickel is packed with B vitamins and fibre.

It's also rich in resistant starch which supports gut health and lowers the bread’s glycaemic index.

Do check labels though because many commercial varieties include wheat flour, molasses and yeast.

3. Rye bread

This bread is lower in fat and contains less gluten than wheat-based bread, which makes it a denser, heavier loaf. Studies confirm that rye bread made from 100% rye has less of a negative effect on blood sugar than wheat breads, and as a result, may keep you feeling fuller for longer.

4. Soda bread

Soda bread sliced with butter

A staple in Ireland and made from flour, buttermilk, baking powder and salt. Soda bread is low-fat and yeast-free so it may help to reduce bloating.

If you’re new to baking or short on time, our seeded soda bread is an ideal loaf to bake at home.

5. Sourdough

Typically made from flour, water, salt and a starter culture, sourdough is easy to digest and nutritious. Vitamins and minerals are more available as it's easier to digest thanks to the fermentation process.

Sourdough fuels good bacteria in the gut. Unlike many commercially produced loaves, a traditionally-made sourdough is also beneficial for blood sugar levels.

Give sourdough a go with our step-by-step recipe to make your own starter, and use it to make our classic sourdough loaf.

Healthy recipes using bread

Healthy pesto eggs on toast

Instead of oil try frying eggs in pesto as a delicious alternative. Serve with wholemeal or rye toast, spinach and tomatoes for a filling brunch or lunch.

Healthy pesto eggs on toast

Black beans & avocado on toast

This vibrant Mexican-style breakfast tops a slice of toast with a zingy combination of avocado, tomato, coriander and lime with spicy black beans. It's a filling, protein-packed way to start your day that will provide a sustained release of energy.

Toast topped with beans, avocado and tomatoes with lime

Smoky beans on toast

Forget shop-bought cans of baked beans, these homemade ones are tastier and healthier, served on a slice of toasted seeded bread. If you're trying to hit 30 plant foods a week, in order to up your intake of fibre and nutrients, this recipe is packed with them.

Smoky beans on toast

Sardines on toast

Fuel up with sardines and tomatoes on sourdough toast for breakfast. A good balance of protein and carbohydrates – this makes a good choice before exercise.

Toast topped with tomatoes, olive, red onion and sardines

Green club sandwich

A triple decker of goodness, this sandwich is made using wholegrain bread, rocket, tomatoes, hummus and avocado, so you'll get plenty of good fats.

Triple deck sandwich with avocado & tomato

Smoky chickpeas on toast

In just a few minutes, you can throw together this healthy, budget-friendly lunch. Chickpeas add plant-based protein and fibre, while chipotle paste and honey add sweet-spicy flavour.

smoky chickpeas on toast

All health content on goodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.

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Katy Bradbury <![CDATA[There are 67 signs you might be entering perimenopause. What should you do about it?]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/signs-of-perimenopause 2025-07-11T13:03:04.000Z 2025-07-11T13:03:04.000Z If you’ve been unusually bloated, can’t seem to get a full night’s sleep, or you’re suddenly crying at dog food adverts, you might – just might – be perimenopausal. According to the Balance app, there are 67 possible symptoms of this life phase, ranging from night sweats and brain fog to itchy skin, joint pain, and – yes – excessive wind.

But how can we be expected to keep track of such a lengthy and varied list of symptoms? And to what extent are they reliable indicators of perimenopause, or could something else be going on? More importantly, what – if anything – should you do about them?

A wqman lying on a sofa holding her head with a migraine

What is perimenopause and why is it important?

Perimenopause refers to the years leading up to menopause, when hormone levels begin to shift and the menstrual cycle becomes irregular. It typically starts anywhere between your late 30s and early 50s, though most experience it in their mid-to-late 40s.

Unlike menopause – defined as 12 months without a period – perimenopause is more like a hormonal prequel. It can last 4 to 8 years, though for some, it lingers even longer. According to the NHS, symptoms may begin gradually and intensify over time.

People usually associate the menopause transition with a decline in oestrogen, but it’s actually progesterone that tends to reduce first, while oestrogen for people in their forties can experience peaks of over 3x that of people in their thirties.

Whilst some people have a seamless transition to menopause, the hormone fluctuations can impact nearly every system in the body.

Is it perimenopause — or something else?

Here’s the kicker: having some of the 67 symptoms doesn’t automatically mean you’re perimenopausal. Many signs – like fatigue, bloating, or low mood – are nonspecific and can be triggered by stress, poor sleep or even diet.

But if you’re noticing clusters of symptoms, especially alongside changes in your menstrual cycle, it could be time to consider the perimenopause lens, particularly if you’re over 40.

Women’s Health specialist Katy Bradbury says, “Many women arrive at my clinic having been told they’re in perimenopause by the doctor based on a standalone FSH or AMH blood test, but the literature suggests that diagnosis should be based on assessment of symptoms.” Frustratingly, though perhaps not surprisingly, the evidence, and our understanding of the physiology of perimenopause only really began to gain traction in the 1990s and some guidelines may benefit from being more inclusive.

The NICE guidelines do state that symptoms alone are enough to begin treatment, especially for those over 45, without needing hormone testing. However, it also states irregular menstrual cycles and vasomotor symptoms (aka hot flushes) as the main identifying symptoms, despite the literature suggesting that these symptoms are often associated with later stages of perimenopause.

A woman feeling a hot flush

The top tell-tale signs to watch for

Endocrinologist and menopause researcher Dr Jerilynn Prior, says that perimenopause can be diagnosed if you develop three of the following nine symptoms, when you haven’t previously experienced them, and differential diagnoses have been ruled out:

  1. Changes to your period, such as becoming heavier at the onset, or longer flow
  2. Shorter menstrual cycles (less than 26 days)
  3. Sore, swollen or lumpy breasts
  4. Mid-sleep waking
  5. Increased menstrual cramps
  6. Onset of night sweats
  7. New or increased migraine headaches
  8. New or increased PMS mood swings
  9. Weight gain without changes in diet

Other signs include dry eyes, vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, joint pain and a sudden drop in libido. Even symptoms you wouldn’t associate with hormones – like electric shock sensations, dizziness or gum problems – can crop up for some.

NHS worker Gemma (43) said “I was expecting hot flashes because that’s what everyone talks about, but nothing prepared me for the premenstrual rage, the loss of confidence and the insatiably itchy ears in the middle of the night”.

Why so many symptoms?

Hormones don’t just regulate reproduction – they have receptors all over the body. As oestrogen begins to fluctuate, it impacts the brain, gut, bones, skin, bladder and more. Meanwhile, progesterone drops (affecting sleep and mood) and testosterone declines (impacting energy, libido and muscle tone).

What’s tricky is that oestrogen doesn’t just gradually decline in perimenopause – it spikes and crashes, sometimes dramatically, and from day to day. It’s this instability that causes the rollercoaster effect of symptoms, and some researchers liken perimenopause to adolescence in reverse, or a second puberty.

Women in an exercise class

What can you actually do about it?

Not everyone needs treatment. If your symptoms are mild and manageable, you may prefer to simply observe. But if they’re affecting your quality of life, there are plenty of options – from lifestyle to medical to complementary.

1. Get your foundations right

Nutrition, movement, rest and stress reduction are your first line of defence.

  • Eat a whole-food, blood-sugar-balanced diet
  • Prioritise protein and healthy fats to support hormone production
  • Get regular movement – especially resistance training to protect bone and muscle
  • Prioritise restorative sleep and stress regulation

“This is about replenishing our body battery which has been wearing down over the years with societal expectations, conditioning and being a people-pleasing high achiever, so you can’t bio-hack your way out of a body that’s running on empty,” says Bradbury. “Perimenopause is your body asking you to slow down, refuel, nourish yourself and tune in.”

2. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

For those who are really struggling, HRT is the most well documented medical treatment for hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. The British Menopause Society suggests it is safe for most people under 60 or within 10 years of menopause.

Modern HRT usually includes:

  • Oestrogen (patches, gel, spray)
  • Progesterone (capsules or IUS/coil)
  • Testosterone (sometimes used off-label for low libido and energy)

Work with a GP or menopause specialist to tailor your options.

CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) has also shown benefits for sleep and mood, according to NHS guidance.

3. Complementary approaches

While less researched, many find relief in:

  • Herbal remedies like black cohosh, red clover or ashwagandha
  • Acupuncture
  • Yoga and breathwork
  • Mindfulness or somatic therapy

Remember that the menopause wellness industry is big business, and what works for one may not work for another because it depends on your individual underlying imbalances/drivers. This is where personalised integrative healthcare can be extremely helpful.

Is perimenopause a ‘condition’ that needs treating?

Here’s the take home: perimenopause is natural, not pathological. But that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park.

On one hand, the drive to normalise menopause helps reduce stigma and empowers people to seek support. On the other, there’s a risk of over-medicalising something that’s not a disease.

The key is choice. You don’t have to suffer. You don’t have to “power through.” And you don’t have to take HRT if it doesn’t feel right. But you deserve access to information, support and dignity through the transition.

So if you’re reading this and wondering if the changes you’re feeling are hormonal, the answer might be yes. And now you know: you’re not alone and you’re not broken. You’re in a transition that deserves care, not dismissal.

Further reading:

Best supplements for perimenopause  – to support transition through the menopausal years
What is perimenopause?
What is menopause?
Menopause diet: what to eat


All health content on goodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.

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Vicky Chandler <![CDATA[8 ways poor sleep wrecks your healthy eating intentions]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/8-ways-poor-sleep-wrecks-your-healthy-eating-intentions 2025-07-11T13:02:08.000Z 2025-07-11T13:02:08.000Z We’ve all been there. One bad night’s sleep and suddenly all we can think about is a chocolate croissant on the way to the office as opposed to those overnight oats you lovingly meal-prepped yesterday. You tell yourself you’ll make a healthy dinner, but by 6pm you’re too knackered to cook and instead find yourself scrolling through your takeaway app.

It's not just a lack of willpower or laziness; sleep – or more specifically, not getting enough of it – plays a powerful role in the way we eat. From how hungry we feel, to the foods we crave, our sleeping habits shape our daily eating decisions more than we might realise.

According to The Sleep Foundation, sleep and appetite are actually quite closely connected, and a good night’s rest can help promote healthy appetite hormones, impact how your body reacts to insulin and affect your digestion and metabolism, too.

So, if you’ve ever felt like your healthy eating plans unravel when you haven’t caught enough Zs, science says you’re probably right. Here’s how poor sleep quality sabotages your food choices – and why prioritising rest could be the best healthy eating hack you’ve ever tried.

Woman eating a takeaway pizza

1. Tired brains crave high-calorie foods

Ever noticed that after a rough night, your first instinct is to reach for a pastry? That’s not usually a lack of self-control – it’s your brain crying out for a quick energy release. Research shows that sleep deprivation enhances activity in the brain’s reward centres in response to junk food, meaning you’re more likely to crave high-fat, high-sugar options.

“Higher calorie foods, especially sugary, fatty and salty foods, can provide quick energy releases that our body craves when it’s tired,” explains registered nutritionist Jemma Joel. “However, that dopamine hit is often short-lived and can end up having a reverse effect, making us feel more tired and groggy.”

2. Your hunger hormones go haywire

Two hormones – ghrelin and leptin – control hunger and fullness. Ghrelin tells your body when it’s hungry; leptin tells it when to stop eating. But when you’re sleep deprived, ghrelin levels rise while leptin drops.

“As leptin decreases, this means we can end up overeating as there’s less of a physiological sign that we’re feeling full and satisfied,” explains Joel.

One UK study found that people sleeping fewer than six hours a night had a 14 per cent higher intake of calories the next day. The same pattern was been found in a later US study too, indicating people that sleep less consumed more calories.

3. Sleep debt messes with your metabolism

It’s not just about willpower; your metabolism actually slows down when you’re short on sleep. One early study observed a group of men go from eight hours sleep to just four hours a night for six days. The result? A 30 per cent drop in insulin sensitivity and a struggle to clear glucose from their bloodstream.

In short, this meant their bodies became worse at handling sugar, releasing more insulin to cope. This encourages fat storage, especially around the belly. Plus, sluggish glucose clearance means your metabolism slows down, making it harder to burn calories efficiently. While scientific research is still developing, it’s clear that sleep loss can affect how your body uses energy.

4. Cortisol levels spike – and brings belly fat with them

 Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to elevated cortisol levels, your body’s main stress hormone. And higher cortisol is linked with fat storage around the midsection – the area many of us struggle with most.

“Sleep is the foundation for good health and when we’re not sleeping well it can have a strong impact on our cortisol levels, especially if they’re already elevated,” says Joel. “When cortisol is high, it can cause broken sleep, higher risk of mental and physical health concerns and generally can impact us from the moment we wake up in the morning with low energy, brain fog and poor mood.”

Add to the fact that stress can reduce insulin sensitivity, and you’ve got a hormonal cocktail that makes fat loss harder – even if you’re eating the same amount.

A woman asleep on an exercise bike

5. You’re too knackered to exercise

Sure, technically you could go for that run. But when you’ve had five hours of broken sleep, the sofa sounds much more appealing and your motivation to move your body takes a nosedive.

Studies have shown that physical activity levels drop after even one night of poor sleep – and that regular sleep deprivation reduces both performance and desire to exercise. The knock-on effect? Fewer calories burned, less muscle built and a much harder time sticking to a consistent routine.

6.  Healthy cooking becomes a chore

Let’s be honest, no one is whipping up a green goddess salad on a few hours of sleep. Cooking requires energy, brainpower and the ability to resist the calling of a takeaway. When you’re running on empty, even the thought of chopping veg can feel like a task too far.

A 2020 study found that those that slept less and had poor sleep quality were less likely to adhere to a healthy diet and regular meal patterns. While an earlier 2016 study found that sleep-deprived subjects ate nearly twice as much fat when given snacks as they did when they’d slept for eight hours.

7.  Comfort food becomes really comforting

When you’re tired, your brain is wired for reward. We become more naturally emotionally reactive, more stressed and more likely to crave a much needed dopamine hit. Food – particularly high-sugar or high-fat food – can temporarily scratch that itch. But it’s often followed by that inevitable crash.

Lack of sleep has been linked with increased emotional and binge eating, especially in women. Another study found that sleep deficiency also affected decision making and controlling emotions and behaviour, sometimes making that extra slice of cake feel not just tempting but almost impossible to resist.

A tired woman with sticky notes on her eyes with awake eyes drawn on each

8. Poor sleep habits can become self-fulfilling

One bad night is manageable. But consistent under-sleeping becomes a vicious cycle. Joel refers to it as a ‘sleep domino’ effect. “Poor sleep is caused by and can cause a mixture of physiological and psychological facts,” she says. “And this has a domino effect on our eating habits. Poor sleep equals less energy, less energy means your mood changes, a bad mood is less likely to motivate you to prepare and eat healthy meals. And all of that can cause poor sleep, it can be a vicious cycle.”

And long-term sleep deprivation has been associated with a whole host of health issues, including diabetes, higher BMI and increased risk of obesity. So, if you’re stuck in a cycle of low energy, poor food choices and frustration, your sleep might be the key to breaking it.

The bottom line? Sleep isn’t lazy – it’s foundational. In the world of wellness, sleep is often overlooked compared to food and fitness. But in reality, it should be leading the way. Without enough quality sleep, your hunger hormones rebel, your metabolism stalls and your motivation evaporates. Suddenly, that “lazy Sunday lie-in” starts looking more like a productivity hack than a luxury.

However, sleep can be too much of a good thing. While adequate sleep is crucial for your health, excessive sleep has also been linked to unhealthy eating habits and an increased risk of obesity, too. So don’t overdo it.

If you’re trying to eat better, move more or lose weight, start by checking your sleep health. Prioritise it in the same way you would your protein intake or your step count. Because if sleep isn’t on your side, everything else becomes that little bit harder.

Further reading

How much sleep do I need?
8 healthier late-night snacks
Best magnesium supplements
Energy-boosting breakfast recipes
The importance of a morning routine
5 diet changes to improve your sleep
Best sleep trackers


All health content on goodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.

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Tracey Lattimore <![CDATA[Health in numbers: what you really need to know]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/health-in-numbers-what-you-really-need-to-know 2025-07-11T13:01:32.000Z 2025-07-11T13:01:32.000Z Five-a-day Figure of the number '5' surrounded by fruit and veg to denote the concept of eating 5-a-day

What’s this figure?

It’s been bandied around for what seems like forever, but eating five portions of fruit and veg a day is still a thing. According to the World Health Organisation, it helps to reduce the risk of serious health problems and boosts your uptake of fibre. It’s recommended that we eat five 80g portions per day, excluding potatoes, sweet potatoes and other starchy roots – that’s because these mainly contribute starch to our diet.

Where did it come from?

Surprisingly, the five-a-day slogan was dreamt up on the fields of sunny California back in 1988, the result of a public health campaign to encourage people to eat more fruit and veg. A transatlantic move followed, with the UK government adopting it in 2003.

The expert reassessment

"Diversity is the key," says Aisling Pigott, registered dietitian and British Dietetic Association spokesperson. "Five different fruit and vegetables is better than the same – and a mix of both fruit and vegetables for health."

What measurement should I follow?

"While recent evidence shows more than five portions may be beneficial, we know that at least five is a realistic target for many", says Pigott. "So five is a good number to stick to."

30-a-week

A range of plant-based foods

What’s this figure?

A bit more ambitious is eating 30 different plants per week to boost your gut health. While each plant should be new, the same species in a different colour also counts. But the term ‘plant’ is quite all-encompassing  – it also covers beans, nuts, seeds and wholegrains, so it's not quite as daunting as you might think. Surprisingly, dark chocolate, coffee and tea also count, but to a lesser extent – you only get a quarter of a point for these.

Where did it come from?

The magic number emerged from the American Gut Project back in 2018, which looked at the gut microbiome of thousands of people. It found that eating more than 30 types of plant a week was associated with microbial diversity in the gut (read: healthier gut bacteria), as well as a reduction in antibiotic-resistant genes.

The expert reassessment

"We know that a diverse intake of plants is associated with increased gut diversity," explains Piggot, "so the 30-plants-a-week message is quite useful, but it does have its limitations in terms of practicality."

What measurement should I follow?

"Aiming for 30 different plants is a great target but, in essence, aiming for diversity in general is better for gut health," says Pigott.

10,000 steps a day

A man with a phone tracker logging 10,000 steps a day

What’s this figure?

How often do you check your daily steps on your smartwatch or phone? Getting in 10,000 steps a day for fitness has been drummed into us for so long that for many, keeping up this challenge is compulsive. But how did we arrive at this number?

Where did it come from?

Astonishingly, it was the result of research just after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where Japanese experts came up with an early pedometer to help get the population more active. They figured that increasing daily steps from 4,000 to 10,000 would burn off around 400 extra calories a day and decrease the risk of heart disease.

The expert reassessment

"The idea of doing 10,000 steps a day has stuck around because it’s simple and easy to remember – but the original research wasn’t particularly robust," explains fitness expert Joanna Hall, founder of The WalkActive Method. "That said, more recent studies have shown that more steps per day are associated with a lower risk of dying from any cause. I recommend a daily target of 7,500 steps – but with an important distinction: focus on purposeful steps, using good technique, because not all steps are equal."

What measurement should I follow?

"Steps matter, but how you walk them matters more," says Hall. "Aim for a cadence of 100 steps per minute for general health, or 120 steps per minute to boost cardiovascular fitness and stamina."

150 minutes a week

A man and woman exercising

What’s this figure?

If you’re not into counting steps, keeping a check on your weekly activity levels might be more your thing. It’s recommended that adults aged 18-64 do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity – or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity – physical activity per week to stay healthy. Moderate activity doesn't have to be running – it could be as varied as riding a bike, dancing, rollerblading or even pushing a lawnmower.

Where did it come from?

In the 1990s, experts looked into evidence linking exercise with chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and found that a minimum of 150 minutes of weekly exercise was the threshold for delivering health benefits.

The expert reassessment

"You don’t need to do it all in one go – it can be broken into smaller, manageable bouts," explains Hall. "For many people, 30 minutes a day, five days a week is a helpful way to meet this target. And thinking weekly rather than daily can feel more flexible and realistic."

What measurement should I follow?

"Yes, the 150-minute target matters – but how you achieve it should reflect your starting point, goals and lifestyle,’ advises Hall. "Focus on movement that feels good, supports your body and fits your life – and you’re winning."

18.5-24.9 (BMI)

A notepad with the calculation for BMI written in marker in it

What’s this figure?

BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height. BMI is calculated by dividing an adult's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared – an ideal range is between 18.5-24.9. However, there are lots of drawbacks, as it doesn’t assess body fat percentage or muscle mass, for example.

Where did it come from?

BMI was not established by a medical expert – it was, in fact, created by a Belgian mathematician in 1832 as a means to establish characteristics of the ‘normal man’. It was later developed by a physiologist who coined the term ‘Body Mass Index’ in 1972.

The expert reassessment

"Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of weight versus height and, for most of us, is a good general guide to health," says freelance dietitian Angie Jefferson RD. "But it doesn’t work so well for muscular athletes who can appear overweight or even obese from the extra muscle mass that they carry."

What measurement should I follow?

"A simpler approach is height-to-waist ratio," says Jefferson. Measure your height and measure your waist. If your waist measurement is more than half your height, it shows you have too much abdominal fat – which is the worst type for health.

5mmol/L (200mg/dL) or less total cholesterol

Cholesterol written on a sheet of paper

What’s this figure?

Cholesterol is a substance that your body needs to make hormones and vitamin D. Like many things, it’s only bad if you have too much of it – high levels can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Recommended maximum levels are 5mmol/L (200mg/dL) or less of total cholesterol in your blood.

Where did it come from?

As early as 1946, a cardiologist from Los Angeles found that lowering cholesterol in the diet was beneficial to health, and targets have changed rapidly over the past 25 years.

The expert reassessment

"A finger prick test in the pharmacy will tell you your total cholesterol, which is a good guide and, for most of us, should be less than 5mmol/L," says Jefferson. "If you have certain health conditions, your target may be lower than this."

