How Much Money Do You Want To Spend
Many of our experts mentioned you should expect to spend around $80 on a good air fryer, though top-tier models can cost as much as $300 and there are some smaller models under $80 that experts recommend for smaller quantities of food.
Are they worth it? Thats up to you, Weinstein said. His $300 air fryer has lasted him a long time, but he owns air fryers half that price that have worked their way through testing the thousands of recipes in his books, too. For the uninitiated, its probably worth spending less at first to allow room for experimentation and growth.
Do Air Fryers Use A Lot Of Electric
It depends on the wattage and the length of time you use the fryer. A regular air fryer would use a lot more electricity than a low watt model , especially if you use it every day for an hour or so.
You need to bear in mind, however, that a less powerful air fryer might take longer to cook your food, meaning you could end up using the same amount of electricity as you would with the higher watt model.
Thankfully, weve chosen 5 air fryers that are not only low watt 1000W or below but do an awesome job of giving you tasty food that doesnt take forever to cook.
What Affects The Energy Consumption Of An Air Fryer
The main thing that helps determine the energy consumption of an air fryer when in use is the size of the fryer, the temperature that it is being used at, and the overall amount of time that it is being used. A very small air fryer is going to use very little energy, especially when it is not used for a long period. If you are using your air fryer for very long periods it is going to take more energy and it is going to cost more to run.
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What Types Of Air Fryers Are There
There are two basic styles of air fryers, which can be distinguished by their capacity, how much physical space they take up and how difficult they are to clean.
First, theres the smaller pod-shaped air fryer, which is the one most people are familiar with. A pod-shaped air fryer starts at around a 2-quart capacity and typically maxes out at around 7 quarts. It takes up less space on your countertop and is easier to clean than its convection oven counterpart. This is a good choice if youre making food for a smaller group.
Then theres the larger convection oven air fryer, which looks like a toaster oven with a door that usually opens down but has air-frying capabilities. A convection oven air fryer usually holds more than its pod-shaped counterpart, with many models boasting room for 10 quarts of food or more. However, they typically take up more space on your countertop and theyre more difficult to clean.
I use my every single day, but I rarely use it to air fry, Urvashi Pitre, author of Every Day Easy Air Fryer, said. It makes such a huge mess.
Allcool Air Fryer 45 Quart + 1400 Watt
If you really must go for a bigger sized air fryer, 1400 watts is about the best you can manage without seeing a drop-off in air frying performance. This ALLcool air fryer is an excellent example of how to do this right!
Like the Dash above, it achieves the lower watt rating by simplifying the air fryers design. Rotary dials are all you need, and no fancy lighting is needed. Electricity is only sent to the most important parts here And it still gives you 4.5 quarts of cooking size, which would be fine for anything up to a small family .
The design is not as stand out as some others, but it does have a simple charm to it. Although this is undoubtedly helped by the three available color ways, navy blue, blue and black. The blue has a particularly retro vibe to it.
The only downside is that you are buying from a rather generic brand here in ALLcool, so you wont have the big brand security you may feel with some more well-known air fryers manufacturers in the market. The benefit to this is that this air fryer is one of the more competitively priced at the time of writing
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Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer
With 10 cooking functions, it operates as an oven as well as an air fryer, meaning it can bake, roast, grill and even slow cook. Unlike other air fryers, the Breville Smart Oven has more of a mini-oven look to it with its wire trays and glass front. The price point may seem high but this kitchen gadget is a one stop cooking shop.
Price: $499.00
Review: This oven is the utter best. I would be lost without it. Its versatility is second to none. It grills, toasts, bakes, roasts, slow cooks reheats. I bake cakes, roast meat slow cook casseroles reheat snacks bake vegies. If you need an over then this does it all & so easy to clean. – MarniB, Product Review
Where to buy:The Good Guys
Video of how to use here
The Best Air Fryers Are:
- Best overall Ninja foodi dual zone air fryer: £149.99, Argos.co.uk
- Best budget buy Progress EK4490P air fryer: £62.99, Wayfair.co.uk
- Best for small households Lakeland digital compact air fryer: £69.99, Lakeland.co.uk
- Best multi-function machine Tower xpress pro combo 200W 11 litre 10-in-1 digital air fryer oven with rotisserie: £139.99, Towerhousewares.co.uk
- Best for large households Russell Hobbs express air fry mini oven: £99.99, Russellhobbs.com
- Best for roasting chicken Innoteck 12L kitchen pro 6-in-1air fryer oven with rotisserie and dehydrator: £129.99, Innoteck.co.uk
- Best for cleaning Swan retro air fryer: £67.99,
- Best for variety Tefal ActiFry genius XL 2in1 health air fryer: £249.99, Tefal.co.uk
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Cut Fat From Your Favourite Dishes Not Flavour Here’s Our Pick Of The Best Air Fryers
The best air fryers are ideal for cooking everything from chicken nuggets and chips to vegetables and even stir-fries. That’s because air fryers are an efficient way to satisfy your craving for “fried” foods with a much lower fat content so you can nibble on your favourite comfort foods with less oil.
