Air fryers promise tasty 'fried' foods without the oil.
Although they perform more like mini-ovens than deep fryers, they can be used to cook many food items you'd normally deep fry, shallow fry or grill – and as air fryers have evolved and grown in popularity, so too have the things you can do in one. They can be used to make your own crispy fries from scratch, cook frozen foods such as chicken nuggets, and grill smaller cuts of meat as well as roast and bake.
Here we explain how air fryers work, what you can make in them, controls and features to look out for, and much more.
On this page:
- How do air fryers work?
- How much do air fryers cost?
- Is an air fryer worth it?
- What should you look for in an air fryer?
- Are air fryers a sustainable appliance?
- Things to consider if you're buying an air fryer
- What can you cook in an air fryer?
- Can you put baking paper and foil in an air fryer?
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How do air fryers work?
An air fryer is a small benchtop oven that circulates hot, dry air to produce crispy food, much like a wall oven in fan-forced mode. Just like with an oven, food being cooked in an air fryer needs to be regularly rotated or shaken to ensure even browning.
There are three different ways this is achieved, depending on the design of your air fryer.
Pull-out drawer
Air fryers with a pull-out drawer and basket require manual shaking every five minutes or so to ensure even cooking. If the model doesn't have a timer or alert to remind you to shake your food, you'll need to make an effort to remember this yourself. These models are best for foods you'd normally shallow fry or grill, such as fish, chicken, meatballs, vegetables and crumbed foods.
Stirrer
Self-stirring air fryers have a paddle that gradually stirs the food around the bowl throughout the cooking process. This eliminates the need to manually shake the food, but some models stir better than others and it's still possible to end up with unevenly browned food or items that have been bent or distorted by the stirrer.
These models are best for foods that are usually deep fried, shallow fried or baked such as small portions of meat, vegetables or chips. Some models may come with an extra bowl without a paddle suitable for roasting meats or even baking a cake.
Rotating basket multi-cooker
These more versatile air fryers have a rotating basket which automatically rotates the food inside. They include accessories that allow for additional functions such as roasting, baking and grilling. Some models can even cook a whole chicken.
How much do air fryers cost?
Air fryers we've tested cost anywhere from $69 up to $749.
Is an air fryer worth it?
An air fryer would best suit:
- people living in one-person or small households
- university students living in accommodation with no kitchen
- those living in a caravan, campervan or a home with no oven
- those who like to reheat food more than cook
- teenagers who can be trusted with such an appliance, wanting an afternoon snack
- home cooks who enjoy experimenting with crispy foods such as vegetable chips (sweet potato or kale)
- people who struggle with overheating kitchens in the summer, as an air fryer doesn't heat up a room like an oven does.
You probably don't need an air fryer if:
- you have a large household and you already have an oven, a grill and a cooktop
- you want to cook battered foods (an air fryer can't replace a deep fryer).
A double basket air fryer from our test.
Is a double basket or dual air fryer worth it?
This depends on how many people you're cooking for.
Dual air fryers have two separate cooking baskets side-by-side. They allow you to cook two different food types at the same time using different cooking functions and temperature settings. You can even set up each basket to finish cooking at the same time. The idea is that you can cook a complete meal in one go, but this may only be the case if you're cooking for two people.
If you're cooking for a family, you might find that you need both baskets to cook only one type of food. In this case you may be better off with a single basket air fryer that has a larger cooking capacity. Although newer models are offering more versatility by using a removable divider. This means you can use the air fryer as two separate cooking zones, or simply remove the divider to create a large cooking area to cook one type of food.
What should you look for in an air fryer?
Space
First, make sure you know how much bench space you have available. Air fryers come in different shapes and sizes and some models are quite large. If you plan on using you air fryer regularly, it will require a permanent spot on your benchtop.
Be aware that top-opening models could be out of the running if you have restricted space above the bench, as the lid needs to be opened upwards.
If you're planning to pack your air fryer away after use, look for a compact size with a uniform shape to slot easily into a cupboard.
Claimed capacity or volume
Take the manufacturer's claimed measurements with a grain of salt as the claimed capacity or volume can be misleading.
Some manufacturers measure the whole space inside the air fryer and not the actual usable capacity.
A '10-litre' model may only be able to cook about 500g of chips and a '2500-gram' model won't actually be able to accommodate that weight of food.
Viewing window and internal light
A viewing window and internal light means you won't lose heat by continually opening the drawer or door to check on the food. And since air fryers are becoming more multi-functional with the ability to cook more sensitive foods like bread and cakes, viewing the food without having to open the drawer/door is more important.
Pre-programmed settings
An air fryer with pre-programmed settings gives you more options for what you can cook, and it also takes the guesswork out of deciding which temperature setting to choose and how long to cook the food.
Instructions
Comprehensive instructions with guides and recipes will go a long way towards ensuring you get the most out of your air fryer. Having access to recipes with step-by-step instructions (whether it's through an app or a recipe booklet provided with the air fryer) will help you get the most out of your air fryer.
Cleaning
If you clean your air fryer after each use, this will help to ensure that grease and grime don't build up in the cooking cavity. Air fryer parts are reasonably easy to clean and usually fit into a domestic sink. Most parts are dishwasher-safe, but they're also easily cleaned by hand if they have a non-stick coating.
Multi-functional models
If you're looking for more versatility, there are models available with extra functions like steaming, dehydrating, grilling, baking and proving. There are also multi-cookers available with air fryer functionality. Consider how you cook and what functions and features you need – if you can combine the functionality you need in one appliance it'll save you kitchen space.