What measurement should I follow?

"An ideal test is one that measures not only total cholesterol, but also the LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol), as well as a different blood fat called triglycerides," says Jefferson. "Understanding the amounts of each of these, in combination with your blood pressure, body weight and family history, is the best guide to heart health and wellbeing."

60-100 bpm (resting heart rate)

A woman looking at her resting heart rate on a watch

What’s this figure?

Your resting heart rate rate indicates your level of cardiovascular fitness – a lower level usually implies a more efficient heart function. Between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm) is considered normal. A lot of people check their heart rate on their smart watch, but you can simply feel your pulse and count the number of beats in 15 seconds. Multiply this number by four to calculate your beats per minute.

Where did it come from?

Way back in 1628, physician William Harvey found that in one hour the heart expels an amount of blood greater than the weight of a man, and to do that it has to beat at least 60 times per minute. Several studies have indicated that a normal resting heart rate is between 60-90 bpm, while the American Heart Association defines normal as 60-100 bpm.

The expert reassessment

"The 60–100bpm range is quite broad and doesn’t always reflect true cardiovascular fitness, says Joanna Hall. "A lower resting heart rate can indicate a more efficient heart, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. I place more value on Heart Rate Variability (HRV), which measures the variation in time between each heartbeat. A higher HRV is generally better, and it’s associated with improved sleep, fitness, and resilience.

What measurement should I follow?

"While resting heart rate is useful, HRV offers deeper insight into how your body is coping and adapting," says Hall. "You can measure HRV easily with most smartwatches, rings or chest straps. What's considered 'good' depends on age and fitness, but the goal is consistency and upward trends."

So there you have it. It seems that most of these fitness numbers are important for various reasons, but probably the easiest to track is your five-a-day and 150 minutes of exercise per week. That’s diet and fitness ticked!

Further reading

What is intuitive eating?
A balanced diet for women
A balanced diet for men
All our healthy recipe collections
More health & nutrition tips


All health content on goodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.

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Joel Porter <![CDATA[Best rooftop bars in London]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/travel/uk/best-rooftop-bars-in-london 2025-07-11T13:01:18.000Z 2025-07-11T13:01:18.000Z All recommendations have been reviewed and approved as of the publish date and will be checked periodically. If you think there is any incorrect or out of date information in this guide please e-mail us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk

As the evenings get longer and the days get warmer, make the most of being outside at some of London's best spots for casual dining, family outings and fancy date nights. London's rooftop bar scene is ever evolving, with chef pop-ups, top mixologists and of course timeless views of iconic sights such as the Shard or London Eye. Whether it's a relaxed group hang or push the boat out date night, these are some of our favourite rooftop bars in London.

Looking for more London inspiration? Why not check out our guides for the best afternoon teas in London and the best pasta restaurants in London.

Best rooftop bars in London at a glance

Best rooftop bars in London 2025

The Emory

The Emory, London’s first all-suite hotel, opened in the spring of 2024. Much of the talk at the time was about the Richard Rogers’ design and the outpost of chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Abc Kitchen on the ground floor, but it’s perhaps the rooftop bar that’s become the real jewel in the crown. Owned by Maybourne, which also has Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley (next door), The Emory has a prime position right on Hyde Park, so its 10th floor bar offers panoramic views over the park and the London skyline.

Drinks come courtesy of one of the world’s best mixologists, Tato Giovannoni (behind Florería Atlántico in Buenos Aires), who returned to The Emory in 2025 after a successful two-month pop-up in 2024. Exclusive cocktails include the “San Lucas”, a mix of Flor de Caña 4 rum, cinnamon, Angostura bitters and lemon & lime soda, and the “Gurua Martini”, made from Principe de los Apostoles gin, anise, Giovannoni dry vermouth, coffee oil, and local rainwater (don’t worry, it’s purified). On the food menu, there are high-class bar snacks courtesy of Jean-Georges – think 24-month aged comté cheese, caviar and Cobble Lane charcuterie.

The Emory rooftop bar

Llama Inn

Located on the rooftop of The Hoxton in Shoreditch, Llama Inn is a hot import from New York (the original is on the New York Times Top 100 list and has a Bib Gourmand), offering modern Peruvian dishes and plenty of pisco. There’s an expansive glass-roofed interior dining room, which has a tropical feel even when the weather outside doesn’t, plus a large outdoor terrace with sofa seating and views of the nearby skyscrapers.

Peru’s national cocktail – the pisco sour – is well represented both in its classic form and with twists such as the passion fruit pisco, or an aromatic version with coconut and green tea. If you’re in a group, opt for the supersized jug of pisco sour which serves six. There’s a fun range of non-pisco cocktails and natural wines too, perfectly paired with dishes of fresh ceviche, chicken anticucho, and pork shoulder sliders.

Llama Inn

Kioku by Endo

Japanese master sushi chef Endo Kazutoshi, who is behind the Michelin-starred Endo at the Rotunda, has a more casual restaurant and bar on the rooftop of the swish Raffles hotel at the historic Old War Office. Called Kikou by Endo, it’s not the tallest of the London rooftops but in terms of location it takes some beating, with the large outdoor terrace offering views over Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and the London Eye.

A special Terrace Cocktails menu includes the “Elderflower and Wasabi Sour”, with Japanese vodka, shochu and fresh wasabi, as well as the “Mint & Shiso Yuzunade” with Bowmore whisky, ginger sake liqueur and yuzu soda. Other than cocktails, there’s an extensive list of champagne, wine and sake, plus some exceptional bites like temaki hand rolls, fresh sashimi, fatty bluefin tuna with pickled daikon, and yellowtail with aged caviar.

Kioku

Los Mochis City

Located high above Broadgate Circle, Los Mochis brings a double dose of Mexican and Japanese flavour to the heart of the City. Popular with the local after-work crowd, the huge roof terrace at Los Mochis offers great views – including of St Paul’s Cathedral – along with lots of lounge seating, tropical plants and even retractable canopies to protect from the elements.

There’s a huge range of tequilas and mezcals, surely the biggest in London, with everything from big brands to small-batch artisans. As a result, palomas and margaritas dominate the cocktail list, offering up the likes of the frozen Yuzu Jasmine Margarita and the Champagne Paloma, topped off with sake and champagne. To eat, there’s a line-up of Japanese-Mexican tacos such as the pato carnitas – teriyaki duck with habanero-cumin hoisin and jalapeño-pineapple salsa – and the miso tempura cactus. And for dessert? The restaurant’s namesake mochis of course, including salted caramel and toasted sesame flavours.

Los Mochis

Flute

There’s a distinctly luxurious feel to Flute, a cosy new rooftop bar at The Broadwick Hotel that overlooks the rooftops of Soho. It has a decadent maximalist design – animal-print upholstery, cork walls, mirrored ceilings and palm-frond carpet. The drinks menu opens with an offer of champagne and caviar, followed by an extensive list of bottles, including many vintage offerings. Happily, there’s a good line-up of English fizz too, such as the excellent Simpsons Chalklands classic cuvee.

Cocktails give a nod to Soho’s history as a film location, with names like “Postcard from London” (Hennessy VSOP, Elderflower, Tio Pepe, Mint) and “Secrets of a Windmill Girl” (Tanqueray Nº Ten, Rose Cordial, Suze Liqueur, Muyu Jasmine Verte, Champagne). Aside from caviar, some more affordable bites from the Japanese-accented menu include the katsu pork sando, the buttermilk fried chicken with xo sauce, tempura prawns, and a lobster roll with kewpie mayo.

Flute

Seabird

The outdoor terrace at Seabird, perched up on the 14th floor of The Hoxton Southwark is surely one of the prettiest rooftop bars in London, with incredible views of the Thames, London Eye and Big Ben. With its plush sofa-style seating, energetic soundtrack and tall palm trees, you could just as easily be in Miami or LA. Initially created in conjunction with Maison Premiere in New York (itself a permanent fixture on the World’s 50 Best Bars list), the cocktails on offer are a perfect match for the tropical vibe, with drinks like the ‘Cockatoo' – a mix of rum, Bacardi, coconut water, pineapple and pink pepper – or the frozen mojito, which is ideal for a hot day.

The sunny holiday vibe is continued with the food, which channels Spanish and Portuguese influences into a selection of fresh seafood dishes – think octopus rolls topped with aioli, fried calamari or whole sea bass. Best experienced when the sun is shining, there is also plenty of shade and retractable roofing, plus the whole indoor restaurant to keep cool in.

Inside of Seabird restaurant, looking out onto the city of London

Sushisamba (Heron Tower)

There’s no shortage of rooftop bars in the City of London, but none that can quite top Sushisamba – it’s 39th floor outdoor terrace is the highest in Europe. The main indoor restaurant has stunning views through its tall floor-to-ceiling windows, but the outdoor terrace is the place to be on a sunny London evening, looking down on the city below.

The restaurant offers a blend of Japanese and South American flavours, and this extends to the drinks list, too: the bar’s Signature Serves include the 'Samba Sour' – pisco, maraschino liqueur and turmeric, with Japanese citrus and egg whites – and the wasabi margarita, made from wasabi-infused tequila, lime juice and agave. On the food menu, you’ll find fresh sushi of course, plus ceviche, salads, and seafood cooked on the Japanese robata grill. There’s usually a loud, party atmosphere at Sushisamba, with regular DJs, live music and even samba dancers, so it’s better suited to celebrations and larger groups rather than quiet catch ups or family gatherings.

A pina colada and strawberry mojito on Sushinsamba's rooftop terrace in front of the top of the gherkin

Queen Elizabeth Park roof garden

If you’re looking for a child-friendly rooftop bar in London, look no further than the roof garden at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Southbank. The garden, originally a partnership with the Eden Project, is home to over 200 wild native plants and has the feeling of a secret garden with quiet, hidden corners and a luscious lawn to stretch out on. Although there’s a bar and café for refreshments, it’s not an experience totally dominated by alcohol so it’s a great choice for families.

If you are indulging, however, there’s a menu of beers, wines and even a few summery cocktails from the Gin Garden bar – highlights include the 'Southbank Iced Tea', a refreshing blend of gin, chamomile tea, lemon juice, and honey; and the signature 'Purple Haze', which combines gin, lime juice, soda and a rosemary syrup made using rosemary grown on the roof garden. Located right on the Thames, the views are very special indeed, despite not being particularly high up, with the London Eye and Big Ben to the left and St Paul’s Cathedral to the right. Due to its very open nature, the roof garden is only open in spring and summer so do check it’s open before making a special journey.

People sat around tables outside the Southbank centre in London

Frank's Cafe

Frank’s Café is one of the best rooftop bars in south London, if not the whole city. First opened in 2009, the bar is located atop a multi-story car park in Peckham and has sweeping views of the city’s skyscrapers and beyond from its concrete perch. Not the most likely of success stories you might imagine but witness the queues that snake around the ramps leading up to the top level each summer and it’s clear that Frank’s is one of the hottest spots around.

Run by Frank Boxer, the drinks list leans towards classic summer cocktails such as a negroni, margarita, piña colada and a wonderful frozen paloma. The food menu keeps it simple and seasonal: think grilled chicken wings with pesto Calabrese lamb breast kebab; and fried plantain with house hot sauce. It’s fairly open to the elements, though the bar is covered if you’re in need of shelter from the rain or sun. For this reason, Frank’s is another rooftop bar that’s only open during the warmer months, so check online for the latest information.

Food plates from Frank's

The Aviary

There are several London hotels with rooftop bars in the capital and one of the best can be found on the 10th floor of the Montcalm Hotel, located on Finsbury Square. Called The Aviary, the bar and restaurant has plenty of outdoor space and is regularly packed with after-work drinkers from the nearby City offices, creating a lively atmosphere. Being at a five-star hotel of course means that prices are a little higher, but the classy décor and sweeping views of the skyline are worth the splurge.

On the drinks menu, there’s a big selection of gin and tonics, classic cocktails and signature serves. To accompany, there’s bar-friendly small plates such as sliders, crispy squid and steak tartare. The Aviary is at its best in the summer, but the indoor restaurant is open all year round and there’s also the option of heated pop-up igloos on the outdoor terrace in the colder months, too.

Outdoor terrace at the Avery

Wagtail

Located at the top of a beautiful 1920s building next to Monument, Wagtail features a ninth floor indoor restaurant and a 10th floor outdoor rooftop terrace. It brings you near enough eye-level with the top of the Monument column, plus views looking out to the Thames and the Shard.

There’s a touch of class to Wagtail – plush sofa-style seating, low marble tables, and a lovely tiled central bar create an elegant feel that’s a cut above the wooden benches and deckchairs you’ll find at other spots. In keeping with this, the drinks list (alongside cocktails) features a big selection of scotch and Japanese whisky, cognac, champagne, fine wines and even a range of cigars. The food menu is geared towards casual outdoor snacking, with sliders, charcuterie boards and and small plates such as porcini mushroom arancini or buttermilk fried chicken.

Roof terrace at Wagtail overlooking the Shard

Boundary Rooftop

The Boundary Rooftop is undoubtedly one of the most stylish rooftop bars in London – no surprise when you learn that the Boundary hotel that it sits atop was founded by the late Sir Terrance Conran. Opened in 2008 in the heart of Shoreditch, the Boundary Rooftop has become a firm favourite in east London over the years.

On the outdoor portion of the terrace, there’s smart wooden decking, plush sofas and chairs, an open log fire, and two beautiful old olive trees. And for year-round rooftop action, there’s also the glass orangery where you can keep cosy and dry while still enjoying the spectacular east London views. Cocktails include a dedicated spritz menu and original creations such as the 'Powerpuff Girls' with pink gin, Briottet litchi, raspberry, lime and lychee. To eat, there’s Mediterranean-inspired dishes like charcoal-grilled fish, fresh salads, and charcuterie in summer; and cheese fondue, raclette, and hot cocktails in the winter.

Boundary Rooftop

The Rooftop at The Standard

If you’re looking for a rooftop bar in north London, take the iconic red lift to the 11th floor of The Standard hotel in King’s Cross. In keeping with the hotel’s party reputation, here you’ll find a lively rooftop bar, decked out with artificial grass and bright-yellow furniture, plus a summer-long programme of live DJs, music and performances.

Cocktails on tap mean you won’t be queuing at the bar for long to try the likes of the 'Sakura Spritz', made with rosé vermouth, elderflower and hibiscus, and the 'Spicy Tommy’s margarita'. Food comes in the form of pizza by the slice or whole 16" pie from the rooftop pizza truck. Aside from a few umbrellas, the terrace is completely open to the elements, meaning that it’s only open during spring and summer – and even in these months, if it’s too windy or raining, the terrace will be closed so make sure you keep an eye on the weather if you’re planning a trip. On the plus side, when the sun is shining, you’ll be rewarded with glorious uninterrupted views.

The Nest

There aren’t many rooftop bars in central London to choose from, but it doesn’t get much more central than The Nest. Located just north of Oxford Circus on the 16th floor of the Treehouse Hotel, this is one of the best terraces for views in all of London. From its central location, the wraparound terrace offers views in every direction, from the London eye and city skyscrapers to the south, to Hampstead and Primrose Hill in the north. There are even telescopes on the terrace allowing you zoom in to the sights (or try to spot your house).

The decor runs with the treehouse theme, with exposed woodwork beams, wooden furniture, and green foliage covering the walls and ceilings. Drinks are inspired by seasonal British herbs and botanicals, underpinned by a sustainable zero-waste approach. For summer 2025, cocktails include ‘The Gooseberry Fool' with aperitivo spritz, Tree House gin, gooseberry juice, hopped syrup and Silver Reign sparkling wine. On the food menu, you’ll find British charcuterie boards, burgers, and crispy pork belly bao.

The Nest rooftop bar

Hotel Amano Covent Garden

The unique menu at the bar on the seventh floor of Hotel Amano in Covent Garden combines Israeli and Spanish influences. Graze on Iberico ham, ox cheek croquettes, potato churros with whipped cod's roe or aubergine crostini with green labneh. Signature cocktails like 'Butterfly' (Sauvelle vodka infused Blue Butterfly, lychee liqueur, lemongrass syrup, lemon uuice) ensure an interesting drink choice.

One entire wall is a colourful floral display while seats facing outwards give a view of the city’s rooftops and landmarks such as the London Eye, prettier when lit up at night. A handy awning ensures you’ll stay dry if there’s a light shower or move inside to comfy booth seating, where at weekends there’s a DJ.

Interior of Hotel Amano Rooftop Bar in Covent Garden

Read more of our foodie travel guides...

The best foodie experiences in the UK

4 seaside city breaks for foodies

The best restaurants to eat at in Brighton 

The best UK gourmet clamping sites

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Jo Williams – Registered nutritionist <![CDATA[6 ways to cut out food noise without resorting to weight-loss drugs]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/6-ways-to-cut-out-food-noise-without-resorting-to-weight-loss-drugs 2025-07-11T13:00:40.000Z 2025-07-11T13:00:40.000Z Another day, another story about weight-loss jabs. The interest in medications like Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic shows no sign of abating, with access and take-up increasing.

One of the reasons for their popularity is because they suppress appetite, making you feel full more quickly and reducing the ‘food noise’ that makes dieting so miserable. For many, dieting without feeling hungry or constantly thinking about food is the stuff of dreams. But if you’re not keen on injections, don’t meet the qualifying criteria for these medications or are worried about what happens when you stop taking them, then you’ll be keen to find another way to block the food noise. The good news is, removing the constant internal dialogue around eating and cravings is possible without turning to weight-loss drugs, and could make all the difference for those who’ve previously struggled with dieting.

Below are six evidence-based strategies, along with useful insights from research, to help you cut out food noise without the need for weight-loss medication.

A man gorging on food

What is food noise?

You’ve just had lunch, yet you’re already thinking about a snack and what you might have for dinner. Or you spot someone eating an ice cream and can’t stop thinking about getting one yourself. These types of thoughts are known as ‘food noise’, the term given to the constant thoughts and cravings about food in between meals. It’s a real thing, also known as food cue reactivity and for some people these thoughts can lead to overeating, making dieting and weight loss a struggle.

How do slimming jabs help remove the food noise?

Anti-obesity medications like Ozempic and Wegovy contain the active ingredient semaglutide which mimics a hormone called GLP-1. It helps control blood sugar levels and slows the speed at which your stomach empties, keeping you fuller for longer.

The drugs can also suppress appetite and affect the dopamine pathway in the brain, making food less rewarding.

Cutting out this mental tug of war around eating is achievable. It takes a blend of mindset change, structured habits and targeted nutritional and behavioural change.

6 ways to deal with food noise without medication

1. Tune into internal cues

Also known as interoceptive awareness, this involves noticing the difference between true hunger, fullness and other emotional signals from the body. When you are more in tune with these cues, you are less likely to eat when you are not hungry, for example in response to stress or boredom. Research suggests that higher interoceptive awareness is associated with reduced emotional eating and more intuitive food choices.

In order to ‘tune in’, try to pause and ask yourself ‘am I hungry?’ or is it something else I am reacting to? Some people may also like to try using a hunger and fullness scale before, during and after meals to work out if it is true hunger driving the desire to eat.

2. Ditch the ‘all or nothing’ thinking

All-or-nothing thinking, sometimes referred to as black-and-white thinking, is a tendency to see things as ‘good/bad’ or ‘either/or,’ with nothing in between. This thought pattern can exacerbate food noise as it’s easy to feel like one small mistake or 'wrong' food choice means you have fallen off the wagon. This mindset also increases food obsession, leading to cycles of extreme restriction followed by guilt-driven bingeing, making it hard to build consistency. Instead, try not to think about ‘good’ or ‘bad’ foods to allow yourself all foods and a more neutral approach. This removes the pressure around eating and you will notice what you enjoy, not just crave, leaving the guilt and food noise behind.

A sign reading 'mindful eating' surrounded by healthy foods

3. Use mindful eating

A 2017 review found that mindful eating interventions can be helpful in reducing binge eating and emotional eating. Mindful eating is being fully present as you eat, slowing down to notice the taste and smell of your food and focusing on being present in the moment. This approach helps to reduce automatic eating and allows your brain time to register the feeling of being full therefore breaking the cycle of overeating, or impulsive eating.

Mindful eating practices include eating without distractions – so no phones, scrolling or TV. Instead, be more aware of your food, chew slowly while noting the flavours, textures and satisfaction level. This should prevent cravings and leave you feeling satisfied.

4. Reduce exposure to hyper-palatable food

Food noise isn’t true hunger, often it’s about seeking out the dopamine fix. Dopamine is a powerful neurotransmitter or brain chemical, that creates feelings of pleasure and reward. When we eat certain types of food, mainly ultra-processed foods, we get a dopamine rush, and before you know it, you’re reaching for the biscuit tin without even thinking. Foods that give this dopamine fix can make food noise worse and processed foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar are the main culprits.

Try to replace ultra-processed snacks with satisfying wholefood versions and engage in dopamine-rich non-food activities. Exercise, music, cold showers and talking to friends can help reduce the mental draw towards food. Choose foods for long-term fullness and dopamine production such as eggs, fish, chicken, nuts and seeds.

5. Stabilise blood sugar

Food noise can be exacerbated by hunger, or blood sugar imbalance. Keep your blood sugar levels in check by combining protein with high-fibre vegetables and whole grains to prevent the highs and lows. Try to avoid eating carbohydrates on their own – instead pair them with protein and/or fat to avoid the rapid insulin spike that triggers cravings. And don’t under eat. Chronic dieting or skipping meals leads to intense hunger, which increases obsessive food noise.

An orderly fridge

6. Create a calm food environment

Food noise often gets louder when you’re surrounded by cues. Declutter and reorganise your kitchen or pantry to keep tempting foods out of sight (or out of the house if needed). Mute/unfollow anything on social media that is unhelpful to you. If your feed is full of ‘what I eat in a day’ videos, then that may be reinforcing the noise. While it might sound boring, having a meal plan in place can support your choices and reduce the constant thinking about food. Seeking the help of a registered nutritionist or dietitian can provide personalised guidance on nutrition and meal planning and support you with some strategies to help.