They work by convection, meaning they circulate hot air around your food, ensuring every bit of surface area is exposed to the oil and heat. You simply need to spray or pour a little oil onto whatever youre cooking before switching on the appliance. A clever chemical process called the Maillard reaction creates a crispy result with far less fat up to 99% in some cases.
Air fryers generally operate between 150 and 200C, although different models will vary. Because so little oil is used, an air fryer won’t recreate exactly the same results as your favourite chippy, though most of our picks below do come close. So if you’re ready to make your favourite foods that little bit healthier, read our buying guide and bite-sized reviews to find the best air fryer for your needs and budget.
- Best air fryer overall | Tefal Genius+
- Beat air fryer for cooking two things at once | Ninja Foodi
- Best air fryer for cooking chicken | Tower T17039 5-in-1
Price Difference Based On The Wattage Specifications On Air Fryers
Air fryer prices are determined by performance and techniques an air fryer offers. When choosing an air fryer based on the wattage, it is important to realize that the wattage also determines the cost. Other factors include efficiency, type of technology in use, expertise, and other air fryer qualities. A good air fryer can cost anything from $70 to $400 or more.
- $70 to $100 for this price range, you can expect to get an air fryer for regular use. This includes cooking frozen peas, French friend, cheese sticks and other easy to cook meals.
- $100 $200 with this price range, you get an air fryer that allows you to choose between high wattage use and low wattage use for your needs. These are modern air fryers and come in the latest designs. You can use it for cooking chicken, beef, samosas, lasagna oatmeal and garlic bread.
- $300 $400 this is the ultimate air fryer you want to cook everything in it. You can air fryer just about any food in this air fryer. It is made with advanced technology, hence the high price tag.
Also Check: Gourmia Gaf698 Air Fryer Reviews
Tefal Fx1000 Fry Delight Air Fryer
The Tefal Fry Delight uses 3D Air Pulse Technology to fry the food with minimal oil. It can also grill, roast and bake, is dishwasher safe and has an adjustable temperature control. Super quick, it cooks 2 servings of chips/fries in 15min!
Price: RRP $230.00
Review: I have seen friends using air fryers before and the food came out didnt taste as good as this one. Very easy to use and adjust. Good quality and crispy food coming out of this Comes with a recipe book which is really nice and handy… 4 star for me, as the bucket is a bit hard to clean… and the non-stick surface is a bit easy to scratch… Other than that, very happy with the product overall. – Anonymous, Tefal
Where to buy:Appliances Online
Video of how to use here
Can I Control How Long My Food Cooks
Whether its controlled via touchscreen buttons or a dial, most fryers have timers. The most common timers will go up to 30 minutes, which is sufficient, since most foods you would fry will only take 20-25 minutes. More expensive air fryers have timers that can go as long as 60 minutes, which is good if you want to roast meats and veggies.
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Best Air Fryers In 2021 Tested And Rated
USA 3.7 Quart 8-in-1 Air Fryer
Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
Foodi 2 Basket Air Fryer
Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven DT201
6 Quart Digital Air Fryer
Pot 6 Quart Vortex 4 in 1 Air Fryer Oven
Digital Countertop Oven With Air Fryer
Brio 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer
TurboFry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer
The best air fryers will produce crisp and tender results quickly and conveniently. It should be easy to program ideally with presets so you dont have to guess the time, and you shouldnt be left wondering how to clean an air fryer, as it should offer dishwasher-safe components. While the results arent the healthiest, its still healthier than using a deep fryer and tastes just as good.
These appliances are much more versatile than youd think as well, particularly if you opt to buy one of the best toaster ovens. In that case, as well as air fry, you can bake, roast and toast, opening up endless recipe possibilities. But which air fryer should you buy? Weve put nine air fryers and five toaster ovens to the test to help you decide. And here are the results.
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What To Consider Before You Buy An Air Fryer
- Air fryers come in various shapes and sizes. In general, smaller units are designed to cook food for one to two people at a time. XL and XXL sizes can fit enough food to feed up to six people at a time.
- Some air fryers are multi-functional. You can find air fryer-toaster oven combo units and even pressure cookers with an air fry function. Depending on your space and how you plan to use your air fryer, a combo unit could be right for you.
- Prices vary. Air fryers can range in price from around $40 to upwards of $300. We’ve found that many of the best air fryers cost around $100 and are often on sale.