Controls
There are two types of controls: dial or digital.
Dial controls are more basic and less accurate, consisting of just a temperature dial and a timer dial that dings when the timer ends. Look for a timer that can be set for longer than 30 minutes.
Digital controls have a touch display with an accurate timer, temperature readings and some may also have pre-programmed settings. Look for models with easy-to-understand icons and an alarm that sounds when cooking is completed.
App connectivity
We're starting to see models with app connectivity. It's not a "must-have" feature but they can be handy. If it's something you're interested in, consider how you want to use the app.
Some models connect the app to the air fryer via Bluetooth, allowing you to use the air fryer through your phone. Other models have an app that doesn't connect to the air fryer – it simply provides information and step-by-step recipes for your particular model.
Should you buy a benchtop oven with air fryer functionality instead?
We've tested benchtop ovens that come with air fryer functionality but they usually don't perform very well in our air fryer testing.
They don't do as well for chips or foods that require shaking or turning constantly, because when the oven door is opened, heat is lost and the food is unable to crisp and brown evenly.
However, they do often perform well for grilling and roasting.
If you're considering a benchtop oven with air fryer functionality, look for one that has a rotating basket and wire shelves to allow for better airflow during cooking.
Are air fryers a sustainable appliance?
Air fryers are smaller in size compared to ovens so they generally heat up quicker as their element sits close to the basket. Some manufacturers even say you don't need to pre-heat them.
In some cases, cooking time can be faster in comparison to an oven, and this makes an air fryer more energy-efficient.
However, this depends on the quantity of food you're cooking.
If you need to cook multiple batches to complete your meal, it would no longer be the most efficient option. In this case, you may be better off using your oven where you can cook the whole meal at once and potentially also save time.
Things to consider if you're buying an air fryer
- Unless you buy a double basket (or dual) air fryer, you can only cook one food at a time.
- Because the element sits close to the basket it can overcook and dry out food.
- The size of the cooking area can be restrictive, so you'll need to make sure the food can fit in the drawer/cavity – in some cases it may be better to use an oven with fan-forced mode.
- Air fryers generally have a smaller capacity than an oven, so you might need to cook multiple batches, especially if you're cooking in larger quantities.
- Most air fryers don't have a viewing window so you can't see what's happening during cooking.
- It can take some trial and error to get the time and temperature for cooking right.
- They can take up quite a lot of space – consider that your air fryer might be a permanent fixture on your bench or make sure you'll have the space to store it before you buy.
- Some air fryers can use more energy than an oven.
What can you cook in an air fryer?
Air fryers use dry heat so they're great for cooking foods that require roasting or baking. And if you want to cook traditionally deep-fried food without all the oil, they're great for that too.
When air fryers were first released they were marketed more as a great way to cook pre-fried frozen foods like chips, nuggets and battered fish.
But as they have become more popular, there's been a lot more experimenting in the kitchen. Now you can join online communities where they share recipes and tips for getting the most out of your air fryer.
Lovers of air frying also boast that you can make whole meals with one, roasting meat, baking fish and veggies and even making cakes, desserts, granola and roasting nuts is all possible in an air fryer.
Keep in mind that air fryers produce high temperatures in a small space very quickly, so you may need to adjust cooking times to avoid burning food.
Do you need to add oil?
You'll only need up to one tablespoon of oil for one kilogram of fresh food when cooking with an air fryer. While oil adds flavour to food, it isn't needed if you're cooking pre-cooked frozen foods.
Can you reheat food in an air fryer?
Air fryers are great for reheating, especially if it's food that you want to keep crispy and not soggy, like pizza and battered foods. Because heat is directed from the top of the air fryer you my find the base to be lacking the usual crispiness you'd expect from a conventional oven.
How many chips can you make in an air fryer?
An air fryer may look like a big appliance, but the actual capacity is much less than an oven.
Depending on the capacity of the model, you can make between 500g and 1kg of chips, which is enough for two to four people.
Be aware that the manufacturer's claimed capacity may sometimes be misleading. For example, a '10 litre' model may only be able to cook around 500g of chips.
Check the specifications for 'working capacity' or 'cooking capacity' to get a better idea of how much the air fryer can cook at one time.
Tips for homemade chips
To achieve the perfect crunchy chip, cut the chips evenly and soak in water for at least 30 minutes to remove the starch. Then dry completely by laying them out on a tea towel in a single layer. Place them in a bowl and toss through oil until evenly coated. Cook according to the instructions for your air fryer.
Can you put baking paper and foil in an air fryer?
Always check the manufacturer's instructions before using baking paper or foil in your air fryer. While it is possible, you need to be careful with it and consider the effect it can have on the end cooking result. Some manufacturers recommend against using baking paper or foil because by covering the bottom of the basket you could disrupt and reduce airflow, and in turn affect cooking performance.
If the manufacturer's instructions allow it, lining the bottom of your basket with baking paper can be great if you're cooking sticky and greasy foods that would otherwise stick to the basket, like marinated chicken wings. Not only does the baking paper act as a non-stick surface but it can also mean less mess to clean up when cooking is finished (for this reason it's also great when cooking crumbed foods).
Do not use baking paper or foil during pre-heat – because the air fryer is circulating hot air, the baking paper or foil could potentially fly up into the heating element and burn. Only use it once it's weighted down by the food you're cooking.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