Food noise gets louder when the body is under stress or you've under-slept. If you are struggling, a good place to start is by improving sleep and reducing cortisol-inducing stressors. It’s also helpful to eat the right things. You have probably heard it before, but protein, fibre, healthy fats and balanced meals are going to keep you fuller for longer, stabilise hunger pangs and reduce cravings. It is common to fall down by relying on discipline and willpower alone, so consider a structured eating plan to reduce decision fatigue and emotional eating. Slow down, chew well and eat without distraction and where possible reduce external food cues that spark food noise.

Further reading

We asked 7 experts what they really think of weight loss jabs
10 best foods to eat if you’re always hungry
5 tips for dieting success
10 ways to reduce your portion size that won’t leave you hungry

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Natalie Bass <![CDATA[The best pizza oven deals on our tried-and-tested favourites]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/pizza-oven-deals 2025-07-11T12:15:48.000Z 2025-07-11T11:30:50.000Z Capable of hitting temperatures of 500C, a pizza oven is a must-have purchase for creating mottled crusts, epic cheese pulls and crisp toppings on your homemade pizzas.

These outdoor gadgets are ultra-versatile and efficient, providing an easy, fun way to achieve the wood-fired flavour that makes restaurant pizza taste so good, which can be difficult to achieve in a standard oven.

Despite their virtues, though, some of the best pizza ovens also don't come cheap, with prices starting at around £350. So if you're hoping to make a saving on one of the top performing models out there, you've come to the right place.

We're now into the final few hours of Prime Day 2025 and there's still plenty of discounts around – not just from Amazon, but also from the likes of John Lewis & Partners, Currys, JD Williams and Argos, as well as pizza oven brands like Ooni and Gozney. Most deals are expected to end at midnight tonight, so we advise acting quickly if you want to buy.

View Green Video on the source website

Pizza oven deals at a glance

  • Ooni – save up to 30% on the Karu 16 pizza oven
  • Lakeland – deals on summer gadgets, including pizza ovens and ice-cream makers
  • Amazon – Prime Day sale ends at midnight tonight
  • Very – huge deals across home and tech, ends today
  • John Lewis & Partners – up to 50% off home, tech and garden
  • Harts of Stur – summer sale has started
  • The Range – up to 50% off across home and garden
  • Brand Alley – up to 23% off Ooni pizza oven bundles
  • Robert Dyas – offers on outdoor kitchen kit, including 30% off BBQs

When you're looking for pizza oven offers, don't forget that a lot of the brands will be competing for your attention, so they'll be keeping an eye on other retailers' prices as well as their own. You'll also find that some brands like Currys, John Lewis & Partners and AO offer a price-match promise. When you've found a deal you like the look of, check to see whether there are any extras included, like free delivery or pizza oven accessories.

Jump to:

Pizza oven deals 2025

Witt Etna Rotante pizza oven

Best gas pizza oven

Witt ETNA Rotante pizza oven in orange against a white background

Star rating: 5/5

Available in four stylish colours, this pizza oven features a rotating stone that saves you the trouble of spinning the dough yourself. It's large and requires space to store, but it's also remarkably easy to use.

Our 16-inch pizza cooked in just under 2 minutes, and we achieved the best results when launching our dough into a 500C oven, then turning the flames down to medium-low. The results were almost perfect, with a risen, leopard-spotted crust and oozy, crisp toppings.

The price point is bumped up by the hidden essentials of gas and batteries, plus a pizza peel, so Amazon's Prime Day deal presents a great opportunity to save.

Available from:

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Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer

Best electric pizza oven

Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer

Combining two of the most popular cooking appliances of recent years, this pizza oven air fryer from Ninja is ultra-versatile and fun to use. The oven has a choice of five pizza functions including New York, Artisan, Pan, Thin Crust and Custom, as well as air fry setting – with which you can use the accompanying cooking basket and baking tray.

A 12-inch pizza stone is also included, and though the maximum temperature only goes as high as 370C, we were pleasantly surprised by the cooking results the oven produced – each pizza had a crisp, puffy crust, visible charring and oozing cheese, something that's difficult to achieve without an open flame.

Available from:

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Ooni Karu 2

Best portable pizza oven

Ooni Karu 12G pizza oven

Star rating: 4.5/5

Simple to set up and even more simple to cook with, the Ooni Karu 2 is the multi-fuel version of the original Karu 12. It can cook one 12-inch pizza in a speedy 90 seconds. We are particular fans of the oven door which not only allows you to check on the progress of your pizza, but also keeps heat in for a more even cook. Small and compact, this is a great pizza oven to take camping or to the beach.

Available from:

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Ooni Karu 16 pizza oven

Best multi-fuel pizza oven

Ooni Karu 16

Star rating: 4.5/5

If you can’t decide between a wood-fired or gas pizza oven, the Ooni Karu 16 is the answer. This model can be heated using wood, charcoal or gas, offering more flexibility than some of the more classic models on this list.

We loved the quick cooking time – we were able to make pizzeria-worthy pizzas in just 60 seconds. Plus, the 16-inch cooking surface is a generous size, perfect for entertaining or feeding a family.

Read our full Ooni Karu 16 review.

Available from:

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Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven

Best pizza oven for small spaces

Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven

Star rating: 4.5/5

The smaller version of the Ooni Koda 16, this pizza oven is gas-powered with a compact footprint. It's lightweight, with collapsible legs which make it super easy to store. It also comes already assembled which we found really useful and means you can start making pizzas straight away, all you need to do is flip out the three legs from the bottom of the oven, fit the stone into it and connect it to a propane gas canister.

Like other Ooni models a single strip of fire around the back of the oven provides the heat source to cook your pizzas. The compact nature of the oven means the opening is also quite small, and we found it took a bit of precision and practise to get a pizza cleanly into the oven.

Read our full Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven review.

Available from:

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Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven

Best portable pizza oven

Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven in black

Star rating: 4.5/5

Ooni is a big name in the world of pizza ovens, and this 16-inch portable option produces excellent artisan-style pizzas that were fully cooked in just 60 seconds during our test. We found it incredibly easy to assemble the oven and cook, and hardly needed to refer to the manual at all.

The materials are durable and sleek, and though it doesn't come with any additional tools, these are available to buy via Ooni's website and other retailers. It's also straightforward to clean, and was cool enough to pack away again in an hour and a half.

Read our full Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven review.

Available from:

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Ooni Volt 12 pizza oven

Best mess-free pizza oven

Ooni Volt 12 pizza oven against a white background

Star rating: 4/5

The Volt 12 is Ooni's first indoor-suitable oven, and it's capable of reaching 450C without the need for wood or gas. It plugs into the mains, so you avoid the risk of your fuel running out mid-bake, and it has user-friendly features like an interior light – so you can watch your pizza as it cooks.

The oven is built with a tempered glass door and well-engineered controls, which we found responded well to change during testing. Heating the Volt took around 20 minutes, and once it hit temperature, our pizzas were ready in just 2 minutes, 30 seconds.

We were also impressed with the results: each pizza had a brilliantly puffy crust and nicely browned toppings. It's worth adding that this model gets very smoky, though, so you'll need to have the right ventilation if you want to use this oven indoors. Read our full Ooni Volt 12 review.

Available from:

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Sage the Smart Pizzaiolo

Best investment indoor pizza oven

Sage the Smart Pizzaiolo

Star rating: 4.5/5

If you're keen to jump on the pizza oven hype but don't have any outdoor space, this plug-in Sage model is ideal. It looks and works quite like a microwave oven, and is capable of heating up to 400C in about 20 minutes.

Included in the box are a heavy round pizza stone that slots inside, a long-handled pizza peel, and round metal tin to make deep-dish pizza. We also loved the range of settings available: choose from 'wood-fired', pan, New York, crispy, or even frozen.

The results we got were excellent – light crusts and bubbling melted cheese, crisp bases and a leopard-spotted crusts, all in just two minutes.

Read our full Sage the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo review.

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Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven

Best electric pizza oven

Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven

Star rating: 4/5

If flexibility is what you want from your pizza oven, you'll find few as versatile as this Ninja outdoor oven. It doubles up as an electric BBQ and has an integrated smoker box, so you can achieve a smoky flavour on dishes without relying on open flames, gas or charcoal.

There are six pizza settings in total – New York, artisan, pan, thin, frozen and a custom setting – and while its appearance is a little boxy, we found the quality of build was very good. Without the open-flame element, you'll struggle to achieve the mottled crust you'd expect to see from a traditional pizza oven. That said, we found this gadget a joy to use, and the fact it plugs in at the wall (though can only be used outside) is a win for convenience.

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Gozney Roccbox pizza oven

Best portable pizza oven for beginners

Gozney Roccbox pizza oven

Star rating: 4/5

This stylish pizza oven was billed as the 'world’s first portable restaurant-style pizza oven' when it launched, and it has an impressive build quality. We found it easy to set up – all that’s needed is a flick of the legs to unfold them, before you then attach the gas.

We actually found the Roccbox less portable than other small pizza ovens we've tested and it isn't as easy as some of the other models to move around, but if you're keen on Gozney as a brand, it's significantly more affordable than its larger permanent models.

The cooking results were also excellent, and this model produced restaurant-quality pizza with a leopard spotted crust and bubbling cheese.

Read our full Gozney Roccbox pizza oven review.

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How to shop safely online during Prime Day

When looking for Prime Day deals online, a good rule of thumb to follow is: if a price feels too good to be true, it probably is. You can reduce the risk of being tricked by targeted scams by only buying from retailers you trust. Try to avoid sites you don't recognise, too, as well as private sellers suggested to you via social media.

Always use recommended secure payment methods when making your purchase, and avoid filling in quizzes that ask for personal information similar to security questions (your mother's maiden name, for example), as these can be used to guess passwords.

Rest assured, we will only be adding links and deals to this page unless we're fully comfortable with the retailer. You can find more advice in our guide on how to avoid online scams.

How to get a good Prime Day deal on pizza ovens

  • Read the reviews: this should help you make an informed decision before you decide to buy, and ensure that the product you have your eye on isn't a dud. At Good Food, we test each product listed in all of our deals round-ups, so we know which models are worth spending your money on.
  • Stick to a budget: try to set a budget before you start searching for deals, so you make the most of the savings on offer without going overboard.
  • When you see a price you're happy with, buy it: some products can go out of stock quickly if they have a particularly big attached to them. Most deals are only available for a limited time, too, so don't hang around if you see an offer you like.
  • Use tools that can alert you to good prices: keep checking our deals pages to get up-to-date advice on new offers as they go live, and look at tools like CamelCamelCamel, which can show you the price history of Amazon products.

How do we find Prime Day pizza oven deals?

We look at a variety of retailer sites when looking for pizza oven deals, and make a note of what they're offering and how the price has changed over the last few months.

Prices often fluctuate as brands try to compete with each other, so we like to keep an eye on what's on offer to ensure you're always getting the best deal – then update this page accordingly.

We don't just look at larger brands like Amazon, Ninja, and Currys – we look at smaller ones too, as these can sometimes offer deals that bigger ones can't. We always aim to help you find the best price, as long as we trust the retailer.

How do we select Prime Day pizza oven deals?

As you look for discounts online over Prime Day, you might find there are lots of pizza oven deals around from a range of retailers. However, those that feature in our guide are the best performers from more than 40 of those shortlisted, tested and reviewed by our Good Food reviews team.

When we review products, we rigorously test each model using Good Food recipes to assess the quality of materials, ease of use, performance, value for money and sustainability.

We'll put each product through its paces during everyday kitchen tasks, and also test additional functions to identify any weak spots. Discover our full guide to the best pizza ovens to see our top-rated models and see which ones achieved the best star ratings.

More Prime Day deals and guides

Air fryer deals
Coffee machine deals
Microwave deals
Breadmaker deals
Stand mixer deals
Dishwasher deals
Fridge-freezer deals
Slow cooker deals
BBQ deals
Is Le Creuset worth it?
Ninja Prime Day deals

Pizza oven reviews and recipes

Basic pizza dough recipe
Pizza dough recipes
Pizza sauce recipe
Sourdough pizza
10 tips for making next level margherita pizza
How to make pizza
How to season cast iron
Best pizza oven accessories
Best pizza stones
Best pizza cutters
Best Ooni pizza oven
Best Ooni accessories
Best Weber BBQ
Gozney vs Ooni pizza ovens
Gozney releases Matty Matheson pizza oven

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Natalie Bass <![CDATA[The only air fryer deals you should consider this Prime Day]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/news-trends/air-fryer-deals-uk 2025-07-11T11:42:32.000Z 2025-07-11T11:01:48.000Z Air fryers have become an essential for the modern kitchen. Perfect for creating a crisp finish on food with minimal oil, they work by circulating hot air to cook evenly and efficiently. And with Prime Day deals set to end at midnight tonight, there's no better time to secure a great saving on a top-rated model.

That said, we know that finding for a genuinely good deal can also be a bit overwhelming, especially with so many offers to choose from. After all, it's not just Amazon offering deals right now – plenty of other popular retailers are dropping their prices, too, including Ninja, Tower, John Lewis & Partners and Currys to name just a few.

So, we've endeavoured to make things very easy for you by rounding up the best genuine deals we can find – plus, you can rest assured that every model feature in this list has been tested by us and granted our seal of approval. Read our full guide to the best air fryers for more in-depth insights.

Dual-drawer air-fryer with halloumi and aubergine

Air fryer deals at a glance

  • Ninja – deals on selected models, plus save when you trade in old models
  • Tower – save 10% on Good Food in partnership with Tower air fryers with code GOODFOODNEW
  • Lakeland – up to £40 off Lakeland air fryers
  • Amazon – Prime Day ends at midnight tonight
  • JD Williams – deals on Ninja, Tower and Tefal air fryers
  • Harts of Stur – save in the summer sale
  • Marks Electrical – deals on small and large appliances
  • John Lewis & Partners – up to 50% off home and tech
  • Very – huge summer savings are live, ends today
  • Currys – up to 40% off thousands of products
  • Hughes – save on Ninja, Sage and Tower air fryers
  • Robert Dyas – up to 50% off selected appliances
  • Appliances Direct – up to 34% off air fryers, plus 39% off small appliances

Don’t forget, all of the retailers offering air fryer deals are competing for your attention, so will be keeping just as much of an eye on other brands' prices as their own. We’ve also seen Currys, John Lewis & Partners and AO offer a price-match promise. When you’ve spotted a price that appeals to you, look out for added extras, such as free delivery.

View Green Video on the source website

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Air fryer deals 2025

Good Food in partnership with Tower Duo 12-in-1 air fryer

Good Food Duo 12-in-1 Air Fryer

The Good Food Duo 12-in-1 air fryer, created in partnership with Tower, brings efficiency and versatility to your kitchen. With an 8-litre capacity across two 4-litre baskets, it’s just the ticket for family-sized meals. This air fryer has earned Good Food’s Tried, Tested, and Trusted seal of approval, meaning it meets the same rigorous standards as all the other air fryers in this list. Tested in exactly the same way as we test all air fryers, it delivers crisp chips, moist cakes, and much more.

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Good Food in partnership with Tower 10-litre oven and basket air fryer

Good Food 10 Litre Oven and Basket Air Fryer

Elevate your kitchen with the Good Food 10-litre oven and basket air fryer: the perfect solution for versatile family cooking. Created in partnership with Tower, this Tried, Tested, and Trusted model combines a 5.5-litre oven chamber for roasting joints and a 4.5-litre air fryer basket for crisp results.

The viewing windows let you monitor cooking without interruption, and the sync function ensures meals finish simultaneously. Like all air fryers on this list, the model has been rigorously tested to ensure brilliant performance.

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Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK

Best air fryer overall

Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK air-fryer

Star rating: 5/5

Most dual-drawer air fryers offer ample space for larger portions or cooking multiple dishes at the same time. But, if you have a small kitchen, their chunky footprint can be off-putting. Ninja has gone some way to solving this with its newest model, the Double Stack XL, which turns the traditional dual-drawer design on its head and positions one drawer on top of the other, rather than positioning them side by side.

That's not all – both 4.75-litre drawers also have a stainless-steel rack that allows you to air-fry two layers of ingredients at the same time. In test we found it a joy to use, and even though it was noisier than other models we've tested, cooking with it was straightforward and all our recipes were a success.

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Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer dual air-fryer

Best flexible air-fryer

Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer dual air fryer

Star rating: 5/5

This air-fryer has a sizeable 10.4-litre capacity, making it one of the largest on this list. What sets it apart is its flexible drawer set-up – you can use it as a dual drawer with a divider in the middle, or as one large drawer with enough room for a family-sized roast chicken or side of salmon.

We found it sleek and intuitive, but its versatility was what earned this air-fryer its star-buy status. Discover more product recommendations and deals in our guide to the best air-fryers.

Wattage: 2470W

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Cosori TurboBlaze air fryer

Best single-drawer air fryer

Cosori TurboBlaze air-fryer

Star rating: 5/5

Cosori’s TurboBlaze air fryer is a sleek six-litre model with nine presets, including air fry, roast, grill, and reheat. With a high-speed motor and advanced air-duct system, it’s up to 46% faster than the Cosori Pro air fryer. Featuring a wide touchscreen and five fan speeds, it reaches 230C and runs up to 24 hours – ideal for dehydrating. In testing, it proved easy to use, versatile, and relatively quiet.

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Instant Vortex Plus dual air fryer

Best dual-drawer air fryer

Instant Vortex Dual air fryer

Star rating: 5/5

This dual-drawer model was one of the smallest we tested, and is able to cook a main and sides for four to six people thanks to its combined 7.5-litre capacity. The SyncFinish function also allows different functions to finish cooking at the same time – great for plating up various dishes simultaneously. Read our full Instant Vortex Plus dual air fryer review.

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Lakeland Dual-Basket air fryer

Best air fryer for chicken

Lakeland Dual Basket Air Fryer With Easy View 8L

Star rating: 4.5/5

Featuring eight presets, this eight-litre air-fryer is a great choice for households who want to use their gadget to cook lots of different dishes simultaneously. What makes it easy is the sync function, which automatically programmes each drawer to finish at the same time, regardless of timings and temperatures.

We liked the clear window built onto the front of this model and enjoyed being able to peek inside as our chips and chicken crisped up. Every dish we cooked was also a success, and our chicken breast in particular was juicy, tender and flavoursome.

Wattage: 2700W

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Ninja Speedi air fryer ON400UK

Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker

Star rating: 4.5/5

So much more than an air-fryer, the Ninja Speedi is the brands' latest offering. Though there are 10 settings to explore, the Speedi can be primarily used for air-frying, grilling, roasting and sautéing. Its generously sized 5.7-litre capacity makes it a brilliant addition to households of four or five, and the rapid-cook setting is ideal for dinners in a flash. Read our full Ninja Speedi review.

Wattage: 1760W

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Cosori Air Fryer Lite 3.8L

Best WiFi-enabled air fryer

Cosori air-fryer lite 3.8L

Star rating: 4.5/5

This Cosori model impressed us with its sleek and simple design, colourful accents, and easy-to-remove grill tray – and its WiFi compatibility is a huge win on the convenience front. At the time of testing it was also one of the cheapest air fryers to run versus other models.

It ran quietly during use, and though we had to exercise some trial-and-error during the cooking process, it produced crispy, well-sealed chips and moist, evenly cooked chicken.

Read the full Cosori Air Fryer Lite 3.8L review.

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Cuisinart air fryer mini oven

Best mid-range mini oven

Cuisinart air fryer mini oven

Star rating: 4.5/5

If you want an appliance that does more than air frying, this mini oven from Cuisinart is a solid upgrade. It's easy to set up and has intuitive controls, with seven preset functions that span from air frying and roasting, to grilling and baking.

It also has the ability to cook 30% faster than a conventional oven, which is useful for keeping energy costs down. Some of the dials are a little stiff and the volume timer is very quiet. But the cooking results were excellent, and our apple & almond cake turned out especially well.

Read our full Cuisinart air fryer mini oven review.

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Cosori Pro 5.5-litre air fryer

Best large capacity air fryer for affordability

COSORI Air Fryer 5.5L Capacity

Star rating: 4.5/5

Already our best air fryer for affordability, you can now pick this model up for even cheaper than the RRP. We loved the boxy, smart design, as well as the clear and intuitive control panel. There are a wealth of presets to explore as well as a manual setting so you can cook food exactly to your liking. Chips were cooked well, but they could have been more crisp.

Wattage: 1700W

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HySapientia 24-litre air-fryer oven

Best air-fryer for large households

HySapientia air fryer oven

Star rating: 4/5

With a 24-litre capacity, this HySapientia model is one of the largest air-fryers we've tested – making it an ideal choice for households of four or five. Its three-tiered cooking system can handle just under 1kg of fries or a 2.5kg chicken, and because it comes with so many accessories, it's also hugely versatile.

This air-fryer also produced evenly golden chips that were well sealed and didn't need to be shaken or turned over half-way through. Our halloumi fries were flavoursome, sporting a crisp outer layer and stretchy texture.

Read the full HySapientia 24-litre air-fryer oven review.

Wattage: 1800W

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How to shop safely online during Prime Day

If you find an air fryer deal and it feels too good to be true, it probably is. According to NatWest, these popular gadgets are becoming one of the top purchase scams criminals use by advertising goods or selling through retailers that don't exist. You can minimise the risk of being duped by targeted scams by shopping from reputable retailers you trust, and avoiding unfamiliar sites or private sellers suggested to you through social media.

Always use the recommended secure payment methods if shopping online and avoid quizzes that ask for personal information similar to security questions, as these can be used to guess your passwords. Rest assured, we won't be adding any links into this page unless we're 100 per cent comfortable with the retailer. Read more in our guide on how to avoid scams when shopping online.

How do we find Prime Day air fryer deals?

When searching for air fryers on sale, we look at a whole host of retailer sites to see what they’re offering. We’ve found that prices can change a few times a week as retailers compete with each other, so we track all the prices to ensure you’re always getting the best deal and update this page accordingly.

