An air fryer is a portable convection oven that can be used on a countertop. It uses a fan to circulate hot air to cook, crisp, or caramelize food more quickly than a typical toaster or traditional oven.
The notion of air fryers as “healthy” kitchen appliances originated from their ability to cook conventional comfort foods like French fries and chicken wings without oil.
These days, they’re present in plenty of home kitchens, including those looking to make quick and simple meals or those adding an option beyond the oven or the stove while cooking for a crowd.
The Breakdown:
Philips 3000 Series Air Fryer
Emeril Lagasse Extra Large Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Air Fryer
Cosori Mini Air Fryer
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
Chefman Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer
Ninja SP101 Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven
Chefman TurboFry Touch Air Fryer
Dash Tasti Crisp Electric Air Fryer
Ninja 2-Basket Air Fryer
Cosori Air Fryer Pro Airfryer
Why Have Air Fryers Become So Popular?
Anyone who wants to eat healthier without sacrificing flavor can find that an air fryer is a game changer. Cooking with air frying is a wholesome method that produces the delicious crispy crunch of fried food using less oil. In addition to being easier to clean, the air fryer heats up and cooks food substantially faster than an oven. Because of this, it’s the ideal kitchen assistant for hectic weeknights!Food cooked in an air fryer turns golden brown and crispy on the outside while remaining juicy and moist inside, thanks to the high-temperature air circulation system. Diced potatoes, coconut shrimp, and chicken legs are excellent examples.
An air fryer conserves counter space and costs less to operate than an oven, especially when heating food for a single or small group of people. The following are some advantages of the air fryer:
- It’s a healthy way of cooking
For most foods, all you need to do is use an oil sprayer to lightly coat the outside of the food in oil to create a golden, crispy crust.
- It’s versatile
Increasing your vegetable intake can also be achieved by air-frying them. I can make anything from whole spaghetti squash to butternut squash and flawless asparagus with my air fryer.
- Quick and easy
You can put dinner on the table with my air fryer before my oven has finished preheating! Due to this, an air fryer is a cook’s best friend on hectic evenings when you need to feed hungry mouths.
Whatever you decide to make. The new Philips Essential Air Fryer opens up many possibilities. You can always cook your food. Its patented “starfish'' design is distinctive. A team of experts created it. They spent over ten years perfecting air fryer technology. It swirls hot air. This air makes delicious foods with little to no added oil.
The food is crispy outside and tender inside. It has up to 90% less fat. It has seven presets. The digital touch makes it easy to choose the best cooking temperature for your food. A keep-warm feature ensures it will be ready when you are.
Beyond frying, the air fryer has other uses. It can roast, bake, grill, and even reheat food! While maximizing counter space, a small, compact design allows cooking up to 4 portions (1.8 lbs./4.1 liters).
The dishwasher-safe design of all detachable parts and the nonstick coating of the QuickClean basket in the air fryer make cleaning simple. Additionally, frying with air will eliminate the smell of traditional deep-frying from your house.
Pros
- Healthy cooking: Purchasing an air fryer is a common way to enjoy delicious, crispy food while reducing oil usage. The HD9252/91 demonstrates that Philips’ Rapid Air Technology keeps its word. You can get the same texture and flavor as deep-frying with much less oil. This is a huge benefit for families trying to change their eating habits or for health-conscious individuals.
- Versatility: This air fryer’s 13-in-1 cooking functions make it extremely versatile. This gadget can be used for frying, baking, grilling, roasting, or reheating. Because of its adaptability, there is no longer a need for numerous kitchen appliances, which saves money and space.
- Easy to use: The control panel with a digital touchscreen is intuitive and easy to use. Being a gourmet chef is not a prerequisite for efficiently using the HD9252/91. Just choose the cooking mode, adjust the temperature and time, and then walk away from the air fryer. Because of the simple controls, users of all skill levels can use it.
- Price: Although the HD9252/91 has great features and performance, it costs more than other air fryers. This could be a big factor if you’re on a limited budget.
- Limited color options: As of the writing of this review, the HD9252/91 was limited to black color options. Although the black finish is sleek and contemporary, some users might prefer more color options to complement kitchen decor.
- Learning curve for recipes: Although the recipe booklet with the air fryer is a nice addition, some users might have a slight learning curve when experimenting with new recipes. Getting the ideal results for a particular dish might take some trial and error.
When this incredibly adaptable 10-in-1 air fry convection oven opens, a roomy 26-quart extra-large capacity opens up, large enough to fit almost all of your cooking requirements, from quick, crispy snacks to substantial family meals. The one-handed opening makes cooking easier and gives any kitchen a modern, sophisticated appearance.
There are 24 different cooking presets, including Proof, Broil, Slow Cook, Roast, Dehydrated, Reheat, and Warm; Air Fry, Fries, Bacon, Grill, Eggs, Fish, Ribs, Defrost, Steak, Vegetables, Wings; and Bake, Rotisserie, Toast, Chicken, and Pizza.