- Make the most of your air fryer with accessories. Like the beloved pressure cooker, air fryer accessories are hitting the market making the appliance even more versatile.
Amanda Neal
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Our Air Fryer Testing Methodology
One thing I discovered early in my testing process was that air fryers tend to vary wildly in their cook times. Set at the same temperature, one unit charred broccoli to an undesirable crisp in six minutes, while another took 13 minutes to just reach al dente. So I cooked three different recipes with each machine, evaluated how quickly each one cooked, whether or not it dried out the food, and how evenly each batch came out.
I also assessed each machine for ease of use, noting how intuitive the user interface was. I tracked how many component parts there were to disassemble and clean. A unit with dishwasher safe accessories got big bonus points. These were the three cooks I performed with each machine:
Aria Premium 2 Qt Retro Style Ceramic Air Fryer + 800 Watt
When I first heard of Aria, I had no idea who they were in the air fryer world. They have come out of left field with a pretty amazing offering for anyone looking for a low wattage air fryer. Somehow they have managed to give us 2 quarts of cooking space for a measly 800 watts. So if your goal is to get the lowest wattage air fryer, this Aria model is the way to go.
Yes, I have seen 700 watt units, but they are usually a measly 1 quart in size, which to me is hardly worth it in air fryer terms. You would struggle to cook enough in there, even for one person!
And reassuringly for an unheard of brand, a lot of Amazon customers seem to really like the model. At the time of writing, it had well over 800 customer reviews with a star rating overall of 4.5! Call me impressed! This makes me feel better about such an unheard of brand.
The only other thing to say is that this air fryer comes in a good retro design and accompanying color ways. Not quite as striking as the Dash but not far behind. Other than this, the Aria air fryer has all the typical functions you would expect from an air fryer.
And all this is wrapped up in a very low retail price, even when not discounted in any way! Good job Aria, and lets hope they put out more air fryers on this level!
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Are Air Fryers Considered Energy Efficient And Economical
Air fryers are indeed considered to be more energy-efficient and economical than other kitchen appliances. A conventional oven for instance takes twice as long to cook and uses twice the energy of an air fryer. A dryer uses 2790 watts per hour, an air conditioner uses around 3500 per hour, a refrigerator uses 255 watts per hour, and so on. These are designed to be as low wattage as possible but they are still not as efficient as an air fryer.
Pros And Cons Of Air Fryers
There is no doubt that air fryers serve a multitude of purposes in the kitchen, from creating an oil-less version of fried foods to steaming vegetables to baking cupcakes and brownies. But an air fryer does have its limitations and drawbacks.
Heres a look at the pros of cooking with an air fryer:
- Pro: An air fryer produces crisp, moist food without the need for a deep fryer or large amounts of oil. If avoiding saturated fats and heavily fried foods is on your list of dietary priorities, then using an air fryer instead of a deep oil fryer is clearly the way to go.
- Pro: Air fryers are much easier to clean and maintain than traditional deep fryers. There is no large container of hot cooking oil to filter and store. The air fryer’s cooking basket can be washed by hand or in a dishwasher between uses.
Heres a look at the cons of cooking with an air fryer:
- Con: The constant flow of dry, superheated air around many foods can eventually strip them of moisture, especially on the surface. While some people may accept a bit of dryness as the price paid for healthier eating, others could be disappointed by the dryness and/or lack of flavor in air fried foods.
- Con: Cooking times can be considerably longer in an air fryer than a traditional deep fryer.
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Best Air Fryer 202: Our Top 10 Tried And Tested
Pick up the best air fryer for crispy chips and speedy chicken dinners with our reviews of Instant, Ninja, Swan, Philips, and Tower air fryers
Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer
YV970840 Actifry Genius XL 2in1
Vortex 5-in-1 Digital Air Fryer Oven
ByMillie Fenderpublished 13 December 21
When shopping for the best air fryer, there are a lot of factors to consider. While many air fryers may look the same, there are differences in the modes and controls available that can make a big difference when it comes to cooking. From Ninja to Tower, we’ve reviewed the 10 best air fryers on the market hands-on, to bring you our expert opinions and rankings.
Of course, the best air fryer can’t replace the best deep fat fryers when it comes to cooking food that’s battered, but when we compared deep fat fryers and air fryers side by side, we found that air fryers deliver plenty of taste and flavour because you’re able to cook potato wedges and fillets of fish in spices and flavour mixes, instead of just sprinkling it over one your meal is done.
And when it comes to the best deep fryers, they can do a lot more than just make homemade chips. We’ve used them to roast vegetables, cook frozen goodies in half the time they’d take in an oven, and even make pasta bake with a crispy, cheesy topping. Our favourite option, the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer, has a total of six cooking modes, and a drawer insert that can be removed to cook things with sauces and even make brownies.