But we don’t just look to big retailers – we also look at smaller ones too, as they may be offering a price that their larger counterparts cannot. Our aim is to find you the best price and the biggest air fryer deals, whatever the retailer.

How do we select Prime Day air fryer deals?

You’ll notice that there are plenty of air fryer deals right now, but those that feature in this list are the best performers of more than 40 of those shortlisted, tested and reviewed by Good Food experts.

Each was put to the test using Good Food's thoroughly tested recipes, designed to assess both their performance on everyday kitchen tasks but also challenge the additional functions to identify any weaknesses. Visit our full guide to the best air fryers to find our top-rated picks and those that achieved the highest star ratings.

Are air fryers worth the hype?

Known for their versatility, air fryers are able to perform multiple functions. You can bake, roast, dehydrate and grill in almost all of the models we’ve tested, plus many more functions. It’s impressive to see how much is packed into their compact countertop footprint.

Not only does an air fryer save you precious counter space, they’re often cheaper to run than ovens, particularly if you’re only heating up food for one or two.

Air fryers work by circulating hot air to cook and crisp food to achieve that 'fried' texture and flavour, rather than using vats of oil – making air fryers a healthier alternative to deep-fat frying. Plus there’s considerably less mess.

Not just reserved for chips, use your air fryer for air fryer chicken breastsbuffalo cauliflower wingsair fryer sausagesair fryer salmonair fryer doughnuts and much more. Read more in our guide: are air fryers worth it?

How much does an air fryer cost?

Prices can vary depending on the size, capacity and versatility of the machine. Prices for standard air fryers tend to begin at around £50, though those at the lower end of the spectrum may require you to do some pre-cooking before you start.

For a basic air fryer, we recommend looking at those around the £100 mark for something efficient. For more versatile and multifunctional appliances, we’ve seen prices reach the £300+ mark, but these models tend to serve as an extension of the oven, so are equally well worth the price.

How to get a good Prime Day air fryer deal

  • Read reviews: it’s easy to get swayed by a great looking deal, but there’s every chance the model you’ve got your eye on could be a dud. Our reviews experts have tested more than 40 different air fryers so really do know the very best models around. Each test and review is impartial and offers up-to-date advice on the products actually worth buying.
  • Set a budget and stick to it: sales events usually offer excellent opportunities to save money so, in order to make the most of the deals, set a budget and try to stick to it.
  • When you see a price you're happy with, buy it: many air fryer deals will only be available for a short amount of time.
  • Utilise tools to alert you to good prices: for example, CamelCamelCamel will show you the price history of Amazon products.

How to calculate your kWH cost

While air fryers can be cheaper to run than a conventional oven, they do vary in energy efficiency. To calculate how much energy your appliance uses, simply multiply its wattage by the number of hours it is used per day. Then, divide that total by 1,000 to get the gadget's daily kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Young woman doing online shopping on smartphone

The cost per kWh can vary depending on what your energy tariff is, plus where you live. If you have a smart meter in your home, you'll be able to see the cost per use as you cook without having to do this calculation.

The cost-of-living crisis is also continuing to affect lots of us, with many seeking out low-wattage appliances that can help to keep energy costs lower in the long-run. You can find more advice about this in your guide to energy-efficient cooking, plus tips and advice on how to clean an air fryer and what not to cook in an air fryer.

More Prime Day deals

Coffee machine deals
Microwave deals
Fridge-freezer deals
Dishwasher deals
Pizza oven deals
BBQ deals
Best Ninja air fryers
Breadmaker deals
Slow cooker deals
Best dual air fryers
Best small air fryers
Stand mixer deals
Ninja Prime Day deals

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Natalie Bass <![CDATA[The best Ninja Prime Day deals live right now, from air fryers to the viral Ninja Creami ice-cream maker]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/news-trends/ninja-prime-day-deals 2025-07-11T12:02:46.000Z 2025-07-11T10:45:45.000Z Prime Day 2025 (also known as Amazon's 30th birthday) is ending at midnight tonight, and if you're on the hunt for a good deal on a Ninja appliance, pan or knife set, you've come to the right place.

Not only does our team of reviews experts know where and how to find the best Ninja Prime Day deals, but we've also tested a wide range of appliances of cookware from the popular US brand, so we know exactly which bits of kit are actually worth spending your money on.

Ninja has become synonymous with air fryers over the last few years, but these aren’t the only kitchen gadgets in its roster. Among the rest of product range are coffee machines, multi-cookers, electric pizza ovens, food processors, kettles and blenders, not to mention the viral ice cream makers, the Ninja Creami and Ninja Creami Deluxe.

Ninja’s cookware has also consistently performed well in our tests, and there are currently plenty of opportunities to save on frying pans and knife sets.

Ninja Creami Deluxe with three tubs

So, if you want to know the answer to questions like 'where can I find the cheapest price for the Ninja Creami Deluxe?' (answer: it's currently £189 at Amazon – down from £199.99), as well as the biggest and best Ninja Prime Day deals, we've got you covered.

Once you've seen a deal you like the look of, don't hesitate to buy – most offers are expected to disappear at midnight tonight, which is when this year's Prime Day sales event ends.

Best Ninja Prime Day deals at a glance

Ninja air fryer deals

Ninja Creami ice-cream maker deals

Ninja coffee machine and kettle deals

Ninja food processor and blender deals

Ninja pan and knife deals

Ninja BBQ and pizza oven deals

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Best Ninja air fryer deals

Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK air fryer

Best air fryer overall

Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK air-fryer

Star rating: 5/5

This innovative air fryer has gone viral on social media, and when we put it to test ourselves, we were equally blown away. Its double-stacked design offers ample capacity for large portions, but without the need to sacrifice lots of space on the countertop.

Within both drawers, you can also air fry two layers of ingredients simultaneously using the stainless-steel racks provided. We found it a joy to use, and even though its fan is noisier than that of other air fryers we've used, it proved to be impressively straightforward and efficient.

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Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer dual air fryer

Best flexible air fryer

Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer dual air fryer

Star rating: 5/5

Air fryers with flexible drawers – which usually have a removable divider that turns two drawers into one large one – are becoming increasingly popular, but this model from Ninja was arguably the one that started it all.

It has an enormous 10.4-litre capacity, which is ample enough for a side of salmon or a family-sized roast chicken with the trimmings nestled around it.

Like Ninja's other air fryers, it's sleek and intuitive with a brightly lit display. While it does have a large footprint, it could be easily used in place of an oven providing you have the countertop space for it. We loved its versatility, and all the dishes we cooked inside the air fryer were golden and crisp.

Discover more product recommendations and deals in our guide to the best air fryers.

Wattage: 2470W

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Ninja Max Pro AF180UK air fryer

Best large-capacity single-drawer Ninja air fryer

Ninja Max Pro 6.2-litre AF180UK air fryer

Star rating: 5/5

This 6.2-litre air fryer is one of Ninja's largest single-drawer models – and we think it's one of the best-looking too. We loved its sleek control panel and found its six presets – air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate – very easy to navigate. It also produced great results in test, particularly when making chips.

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Ninja Speedi air fryer ON400UK

Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker

Star rating: 4.5/5

The Ninja Speedi is so much more than a traditional air fryer, and among it 10 settings are roast, sautéing, steam, grill and more. At 5.7 litres, it has a two-layered design that allows you to cook two different ingredients simultaneously. If you're short on time, simply switch on the rapid-cook setting and meals will be ready in a flash.

Read our full Ninja Speedi review.

Wattage: 1760W

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Best Ninja Creami deals

Ninja Creami Deluxe NC501UK ice-cream maker

Best Ninja ice-cream maker

Ninja Creami Deluxe

If you were hoping to find a Prime Day deal on the Ninja Creami Deluxe, you're in luck. Black Friday 2024 was the first time we saw this popular ice-cream maker go on sale since it launched, and the offer has stuck around since then.

Unlike traditional ice-cream makers, this appliance requires you to freeze the ice-cream base overnight first. Once frozen, lock the tub into position and hit the power button – after which the ice-cream maker will start to 'shave' the frozen mixture and churn it into smooth, creamy ice-cream in just a few minutes.

The Creami Deluxe is larger than the original Ninja Creami and comes with three additional functions (frappe, frozen yoghurt, and 'slushi'). For a full comparison, read our guide: Ninja Creami vs Deluxe.

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Ninja Creami NC300UK ice cream maker

Best freeze-first ice-cream maker

Ninja Creami Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Maker review

Star rating: 4.5/5

Good news if you're looking for a Prime Day deal on the viral Ninja Creami – this appliance is now on sale with a handful of major retailers.

This freeze-first ice cream maker blew us away in test, and we found it produced smooth, creamy results in just a few minutes – though you do have to freeze the ice cream mixture overnight first. With it, you can also make gelato, sorbet, smoothies, light ice cream, and milkshakes.

Read our full Ninja Creami NC300UK ice cream maker review and our guide to the best ice cream makers.

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Best Ninja coffee machine deals

Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro Series ES701UK

Best bean-to-cup coffee machine under £1,000

Ninja Luxe Café Pro Series ES701UK

Star rating: 5/5

The Luxe Cafe Pro bean-to-cup machine has only recently launched, so to see money off the RRP – even if it's only a few pounds – is surprising. It's a versatile piece of kit that brews espresso, filter coffee and cold brew, and also comes with an extra-large milk jug for making lattes and cappuccinos.

The digital interface is simple to navigate and suggests the grind size needed to ensure the optimum coffee extraction, so you get the perfect shot of coffee every time. We made good-quality espresso and cold brew in test, and our filter coffee – though not as fruity and light as a traditional filter – tasted pleasantly acidic. The whisk at the bottom of the milk jug also allowed us to create ultra-creamy microfoam for our lattes and cappuccinos.

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Ninja Perfect Temperature Kettle Rapid Boil

Best kettle for pre-set temperature settings

Ninja Perfect Temperature Kettle Rapid Boil

Star rating: 5/5

If you enjoy speciality teas or simply want to adjust the temperature of your water, this variable temperature kettle from Ninja is a great option, with a choice spanning 60C to 110C. It chimes loudly once the water is ready, so you'll easily hear it from another room, though this isn't so ideal for early-morning or late-night cuppas as you can't switch the audio off. This aside, the kettle is relatively quiet and easy to use. We also rated the rapid-boil feature, and monitoring the temperature is simple thanks to the clear digital display.

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Best Ninja food processor and blender deals

Ninja Blast portable blender

Best portable blender

Ninja Blast

Star rating: 5/5

If you're searching for Prime Day blender deals, you're in luck. This portable blender from Ninja is ideal for blitzing on the go, and was rated 5/5 by our Good Food reviews team.

It comes with a 530ml blending cup, a sip lid with a handle, cup cover, blade cover, and USB-C rechargeable motor base and charging cord. The lid is designed to be leak-proof, too, so you can pop it in your bag and take it on the go.

We found it frustrating that the blender doesn't come with a USB plug, and the cord itself is a little short. On the plus side, it produced smooth, consistent results and worked efficiently, blending ingredients in just 30 seconds.

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Ninja 3-in-1 food processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK

Best intuitive food processor

Ninja 3-in-1 food processor with Auto-iQ

Star rating: 5/5

Combining three types of food processing into one gadget, the BN800UK can be used to make juices or smoothies on the go, or small amounts of spice mixes or sauces.

It comes with a spacious 1.8L jug, single-serve blender and robust glass blender, as well as blades for chopping, blending, slicing and grating. It's also fiercely efficient, with a 1200-watt motor that can blitz ingredients in seconds.

Read our full Ninja 3-in-1 food processor review, plus our guide to the best food processors.

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Best Ninja pan and knife deals

Ninja Foodi StaySharp knife block 5-piece set

Best knife set with integrated knife sharpener

Ninja 5-in-1 knife block

Star rating: 4.5/5

Best for kitchens with a good amount of worktop space, this set of five knives also includes an integrated sharpener.

A utility knife, paring knife, large chef's knife, slicing knife and bread knife make up the set, each with some heft and an ergonomic, comfortable handle. The larger chef's knife and carving knife, both at 20cm, also offer decent leverage for slicing through tough ingredients like butternut squash.

Available from:

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Ninja Foodi Zerostick 28cm frying pan

Best non-stick frying pan

black Ninja pan with silver handle

Star rating: 5/5

Featuring Ninja's Zerostick non-stick coating – which the brand says is 20 times tougher than regular non-stick – this pan has a polished stainless-steel exterior and robust riveted handle. On test it retained heat well, so much so that we had to reduce the temperature for cooking, making it energy efficient in the long-term, too.

It's a great everyday pan to have in your arsenal, and conveniently is dishwasher-safe, metal utensil-safe, scratch-resistant and oven-safe up to 260C.

Read our guide to the best non-stick frying pans.

Available from:

Best Ninja BBQ and pizza oven deals

Ninja Woodfire electric BBQ grill and smoker

Best electric barbecue for smoking

Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker

Star rating: 5/5

This unique Ninja barbecue can grill, roast and air-fry among other functions, but what impressed us most was its inbuilt smoker, which infuses food with delicious smoky flavours without using open flames.

It comes with a pellet scoop, crisper packet, woodfire pellet starter pack, and a quick-start guide with recipes and cooking charts, so you can get set up and start cooking almost straight away. Because the grill is built to be weather-resistant, you can also also use it year-round.

What we could achieve with this barbecue really impressed us, and we enjoyed using the smoker. Our sirloin steaks were tender and juicy, with clear grill lines and the smoky flavour we'd hoped for.

Read our full Ninja Woodfire electric BBQ grill and smoker review.

Available from:

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Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer

Best electric pizza oven

Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer

This electric pizza oven is ultra-versatile and easy to use, with a choice of five in-built pizza settings like Thin Crust, New York, Artisan, Pan and Custom – not to mention an air-fryer function. As well as a 12-inch pizza stone, the oven also comes with a cooking basket and baking tray for air frying, plus a range of recipes in the accompanying booklet.

In test we found the air-fry setting impressive, cooking a crisp and flavoursome salmon, potato and veggie traybake. The oven's lack of fire and maximum temperature of 370C left us a little sceptical about cooking pizza, but we were pleasantly surprised – our pizzas were evenly browned with a puffy crust, oozing cheese and visible charring.

Available from:

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Ninja Woodfire electric outdoor oven

Best electric pizza oven

Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven

Star rating: 4/5

Doubling up as an electric barbecue, and much like the Ninja Woodfire electric barbecue in this list, this outdoor oven has an in-built smoker box that infuses ingredients with a smoky flavour – without needing to rely on charcoal or open flames.

It features presets for a range of ingredients, but pizza is the main focus and there are six pizza settings to choose from (artisan, thin, pan, New York, frozen, and a custom setting).

On test, we found our pizzas lacked the mottled crust you usually get from a traditional pizza oven, but they still tasted delicious and were ready in five minutes. Discover more savings in our best pizza ovens guide and the best pizza oven deals.

Available from:

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How to find genuine Prime Day deals on Ninja products

  • Look at reviews: there are so many Ninja products to choose from, but not every air fryer, food processor, or pan will suit your exact needs and budget. We've tested a wide range of Ninja gadgets and cookware over the last five years, so we know what each product is capable of, and which offer the best value for money.
  • Buy when you see a price you're happy with: Many deals are only around for a limited time, so look for additional perks too, like free accessories or free delivery.
  • Stick to a budget: sales events like Prime Day also offer a great opportunity to save on the RRP of thousands of products, but to ensure you make the most of the deals, set yourself a budget and try not to stray from it.
  • Set up alerts for deals: Sites like CamelCamelCamel allow you to see the price history of Amazon products.

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Lulu Grimes <![CDATA[Good Food is on Substack]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/information/good-food-substack 2025-07-10T16:49:25.000Z Test. Taste. Repeat. is a brand-new newsletter from the Good Food test kitchen team, a behind-the-scenes look at what we geek over and debate when we’re developing recipes, making video and podcasts, and chatting about food.

Each week, our managing editor, Lulu, chats with a different member of the cookery team to explore a recipe that we all think we’ve cracked.

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When it comes to recipes, we all like to think we’ve got the one. That go-to recipe that hits all the right notes, if we’re talking cookies then we’d be championing ‘chewy, chocolatey, crisp-edged, maybe even a little salty’. But here's the thing: no cookie lovers are the same – your best cookie might be someone else's “meh.”

Every Tuesday we’ll investigate the ‘why’ and the ‘what’; taking the ingredients and method apart and pondering the science, texture and flavours. We’ll send you a recipe we all agree on (or we at least agree to agree on) – with five (or more) ways to tweak it, plus any other genius tips we think you’ll find useful. There’s room to experiment, and that’s where the fun lives.

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Natalie Bass <![CDATA[The best pizza ovens for cooking indoors and out 2025]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/best-pizza-ovens 2025-07-10T14:08:13.000Z 2025-07-10T14:08:13.000Z Creating delicious pizza at home has never been easier thanks to the rise of domestic pizza ovens. Universally loved and super versatile, pizza provides endless possibilities for customisation, catering to every taste and dietary need. With a dedicated pizza oven, you can achieve the perfect crust and bubbling toppings that rival the pies served by trained dough slingers using professional-grade equipment.

There’s also no need to have a sprawling garden to enjoy pizza making, either. Compact indoor pizza ovens have revolutionised home cooking, offering high-performance results right from your kitchen countertop.

For outdoor enthusiasts, portable models allow you to recreate the magic of wood-fired cooking wherever you are, whether you’ve got a small courtyard garden, you’re camping or heading to the beach. Many brands even make life simpler with pre-made dough and ingredient kits, often available for delivery – including gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions.

Choosing the right pizza oven depends on your space, preferences and budget. To make things easier, we've thoroughly tested a wide range of models, assessing their heat efficiency, build quality and ease of use.

Whether you're an aspiring pizzaiolo or simply want a fuss-free way to level up your homemade pizza nights, our expert-tested guide to the best pizza ovens has something for everyone. Don’t forget to check out our picks for the best pizza oven accessories, best pizza stones and best pizza cutters, plus the best Ooni pizza ovens and best Ooni accessories.

Pizza oven deals

Looking for a saving on one of the pizza ovens in this list? Prime Day (8-11 July 2025) has arrived, and several retailers are offering huge discounts on top-rated models – these are the best deals we've found so far. Discover more in our guide to the best pizza oven deals and find out how our reviews experts test appliances.

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Best pizza ovens at a glance

  • Best multi-fuel pizza oven: Ooni Karu 2 Pro, £699
  • Best large pizza oven: Ooni Koda 2 Max, £899
  • Best gas pizza oven: Witt Etna Rotante pizza oven, £479
  • Best pizza oven with rotating stone: Morsø Forno Spin, £489
  • Best portable pizza oven: Gozney Tread, £499.99
  • Best pizza oven and air fryer: Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer, £299.99
  • Best pizza oven for versatility: Solo Stove Pi Prime, £319.99
  • Best value pizza oven: Gozney Arc, £599.99
  • Best compact pizza oven: Ooni Karu 2, £349
  • Best indoor pizza oven: Sage the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo, £729.95
  • Best pizza oven for parties: Ooni Koda 2 Pro 2nd Generation, £599
  • Best portable Ooni pizza oven: Ooni Koda 2, £399
  • Best electric pizza oven: Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven, £349.99
  • Best mess-free pizza oven: Ooni Volt 12, £559.30

Jump to section:

Best pizza ovens to buy in 2025

Ooni Karu 2 Pro pizza oven

Available from Ooni (£699), Lakeland (£699)

Ooni Karu 2 Pro pizza oven

Best multi-fuel pizza oven

Pros:

  • Flexible fuel options
  • Quick cooking
  • Large capacity with fold-in legs
  • Includes a temperature probe for cooking meats
  • Five-year warranty when you register with Ooni

Cons:

  • Some non-recyclable packaging
  • Essential extras need to be bought separately

Star rating: 5/5

The Karu 2 Pro is undoubtedly an investment purchase, but could be worth the money if you plan to make the most of it. It's a considerable upgrade of the Ooni Karu 16 pizza oven, with new extras like a food probe for roasting meats, a larger glass door to keep an eye on pizza as it cooks, and remote temperature monitoring when you pair it with the Ooni app.

Like the Karu 16, the Karu 2 Pro can also be operated using either wood, charcoal or gas (although the gas burner needs to be bought separately), offering flexibility and the potential to cook more than just pizza. Assembling and operating it is a breeze, and the digital thermometer – which attaches to the front – is brightly lit and comes with batteries included.

In test, it took just 1 minute, 45 seconds to produce a 16-inch pizza with a mottled crust, bubbling mozzarella, and crisp toppings – truly pizzeria-worthy results. Necessities like a pizza peel aren't included in the price, but Ooni does offer a Karu 2 Pro bundle, which includes essential items like a peel, an all-weather cover, and a gas burner, as well as an ultimate bundle with extra accessories.

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Ooni Koda 2 Max

Available from Ooni (£899)

Ooni Koda 2 Max pizza oven

Best large pizza oven

Pros:

  • 24-inch cooking area
  • Clear digital temperature display
  • Fully recyclable packaging
  • Quick to set up and use

Cons:

  • Legs don't fold in for storage

Star rating: 5/5

This gas-powered model from Ooni is a serious piece of kit for pizza enthusiasts. Sporting a super-sized 24-inch cooking area, it can handle up to three 10-inch pizzas at the same time or, if you're feeling up to it, one 20-inch pizza – a challenge we rose to (and succeeded with) during our test.

The look and feel of the Koda 2 Max is very familiar and in line with the rest of Ooni's pizza oven range, though its enormous size means you'll need at least two people to unbox and assemble it. Inside the oven there are two pizza stones and two burners on each side, so you can cook two different dishes at different heat levels simultaneously.

We put it into practice by searing a ribeye steak in a cast-iron pan on the right and a 12-inch pizza on the left. The steak required a very hot temperature to get a golden sear, but was impressively tender. Make sure you have a good pair of protective oven gloves or BBQ gauntlets for handling skillets once-preheated.

Perhaps the only downside of the Koda 2 Max is that the legs don't fold inwards, which might make it more difficult to store, but we're really splitting hairs here. It was a joy to cook with, and making multiple pizzas at once without any complications felt like a huge win.