There are 24 cooking presets, including Bake, Toast, Defrost, Ribs, Pastry, Pizza, Pastry, Slow Cook, Roast, Reheat, and Keep Warm. Dual-Speed Fan: 360º superheated air circulation for the best homemade cooking and golden-fried crisping.
An external stainless steel finish gives any kitchen a stunning appearance and elevates party hosting. Moreover, tasteful French doors that open with a single pull have an interior light that lets you see the food. There are modes on this air fryer where convection cooking is available.
Pros
- Custom cooking: Cooking 2 Foods in 2 Different Ways and Custom settings in each zone allow you to cook your main dish and sides exactly how you want them.
- QuickSync technology: Get Rid of Back-to-Back Cooking, QuickSync Technology synchronizes cooking temperatures and durations in every zone, ensuring your meal is served simultaneously.
- Capacity: Family-Size Meals Up to 60% Faster: Delicious, family-sized meals are made fast in the XL 25-Qt. Capacity oven. Just remove the divider for extra-large, full-zone cooking.
- Size and storage: You may need more kitchen counter space and storage space if you choose the extra-large size.
- Price: Compared to smaller models, extra-large air fryers, like the Emeril Lagasse model, can be more expensive upfront.
One of the greatest air fryers available today, in terms of performance and design, is the Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer. Whether you’re cooking homemade chips or a hearty English breakfast, the cooking times are quick, and the results are just as good—if not better—than using a traditional oven.
The EvenCrisp technology of the Instant Vortex ensures consistently crispy, tender results, making it ideal for quick meals on the go. Make your favorite finger foods quickly, easily, and mess-free with less oil.
The Instant Vortex Plus, from the same creators as the Instant Pot, has many helpful features, like an air filter that keeps out smells, a dehydration mode, and a basket window that lets you watch your food. Most importantly, it cooked food the quickest in our tests, yielding mouthwatering results in minutes.
Pros
- Convenient viewing window: Features a window in the basket to view food easily.
- fast cooking: Cooks quickly and evenly and keeps food moist.
- Easy to clean: The basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe.
- Inconsistent responsiveness: The digital display’s buttons aren’t always responsive and aren’t raised.
- Space-consuming: The dishwasher basket occupies a large amount of space.
Cook meals with the Cosori Lite Mini air fryer in the right amounts. Whatever your location, homemade bites are prepared easily with one-touch cooking features and included recipes. The basket is ideal whether used as a backup appliance in family homes or by a single person. The Lite Mini’s small size saves counter space and makes it convenient to store and transport.
You can select between Air Fry, Roast, Bake, or Reheat; you can personalize and store your preferred settings for each. This air fryer cooks at noise levels above 48 dB to ensure uninterrupted meetings, TV viewing, and music listening.
Cleaning is made even quicker with nonstick, dishwasher-safe accessories like a crisper plate in place of a conventional double basket. This air fryer will turn off automatically to protect you in the unlikely event it overheats or if the basket is moved while cooking.
Pros
- Smart touch screen: Touch screen with numerous presets for fresh and frozen foods.
- Smart voice-controlled: Supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.
- Loose Screw: The screw on the test unit basket often comes loose.
You may notice an increase in air fryer recipes if you are a home cook who follows recipe blogs. Compared to traditional ovens, air fryers are more convenient, heat up and cook quickly, and have a wide range of uses. An infinite variety of proteins, veggies, rice, baked goods, roasts, grills, and broils can be prepared with air fryers.
Introducing the Ninja Air Fryer—a quick and simple way to prepare your favorite dishes. In a family-sized 3.8-litre basket, cook and crisp your favorite foods, like 2 pounds of French fries, with little to no oil.
Time is valuable, especially when there are hungry mouths to feed. There’s a quicker way to feed your family than waiting for your oven to preheat and slowly cooking that much-anticipated meal. Introducing the Ninja Air Fryer—a fast and simple way to prepare your favorite dishes. It guarantees that hot air is distributed evenly around your food, resulting in consistently quick, crispy, and golden finishes.
Pros
- Easy to use: The crisper plate and basket are aluminum and have a PTFE- and PFOA-free ceramic nonstick coating.
- Low price: The price point at which Ninja Air Fryer units sell is low to middle.
- Good capacity: This air fryer has adequate dimensions and capacity.
- Easy to clean: Cleaning the Ninja air fryer is easy.
- Small capacity: They have a small cooking capacity, are heavy, and can be challenging to clean.
- Unsuitable for watery food: For moist food, such as battered fish, it may not be as suitable as a chip fryer.
- Difficult to clean: Some find it difficult to clean the heating element.
Chefman TurboFry made an impact. In our cooking tests, it performed better than models that cost several times as much, even though it only has buttons to set a temperature and a timer. You can air fry anything to your heart’s content with this basic machine, which is designed only for air frying.
Although the doneness and some of the food weren’t quite done when the recipes called for them to be, neither of those issues is fatal—all that the TurboFry needs is a little more time in the oven and more frequent shaking to get the best results. This machine has a steeper learning curve in exchange for a lower price because it lacks custom settings.
Although the basket is smaller than average, it can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher. This is incredibly easy to use for novices and well-made for everyday use for more seasoned users. A Chefman TurboFry would be an excellent option for a dorm room, first apartment, lake house, or cabin.