Read our full Ooni Koda 2 Max review.

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Witt Etna Rotante pizza oven

Available from Amazon (£479)

Witt ETNA Rotante pizza oven in orange against a white background

Best gas pizza oven

Pros:

  • Unique rotating pizza stone
  • Fantastic results
  • Spacious
  • Booster burner

Cons:

  • Large and heavy
  • Short warranty
  • No temperature gauge
  • Some non-recyclable packaging

Star rating: 5/5

Featuring an innovative rotating pizza stone, this is without doubt the easiest pizza oven to use that we've ever tested. It's a large unit that requires space to use and store, boasting a sleek design that's available in four colours.

Assembly is simple with two people. Once connected to the gas (butane), it lights like a gas hob – simply press and hold the flame and ignition buttons together. The lack of a temperature gauge is a glaring omission to this model, but the instructions are clear and accurate.

Our 16-inch pizza cooked in just under 2 minutes (despite the brand's claims that it can be done in 60 seconds), which is very quick. We yielded the best results when launching into a 500C oven, then turning the flames down to medium-low. The results were near-perfect, with a risen, mottled crust and oozy, slightly browned toppings.

The price point is bumped up by the hidden essentials of gas and batteries, plus a pizza peel. However, if you have the budget and your heart set on a gas-fired model, this is an excellent choice for fail-safe homemade pizzas every time.

Read the full Witt Etna Rotante pizza oven review.

Latest Deals

Morsø Forno Spin gas pizza oven

Available from Amazon (£489)

Morso Forno Spin pizza oven

Best pizza oven with rotating stone

Pros:

  • Quick to assemble and ignite
  • Excellent results
  • Compact build
  • Comes with a rotating stone

Cons:

  • Some unnecessary plastic packaging

Star rating: 5/5

Much like the Witt model above, this gas pizza oven comes with a rotating stone to ensure fast, even cooking around the crust and base, without needing to turn by hand. It's made by Danish brand Morsø, and is a sturdy, stylish piece of outdoor kit that feels built to last. We were also fans of its unique egg-like shape and large opening, which allowed us to slot our pizza inside with ease.

Setting it up was almost as effortless, and once we had inserted the stone, plugged in the rotating base (you'll need an outdoor power source for this) and attached the gas hose, the oven was ready to be lit.

We left the Forno Spin to preheat for 15-25 minutes as advised in the manual, and it got to work quickly – hitting 400C in just under 10 minutes. The gauge on the front allowed us to track the heat levels, and we found it responded quickly to changes in temperature, too.

After two-and-a-half minutes, our 12-inch pizza was hot and bubbling with gooey cheese and lightly browned toppings. The dough was also evenly cooked, and while the crust lacked that mottled look you often see with restaurant pizza, we were still pleased with the quality.

There are accessories available to buy on the Morsø website, though it's inconvenient that important tools like a pizza peel aren't included as standard. That said, the enjoyment we got from using the Forno Spin, and the speed at which we were able to create delicious pizza does make it feel like a worthwhile purchase.

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Gozney Tread pizza oven

Available from Gozney (£499.99)

Gozney Tread pizza oven

Best portable pizza oven

Pros:

  • Easy to set up and operate
  • Good-looking design
  • Relatively lightweight, with handles for easy lifting
  • Cools quickly

Cons:

  • No accessories included
  • Not quite as portable as it makes out

Star rating: 4.5/5

If you love the look of the Dome S1 – listed above – but want something more compact, say hello the Gozney Tread, which is new for spring 2025. At 13.5kg, it's not exactly designed for campers hiking cross-country, but it is the most lightweight option within Gozney's range and has handles across the top for easy lifting. At 32cm high, it also should slot easily into the boot of a car.

It's the least expensive of Gozney's dome-shaped ovens, though bear in mind that to get the best results from the Tread, it's worth investing in accessories like the Venture stand, mantel, travel bag and roof rack, plus essentials like a pizza peel – all of which add to the overall cost.

In test, we loved how easy the Tread was to operate and had no issues controlling the temperature. It also delivered quality results at speed, and our pizzas were perfectly cooked in just 1 minute, 30 seconds. After switching off the heat we were impressed by how quickly the oven cooled, too, which means you can have it packed away and ready for your next pitstop in no time.

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Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer

Available from Ninja (£299.99), Amazon (£299.99), Argos (£300)

Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer

Best electric pizza oven

Pros:

  • Affordable price point
  • Multi-functional
  • Very convenient
  • Heats up fast

Cons:

  • The design might not be to everyone’s liking
  • Not for pizza purists

Star rating: 4.5/5

If convenience and versatility is what you’re after, then this is the ideal piece of kit. Like other Ninja products, the oven is quick and easy to set up, with the pre-cook phase taking roughly 20 minutes to heat up (and conveniently beeping when it’s ready).

We enjoyed the five different in-built pizza cooking settings, including Artisan, Thin Crust, New York, Pan and Custom, and they came in particularly handy when following some of the recipes provided in the accompanying recipe booklet.

The oven comes with a 12-inch pizza stone. It also comes with a cooking basket and baking tray, if you’d like to use its air fryer setting – as a break from pizza we cooked a salmon, potato and vegetable traybake and the results were impressive.

Admittedly, we were somewhat skeptical about cooking pizza in an electric pizza oven at first, with the lack of smoke and fire and the fact that it only reaches a maximum temperature of 370C slightly off-putting.

However, the pizzas we cooked were some of the best we’ve tasted, and our guests agreed – the base was puffy and evenly cooked after roughly two minutes and there was even some charring, to lend it a true artisan feel.

Another big benefit of this electric model is we could leave the pizzas cooking while nipping inside to fetch ingredients, without having to monitor the oven or worrying about it losing heat or the flame dying out. Handily, when using one of the pre-set options, the pizza oven beeps when it’s time to remove the pizza from the oven.

As well as output, it’s also nifty in size (unit itself is 32cm high by 59cm length and 42cm width) – so much so that you could easily take it camping for example, if you had access to an electric hookup.

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Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven

Available from Solo Stove (£319.99)

Solo Stove Pi Prime pizza oven

Best pizza oven for versatility

Pros:

  • Accessories are included
  • Wide opening
  • Excellent mottled crust on pizzas
  • Lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects

Cons:

  • Gas hose and regulator require self-assembly
  • Non-recyclable packaging

Star rating: 4.5/5

Sleek yet sturdy, this pizza oven has a wide enough opening for cooking more than just pizzas – its roomy interior would be sufficient for a spatchcock chicken, a loaf of sourdough or roasting tray full of veggies. A peel and protective cover are thrown in as standard, but you can also buy an infrared temperature gun, bamboo board and heatproof mat separately.

Readying the oven for use was a straightforward process, though we had to attach the gas hose to the regulator ourselves. It felt needlessly unsafe that we were responsible for this part of the set-up and found there wasn't much information in the manual either.

Once we'd fired up the oven, we cured the stone for half an hour before sliding our 13-inch pizzas inside. The heat could easily be adjusted using the dial on the front, and we were impressed that the base of the oven's exterior stayed cool to the touch, even when the internal temperature had reached heights of 450C. Our pizzas were perfectly crisp in just 90 seconds.

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Gozney Arc

Available from Gozney (£599.99)

Gozney Arc pizza oven

Best value pizza oven

Pros:

  • Attractive design
  • Easy to set-up
  • Roomy interior
  • Bright digital display
  • Precise temperature controls
  • Five-year warranty

Cons:

  • A little slow to heat up
  • A lot of plastic packaging
  • No pizza peel included

Star rating: 4.5/5

The Gozney Arc has a similar design to the Dome and Dome S1, while being more lightweight and slightly more affordable. Its exterior is also more compact than the brand's other ovens, without compromising too much on the amount of cooking space you have to work with. An XL version is available too, with room for a 16-inch pizza.

Setting up the Arc was a breeze – we inserted the flame guard inside, then cured the stone for 30 minutes. Our test took place on a cold, windy day so the pizza oven took some time to heat up, but we could keep a close eye on the temperature thanks to the brightly lit digital thermometer on the front. A screw driver (to attach it to the stand), matchstick holder, and stone adjustment tool are included, but tools like a pizza peel need to be bought separately.

We loved the cooking performance of this oven, and our pizzas had mottled crusts and oozing toppings in just 90 seconds. We were also impressed by how it maintained such high temperatures in breezy weather.

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Ooni Karu 2 pizza oven

Available from Ooni (£349), Lakeland (£349.99), Waitrose (£379)

Ooni Karu 12G pizza oven

Best compact pizza oven

Pros:

  • Fully recyclable packaging
  • Easy to set up and use
  • Compact and portable
  • Cooks quickly and well

Cons:

  • Takes time to heat and needs regular refuelling
  • Takes specific types of wood and charcoal
  • No accessories included

Star rating: 4.5/5

This updated version of the Karu 12 pizza oven from Ooni boasts a ‘clear view’ glass door, a larger fuel basket and better fuel efficiency. It’s compact and reasonably light, weighing only 12kg and once built just needs the legs folding and the chimney storing inside the body of the oven and it’s packed neatly away.

For fuel you have the choice of wood sticks or lumpwood charcoal for that flame-cooked taste, or gas, although this is only possible if you buy the Ooni gas burner for an additional cost. We tested it with both wood and charcoal and it’s easy to load with fuel and light, although it does take a good 30 minutes to reach a temperature high enough for cooking.

There’s a temperature gauge on the side, so you can keep an eye on the heat, plus a handy baffle in the chimney that helps you control the draw of air through the oven for faster or slower cooking. A stay-clear glass door allows you to see exactly when your dough is ready, and in our test this took just 90 seconds with near-perfect results.

This is an impressive oven for its size and versatility and is ideal for packing up and taking camping or down to the beach. However, its price is bumped up by the fact that you have to buy every single accessory or extra separately, including a pizza peel, a necessity to ensure safe and simple cooking of your pizza, and the handy carry bag, which is a must to make this compact oven truly portable.

Available from:

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Sage the Smart Pizzaiolo

Available from Harts of Stur (£498.95)Peter Tyson (£726.95), Very (£729), Sage (£729.95)

Sage the Smart Pizzaiolo

Best indoor pizza oven

Pros:

  • Quick-cooking
  • Great if you don't have outdoor space
  • Pizza peel and pan included

Cons:

  • Large footprint
  • Difficult to clean
  • Non-recyclable packaging used

Star rating: 4.5/5

The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is an indoor bench-top pizza oven, claiming to provide ‘brick oven performance at a fraction of the cost’. The sleek metal oven looks like an oversized microwave and sits happily on a countertop or kitchen island to be plugged in to the mains – no outdoor space required.

It reaches 400C, enabling you to cook pizza in just 2 minutes. There are seven preset modes for all styles of pizza (from New York to deep dish or even frozen), plus a manual mode to choose your own cooking method, where you can customise the temperature, timings and even the direction of heat.

The oven also comes with a heavy round pizza stone that you slot inside the oven to bake the pizzas directly on, plus a long-handled metal pizza peel and a round metal tin to make a deep-dish pizza. The oven takes around 20 minutes to heat up once plugged in and can cook one pizza at a time.

On the 'wood-fired' method, we were seriously impressed with the results of our pizza – cooked at 400C, the pizza was ready in just two minutes and had a crisp leopard-spotted crust and perfectly melted cheese.

This model is certainly an investment oven, but ideal if you're a homemade pizza fan lacking outdoor space. Read our full Sage the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo review.

Available from:

Latest Deals

Ooni Koda 2 Pro 2nd Generation

Available from Ooni (£599)

Ooni Koda 2 Pro 2nd Generation

Best pizza oven for parties

Pros:

  • Simple setup
  • Large cooking area
  • Digital temperature display
  • App features
  • Sleek design
  • Dual tapered flame burner for even heat distribution

Cons:

  • Very heavy
  • Large

Star rating: 4/5

With 30% larger oven capacity and a 20% bigger cooking area than previous Koda models, the size (21-inch at the front and 18-inch at the rear) of this gas-powered pizza oven might be off-putting for amateur pizza makers. But once you’ve followed the simple-to-follow instructions and setup, you’ll find yourself creating high-quality pizzas in no time.

The Ooni app comes in handy here not only for the setup, but because the Bluetooth connectivity syncs up with the pizza oven’s in-built digital temperature display so you can monitor your oven temperature from elsewhere (handy if you’re prepping ingredients inside). It meant we could leave the oven to heat up while preparing our sauce and toppings, with our phone sitting on the kitchen counter showing the temperature rising.

The oven took around 25 minutes to reach 450℃, when we chose to cook our pizzas (although the oven can reach highs of 500℃). To test, we made 10-inch pizzas, which cooked perfectly and efficiently in approximately 1 minute 30 seconds.

This particular pizza oven really comes into its own if you’re cooking for large groups – you can comfortably fit two pizzas in the oven’s spacious 18” cooking area if you choose to go for slightly smaller than 10 inch bases. The oven also contains dual lateral gas burners rather than a single source flame found in most ovens – which we found created even heat distribution and cooked pizzas evenly.

It’s worth noting that the digital temperature display reads the oven temperature and not the stone itself, so you might want to invest in a heat gun to get a true temperature check on the stone.

Overall, it’s a seriously good looking model that can churn out top quality pizzas, but if you’re short on space or looking to cater for smaller groups, you may want to consider a smaller and lighter model.

Available from:

Ooni Koda 2

Available from Ooni (£399)

Ooni Koda 2

Best portable Ooni pizza oven

Pros:

  • Beautiful design, particularly the Slate Blue colourway
  • Simple setup
  • Portable

Cons:

  • No in-built thermometer like the Ooni Koda 2 Pro
  • Carry case comes separately

Star rating: 4/5

With its sophisticated slate blue hue, this is one seriously good-looking pizza oven. Ooni positions this product as a small and powerful pizza oven with great portability. And weighing just 16kg and measuring 21.5 inches by 28.4 inches by 13.1 inches we found it easy to manoeuvre, especially when using the carry cover (sold separately).

Its gas setup means once it’s heated up (approximately 30 minutes) you’re ready to cook, and pizzas took approximately 1 minute 30 to cook. The 14-inch stone also means you can cook larger pizzas if you wish, and that you have room to manoeuvre the pizzas in and out of the oven. We were impressed with its ease of use and the quality and consistency of the pizzas we cooked. Its wide mouth also means you can see how well the pizzas are cooking / check to see if they’re burning.

Like its larger counterpart, the Ooni Koda 2 Pro, this model also contains a tapered flame, which we found helped cook the pizzas evenly and produced consistent results. Unlike the Ooni Koda 2 Pro though, this doesn’t come with a connected temperature gauge, or a gauge that syncs up to the app, so you’d be best to use a temperature gun to determine the heat.

Overall, we were impressed – it’s nifty, powerful, good-looking and cooks a seriously good pizza.

Available from:

Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven

Available from Ninja (£349.99)

Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven

Best electric pizza oven

Pros:

  • Wide range of functions
  • Easy to use
  • Brightly lit, intuitive controls
  • Large capacity

Cons:

  • Large footprint
  • Lots of non-recyclable packaging
  • Pizza lacked mottled crust

Star rating: 4/5

This versatile electric model from Ninja is a little different from the other pizza ovens on this list. Doubling up as an electric BBQ, it features an in-built smoker box that burns wood pellets, helping you to achieve a smoky flavour without using any open flames, charcoal or gas. It has a relatively large footprint and is quite boxy, but the quality of the build is excellent.

You can use it to cook all manner of dishes, but pizza is the main focus. There are six different pizza presets to select, including artisan, thin, pan, New York, frozen, and a custom setting. We opted for 'thin', which was programmed to cook for five minutes.

Without the open flame element, we found our pizzas lacked the leopard-spotted crust you usually get from a traditional pizza oven, but they still looked and tasted great. We also roasted a whole chicken using the smoker, cooking for 1 hour 30 minutes at 140C as advised in the manual. The smoky flavour was good, but far more subtle than we achieved with the Ninja electric BBQ grill and smoker.

Available from:

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Ooni Volt 12 pizza oven

Available from Ooni (£559.30), Lakeland (£799)

Ooni Volt 12 pizza oven against a white background

Best mess-free pizza oven 

Pros:

  • Minimal plastic packaging
  • Intuitive
  • Easy to set up
  • Can be used as a standard oven

Cons: 

  • Large and heavy
  • Condensation gathered in temperature dials
  • Smoky to use indoors

Star rating: 4/5

This pizza oven is another first of its kind – it can reach 450C internally without being fuelled by wood or gas. It's also Ooni's first indoor-suitable oven. It plugs into the mains, meaning you dodge any risk of running out of fuel mid-bake, plus the mess and expense of it.

Ooni products are reliably sleek and sturdy in design, and the Volt 12 is no exception, with a matte shell, tempered glass door and well-engineered controls that are responsive to change. It also offers user-friendly extras, like an interior light to help take the guesswork out of pizza-making.

The size means this model won't sit on a standard kitchen countertop, so a dedicated space would be required to ensure a safe perimeter around the oven. However, there's ample space in the cavity, meaning it can be used like a standard oven for cooking joints of meat and vegetables.

It took 20 minutes to heat, and once we'd nailed the temperatures, our pizza took 2 minutes 30 seconds to cook, resulting in a brilliantly puffy crust, well-cooked base and nicely browned toppings. But, this model gets very smoky, as excess flour and wayward toppings burn off the stone.

You really need to have the right ventilation for using this pizza oven to avoid fire alarms being set off in your kitchen. However, for year-round, delicious homemade pizza, this is a great one to consider. And, it's excellent for outdoor use, provided there's not risk of rain!

Read our full Ooni Volt 12 review.

Available from:

Latest Deals Making pizza for pizza oven test

Other pizza ovens tested and rated

How we tested pizza ovens

We tested a range of portable, freestanding and barbecue-top pizza ovens. We included gas- and wood-fired pizza ovens, plus outdoor cooking gadgets that double up as pizza ovens, including wood burners and stoves.

We used pre-made pizza dough from Northern Dough Co to test the ovens, and followed manufacturers instructions around fuel. We received boxed pizza ovens and built them using instruction manuals. We also checked the size of the pizza oven cavity to see if there was any extra space for addition pieces of cookware or food, like roasting tins and cast iron skillets.

Our reviews experts tested multiple pizza ovens across budget, mid-range and luxury brands to bring you this list of the ones we'd buy ourselves. Each model was scored against standardised criteria and marked out of five on the following core aspects: overall build quality, performance and cooking results, ease of build, use, safety and value for money. These scores determined the overall star rating of each pizza oven.

  • Overall build quality: Pizza ovens are investment purchases and therefore should be built to last. They also need to be able to hold and maintain the high temperatures required for cooking pizza.
  • Cooking results: the ultimate criteria – we scored the finished pizzas out of 10.
  • Ease of build and use: We timed how long it took to build the oven and rated the instruction manual. We then assessed how easy it was to use the oven.
  • Safety: Pizzas require incredibly high temperatures to cook so we looked for excellent insulation and safety features to make using the pizza oven easy to use.
  • Value for money: If the price didn't feel right, it didn't make it into our best list.
  • Sustainability: As well as looking at whether the packaging could be recycled, we checked the warranty of each pizza oven and investigated whether it's easy to source spare parts or arrange repairs.

We also made notes on the following criteria:

  • Fuel source and ease of use: How easy is it to get cooking? Is the fuel source easy to add and efficient? We looked for ovens that were intuitive to use, scoring accessories, too.
  • Storage and handling: How easy is it to move ovens claiming to be portable? How quickly do the ovens cool down and are they safe to handle?

You'll notice some of the pizza ovens in this list feature tried-and-tested badges and some don't. Only our top picks tested qualify for tried-and-tested badges, but this doesn't mean we recommend the other models any less. In fact, those models held their own against some of the newest models now available on the market.

Making pizza for pizza oven test 002

What to look for in a pizza oven

Budget

Start by setting your budget – but know that more money does not always mean a better pizza. If you're looking to spend a few hundred pounds, ignore large, built-in stone ovens as these complex products are very expensive, usually costing at least £500.

Storage

Consider the space you have available. The smallest pizza ovens we've tested are the BBQ-top models, which thanks to their small, boxy size, can easily be stored in a garage, shed or even inside somewhere.

A number of the models on this list have easy foldaway legs, meaning they too will take up very little room when not in use. Some of the larger models we've tested will need to be kept outside in all weathers, in this case, a cover is an absolute must.

Set-up

We took ease of set up into consideration when testing each of these pizza ovens. Whilst you should take this into consideration when buying, we also suggest working out the best place to put your pizza oven for use.

We spoke to the reviews experts at Gardeners' World who said, "it’s best to place your pizza oven wherever you’ve put your social areas, to save you carrying pizzas up and down the garden. They can look fantastic on modern garden tables and make an excellent focal point for entertaining."

"Pizza ovens are safest on stone or concrete patios, but with some heat-proof material underneath they should be perfectly safe on wooden decks too. Site your pizza ovens a few metres away from fire hazards like fences and low-hanging branches. Make sure there’s open space above your oven for smoke to escape and you’re good to go".

You should also consider an area that best allows for smooth launching of your pizzas, plus plenty of surface space to both build your pizzas and plate them up once cooked.

Accessories

Take a look at which accessories your chosen pizza oven comes with. In our eyes, a pizza peel is an essential, but some brands don't provide these as standard, and this will be an additional cost.

Fuel type

Some will be gas-fuelled, others need wood, or it may be a multi-fuel. Indoor pizza ovens plug into the mains so don't need any other means of generating heat.

Gas pizza oven vs wood-fired pizza oven

Gas or wood-fired, which do you choose? There's no definite answer to this question as its simply a matter of preference. That being said, the two fuel-types do make for very different cooking and eating experiences. So it really is down to you to work out what you want from your new pizza oven. And don't forget, electric and indoor pizza ovens are also available.

Gas

Gas-fired pizza ovens are generally cleaner to use as there is no need to sweep up any ash after use. They're also quicker to heat up than their wood-fired counterparts. Gas-fired pizza ovens work similarly to a gas hob and have a dial to control the flame, which not only gives you greater control over the cook of the pizza, but also means you're able to use the oven for other items too.