Pros
- Versatile countertop cooking: Air fry, bake, dehydrate, rotisserie, or roast to crispy perfection in one convenient appliance.
- Fast cooking: No need to preheat like traditional ovens.
- Healthy cooking made easy: Make healthy meals using 98% less oil than traditional fryers.
- Lack of Teflon: The Chefman Digital Air Fryer and its accessories lack Teflon or nonstick coatings.
- Maximum 400 temperature: The maximum neat doesn’t have a higher temperature; it is only 400.
- Not easy to clean: It leaks residue, and following the initial use, the window displayed evidence of residue that wasn’t easily removed.
A nutritious meal is necessary for every home to sustain the family. That’s exactly what a super-efficient Ninja appliance will give you. With its many features and large cooking capacity, the Ninja Foodi digital air fry oven is a toaster oven, convection oven, and air fryer, all in one compact countertop package.
With just 1800 watts, you can make substantial family-sized meals in as little as 20 minutes by using this powerful appliance to air fry, roast, broil, bake, bagel, toast, dehydrate, and keep warm. Additionally, it can hold nine slices of toast at once.
The next great invention for the kitchen could be the toaster oven. Nothing can go wrong with the precision-controlled temperature provided by Digital Crisp Control Technology.
After cooking, flip the oven up and away to clean and store, giving you back your counter space. This is the easiest thing the whole family can do. Cleaning is also relatively easy because you can wipe it clean, and the extra accessories are all dishwasher-safe.
Pros
- Elegant design: This air fryer has an elegant design.
- Simple to use: This air fryer is exceptionally easy to operate regardless of whether you’re familiar with air fryers or not.
- Not very capable of cooking: Typically, they can’t hold a lot of food because of their size limitations.
Both the Tidylife and the Chefman put in equal amounts of work. Perhaps slightly better still. Foods like steak, chicken nuggets, or fries cook evenly and don’t require turning. Turning over chicken is always advised, but that’s just personal taste.
Foods are not fried in air fryers, despite their name. They function similarly to an oven with convection. Air fryers are useful for cooking various foods, including asparagus, chicken breasts, and commonly fried foods like tater tots and French fries.
Pros
- Easy to clean: The basket’s interior has a fantastic nonstick coating that is incredibly simple to apply. The rack is simple to insert and remove and cleans up nicely with a hand wash.
- Quite large: Despite being fairly large, this air fryer is so beautifully designed that I keep it on my kitchen counter, where it appears to be a high-end appliance.
- Ease to Use: We test the device’s “fussiness” in operation. Our decision is based on how simple it is to cook the right amount of food and how user-friendly the controls are. To assess how well the device cleans up for storage, we also run it through a clean cycle.
- Very tall: Almost 15 inches tall, so might have problems storing in the cabinet.
- Not easy to clean: You'll need a wire brush to clean the grates properly.
It is a fantastic option for people on a tight budget because it is the most reasonably priced air fryer in our article. It also uses the least amount of energy. However, families might need help finding it suitable due to its small 2-quart capacity.
Contrary to their name, air fryers simulate the effects of frying rather than cooking food. Additionally, air fryers cook food more quickly than almost any other convection oven, and cleaning most nonstick basket-style air fryers only takes a minute or two.
With the Tasty-Crisp air fryer, you can quickly prepare healthier, crispy food! With the help of AirCrisp technology, this adaptable electric air fryer cooks food using hot air rather than oil, cutting added fat by 70–80%. The handy little air fryer is the perfect size for any kitchen, taking up little space on your countertop or in storage.
With its generous 2.6-quart capacity and redesigned crisper basket, more surface area is inside to guarantee consistently perfectly crisp food.
This size is perfect for cooking healthier meals for one or two people or for those who just want a small, portable air fryer for their apartment or dorm room. It also has a cool-touch handle and an auto-shutoff feature to avoid overcooking. This air cooker fryer is a necessity for any kitchen, as it is ideal for baking, roasting, or cooking your favorite frozen foods and vegetables.
Pros
- Perfectly sized: Expanded crisper basket that can prepare dinner for two or more people.
- Compact and convenient: Easily store on your countertop thanks to the top handle.
- Easy to use: Its easy-to-grip handle and basic settings ensure simple and Safe Family safety.
- Too small for large families: Depending on capacity, air fryers are comparatively small appliances. You should stick with conventional pots and pans or an oven if you have a large family.
- Short power cable: The short power cord of an air fryer is one of its disadvantages. If the power outlet is close to where you position the air fryer, there won’t be any issues; if not, you'll need a power plug extension.
- Quite expensive: Although many different types of air fryers are available, the more costly models are usually more visually appealing and high-performing.
This Ninja Foodi 2-basket air fryer is unquestionably a great piece of equipment that offers you a cooking performance that is above average, as we have found out in our review.
It’s a lovely, well-made air fryer that solves a need and comes in handy when cooking two foods with different cooking times and temperatures. Consider the Ninja Foodi 2-basket air fryer as two little air fryers rather than one large one if you want to get the most out of it.
Although this air fryer can’t cook entire meals for large families, it can be used to air fry food perfectly and cook it to perfection every time.
You can quickly and easily prepare a delicious variety of meals that the whole family will love—up to 75% faster than fan ovens. Air frying uses up to 75% less fat than conventional frying techniques. Make your favorite deep-fried dishes with minimal or no oil. From mouthwatering fishcakes, burgers, sausages, and chicken wings to substantial chips.
Pros
- Simultaneously cooking: Cook different foods simultaneously.
- Easy to use: No complex cooking procedures. It can all be done with the push of a button.
- Fast cooking: Reduced cooking time.
- Not enough space: Not enough space for larger food items.
- Too hot: Max Crisp function is too hot for small individual baskets.
With quick air circulation, high temperatures, silent operation, and simple cleanup, the Cosori Air Fryer Pro LE 5-Qt produces perfectly crispy meals in just a few minutes, making it a beautiful addition to any kitchen.
It prepares your food with less fat—with the same mouthwatering flavor, up to 85% less fat than typical deep-fried foods.
Compared to conventional ovens, high-speed air circulation can cook food up to twice as quickly. As for the size of the baskets, they’re 5.8-quart baskets. These baskets can hold a whole rotisserie chicken or feed up to five people.
Pros
- Digital screen: It has a very advanced digital touchscreen.
- Easy to use: There are no problems when the basket and drawer slide in and out.
- Noisy: There is no way to reduce the loudness of the touchscreen buttons. Although you can prevent multiple beeps by holding down the plus and minus signs, the sound is still quite loud.
- No rotisserie option available: This air fryer oven has this feature if you want it. However, a whole chicken can still be cooked in the Cosori.
- Not easy to clean: If not immediately cleaned after use, it can be not easy to clean.
Air Fryer Reviews
The reviews below were compiled from verified customer reviews on Amazon.Philips 3000 Series Air Fryer
This is for 1 or 2 pieces of meat. It is a single-man air fryer. It works with almost everything. The customers love it!!! It cooks very well. You put in frozen steak—in 20 minutes to 25 minutes, it is done with perfection! Chicken is great too. A user also put crispy egg rolls in without using oil. She mentioned that she would try cornbread next.They like the Philips 3000 Series air fryer very much. The design eliminates the need to turn food over halfway since the hot air is rotated from the bottom. The major disappointment is that the temperature can only be adjusted in increments of 25⁰.
Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer
Customers said they had used the Emeril Lagasse air fryer for a few months for roasting, baking, broiling, air frying, and reheating. It is an outstanding oven that performs flawlessly every time. The oven heats evenly, so baked goods cook uniformly.A user stated that he could prepare an entire meal in one sitting because of its size. Pre-sets are incredibly useful and simple to change. The grill is a fantastic extra feature, and the double doors make it simple to put in and take out the food trays and basket. The short power cord is the only drawback.
Instant Vortex Air Fryer
One customer claimed that after considering buying an air fryer for several months, he finally decided to buy an Instant Vortex air fryer. After several days of learning what was needed, he settled on the Instant Pot Vortex Plus 7.6-liter dual basket. He declared that this was, without a doubt, her best purchase of the year in December 2022.The customer added that his main issue with this is the lack of surface area. It’s very good with the large volume, but the majority of things he cooks occupy a larger surface area than this perhaps provides. A good example is chips/ fries. When cooking them, he must do it in more batches as the available area isn’t enough.
Cosori Mini Air Fryer
Customers love the Cosori Mini air fryer. It’s very easy to use and perfect for two people. So far, it’s made great air-fried chicken and potatoes. It’s easy to clean, and she loves the basket. It’s also easy to open to shake or turn foods.Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
Customers who are new to air fryers have been very pleased with the Ninja AF101 air fryer. It’s simple to operate, easy to clean, and reliable. It crisps food, something the microwave cannot do but is almost as quick. It truly makes frozen food and leftovers more enjoyable for her.The customer mentioned it was a bit heavier than he expected, but it is very well made, and that is probably why. It is easy to clean; he puts the basket in the sink with hot, soapy water and washes it with a dishrag. Nothing seems to stick to the surfaces. It is very easy to use; the controls are easy to read and figure out.
Chefman Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer
Countertop space is always at a premium. With the Chefman air fryer, he was able to get rid of my toaster, and now he can cook so much more easily and efficiently. It does many different things: Air Fryer + Rotisserie, Dehydrator, Convection Oven, Fry, Roast, Dehydrate, and Bake! The three racks and the baking sheet let me cook multiple things simultaneously.One of the customers said she really did love this air fryer and used it very often. She purchased it on March 13th, 2022, and it died on April 3rd, 2024. It doesn’t seem like it’s made to last. She saw a similar review of someone who purchased one the same month, and mine lasted only a short time after theirs stopped working.
Ninja SP101 Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven
Finding space-saving and efficient appliances is crucial for us as full-time RVers. The Ninja Sp101 digital air fryer has been a game-changer for our mobile kitchen! Its creative flip-up design provides a variety of cooking options and conserves valuable countertop space.She doesn’t like the baskets because they’re paid to clean. Maybe offer a nonstick version in some way. It’s difficult to clean with breaded items. Otherwise, it seems fairly easy to clean and looks pretty good.