However, you of course need to buy gas and, if you don't have a bottle already, the initial payment for the bottle can push the price up further.

Wood-fired

If you're after an authentic flavour, a wood-fired pizza oven is the only choice. The burning wood pellets impart a delicious smoky flavour that simply can't be achieved by cooking with gas.

Another plus for wood-fired pizza ovens is the fact that you don't need to buy a gas canister as wood pellets can be picked up pretty easily from supermarkets or online. Wood-fired models do require some practice though as they can be a little more difficult to handle when it comes to controlling the temperature.

Multi-fuel

If you can't make up your mind or you like the sound of what both fuel-types offer, then opt for a multi-fuel model. Whilst you won't be able to cook with gas and wood at the same time, we feel the two fuel-types are ideal for different situations.

Cook with gas when you're entertaining and want to churn out consistently tasty pizzas for a crowd. For chilled out evenings with your nearest and dearest, use wood and take your time.

Making pizza for pizza oven test 003

Pizza oven recipes and tips

Basic pizza dough recipe
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If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.

]]>
Lucy Roxburgh <![CDATA[16 best canned cocktails, tried and tested 2025]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/best-canned-cocktails 2025-07-10T10:55:08.000Z 2025-07-10T10:20:00.000Z Summer is here, and that means, canned cocktail season makes it annual return too.

Light and easy to carry, open and drink from, not to mention easy to recycle, cans are the ideal vessel for alcohol on the go. Whether you’re heading to a picnic or going camping, you’re no longer restricted to just beer and cider – the world of convenient booze has exploded and you can now get just about any of your favourite cocktails in a can.

Canned cocktails range in style from affordable supermarket ranges of the classics (such as mojitos and a gin and tonic), to innovative new mixes and gourmet creations using top quality ingredients. Pick up a single can in the supermarket or get a multi-pack delivery of something special to feed a crowd at your next barbecue or summer party. They save you the hassle of mixing up individual drinks for everybody and can be popped in the fridge at a moment's notice.

The idea of having your favourite cocktail pre-mixed and ready to drink might sound great, but how do these drinks measure up to cocktails made in a bar or at home? We blind-tasted more than 25 canned cocktails, from mojitos to martinis and everything in between. Below are our top picks of the best canned cocktails - judged on having a balanced taste, clear flavours and a finished cocktail we'd want to go back to.

For more drinks inspiration, visit our reviews section and find over 400 practical buyer's guides, plus taste tests of the best  ginvodka and more.

Best canned cocktails at a glance

  • Best canned margarita: Pimentae grapefruit margarita, £32/8 x 125ml
  • Best canned passion fruit martini: MOTH - passion fruit martini, Moth, £26/8 x 125ml
  • Best canned cocktail collection: GATHER flavour collection, £19.99/5 x 125ml
  • Best canned sangria: Daughters of the Vine red sangria, £2.75
  • Best negroni: Tanqueray Negroni, £4.05/100ml
  • Best cosmopolitan: Ciroc Cosmopolitan, £4.05/100ml
  • Best for a refreshing sip: Minus 196 - Lemon, £2.25/330ml
  • Best paloma: MOTH - Paloma, £4/200ml
  • Best classic gin and tonic: Sipsmith gin and tonic, £3/250ml
  • Best canned sex on the beach: Tapp'd On the Beach, £26.50/12-pack
  • Best gin and lemonade: Edinburgh Gin strawberry and pink peppercorn, £2.40/250ml
  • Best tropical cocktail: LuvJus pineapple and mint, £29.95/12-pack
  • Best twist on a vodka soda: East London Liquor Co. vodka and rhubarb, £2.70/250ml
  • Best gourmet canned cocktail: Goldling sundown, £17/6-pack
  • Best bloody mary: Bloody Drinks Bloody Mary, £3.50/250ml
  • Best piña colada: Malibu piña colada, £2.25/250ml

Best canned cocktails to buy 2025

Pimentae grapefruit margarita

Available from Pimentae (£32/8 x 125ml)

Colourful can of Pimentae grapefruit margarita

Best canned margarita

Our newest favourite dinky canned cocktail for BBQs and park gatherings, and the prettiest addition to your picnic basket. A fresh and fragrant blend of sharp pink grapefruit, premium tequila and a touch of sweetness from agave for balance. Paloma fans will enjoy this – cucumber, spicy and Tommy's margarita cans are available too.

Available from:

Moth passion fruit martini

Available from Moth (£26/8 x 125ml), Waitrose (£4/125ml)

MOTH-Passionfruit-Martini

Best canned passion fruit martini

The latest release for summer 2025 from canned cocktail stalwarts Moth, this is a classic blend of smooth vodka, passion fruit liqueur and vanilla. One for the sweet tooth, it’s the perfect tropical cocktail when a sunny day comes round.

Available from

GATHER flavour collection

Available from Amazon (£19.99/5 x 150ml)

Gather cocktail pack

Struggling to choose a favourite cocktail? This gourmet-inspired collection is a hit with us and perfect for party hosting when everyone likes a different drink. Classic cocktails get indulgent twists with something for everyone - our favourites are the fruity Raspberry Ripple Daiquiri and Spicy Mango Margarita.

Available from:

Daughters of the Vine red sangria

Available from Sainsbury's (£2.75)

Daughters of the Vine sangria

Best sangria

Channel holiday vibes during your next picnic with this canned sangria, which sees red wine infused with blood orange and ginger for a fruity alternative to familiar canned cocktails. The ginger adds a kick and it is surprisingly strong (7% ABV) so don't be fooled into thinking this will be weak, it's a sipper. We like it with a chunky ice cube in too.

Available from:

Tanqueray negroni

Available from Tesco (£4.05)

Tanqueray Negroni

Best negroni

Ingredients: gin, vermouth, Campari

The Tanqueray negroni is part of the ‘cocktail collection’ from the Diageo stable, available in both cans and bottles. The collection promises bar-quality cocktails at home, and it's certainly succeeding. The negroni enjoyed a moment after the sbagliato variation went viral, and the classic concoction is a balance of bitter, sweet and aromatic notes that come together in a rejuvenating pour. The bold juniper and rich herbaceous notes of Tanqueray go a long way here – a delicious trellis for the vermouth to build on.

Available from:

Ciroc cosmopolitan

Available from Tesco (£4.05)

Ciroc Cosmopolitan

Best cosmopolitan

Ingredients: vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime

The cosmopolitan is traditionally made using vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and freshly squeezed lime juice, and this Ciroc version hits all the points you’d want: it's sweet, refreshing and unbelievably drinkable. We recommend serving it cold with a twist of lime for an additional hint of citrus.

Available from:

Suntory Minus 196 – lemon

Available from Tesco (£2.25)

Minus 196 - Lemon

Best for a refreshing sip

Ingredients: vodka, shochu, lemon

Japan has a reputation for being on the frontier of food-tech, and Minus 196 is a vodka-based RTD ('ready to drink') that's a prime example of this. The brand flash-freezes fruits in liquid nitrogen at -196C before crushing and infusing them in vodka and shochu. Crisp with icy, refreshing lemon, this is one to serve ice-cold at a barbecue – just keep topping up the supply, as your guests will race through them.

Available from:

MOTH - Paloma

Available from Sainsbury's (£4)

MOTH Paloma

Best canned paloma

Ingredients: Tequila, grapefruit, lime, soda

MOTH is one of the noisiest kids on the block in the world of canned cocktails; a registered B Corp which essentially means the company is doing good by its employees and the planet, offering generous annual leave and committing to sustainable practices. A cocktail certainly rocketing in popularity: the Paloma is a super simple concoction consisting of grapefruit, soda, lime and tequila. MOTH have the Paloma nailed with its electric zing, the grapefruit is crisp and the tequila provides a welcome kick. Be sure to pour this one over a tall glass stacked with ice and garnished with a wedge of grapefruit.

Available from:

Sipsmith gin & tonic (250ml), 6.5% ABV

Available from Ocado (£3)

Sipsmith G&T

Best classic canned gin and tonic

Ingredients: Dry gin and tonic water

Our favourite G&T overall, Sipsmith is a strong contender in the canned cocktail industry. The subtle sweetness is just right – a real achievement for a canned gin & tonic. The botanicals are present and distinguished, blended with a smooth, high-quality gin. Coming in at 6.5% ABV, it's the strongest G&T on our list but the booze isn't overpowering. You'll want to break out these gorgeous copper tins on your next picnic or barbecue.

Available from:

Tapp'd On The Beach (250ml), 6% ABV

Available from Tapp'd (£26.50/12-pack)

Tapp'd on the beach

Best canned sex on the beach

For a fruity and sweet cocktail, this canned version of a classic cocktail blends peach, raspberry and cranberry juices with a double shot of craft vodka. It's a canned cocktail with a punch, but the cranberry stops it from being too sweet. There are plenty more to choose from Tapp'd too, including strawberry daiquiri, piña colada and blue lagoon canned drinks.

Available from:

Edinburgh Gin strawberry and pink peppercorn (250ml), 5% ABV

Available from Tesco (£2.40/250ml)

Edinburgh canned gin

Best gin and lemonade

Ingredients: strawberry and pink peppercorn gin, pink lemonade 

For those who like a slightly sweeter gin, this is perfect. A release from Edinburgh Gin, this combines its strawberry and pink peppercorn gin with pink lemonade for an easy drinking G&T that's ideal for summer. The slight warmth from the pink peppercorns cuts through the fruity sweetness for a well-balanced sip of sugar and spice.

Available from:

LuvJus Pineapple & mint (250ml), 4.8% ABV

Available from Amazon (£29.95/12-pack)

LuvJus Pineapple and Mint

Best tropical cocktail

Ingredients: Pineapple, mint, jasmine, Korean ginseng, vodka

Capture the taste of summer with a fruity canned cocktail by LuvJus. This playful brand delivers vibrant drinks with a kick of Korean ginseng and clean, crisp vodka. The pineapple & mint drink is reminiscent of a lightened-up piña colada – full of tropical, sunny flavours. The full-bodied drink has lots of depth with hints of floral jasmine and cooling mint. It would make the perfect portable cocktail for an afternoon barbecue or warm beach day.

Available from:

East London Liquor Co. Vodka & rhubarb (250ml), 4.6% ABV

Available from Tesco (£2.70/250ml)

East London Vodka and Rhubarb

Best twist on a vodka soda

Ingredients: British wheat vodka, natural rhubarb soda

Cool down this summer with this refreshing, fruity cocktail from East London Liquor Co. The rhubarb & vodka cocktail was one of our favourites that we tried. The vibrant rhubarb flavour is fresh and doesn't taste artificial. The booze is well balanced and the sweetness is just right. We also enjoyed the rum & ginger cocktail. We love that the flavours are all natural with no preservatives or artificial sweeteners.

Available from:

Goldling Sundown (250ml), 4.8% ABV

Available from Goldling (£17/6-pack)

Goldling sundown

Best gourmet canned cocktail

Ingredients: organic vodka, soda, Persian lime, pineapple, kaffir lime leaf

If you want the full cocktail bar experience in your home (or in the park, on the beach, on holiday...), then Goldling's canned cocktails go a step above a simple spirit and mixer with gourmet ingredients. The Sundown cocktail is juicily pineapple-forward, balanced by tart lime and the bitter edge of soda. It is refreshing and light and despite the bold fruit flavour, it is absolutely not too sweet. It prides itself on being 100 calories, 100% organic and all natural. We also enjoyed the Moonlight - a sweeter option with strawberries and pomegranate.

Available from:

Bloody Drinks Bloody Mary (250ml), 6.3% ABV

Available from Sainsbury's (£3.50/250ml)

Bloody Drinks

Best Bloody Mary

Ingredients: Tomato juice, vodka, Amontillado sherry, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce

Complete a Sunday brunch spread with an easy bloody Mary cocktail in a can. The classic cocktail from Bloody Drinks is powerful and tastes as high-quality as a freshly mixed drink at the bar. It boasts a strong vodka kick paired with dry, fruity Amontillado sherry. The fresh tomato juice is mixed with tangy, savoury flavours like Worcestershire sauce, a hint of soy sauce and some heat from Tabasco sauce.

Available from:

Malibu piña colada (250ml), 5% ABV

Available from Tesco (£2/250ml), Sainsbury's (£2.25/250ml)

malibu-pina-colada-87674c8

Best piña colada

Ingredients: Caribbean rum with juices and flavourings 

‘If you like piña coladas’ and you like them very sweet, then this one’s for you. As you'd expect from a Malibu product, the coconut flavour is dominant, but pineapple comes through strongly, too, and both lend to the overall sweetness. Like most of the cocktails we tried, the booze tastes barely present. Despite this, the drink was generally liked by the judges and praised for its smooth, almost creamy texture.

Available from:

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This review was last updated in June 2025. If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.

]]>
Natalie Bass <![CDATA[Ninja Creami vs Ninja Creami Deluxe – which ice-cream maker is best for you?]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/ninja-creami-vs-deluxe 2025-07-11T12:19:09.000Z 2025-07-09T15:27:38.000Z If you've caught wind of Ninja's innovative ice-cream makers on social media, the Creami and Creami Deluxe, you'll know these are gadgets unlike any other. Where most traditional ice-cream makers spend around 20 to 40 minutes slowly churning the mixture until it's frozen, Ninja's models use a thick blade to 'shave' and churn a pre-frozen mix into smooth, creamy ice cream in just a few minutes.

Both the Creami and Creami Deluxe can produce single pints of ice-cream, as well as gelato, sorbets, smoothies and milkshakes, and come with containers that can be used to churn the mixture and store it afterwards.

But which of the two would better suit your needs, and are there any differences between them? If you're torn between the original Ninja Creami and the newer Ninja Creami Deluxe, we put both ice-cream makers through their paces using our rigorous testing criteria, so we know exactly how these machines work and what they're capable of.

Read on to see how both the Creami and Creami Deluxe compare, and for a further look at the other models we've tested, discover our full guide to the best ice-cream makers. We've also found the best Ninja Prime Day deals for you.

Ninja Creami deals

Hoping to find a Prime Day saving on a Ninja Creami? You're in luck – we've been scouring deals from a range of major retailers, and we've handpicked the best savings available right now: Ninja Creami Deluxe NC501UK deals: Ninja Creami NC300UK deals: Find more offers in our guide to the best Ninja Prime Day deals and discover how our reviews experts test kitchen appliances, cookware and more.

View Affiliate Playlist on the source website

Jump to:

Ninja Creami vs Deluxe at a glance

  • Ninja Creami Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Maker NC300UK, £199.99
  • Ninja Creami Deluxe 10-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Drink Maker NC501UK, £249.99 £199.99

Ninja Creami vs Deluxe: main differences

Ninja Creami Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Maker NC300UK

undefined Ninja Creami Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Maker review

Star rating: 4.5/5

Wattage: 800W

The original Ninja Creami first became available in the UK in 2022, and – before the launch of the Creami Deluxe – it was completely different to any other ice-cream maker on the market. Unlike other models, this appliance 'reverse creams' the ice cream to create a super-smooth texture in just a few minutes. You just need to ensure the mixture is frozen flat at least 24 hours the night before.

Among its seven functions are ice cream, gelato, smoothies, sorbet, light ice cream, milkshakes, and mix-ins like fruit, chocolate chips and nuts.

The total capacity is 1.4 litres across the three BPA-free tubs provided (473ml per tub), which you can use to store your mixture before fitting one of them into the machine for churning. This model doesn't have a numerical countdown timer, but there are progress lights on the front.

We loved using this machine in test, and though we found the long freezing period a bit of inconvenience, we were impressed by the exceptionally smooth ice-cream and gelato the Creami produced.

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Ninja Creami Deluxe 10-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Drink Maker

undefined Ninja Creami Deluxe

Star rating: 5/5

Wattage: 800W

Much like the Ninja Creami, the Creami Deluxe – which launched in the UK in 2024 – relies on powerful blades to 'shave' and churn frozen mixtures into smooth ice cream in a matter of minutes. Again, the ice-cream base needs to be frozen flat for at least 24 hours.

Each of the three tubs is 709ml (2.1L total) and there are 10 functions overall, including ice cream, 'lite' ice cream, gelato, sorbet, milkshake, mix-in, frappe, frozen drink, 'slushi' and frozen yoghurt.

This model also features a countdown display, so you know exactly how long you'll have to wait before your ice cream is ready. For more unique ice-cream concoctions, you can add two flavours or mix-ins to one base by processing just the top or the bottom half of the tub, too.

This ice-cream maker was a joy to use, and all our creations were light, soft and well combined without any lumps or ice crystals.

undefined

Ninja Creami and Ninja Creami Deluxe compared

We tested the Ninja Creami and Ninja Creami Deluxe against the following criteria:

  • Ease of use
  • Overall quality of materials
  • Versatility
  • Packaging and sustainability
  • Results of ice cream

There are a few other factors to consider when deciding which of these ice-cream makers might be right for you.

Size

Countertop footprint is key when buying new appliances, especially if space is a luxury in your kitchen. Unless you plan on powering up your ice-cream maker every day, even throughout the winter, you also need to think about where you could store your gadget when it's not in use.

Ninja Creami Deluxe with three tubs

The Ninja Creami and Creami Deluxe are tall, so it's worth considering the height of your cupboards and whether they'll be able to slot underneath easily. The Ninja Creami is slightly smaller at 40.5cm (H), where the Creami Deluxe is 42.2cm (H). Unlike a lot of other ice-cream makers, both appliances are relatively slimline but the Creami Deluxe is much wider (30.5cm, versus 16.5cm for the Creami).

If capacity is something you care about, the Deluxe offers more: 709ml per tub (2.1L overall), compared to 473ml per tub (1.4L overall) for the Ninja Creami.

Functions

A versatile appliance with lots of settings often signifies good value for money, especially when you plan on using all of them. But if a gadget comes with presets that are less helpful or appealing, it could be worth investing in a less expensive model with simpler functionality.

As the older of the two, the Creami has fewer settings but still offers a good range – including ice cream, gelato, smoothies, sorbet, light ice cream, milkshakes, plus mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts and fruit.

With the Creami Deluxe, three additional presets are on offer – frappe, frozen yogurt, and 'slushi' – as well as 'top' and 'bottom' processing settings, which allow you to combine two different mix-ins or flavours into the same base.

Price

With an RRP of £199.99, the original Ninja Creami is the cheapest of the two ice-cream makers. The Ninja Creami Deluxe has a more expensive RRP (£249.99) and for this you get the three extra settings and a larger capacity – however, this model is now on sale for the same price as the original Creami, so could be worth snapping up while on offer.

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]]>
Isabella Keeling - Deputy health editor <![CDATA[The best collagen supplements 2025 – tried and tested]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/best-collagen-supplements-tried-and-tested 2025-07-11T12:42:20.000Z 2025-07-09T13:36:35.000Z The best collagen supplements can play a significant role in supporting your body’s natural health and appearance. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and acts as a crucial building block for skin, bones, muscles and connective tissues. But, as we age, collagen production naturally declines, which can contribute to visible signs of ageing, such as reduced skin elasticity and joint discomfort.

Adding a collagen supplement to your daily routine can offer a range of benefits, from improving skin hydration and elasticity to supporting joint health and aiding muscle recovery. But with an overwhelming number of options on the market – including bovine, marine and vegan collagen powders – it can be difficult to figure out which ones are truly worth your time and money.

To help you cut through the noise, we've rigorously tested a range of collagen supplements, assessing their flavour, ingredient quality and overall effectiveness. Whether you’re looking for a powder that blends perfectly into your morning coffee or a flavourful option to boost your smoothies, our expert picks will guide you to the right choice. Read on to discover the best collagen supplements, tailored to meet a variety of health and lifestyle needs.

Visit our review section to find more health-related reviews, including the best protein bars, best vegan protein powders and our favourite meal prep containers. Next, read which supplements should I take?

Do I need to take vitamin C to help a collagen supplement work?

Including plenty of vitamin C in your diet is important for many aspects of health. When it comes to skin and joints, vitamin C supports the production of collagen by helping enzymes in the body make collagen and increase the production of collagen building blocks. This is why some collagen products include vitamin C. If you’re taking one that doesn’t include it, you may want to consider a supplement.

Fruit and vegetables like kiwi, citrus fruits and peppers are among the best food sources of vitamin C and because it's water-soluble (which means it can’t be stored in the body), you will need to get enough every day.

For more, read our guide on What is vitamin C?

Need help choosing a product? Check out our best vitamin C supplements 2025

Best collagen deals

Looking for a discount on one of the collagen supplements featured in our guide? Prime Day is here and we’ve already spotted the following offers on these tried and tested collagen products. For more Prime Day deals, visit our best protein powders and best electrolytes guides, discover how our experts test products and let us do the hard work for you.

Best collagen supplements at a glance

  • Best vegan collagen: Shreddy superskin collagen powder, £38
  • Best collagen for skin: Innermost The Glow Booster collagen, £29.95
  • Best overall flavour collagen: Hunter & Gather rise and glow collagen daily beauty tonic, £38
  • Best bovine collagen: Ancient and Brave cacao and collagen, £24
  • Best marine collagen: JSHealth Vitality X + Collagen Nourish + Glow, £39.99
  • Best unflavoured collagen: NaturePlus collagen peptides, £29.95
  • Best collagen with probiotics: Rejuvenated collagen shots, £52.50
  • Best collagen sachets: Revive Collagen hydrolysed marine collagen drink, £64.58
  • Best flavoured vegan collagen: Feel strawberry peach vegan collagen powder, £56.43
  • Best collagen powder: Sixways raspberry flavour marine collagen, £42.99

Jump to section:

Best collagen supplements to buy in 2025

Shreddy superskin collagen powder

Available from Shreddy (£38)

Shreddy vegan collagen with five star badge

Best vegan collagen

Star rating: 5/5

Top marks for this collagen powder. It tastes exactly like sweet iced tea; we'd even go as far to say it's refreshing and would happily sip this on a daily basis. Testers noted there was a slight film coating in the mouth – this is most likely due to the sweetener sucralose, which is common in many supplements. A pro for us was the additional nutrients: you'll hit your needs for vitamin C and get a dose of hyaluronic acid as well, an ingredient that's popular in skin-enhancing beauty products.