Chefman TurboFry Touch Air Fryer
She wanted to wait a while before she gave her review of the Chefman air fryer. She has had it for one month and is enjoying it quite a bit. There are lots of us! Her adult daughter is staying temporarily and loving it as well. They are the main users. She loves that it’s roomy and quiet.The basket interior is quite roomy for at least a five-pound whole chicken! It is spacious enough for a tasty 5-6 lb Beef or Pork Roast.
Why not five stars, then? She mentioned that the tray on her device arrived broken. There was no hinge to pick it up. She has spoken with Chefman support multiple times and is still waiting for a replacement part.
Although it’s not heavy, it’s not light, and they would have been happy to replace it if she had purchased it back in July. I can still operate the device using a fork or knife to lift the tray, but it’s awkward and only works theoretically.
Dash Tasti Crisp Electric Air Fryer
The Dash Tasti Crisp is incredibly user-friendly. There’s no need to preheat and no scrollable digital menu. All you need to do is add the food, adjust the temperature using the small dial on top, and set the timer for the desired cooking duration. That’s it!He detested his more sophisticated and costly air fryer. Figuring out all the settings was a pain, so he never used it.
One of your limitations is the temperature control. It’s a dial so you can adjust it, but without digital temperature tracking, how can you know exactly what temperature you’re setting?
Are you trying to find something reasonably small and simple to use for your fries and chicken nuggets? This easily pays the bill. It’s ideal for one or two people who don’t eat big portions because it has a low capacity.
Ninja 2-Basket Air Fryer
As a passionate home cook always looking for new kitchen gadgets, finding the Ninja air fryer was like unearthing a culinary secret. She claimed that it is more than just an appliance and has completely changed how she approaches cooking.Allow her to share her thoughts on this amazing device that has taken up residence on my countertop with us.
She mentioned how easy cooking is and how consistently delicious the results are. However, her use of this air fryer has shown her that there is a meal size restriction, particularly for larger families. Preparing a substantial meal for more than two people with the two smaller baskets is difficult.
Cosori Air Fryer Pro LE 5-Qt Airfryer
The Cosori air fryer is compact, quiet, easy to clean, and beautifully air fries veggies and fish. The basket may be too small for families, but it’s just the right size for her.A customer says they like this air fryer, which has performed well thus far. When the touch-sensitive button is activated, it is meant to light up. You frequently need to touch it three or four times before it turns on; she has tried quick, long, precise, and other touches, but the success of any given touch is purely chance-based.
Without this issue, it would have gotten five stars. This user has only had it for over two months, but I love how quickly and easily it cleans up after use.
Facts about Industry
You probably know something about the newest kitchen appliance that has been rapidly gaining popularity over the past few months if you enjoy browsing food blogs for fresh, delicious, and interesting recipes.A nice-shaped best air fryer is incredibly simple to use in several ways because it only requires four separate parts to assemble: the shell, the pan (or drawer), the mesh basket, and a rack. To cook a large item, like french fries or steak, just put it in the basket, add some oil, and adjust the time and temperature.
But if you’re cooking sliders or meatballs, stack them above the cooking rack and on the bottom grill before adjusting the duration and temperature. Like many other models, certain air fryer models feature preset buttons for the most popular foods, so you hardly have to do anything. Would you want to cook with less involvement?
Although deep-fried dishes are wonderful, the preparation method makes them extremely unhealthy and high in calories. The best air fryer is instantly better for your heart, waistline, and much more because it consumes between 70 and 80 percent less oil.
Think about this: When using an air fryer, you need about one tablespoon (or roughly 120 calories) of vegetable or canola oil instead of the generous amounts in traditional fried chicken recipes. What’s more? You may dress the food however you like and use any oil because most air fryers don’t have a separate oil compartment.
An air fryer is perfect for cooks who use frozen staples like fries, chicken tenders, or vegetables in their meal prep because it shines when it works its magic on frozen foods. Furthermore, parents of children who enjoy fish sticks, croquettes, dumplings, and similar foods could find great use for an air fryer because of its exceptional ability to transform food from the freezer into a plate in minutes. As we’ve already covered, an air fryer is a great tool for health-conscious cooks trying to reduce their calorie intake.
As one might expect, deep-frying with the best air fryer is far safer than traditional methods. There’s no risk of oil splashing onto your face, hands, or arms when using an air fryer because they are entirely self-contained.
Similarly, using an air fryer makes your kitchen much safer for people with small children or pets because you won’t have to deal with a large vat of hot, burning oil cooling there.
Many of the parts of air fryers are dishwasher-safe, making cleaning them extremely simple. Some parts usually have a nonstick coating, making them resistant to the crusty, clingy residue and easy to wash by hand—even if using a dishwasher isn’t an option.
Even though they are small enough to fit on a kitchen counter without taking up much room, many of the best air fryer models—like the Power air fryer oven and the Power Air Fryer XL—are large enough to quickly prepare a meal for a family of four.
How Do I Choose a Good Air Fryer?
In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of air fryers as a healthier substitute for deep-frying. They are faster and use less energy than an oven. You can quickly put dinner on the table, and cooking a chicken won’t break the bank on your electricity costs.The inexpensive air fryer is the kind of kitchen appliance that will pay dividends in terms of time, money, and health as the rising expense of living and the strain of long workdays become serious concerns for most of us.
It also mentions that they can enhance the flavor and crispiness of your food. There’s a good reason why so many people say they cherish their air fryers above their relationships! Are you prepared to convert to air frying? So, let’s get started with our introduction to air frying guides for beginners.
We'll define it, list some of the top air fryers available, and offer advice on how to get the most use out of your appliance. Air fryers come in various brands and models, each with special features and advantages. Take into account the following aspects when selecting an air fryer:
- Capacity. Choosing the best air fryer that fits your needs is crucial because it comes in various sizes. Ensure you get one large enough if you cook for a large group or have a large family.
- Temperature range. You can cook various foods at different temperatures with air fryers because some have a wider temperature range. Seek out an air fryer with a maximum temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to dehydrate or reheat food slowly, you should also look at the bottom side.
- Cooking presets. Air fryers have pre-programmed cooking modes for foods like veggies, fish, and chicken. If you’re new to air frying or cooking, these presets can help you save time and simplify cooking your favorite meals.
- Accessories. Certain air fryers include tools, stackable racks, and baking pans. Consider the accessories you want and whether they are readily available or come with the air fryer.
What Size Air Fryer Should I Buy?
Examine the most popular sizes to select the ideal model for your recipes. Please ensure a new kitchen appliance fits you before spending money on it. Precious counter space shouldn’t be given up in vain! Selecting the appropriate size is the best approach to ensuring you'll genuinely use an air fryer.These devices come in various sizes, ranging from 1.6 quarts to 8 quarts. For selecting the best size, you should consider the following:
When Preparing Food for One Person:
Assume you prepare meals for yourself and your guests on occasion. Seek an air fryer with a capacity of no more than two quarts. There’s enough space to cook some chicken tenders and serve them with Brussels sprouts on the side.
But remember to take your cooking wish list into account. Consider ordering one size up if your fantasies include preparing a large meal with plenty of leftovers or making appetizers for all of your friends.
When Preparing Food for a Couple:
Experts in air fryers advise getting a 2- or 3-quart model if you and your significant other spend most of your time together at the dinner table. The basket provides enough room to cook enough vegetables for two people or about six chicken wings. The air fryer’s ability to cook food quickly makes it versatile for hectic weeknights.
When Preparing Food for Large Crowds:
Choose an oven-style air fryer or one with an extra-large basket if you have an open-door policy and are frequently surrounded by family and friends on the weekends. You can quickly prepare appetizers and party plates to feed a large group. The oven-model air fryers are perfect if you want to replace appliances like your toaster oven.
What Can be Cooked in an Air Fryer?
What began as a means of producing healthier fried food has developed into much more. As it happens, air fryers can do much more than just healthier frying of your favorite foods. They cook frozen food and handle baking, broiling, grilling, roasting, and reheating leftovers with ease. Here are some examples of what you can cook in your air fryer:- Crispy foods such as onion rings, chicken cutlets, chicken wings, and quesadillas using less oil than conventional frying techniques
- Roast vegetables like butternut squash, asparagus, and sweet potatoes to crispy, caramelized perfection. It’s a fantastic method for eating more vegetables!
- Cooking moist, juicy chicken legs, breast, thighs, fish, and shrimp without having to set the oven to preheat
- Baking small batches of desserts such as crisps, muffins, and cookies. The cutest reusable silicone cupcake liners are the ones shown below!
- Reheating leftovers such as grilled cheese and leftover pizza, which cook hot and crispy instead of soggy, like in the microwave
- Making quick breakfast dishes such as baked oatmeal, toast, and hard-boiled eggs before you leave the house in the morning.
- Heating frozen foods much quicker than the oven, such as burgers, fish fingers, burritos, French fries, and chicken nuggets or tenders.
- Making healthy snacks such as roasted chickpeas, apple chips, and kale chips
What Cannot be Cooked in an Air Fryer?
If you want to cook something in bulk, like wings, you must cook it in batches because you never want to pack the air fryer basket too full. While some models are compact enough to store in a cabinet after use, others are big enough to occupy a permanent spot on your countertop.While air frying is generally a healthier way to cook food, it won’t improve the nutritional value of items like stuffed Oreos and mozzarella sticks.
Delicate foods like seafood and baked goods might not be the best choices for an air fryer. These foods must be cooked gently to prevent drying out or overcooking. The air fryer’s high heat and air circulation might not be ideal for getting the desired effects.
Foods with a thin, drippy batter similar to tempura. The batter will not set as it does when dipped in oil; instead of crunching, it will make a mess. Leafy greens similar to kale chips may cook unevenly because they fly around the air fryer due to their lightweight.