One thing to consider is that this supplement is formulated with a plant-based collagen alternative – but if you're vegan or just trying to cut down on animal products in general, this is a smart choice.

Available from:

Innermost The Glow Booster collagen

Available from Innermost (£29.95)

Innermost collagen

Best collagen for skin

Star rating: 5/5

This collagen powder was a knock-out in terms of quality and taste and would be a great entry point into collagen. While many products claim to be flavourless but leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth, this is crisp, clear and almost like a glass of water. What's most impressive though is the short ingredients list with no sweeteners or additives. It includes bovine collagen, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C – skincare fans will recognise this nourishing duo for their ability to increase radiance. Combined with collagen, this makes a powerhouse of a supplement.

Available from:

Hunter & Gather Rise & Glow collagen daily beauty tonic

Available from Healf (£40)

Five star badge Hunter & Gather collagen berries

Best overall flavour

Star rating: 5/5

This was our favourite collagen for fruity flavour. Despite being made with marine collagen, there's absolutely no fishy taste. It's disguised by a blend of acai, acerola, blueberry, blackcurrant and raspberry powder, which also means it's packed with vitamin C. With the addition of hibiscus and baobab powder the overall flavour is tangy, tart, sweet and slightly floral. Whereas most other collagens are best added to a juice or smoothie, this can be taken with water.

Hunter & Gather also offers a bovine version, as well as cacao and vanilla creamers with added collagen.

Available from:

Ancient and Brave cacao and collagen

Available from Healf (£24), Ancient and Brave (£24), Supplement Hub (£26.60)

Ancient and Brace collagen

Best bovine collagen

Star rating: 5/5

If you want the benefits of bovine collagen without the unpleasant flavour, this luxurious blend is for you. It's combined with raw Peruvian cacao, so it's bursting with antioxidants, as well hydrolysed collagen peptides (this makes them easier for your body to absorb). It's earthy and chocolatey, with a touch of spicy sweetness thanks to baobab, beetroot, carob and cinnamon.

Calming ashwaganda means sipping a mug of this could soothe stress, so turn your morning cuppa into a ritual. Alternatively, one of our tasters enjoyed blitzing it with avocado, vanilla extract and honey to make a healthy chocolate mousse.

You get a fairly decent quantity for the price as well, so we imagine it would last you a while.

Available from:

JSHealth Vitality X + Collagen Nourish +Glow

Available from JSHealth (£39.99)

JS health and vitality collagen

Best marine collagen

Star rating: 5/5

We were pleasantly surprised by the fruitiness of this powder. Some tasters were skeptical about its marine origins and worried it would taste fishy, but that certainly isn't the case. It has a blueberry-like sweetness, with a touch of tropical fruit and hit of acidity that covers up any collagen flavour.

It's made from 100 per cent pure, sustainably sourced, wild deep sea cod skin. That might not sound like something you want to drink, but it means the collagen is primarily type 1 – the most abundant collagen in the body and vital for healthy bones and skin. Blend into smoothies or other cold drinks to reap the benefits.

The products from JSHealth are on the expensive side, but the quality of this powder is impressive.

Available from:

NaturePlus collagen peptides

Available from Healf (£29.95), Amazon (£29.95)

Nature Plus collagen with badge

Best unflavoured collagen

Star rating: 4.5/5

Impressively, this collagen is made from a unique blend of four sources: grass-fed beef, wild-caught cod, free-range chicken and eggshell membrane. It's free from additives and flavourings, with only a slight crisp, clean taste. We tried lots of other collagens that claim to be flavourless but left a strange aftertaste; however, this one really achieves it. The powder was slightly lumpy after mixing, so we marked it down for this.

Available from:

Rejuvenated collagen shots

Available from Rejuvenated (£52.50)

Rejuvenated collagen with badge

Best collagen with probiotics

Star rating: 4/5

Testers were impressed by the subtle taste of this collagen powder, despite the strong smell which they noted was similar to squash. Packed with hydrolysed marine collagen, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, this powerhouse formula boosts skin, hair and nails. As studies have shown a connection between your gut and skin health, the brand added a probiotic strain of lactobacillus.

Available from:

Revive Collagen hydrolysed marine collagen drink

Available from Revive Collagen (£29.97), Amazon (£33.69)Feel Unique (£66.99), Sephora (£66.99)

Revive collagen enhanced plus

Best collagen sachets

Star rating: 4/5

The strong, syrupy consistency of the gel in these sachets reminded us of neat squash, and the flavour is pleasant. There's a lemony taste that hides the collagen well, and these could easily be added to smoothies or water to dilute it. The gel is free from artificial flavours, colours and added sugar. Impressively, these sachets also contain retinol and hydrolysed keratin, two ingredients well-known for their skin-plumping benefits.

The sachets come in a box of 14, which doesn't seem like a lot as it's only two weeks worth – but you can helpfully buy 14 or 28 days supply and have it delivered automatically, meaning you'll never run out.

Available from:

Feel strawberry peach vegan collagen powder

Available from Feel (£56.43)

Screenshot

Best flavoured vegan collagen

Star rating: 4/5

Feel's vegan collagen tastes like strawberry sweets with a sour tang, similar to sherbet. It's designed to cleverly mimic the amino acid profile found in human collagen. It's combined with gotu kola, an ancient herb that promotes skin healing. This allows it to boost collagen production, helping smooth wrinkles and fine lines. We think the flavour is much better than other collagen powders, and would happily drink a daily glass.

This was the most expensive product we tried. However, we feel that extra steps have been taken to make this a higher-quality supplement.

Available from:

Sixways raspberry flavour marine collagen

Available from Amazon (£42)

Sixways collagen powder with badge

Best collagen powder

Star rating: 4/5

If you're someone who usually goes out of your way to eat good-quality, sustainable fish, then applying the same rules to your collagen powder is a must. This marine collagen is made using wild-caught fish rather than farmed, which means there's no added antibiotics. It has a strong raspberry flavour, which testers felt masked the flavour of the fish really well. When mixed with water, it's quite sweet, similar to squash – not such a bad thing!

You get 28 servings per bag, so it works out to around a once-a-month purchase – there's no getting around that it's quite an expensive product that won't be affordable for everyone.

Available from:

Bovine, marine or vegan collagen?

If you're new to collagen supplements, drinking a powder of bovine or marine origins might sound strange. However, these sources are used because they're the closest match to human collagen. This means our bodies can absorb and use it easily.

Both have their own benefits. Bovine collagen comes from cows, and is the closest match to the collagen in our bodies. Marine collagen is made from fish and contains smaller molecules, potentially allowing the body to better absorb it. Both may help to delay signs of ageing, smooth fine wrinkles and support healthy joints.

There are some vegan options on the market. If you're considering one of these, be aware these these don't contain standard collagen (as in, what we have in our bodies) because collagen can't be vegan. These products will most likely contain vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C, which help fuel collagen production in the body.

You might find you prefer one flavour over the other, or that you're able to digest one type more easily.

What we looked for in collagen supplements

  • Taste: is the flavour pleasant? Does it have an overwhelming or artificial taste?
  • Type of collagen: bovine, marine or vegan?
  • Nutrient profile: are there any added sugars or extra nutrients?
  • Type of sweetener: does it contain sugars or artificial sweeteners?
  • Dietary requirements: is it vegan or vegetarian?
  • Value for money: how does it compare to others on a cost-per-use basis?

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Do you buy collagen supplements? Leave a comment and tell us your favourite below.

If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.

All health content on Good Food is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.

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Good Food <![CDATA[Tell your Good Food story]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/tell-your-good-food-story 2025-07-09T14:42:17.000Z Your favourite recipe could be part of something big

We love that Good Food recipes have found their way into countless homes, hearts, and traditions. Maybe it’s the bake that brought the kids into the kitchen. The Sunday roast everyone looks forward to. The dish that reminds you of someone special.

Now it’s time to hear your food story, and how Good Food has made its mark on your life.

Whether it’s a recipe passed down, a happy accident that became a staple, or a complete disaster that you now look back on fondly, your story could inspire thousands.

We're creating a campaign built on trust and real experiences, and you might just be part of it. Some of the stories we receive will be brought to life through interviews, photography, or video, so if you're happy to share, then we’re happy to listen.

Please fill out this form below to be a part of our next big campaign.

View Riddle on the source website]]>
Good Food <![CDATA[Grains recipe ideas]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/category/grains-recipe-ideas 2025-07-09T12:16:56.000Z Natalie Bass <![CDATA[BBQ deals: Savings across top-rated gas and charcoal BBQs]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/bbq-deals 2025-07-09T14:03:38.000Z 2025-07-09T10:30:48.000Z We Brits love a barbecue, so much so that three quarters of UK households currently own some kind of BBQ grill. And now Prime Day (8-11 July 2025) has arrived, it's the perfect time to snap up a saving on a top-rated gas, charcoal or electric model.

We've been seeing plenty of deals go live from a range of brands, including big names in the barbecue world like Weber, Char-Broil and Ninja. We'll be continuing to keep an eye on the products in this guide and update any changes in price, so bookmark this page to ensure you don't miss out on the best barbecue offers.

Our team of expert reviewers have also tested all the barbecues in this list, and scored each model based on the quality of food, ease of cleaning, value for money, quality of materials, and ease of use – to help you make an informed decision about what to spend your money on. Find out more about how Good Food tests products.

Best BBQ deals at a glance

  • Amazon – Prime Day deals are live until Friday 11 July
  • John Lewis & Partners – up to 50% off home and tech
  • VonHaus – get 10% off selected items with code SUN10
  • Appliances Direct – up to 38% off outdoor kit, including BBQs
  • Tower – up to £350 off in the BBQ summer sale
  • Robert Dyas – up to 30% off barbecues
  • JD Williams – save on Outback and George Foreman barbecues
  • BBQ World – offers across gas, charcoal and electric barbecues
  • B&Q – up to 20% off selected outdoor living
  • Homebase – up to 35% off outdoor living, including barbecues
  • The Range – save up to 50% in the summer sale
  • Keen Gardener – save on the RRP of gas, charcoal and electric barbecues
  • Wayfair – 'Black Friday in July' sale is live

Remember that all of the brands offering barbecue deals will be competing for your attention, so will be tracking other retailers' prices as well as their own. The likes of Currys and John Lewis & Partners also offer a price-match promise. When you've found a deal that looks appealing to you, see if there are any added extras included, like free delivery or bonus barbecue accessories.

Jump to:

Best electric BBQ deals 2025

Ninja Woodfire electric BBQ grill and smoker

Best electric barbecue for smoking

Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker

Star rating: 5/5

This Ninja barbecue can grill, roast and air-fry among other functions, but what impressed us most was its inbuilt smoker, which infuses food with delicious smoky flavours without using open flames.

It comes with a pellet scoop, crisper packet, woodfire pellet starter pack, and a quick-start guide with recipes and cooking charts, so you can get set up and start cooking almost straight away. Because the grill is built to be weather-resistant, you can also also use it year-round.

What we could achieve with this barbecue really impressed us, and we enjoyed using the smoker. Our sirloin steaks were tender and juicy, with clear grill lines and the smoky flavour we'd hoped for.

Read our full Ninja Woodfire electric BBQ grill and smoker review.

Available from:

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Weber Lumin electric BBQ

Best electric barbecue for versatility

Weber Lumin electric barbecue

Star rating: 4.5/5

This electric barbecue is impressively compact and robust, easy to build and heat, and packs away easily too. In testing we found it gave our aubergine and steaks those prominent grill lines that we look for when barbecuing, and our spatchcock chicken was golden and soft without being dry.

Most of the packaging could be recycled, and we also liked the grill scraper that was included in the box – very handy for turning ingredients and prising off stubborn bits of food afterwards.

Available from:

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Best charcoal BBQ deals

Weber Master Touch

Best Weber charcoal BBQ

Weber Master-Touch 57cm charcoal barbecue

Star rating: 5/5

This Weber kettle-style Master Touch is simple to light and heats quickly, with a reliable thermometer on the enamelled lid. Even though it's a relatively basic model, it's ideal for those who want to be able to store and use their barbecue year after year.

There's a good amount of space to build coal strategically and create different temperature zones, and in test we achieved even cooking results across its 57cm diameter. Cleaning it is easy, too, thanks to quality of the grill and the one-touch cleaning system, which relies on a lever to sweep ash into the pan below.

Available from:

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Char-Broil Kettleman

Best barbecue for families who entertain

Char-Broil Kettleman BBQ

Star rating: 4.5/5

This large kettle-style barbecue is ideal if you're entertaining over the summer. Lighting and heating it up was a speedy process, and the smooth-close lid formed an excellent seal to retain warmth. There's a handy storage rack underneath the barbecue, and its robust wheels mean you can move it around the garden if you need to.

The Kettleman cooked the majority of our barbecue recipes well, including our halloumi kebabs – which were well charred – and our spatchcock chicken, which had crisp barbecued skin and smoky flavour.

Putting this model together is the most fiddly bit (it took us around half an hour, and we needed an extra pair of hands), but once built it can stay assembled and become a staple part of your garden set-up.

Read our full Char-Broil Kettleman charcoal barbecue review.

Available from:

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VonHaus Barrel charcoal BBQ

Best charcoal BBQ for feeding a crowd

Vonhaus Barrel Charcoal BBQ

Star rating: 4/5

If you're feeding a crowd and have a good amount of outdoor space, this barrel-shaped barbecue from VonHaus is a solid option. It measures 69cm x 35cm, offering plenty of room on the grill to cook up a large feast – plus it doubles up as a smoker if you close the lid and throw in some wood chips to your charcoal.

We liked the smaller rack in the lid, which is handy for keeping cooked food warm, though we'd have liked the main grill to be split into two pieces, which would have given us better access to the coals beneath. The plastic wheels also didn't match the quality of the rest of the barbecue and we found them a little tricky to move around. In all, though, we felt this model offered good value for money.

Available from:

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Tower Kamado Maxi Ceramic charcoal BBQ

Best budget kamado-style charcoal barbecue

Tower Kamado Maxi Ceramic Charcoal BBQ

Star rating: 4/5

Kamado-style barbecues are typically quite expensive, but this budget model from Tower offers durability, heft and style at a remarkably affordable price. Like most barbecues of this type, you'll need a couple of people to position it and it needs to be cured before use, but we found this simple to do.

The internal space is quite compact, which makes it better suited to direct rather than indirect cooking, and we found all our dishes had a smoky, chargrilled flavour thanks to the closed-lid cooking style. The barbecue lacks some of the finesse of more premium kamado-style models, but if you're working with a smaller budget, it's a good quality option.

Available from:

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Char-Broil Charcoal L barbecue

Best for social barbecuers

Char-Broil Charcoal L barbecue

Star rating: 4/5

With this Char-Broil barbecue, you can easily cater for large numbers and garden get-togethers thanks to its generous cooking space. There's also a handy keep-warm rack inside, which can be loaded with items before serving.

We liked the adjustable chimney, which allowed us to redirect smoke back into the unit to boost a gorgeous smoky flavour into our dishes. Despite the faff of assembling it (there are a lot of fiddly caps and screws to contend with), the storage is also excellent – with six hooks for accessories, an inbuilt bottle opener, and collapsible side trays.

Available from:

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VonHaus Compact charcoal barbecue

Best for entertaining on a budget

VonHaus Compact charcoal barbecue

Star rating: 4/5

If you're looking for a budget barbecue with a large grilling area, this Vonhaus model is good fit. There are nifty features like two side tables for storing lightweight tools, a thermometer for monitoring the temperature, and a handy bottle opener. We also liked the firebox, which is height-adjustable and has a front door for easy refuelling.

Bear in mind you forfeit some build quality for the price. We also found the assembly a little time-consuming, though once we were all set up, the barbecue was simple to light, cook with, and – owing to its compact size – store.

Read our full Vonhaus Compact Charcoal BBQ review.

Available from:

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Kamado Joe Kettle Joe charcoal BBQ

Best large ceramic barbecue for affordability

Kamado Joe Kettle Joe charcoal BBQ

Star rating: 4/5

Already a great-value item, now you can scoop up an even bigger saving on this sturdy and generously sized barbecue. It comes with an additional smoking unit and has an effective split-level design, which means you can cook different ingredients at different rates if you wanted to.

We found this model maintained an optimum cooking temperature for several hours, producing delicious halloumi kebabs that had good grill lines and even charring. It has a five-year warranty, too, so you can make good use of it for many summers to come.

Read our full Kamado Joe Kettle Joe charcoal BBQ review.

Available from:

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Best gas BBQ deals

Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas BBQ

Best gas barbecue for feeding a crowd

Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas BBQ

Star rating: 5/5

This wide and robust BBQ from Australian brand Everdure comes with three die-cast grills, which each slot above a burner that works independently – so you can use one at a time or fire up all three at once. It heats quickly and has three hob-like knobs along the right-hand side that operate the barbecue.

This model can also handle a generous amount of food, with space for up to three roast chickens or 28 burgers at once time. In testing, we found it performed to a high standard, too and added a delicious char to our sirloin steaks and halloumi kebabs.

Available from:

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Broil King Crown 490

Best gas barbecue for versatility

Broil King Crown 490

Star rating: 4/5

If you're looking to do some serious barbecuing, this is an impressively versatile model that's worth considering while it's on offer. Featuring a large grill, warming rack, rotisserie, and side hob, this is a barbecue that means business – and it cooked all our recipes to a high standard. We liked the intuitiveness of the controls and found it retained heat well.

Moving it around and keeping it in place wasn't a bother, and the cast iron grills are robust and well-made. While time-consuming to assemble, once built we also loved the overall look of this barbecue and found it a joy to cook on.

Available from:

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Char-Broil X200 Grill2Go

Best barbecue for couples or small families

Char Broil X200 Grill2Go

Star rating: 4/5

Great for small gardens or cooking on the go, this compact Char-Broil barbecue delivered impressive results with well-defined grill lines, succulent insides and charred outsides.

We found it very easy to use, and though the controls could have been a little more reactive, the handy thermometer on the lid helped us keep track of the temperature. It's lightweight and small, so would easily fit into a car boot if you're taking it on your travels. It also comes with a scraper, so you can easily clean it after use.

Read our full Char-Broil Grill2Go gas barbecue review.

Available from:

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How to get a good deal on barbecues during Prime Day

  • Set a budget: work out how much you'd be willing to spend beforehand and try to stick to that figure. Sales like Prime Day are a great way to save on products like barbecues, air-fryers and other gadgets, so to ensure you make the most of the deals, set a budget and keep to it.
  • Read reviews: before you purchase, it's a sensible idea to check reviews so you can be sure the product isn't a dud – regardless of how good the deal is. Discover our guides to the best charcoal and gas barbecues, which feature impartial and up-to-date advice on the models actually worth considering.
  • Use tools to alert you to the best prices: websites like CamelCamelCamel will show you the price history of products sold on Amazon.
  • Buy when you see a price you're happy with: many barbecue deals will only be available until Friday 11 July, so if you spot a deal you like the look of, don't wait around.

How do we select Prime Day barbecue deals?

There are several barbecue deals around throughout Prime Day (8-11 July 2025), but those that feature in our list are the best performers of more than 30 models shortlisted and tested by our Good Food reviews experts.

Each product is put through its paces using Good Food's triple-tested barbecue recipes, which test out the basic barbecuing functions as well as additional features. Read our full guides to the best gas and charcoal barbecues to discover our pick-of-the-best models available right now.

Best charcoal barbecues
Best gas barbecues
Best portable barbecues
Best Weber BBQ
Best electric barbecues
Best pizza ovens
Best barbecue food
best BBQ tools
Best pizza oven accessories
Best Ooni pizza oven
Best Ooni accessories
Best pizza oven accessories
Best charcoal for BBQs
How to clean a BBQ

Appliance and cookware deals

Air fryer deals
Coffee machine deals
Microwave deals
Fridge freezer deals
Dishwasher deals
Pizza oven deals
Slow cooker deals
Breadmaker deals
Stand mixer deals
Ninja Prime Day deals

All savings percentages have been rounded up or down to the nearest whole number.

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Elaine Lemm <![CDATA[The best pan sets, tried and tested 2025]]> https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/best-pan-sets-saucepans 2025-07-11T13:31:47.000Z 2025-07-09T08:38:54.000Z Buying a pan set may seem expensive, even for the most modest set, but often, buying pans individually can be more costly in the long run. With a matching set, you will have familiarity across the pans you use, understanding how quickly they heat, safety in knowing they have to stay cool handles perhaps, can or can’t go in the oven and other such features. And, if that isn’t enough to tempt you, a matching set does look good.

When choosing a pan set, your first port of call is to consider what you want: light or heavy, how many pans and your budget. Good pans with extended guarantees are solidly built with outstanding conductivity and heat quickly. They can be expensive, but they are also easier and cheaper to use, less likely to burn and have a longer life. But, equally, some excellent pans do not cost a fortune, as you can see from our recommended list.

Pan sets come in so many combinations of sizes and types, it can be difficult to decide what to go for. Every one of the combos we’ve tried and tested here has different items that can be added to complete your ideal collection. From steamers to casseroles, sauté pans to woks, there’s a lot you can add later to the basic trio of lidded saucepans. Read on for our tried-and-tested recommendations.

Best pan set deals

Looking for a saving on one of the pan sets in this list? These are the biggest savings we've found so far. Good Food in partnership with Tower pan sets: More pan sets deals: Discover more in kitchen appliances deals hub, find out how our experts test products and let us do the hard work for you.