Large items such as a roast with bones or a whole chicken cook unevenly. While cooking bacon in an air fryer is possible, the grease will fly everywhere and make a huge mess. Moreover, it might burn on the heating element.
Is it OK to Use an Air Fryer Every Day?
Using an air fryer has many health benefits, but if you don’t clean it well after every use, use it to prepare packaged foods, or burn or char your food, it can become a dangerous appliance.For instance, using an air fryer to cook food at high temperatures for extended periods may expose you to chemicals linked to cancer and cause the food to burn or become charred.
Additionally, many people need to clean their air fryers correctly, and health risks are associated with reusing old oil.
The kinds of foods you cook in the air fryer will also determine how nutrient-dense your meals are; for example, avoid using them for regular consumption of frozen French fries and chicken nuggets.
Ultimately, it all depends on what you’re cooking in the air fryer, what other ingredients you add, and how long you cook it for.
Depending on what we are comparing the air fryer to, there may be advantages or disadvantages to using it frequently. If a large portion of your diet consists of deep-fried foods, using an air fryer will help you consume less fat. It might not be advised to start using the air fryer frequently if your diet doesn’t currently consist of many fried foods.
Is an Air Fryer Better Than an Oven and Microwave?
A handy kitchen tool for cooking healthy food is the air fryer. It distributes hot air around the food to give it a crispy texture without using much oil. Imagine it like a tiny, healthier convection oven. It’s ideal for making veggies, chicken wings, and those incredibly crispy French fries.A microwave oven is one kitchen tool for heating, cooking, and defrosting food. It cooks or reheats food inside by producing heat through microwave radiation. Compared to traditional cooking methods, the microwave oven’s quick and convenient design greatly reduces cooking time.
If you’re confused about the difference between an air fryer and a microwave, here are some main differences listed below:
- Cooking Technology
- Air Fryer: An air fryer cooks food by quickly circulating hot air. It uses less oil and yields a crisp, browned exterior like deep frying.
- Microwave Oven: Food is heated and cooked in a microwave oven using microwave radiation. It causes the food’s water molecules to become excited, which produces heat and cooks the food from the inside out.
- Versatility in Food
- Air Fryer: Air fryers provide a multitude of cooking possibilities. They are multipurpose kitchen tools because they can grill, bake, and roast various foods in addition to frying.
- Microwave Oven: mostly utilized for food heating and reheating. Air fryers might be more adaptable than air fryers despite being able to handle a wider range of foods.
- Cooking Capacity
- Air fryers are available in various capacities, usually between two and six quarts. You can cook small to moderate food portions because of the variations in their cooking capacity. Read this blog to find out what foods you can cook in an air fryer.
- Microwave Oven: Microwave ovens are available in different capacities, from small countertop models to more spacious built-in ones. Compared to most air fryers, they have a larger cooking capacity to handle larger food portions.
- Healthy
- Air Fryer: They are a healthier option for deep frying because they require little to no oil to get a crispy texture. They can offer comparable taste and texture while drastically lowering calorie and fat intake.
- Microwave Oven: These devices don’t add extra fat or oil when food is being cooked. They yield less crispness or browning than air fryers.
- Power Consumption
- Air Fryer: Air fryers have fans and heating elements, so they usually use more electricity than microwave ovens. The model and size impact the precise power consumption.
- Microwave Ovens: Because they cook mostly with microwave radiation, they are typically more energy-efficient than air fryers.
- Ease of Use
- Air Fryer: Their user-friendly control panels, which usually have pre-programmed cooking functions and customizable temperature and time settings, make them fairly simple to operate.
- Microwave Oven: These are also very simple to use, requiring minimal power and time adjustments most of the time. Preset features for particular food kinds are also included in most models.
Do Air fryers Use a Lot of Electricity?
Energy prices are already high, and when the price cap changes in April, they will rise by an additional 43%. This implies that the average annual energy bill in the UK will rise to £3,000. Because of this, many of us are attempting to use less energy at home or investing in environmentally friendly technologies like solar panels, which lower carbon emissions and energy costs.Even though our everyday appliances don’t use as much energy as our heating does, their combined costs add up quickly. Today, operating an oven alone costs at least £3,000. It should come as no surprise that more people are cooking with alternatives.
Although air fryers are becoming more common, are they truly energy-efficient? Would you be better off using your oven and stove instead? Continue reading to learn more.
The cost of using an air fryer is just slightly more than £50 per year, and they are very energy efficient. According to Utilita research, that’s about £250 less annually than a regular electric cooker. An air fryer also produces a relatively short cooking time, typically 25 to 30 minutes.
However, this can vary depending on what you’re cooking. For example, baking potatoes can take up to 45 minutes, while fish can cook in under ten. The short cooking time is generally very energy-efficient because electrical appliances use less energy when they are off.
The small size and superior convection of air fryers are responsible for their quick cooking times. In contrast, the average capacity of an oven is between 60 and 70 liters, meaning that cooking and heating times are longer. Generally, a stove takes 30 minutes longer than an air fryer.
This means that an oven uses more energy and does so for longer periods, which raises costs. However, unlike other appliances, air fryers do not have energy labels that indicate their energy efficiency rating, so it can be challenging to determine their efficiency.
Most air fryers only need between 800 and 1800 watts (W) of electricity to operate; however, some larger models may require more. In addition, air fryers consume less electricity than electric ovens, which have higher operating costs due to their usual 2,200–5,000 W consumption.
Generally speaking, an appliance will use more electricity if it is larger. Check the size and wattage of your appliance, though, as some models are more energy-efficient than others.
What is Unhealthy about an Air Fryer?
Many sources claim that air fryers offer a healthy alternative for making fried foods because they use less oil. It may be another reason to make it a dangerous tool.Cancer and Air Fryer
Deep-frying is a potentially carcinogenic process, but so is heated oil. The two main causes for concern are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), produced during cooking, and acrylamides, known to be possible carcinogens.
Acrylamides
Certain foods like fried, roasted, or baked can develop acrylamide, a carcinogen when cooked at high temperatures. The production of acrylamides occurs when sugar and asparagine, an amino acid, are subjected to extremely high temperatures rather than the cooking oil itself. (Cigarette smoke also contains acrylamide.)
Plant sources, including whole grains, soy, nuts, legumes, asparagus, and potatoes, are the primary sources of asparagine. Examples of animal sources are poultry, beef, eggs, dairy products, and fish and seafood.
Deep-frying is the cooking method that produces the most acrylamide of all. Baking and roasting yield far less (steaming or microwaving yields very little, if any).
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Asparagine is not the only thing to be concerned about regarding cancer. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are produced when food is deep-fried at high temperatures, are known to be carcinogens that can be inhaled when they are aerosolized from cooking fumes. Because deep frying uses more oil than other cooking methods, it produces higher levels of PAHs.
How long do Air Fryers Last?
Refrain from letting this useful addition to your kitchen become a source of annoyance that results in poor cooking and forces you to compromise about what to cook in an air fryer to get good results.These indicators may indicate the need for a new air fryer instead of your outdated model. See our guide to the top air fryers if you want advice on an upgrade.
- Variable Cooking or Temperature
- Actual Appearance
The food becomes dangerous when this occurs because the coating fragments may get into it. Additionally, it decreases the air fryer’s nonstick coating, which may result in a messier cleanup and ruined food.
- Update Aspects
More advanced versions could come with digital controls, more cooking presets, and enhanced safety features that increase efficiency and convenience.
- Cleaning Difficulties
The co-founder of Appliance Geeked and electrical engineer Matt Kerr says that problems cleaning your air fryer “may indicate that the build-up of food debris and oil is interfering with the air fryer’s ability to perform as intended.” Try cleaning baked-on grease on your air fryer with vinegar before replacing it.
- Anomalies in noise
If these noises do, in fact, point to multiple damaged components, your air fryer may be unable to provide even cooking and ideal air circulation. Replacing your air fryer with a more dependable and quieter model might be a time in these situations.
Conclusion
Similar to an oven, an air fryer bakes and roasts food, but it differs in that it has heating components only on top and is paired with a large, powerful fan. This makes the food extremely crispy quickly and, most importantly, uses less oil than its deep-fried rivals.The Philips 3000 Series air fryer and Ninja AF101 air fryer based on best air fryer reviews have impressed people time and time again as the best air fryer available. They are the right balance of manageable size yet useful 6-quart capacity, blasting convection power necessary for crispy results, and, of course, the user-friendly interface.
FAQ
Does purchasing the best air fryer make sense?Air fryers are currently the hottest kitchen appliance, and it doesn’t seem that will change anytime soon. They are worth their weight in golden crispy dinners because of their affordable cooking, healthier options, and delectable results.
Is an air fryer healthy for you or not?
Air frying is often considered healthier than oil frying. It has far less fat and reduces calories by 70% to 80%. Additionally, this cooking technique may lessen some of the additional negative impacts of oil frying.
Air fryers: what are they?
The air fryer does not cook food; it is more like a countertop convection oven on steroids. The tiny gadget, patented by Philips Electronics Company, purports to replicate the effects of deep-frying using just heated air and little to no oil.
Can you use an air fryer to make pizza?
Pizza cooked in an air fryer. You can personalize your air fryer pizza like oven-baked pizza by adding your preferred toppings. Using your air fryer, you can bake pizza just like cake (and cheesecake) and cookies.
Need oil for an air fryer?
Even though your air fryer doesn’t need oil to cook and fry food, you can enhance the flavor of your dish by applying oil straight to fresh items during preparation, like peeled potatoes or chicken. This will result in a crispy coating. Note: Never add oil to the air fryer’s pan.
How much electricity does an air fryer require?
Most air fryers only need between 800 and 1800 watts (W) of electricity to operate; however, some larger models may require more. In addition, air fryers consume less electricity than electric ovens, which have higher operating costs due to their usual 2,200–5,000 W consumption.
Is using an air fryer or microwave healthier?
Microwave ovens don’t automatically encourage healthier cooking because they only sometimes use less oil or a technique to reduce fat. By using substantially less oil—or even none—the air fryer promotes healthier cooking options by lowering the total fat content of food.