View Affiliate Playlist on the source website

Best pan sets at a glance

  • Best fast-heating pan set: Stellar Stay Cool, 4 Piece Draining Saucepan Set, £139
  • Best pan set overall: Kuhn Rikon all-round 3-piece saucepan set, £207.20
  • Best non-stick pan set: Ninja Zerostick stainless steel 3-piece pan set, £149.99
  • Best stainless-steel pan set: HexClad Hybrid Pot 6-piece set, £399
  • Best premium pan set: Our Place Titanium Pro cookware set, £495
  • Best stylish pan set: ProCook Soho Cookware Set, £99
  • Best ceramic pan set: Joseph Joseph Space folding-handle 6-piece cookware set, £492
  • Best-looking pan set: Circulon Style Anodised 3-piece saucepan set, £214.99
  • Best hybrid pan set: Circulon C Series SteelShield 3-piece pan set, £240
  • Best value pan set: Stellar 7000 5-piece pan set, £150

Jump to section:

Best pan sets to buy in 2025


Good Food in partnership with Tower 3-piece stainless steel saucepan set

Available from Amazon (£74.99), Tower (£74.99)

Good Food 3-Piece Stainless Steel Saucepan Set

The Good Food three-piece saucepan set – created in partnership with Tower – makes family mealtimes a breeze. Ideal for cooking sauces and soups, boiling veg, melting chocolate and so much more, this handy set has been Tried and Tested by Good Food’s recipe development team, and includes one 16cm pan, one 18cm pan and one 20cm pan, each of which has been crafted with high-quality stainless steel. The pans also have internal markings to help you can measure ingredients with ease, and are oven-safe up to 230C.

Available from:


Good Food in partnership with Tower hard anodised 3-piece saucepan set

Available from Tower (£161.99 – save 10% with code GOODFOODNEW)

Good Food in partnership with Tower 3-Piece Saucepan Set

Whether you’re a culinary novice or a seasoned cook, the Good Food three-piece saucepan set – created in partnership with Tower – will bring versatility and efficiency to your kitchen.

Tried, Tested and Trusted by Good Food experts using our rigorous testing methods, the pans (16cm, 18cm and 20cm) are crafted with ultra-durable hard-anodised aluminium, combined with a non-stick coating for easy food release and guaranteed durability.

They’re also suitable for use on induction hobs and in the oven up to 220C, while the pouring lids offer simple serving without risk of spillages.

Available from:


Good Food in partnership with Tower 5-piece cookware set

Available from Tower (£224.99 – save 10% with code GOODFOODNEW), Amazon (£187.49)

Good Food in partnership with Tower 5-Piece Cookware Set

Comprising everything you need to cook classic weekday meals, Sunday roasts, or speedy lunchtime recipes, the Good Food five-piece saucepan set is the ideal piece of kitchen kit to have in your arsenal.

Created in partnership with Tower, the set includes two frying pans (20cm and 28cm) and three saucepans (16cm, 18cm, and 20cm), each of which is crafted with 3.5mm forged hard-anodised aluminium and a ceramic non-stick coating.

All of the pans can also be used in the oven up to 220C, are induction compatible, and like the other sets in this list, have earned our Tried, Tested and Trusted seal of approval.

Available from:


Good Food in partnership with Tower TriPly 3-piece saucepan set

Available from Tower (£175.49 – save 10% with code GOODFOODNEW), Amazon (£143.28)

3 Piece Tri-Ply Saucepan Set

Every kitchen needs a quality pan set. The Good Food Tri-Ply three-piece saucepan set, in collaboration with Tower, includes 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepans, each with a tempered glass lid featuring steam vents and two sizes of straining holes for easy, spill-free serving.

Made from 2.5mm tri-ply stainless steel with an aluminium core, these pans offer excellent heat retention and durability. Oven safe up to 220C and suitable for all hob types, including induction, this set is designed to work seamlessly with our extensive library of recipes. Plus, it's dishwasher safe for hassle-free cleaning.

Available from:


Good Food in partnership with Tower Tri-Ply 5-piece cookware set

Available from Tower (£269.99 – save 10% with code GOODFOODNEW), Amazon (£299.99)

Good Food in partnership with Tower TriPly 5-Piece Cookware Set

The Good Food five-piece Tri-Ply cookware set, in partnership with Tower, brings versatility and durability to your kitchen. The set includes 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepans with tempered glass lids, along with 20cm and 28cm frying pans, providing everything you need for everyday cooking.

Crafted from 2.5mm tri-ply stainless steel with an aluminium core, these pans ensure even heat distribution. The superior ceramic non-stick coating means you’re able to cook with less oil. With a sleek satin interior and mirror finish exterior, this set is oven safe up to 220C and compatible with all hob types, including induction.

Available from:


Stellar Stay Cool 4-Piece Draining Saucepan Set

Available from  Stellar (£139)

Stellar stay cool

Best fast-heating pan set

Pros:

  • Superb quality at the price
  • Rapid, even heating
  • So easy to clean
  • Easy drain lids

Cons:

  • Only oven-proof to 180C

Star rating: 5/5

Set contains: 16cm non-stick milk pan, 18cm draining saucepan with lid, 20cm draining saucepan with lid, 24cm non-stick frying pan

The Stellar 4-piece pan set is impressive. Made from stainless steel, it comes from the box, all shiny and promising. Even at first glance, it is a serious set claiming to be safe with handles that stay cool, and they do. Further claims highlight their effortless usability. The lids, with silicone rims, fit securely onto the pan, while draining spouts on both sides make draining remarkably easy. Additionally, the firm-fitting lids help lock in nutrients during cooking, making meals healthier.

All of these were borne out in the test, as everything we cooked from the eggs, onions and porridge was excellent, and we were blown away by the speed the pans heated up with pasta water boiling in 1 minute 40 seconds; so, they are also economical to use. We had only one slight niggle; they are only oven safe to 180C. We can live with that for this quality.

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Kuhn Rikon All round 3-piece saucepan set

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Best pan set overall

Pros:

  • Excellent quality for the price
  • Glass lids with steam vent
  • Strainer function in the lid
  • Oven-safe to high temperature

Cons:

  • None

Star rating: 5/5

Set contains: 1.9L saucepan with lid, 2.7L saucepan with lid, 3.7L saucepan with lid

This Swiss-designed pan set certainly impresses on first viewing. The three pans come in generous sizes and are made in a hefty 18/20 stainless steel, so they have an almost professional feel. They're solid rather than heavy, and easy to handle even when filled with food.

The thick, solid base makes them suitable for all cooking surfaces, including induction, and we were impressed by their ability to heat super-fast and respond instantly to lowering the heat, which we found essential when caramelising the onions, which came out a delicious, even golden brown.

Likewise, when cooking the porridge, we had to lower the heat once the porridge thickened, and the response was immediate.

The handle was comfortable to hold and never became hot while using on induction, though this may not be the case if the pans are used on a high gas flame, and they'll most certainly get hot when used in the oven, where they're safe up to 240ºC. The lids are glass, which also meant we could see what was happening without removing a hot lid.

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Ninja Zerostick stainless steel three-piece pan set – C63000UK

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Best non-stick pan set

Pros:

  • Robust pans
  • Glass lids
  • Stay Cool handles
  • Oven-safe to 260ºC
  • Exceptional non-stick

Cons:

  • Edging towards heavy with food

Star rating: 5/5

Set contains: 16cm saucepan with lid, 18cm saucepan with lid, 20cm saucepan with lid

Unwrapping these stainless-steel Zerostick pans from Ninja, we were impressed by the three chunky pans that greeted us. They come with several promises, including being 20x tougher than traditional non-stick, with no flaking or peeling; being dishwasher- and metal utensil-safe, plus scratch-resistant; being oven-safe to 260ºC; and having a 10-year replacement guarantee, including the Zerostick coating.

We were able to test out at least some of these promises, especially the non-stick, when cooking both the onions and the porridge. Nothing stuck, the pans heated super-fast and were responsive to the raising and lowering of the heat. And, though there is no need to put the pans in the dishwasher because a quick hand-wash was more than sufficient, we were happy with the dishwasher results.

With the pasta, we heated the 1.5 litres of cold water to boiling in an impressive four minutes. We couldn’t test Ninja’s longevity claims, but the pans certainly feel sufficiently well made to bear this out.

These Ninja pans are made from highly polished stainless steel with an aluminium core, with a brushed stainless steel handle on the pan and the glass lid, adding some weight overall.

We found them sturdy and well balanced on the stove, and edging towards heavy when filled with food, so they may not suit some. But if you are after well-made, efficient pans that refuse to have anything stuck inside or out, these are the pans for you.

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HexClad Hybrid Pot six-piece set

Available from HexClad (£399), Amazon (£399)

HexClad six-piece pan set

Best stainless-steel pan set

Pros:

  • Commercial standard hybrid pans
  • Includes a generous 26cm stock pot
  • Oven-safe to 260C (lids 240C)
  • Dishwasher-safe
  • Metal utensil-safe
  • Hexagonal steel ridges for better searing
  • High-grade, non-toxic Japanese coating for toughness

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Need seasoning before use

Star rating: 5/5

Set contains: 1.8L saucepan with lid, 2.8L saucepan with lid, 7.5L saucepan with lid

If it was possible to fall in love with a pan, it could easily be the hybrid HexClad. There were gasps of delight as they were lifted from their boxes and taken from their protective cloth bags; they are extremely handsome, with a shiny, heavy-gauge stainless steel exterior, and signature laser-etched hexagon design on the inside.

Each hexagon is a hybrid of stainless-steel ridges and non-stick valleys, giving superb searing potential coupled with total non-stick on the bottom and partly up the sides. Above this, the hybrid continues with a zigzag pattern and lines up to the rim.

The result of all this patterning is that the HexClad pans are incredibly robust, and claimed to withstand all metal utensils, including spatulas, whisks and even electric mixers.

We found this a scary proposition after forever being told not to use metal anywhere near non-stick, and it takes courage to do. But we felt reassured as the pans do come with a lifetime warranty, including for the non-stick.

Despite the hefty robustness of these pans, they do need a little TLC with seasoning before use, much like a cast iron pan, and this does need to be repeated from time to time. Also, unlike some non-stick, using a little oil when cooking is recommended as you're cooking on steel and non-stick.

On the test, the pans were sublime. The 1.5 litres of water boiled in three minutes and five seconds and stopped dead when we switched off the heat. The gentle simmering of the onions was on the lowest heat.

It produced soft caramelisation in 20 minutes instead of the expected 40, and the porridge similarly cooked super-fast, with zero sticking. Cleaning was a doddle and despite these being totally dishwasher-safe, they only needed a quick rinse.

The pans may be expensive, but with just a little TLC, they will pay back in bucketloads with their ease of use, fast, quality cooking, and stunning appearance. You will not want to put them back in the cupboard. Read more about HexClad in our guide: Is HexClad worth it?

Available from:

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Our Place Titanium Pro cookware set

Available from Our Place (£495)

Our Place Titanium Pro cookware set

Best premium pan set

Pros:

  • Wide range of pan types and sizes included
  • Oven-safe up to 260C
  • Easy to clean
  • Fully recyclable packaging

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Shows fingerprint marks easily
  • Pan surfaces leave an imprint on some foods

Star rating: 4.5/5

Set contains: 27.6cm Titanium Always Pan Pro, 21.6cm Titanium Mini Always Pan Pro, 27.6cm Titanium Perfect Pot Pro, 21.6cm Titanium Mini Perfect Pot Pro, metal spatula, silicone spoon

For fans of the viral cookware brand Our Place and its Titanium Pro range, this bundle is undoubtedly one of the most stylish options on this list. Better yet, if you were considering buying each pan individually, you can also save £245 by purchasing them as a set.

Expanding beyond its signature pastel hues, Our Place's Titanium Pro range has a sleek chrome finish that shines on the countertop – though it is susceptible to fingerprint marks. Each pan also has a chemical-free non-stick surface that's suitable for utensils and even the dishwasher, and the pans heated quickly and evenly during our tests.

The pans are weighty and feel high-quality, too, with comfortable handles and well-fitting lids – though the smaller pans gets a little hot at the base. We found the hexagonal surface left behind an imprint on our omelettes and pancakes, which didn't look very appealing.

Cleaning them, however, is a breeze, and for home-cooks seeking pro-level performance with a bit of flair, the Titanium Pro set delivers style and substance in equal measure.

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ProCook Soho cookware set

Available from ProCook (£99), Amazon (£103.95)

ProCook Soho Cookware Set

Best stylish pan set

Pros:

  • 10-year warranty
  • Super non-stick coating
  • Choice of three great colours

Cons:

  • Excessive heat must be avoided

Star rating: 4.5/5

Set contains: 18cm saucepan with lid, 26cm sauté pan with lid, 24cm frying pan, 24cm casserole dish with steamer insert

From the box we were impressed by these stylish, contemporary-looking pans from ProCook. We had the soft green set, but there are two other fabulous colours to choose from. The pans are light and easy to lift, and on all our tests, they passed with flying colours, especially the delicious shakshuka.

We loved the non-stick; it was silky, smooth and tough, with a ten-year guarantee. ProCook, however, does not recommend using excessive amounts of heat when cooking with these pans. But you shouldn’t need to, as they are made from aluminium and stainless steel and heat up fast and evenly.

This is an excellent set of pans that's perfect for those just starting to cook and an astonishing price for the quality.

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Joseph Joseph Space folding-handle six-piece cookware set

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Best ceramic pan set

Pros:

  • 20-year warranty
  • Quality non-stick ceramic coating
  • Innovative fold-in handles
  • Excellent quality

Cons:

  • Hot spots in the centre of the pans
  • Some non-recyclable packaging

Star rating: 4.5/5

Set contains: 15cm saucepan with lid, 19cm saucepan with lid, 20cm frying pan, 24cm frying pan, 28cm sauté pan, 28cm shallow casserole dish, three felt pan protectors

If you're after practical pans for everyday tasks, but space comes at a premium in your kitchen, this ceramic set from Joseph Joseph is an excellent investment. Each pan (with the exception of the casserole pan) has a fold-in handle that reduces its footprint in storage. Even with the handles folding inwards, they can be stacked, too.

It's a large set, comprising a range of saucepans, frying pans and a casserole dish, as well as three felt pan protectors. All the pans are robust and nicely balanced, and come with tempered glass lids that fit well. They're also oven-safe up to 232C.

We found the heat distribution was relatively even but with some hotter spots in the centre. We were, however, impressed by how quickly the pans reacted to temperature changes, and the non-stick performed well too: even stubborn residue left behind by porridge lifted easily with light scrubbing.

As there are six pans included, the price tag is naturally higher than others on this list – but the 20-year warranty and premium design reassured us that this is a cookware set built to last.

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Circulon Style anodised three-piece saucepan set

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Best-looking pan set

Pros:

  • Stylish flared shape
  • Attractive stay-cool handle on pan and lid
  • Oven-safe to 260C
  • Non-stick lasts 15 times longer than others
  • Dishwasher-safe

Cons:

  • No matching pans

Star rating: 4.5/5

Set contains: 16cm saucepan with lid, 18cm saucepan with lid, 20cm saucepan with lid

There's a good reason why these pans from Circulon are called Style, being by far the most stylish on our test, with their tall, black, flared sides which make for excellent pouring from any angle. We particularly liked the beautifully contrasting stainless steel lids with distinctive S-shape stay-cool handles, which are very comfy and secure to hold.

The Circulon pans offer a non-stick that lasts 15 times longer than others and guarantees nothing will stick, and they are three times more resistant to the dishwasher. All of this bore out well in our test. Nothing stuck, not even the porridge which is a chief sticking culprit – the pan was almost clean after use and hand-washed quickly and easily.

The anodised pans are robust and not heavy, and even with food, we found them well balanced and secure to carry around. Our test results were excellent: fast heating (1.5 litres of water took 4½ minutes to boil for the pasta), responsive to raising and lowering the temperatures, which worked well when caramelising the onions, and the porridge cooked in minutes with no sticking.

These pans are expensive at full price, but given the lifetime guarantee, excellent quality and great cooking results, they are a good investment and should give years of use.

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Circulon C Series SteelShield three-piece pan set

undefined Circulon C Series SteelShield three-piece pan set

Best hybrid pan set

Pros:

  • Slim ergonomic handles
  • Distinct S-shaped handles
  • Oven-safe up to 260C
  • Size of pan detailed on underside
  • Dishwasher-safe
  • Metal utensil-safe

Cons:

  • No steam vent, can’t place lids ajar

Star rating: 4.5/5

Set contains: 16cm saucepan with lid, 18cm saucepan with lid, 20cm saucepan with lid

If you’re torn between a non-stick or uncoated saucepan set, this Circulon set promises the answer. These pans are non-stick, but cook like steel, producing an intense sear while also managing to cook delicately. Add to the collection with the Circulon C Series SteelShield frying pan.

These pans are attractive and feature Circulon’s tell-tale concentric circle design. The lid handles are also a distinctive S-shape. We struggled a little with the lids, they don’t have a steam vent so steam escapes underneath, so be sure to aim the steam away from you.

On the whole, cooking on these pans was a joy to do. They’re quick to heat up, but keep you in control. Our only minor gripe was that food got stuck to the ridges and overcooked slightly, but this would only be a concern if cooking something that needed to be silky smooth, like custard or béchamel.

Read our full Circulon C Series SteelShield three-piece saucepan set review.

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Stellar 7000 five-piece pan set

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Best value pan set

Pros:

  • Helpful draining holes in lids
  • Big pouring lips on pans
  • Handles are long and comfortable

Cons:

  • Handles get hot

Star rating: 4/5

Set contains: 14cm milk pan, 16cm draining saucepan with lid, 18cm draining saucepan with lid, 20cm draining saucepan with lid, 26cm non-stick frying pan

With its striking high-shine finish, this five-piece set from Stellar is professional-looking, but comes at a reasonable price. These pans come with added extras like draining holes in the lid, which means there are no frantic searches for a colander or sieve.

Very little stuck to these pans either, so clean up, on the whole, was a doddle. The milk pan and frying pan are useful additions, particularly if you’re looking for a complete set. The non-stick coating on both of these pans is effective, too. Water came to a boil quickly and, for added ease and versatility, they’re all dishwasher- and oven-safe up to 210C.

Read our full Stellar 7000 five-piece saucepan set review.

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Other pan sets tried and tested

How to choose the best pan set

There’s a lot to consider before choosing a pan set. If you’re starting out, a three-pot set will give you everything you need to cook most meals. All your hob needs for a Sunday roast are covered – there will be a pan for potatoes, vegetables and gravy.

As with any equipment you use daily, buy the best you can afford. A thin aluminium set with plastic knobs may be binned in a few months, but higher-grade stainless steel pans will last and save you money in the long run.

If you’re a seasoned cook, consider what gets used most in your kitchen (we all have our favourites) and look for a set that incorporates that style of pan in its wider range, if not already included in the box.

You should also think about how much room you have to store pans. A heavy base is crucial for distributing heat efficiently. Consider the lining – we all love non-stick properties but some need to be oil-seasoned every month and may not be suitable to go in the dishwasher. Well-fitting lids are important, too, as are comfortable handles.

In terms of size, ask yourself if that giant casserole is going to languish on the shelf, or whether you really need a tiny milk pan. A number of the sets on this list form part of a wider collection of pans, like frying pans and sauté pans, meaning you can add to your set later on. Stick to the basics, with at least two 16-20cm pans, and you can grow your kitchen collection from there.

What to look out for when choosing a pan set

The majority of the pan sets we’ve tested include three different sized saucepans. Some sets also come with a frying pan and milk pan, while others also come have sauté pans. Consider what you need and what you already have – you don't want to buy a set with a frying pan if you already have a much-loved one in your kitchen.

  • Weight: depending on the material used, the pans can get very weighty when full. Look for lug-handles for extra support. At the other end of the spectrum, a lightweight pan isn’t necessarily a good thing; they tend to be unbalanced on the hob and can be easily knocked.
  • Hob suitability: choose a set that’s suitable for your hob. Ideally choose one suitable for all hob types, so there’s no risk of the set becoming redundant if you move from gas or electric to induction.
  • Oven-proof: a pan that can go from hob to oven offers added versatility. It's simpler to cook dishes like oven-baked risotto, that start on the hob and move to the oven, in a pan that can do both, and there’s less to wash up after. Check the maximum temperature the pan is ovenproof to – anything above 180C is ideal.
  • Easy to clean: in an ideal world, pans would always be washed by hand, but we’re all busy and it’s uber convenient to be able to pop the pans in a dishwasher once you’ve finished cooking. Always check whether the pans are dishwasher-safe before washing.
Best pan sets

How we tested pan sets

We put these pan sets to the test by cooking a variety of foods in the appropriate sized pan. We started with breakfast foods and cooked custardy scrambled eggs in the smallest pan to see how well we could control the heat, and if we were able to reach into the edges to ensure everything was fully incorporated. We also cooked notoriously difficult-to-clean porridge in the smallest pan.

In the medium-sized pan we cooked fried onions. This let us see if the pan could cook slowly and caramelise the onions evenly. We played around with the temperature on this test to see how well the pan responded to changes.

Finally, in the largest pan, we cooked pasta. We brought the pan up to a boil from cold to see how quickly it heated up and how evenly the pan distributed heat. After adding the pasta, we popped the lid on. We wanted to know whether the pan would bubble over, and if you could still see through the lid.

Some pan sets came with frying pans as standard. We called on our frying pan tests to test these out and cooked American pancakes and omelettes.

As well as how the sets looked together on the hob, there was a long list of attributes on our list of must-haves.

  • Efficient cooking: crucially, they had to have excellent, non-stick linings and efficient heat distribution so we could rely on food being evenly cooked, with responsive heating and cooling when we adjusted controls.
  • Weight and balance: heavy-based pans are great for cooking, but they couldn’t be so weighty that we’d struggle to move one from hob to sink, or so light they could tilt easily on the stove.
  • Build quality: the pans had to be built to last, with firmly welded or riveted handles, which had to feel comfortable to grip when the pan was full.
  • Storage: finally, we looked at how the sets stacked together for storage, marking down any that were likely to topple over and cause cupboard chaos.

Best non-stick frying pans
Best cast iron skillet pans
Best pancake pans
Best griddle pans
Best sauté pans
Best paella pans
Best woks
Best casserole dishes
Best stainless-steel frying pan
Always pan: First-look review
Smeg cookware range: First-look review
How to store pans
How to care for non-stick cookware
Is Our Place worth it?

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