Buying guide for best air fryers

The brilliantly named air fryer takes craving foods and puts a spin on them so you can indulge that need for a satisfying crunch in a healthier way. The key to perfection is in superheated air that encircles your food allowing it to cook thoroughly and evenly.

The essential considerations to keep in mind are finding an air fryer that is large enough for your needs and has intuitive controls that allow the unit to be flexible in its cooking tasks. Additionally, you'll want a model that is easy to clean and offers the option of cooking multiple foods at once.

There are a number of manufacturers who have fine-tuned their air fryers, allowing you to create a wide array of culinary wonders. Check out the models that we've included in this article for examples. For those of you who would like a more in-depth air fryer education before choosing, we encourage you to read on.

How air fryers work

An air fryer combines several different cooking methods in one convenient appliance.

• An electric coil suspended above the food provides radiant heating, much like a broiler element or stovetop burner. This dry heat penetrates the food and warms it internally.
• Meanwhile, a fan positioned above the coil creates a current of superheated air that flows around and under the food. This is convection heating, a cooking method often found in commercial ovens.
• The convection action converts the small amount of oil you use into a fine mist that coats the food as it circulates. This action mimics the effect traditional deep frying has on foods submerged in hot cooking oil.
• As the hot air flows, the food's own moisture creates the steam needed to finish the cooking process.

Wattage and capacity

To work their magic, air fryers typically require between 800 and 2,100 watts of power. Before you buy an air fryer, make sure your kitchen outlet can support this kind of wattage.

Another important pre-purchase consideration is an air fryer's capacity. Most fryers can cook between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds of food at a time. This capacity would probably suffice in most households, but your personal circumstances might be different.

How to make chicken drumsticks in an air fryer

Size and settings

Most air fryers are relatively compact and easy to fit on a kitchen counter. But despite their straightforward design, some air fryers have settings that may be more or less appealing to you. Most machines include timers and can reach at least 360° Fahrenheit. We prefer those that stretch a bit higher than that.

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.

Here’s 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.

Here’s 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.

Features

Many air fryers use just a small amount of oil, but some health-conscious consumers might opt for a completely oil-free fryer. “Multipurpose” air fryers can cook two or more types of food at once. Other features you might be interested in include digital programmable settings, rapid-cook technology, and nonstick surfaces.

Air fryer prices

Air fryer prices commonly begin above the $100 mark. For example, the popular Ninja Foodi is often found for around $249. That said, you get what you pay for — an excellent product — and there are sales to be found. The best of these appliances make up for their high price tags with efficient frying and easy cleanup. Budget-conscious consumers can definitely find fryers in their price range, as can those who are looking for a high-end model.

Some air fryers offer a higher temperature maximum than others. French fries and chicken typically require about 360°F to cook. Steak requires a slightly hotter setting.

The case against deep frying

As air fryers grow in popularity, it’s important to understand the reasons why traditional deep frying has become an “issue” with many health-conscious cooks.

First off, the amount of saturated fat contained in lard and other animal fats is high. Diets rich in saturated fats can lead to arterial clogging, which in turn can lead to strokes and heart disease, according to some medical sources.

Here are some other reasons why people are replacing deep frying with other cooking methods:

1. Cooking oils break down over time. Animal-based shortenings have very limited shelf life, as they do not react well with the outside air and become rancid. Vegetable oils also begin to separate into water and fat after several deep frying sessions. Replacing these cooking oils, especially in the quantities required for larger deep fryers, can become expensive and time-consuming.
2. Deep frying creates hazardous byproducts. Small bits of batter or dry coating tend to fall into the cooking oil as products cook. Some sources believe these carbonized pieces form hazardous, possibly carcinogenic, chemicals that people could inadvertently ingest along with their meal.
3. Deep fryers require diligent maintenance. A deep fryer remains too hot to handle for several hours after use. As such, it’s a challenge to perform important tasks like oil filtering. Working with large amounts of animal-based fat is also a messy and thankless job for many cooks. There is also the problem of having a large container of scalding hot oil within reach of small children.
4. Ideal cooking temperatures are hard to maintain. The secret to successful deep frying is maintaining a proper oil temperature. When cooking oil falls below a certain temperature, the food's internal moisture does not repel the oil as well, resulting in greasy, undercooked food. Simply putting a bag of frozen food into a hot deep fryer will affect the oil temperature, and the heating elements of many deep fryers take a long time to recover from the shock. This is not a concern with superheated cooking methods such as convection or air frying.

If you’re considering an air fryer instead of a deep fryer because you want to reduce your consumption of oil, you’re on the right track. But even air fryer recipes often require a little bit of oil.

FAQ

Q: What if I need to add a seasoning or ingredient to a dish? Can I remove the cooking basket?

A: It depends on the model, so consult your owner's manual to be certain. Many air fryers do allow you to pull out the basket during the cooking cycle in order to stir the product or add seasoning. The unit should shut off automatically if it has this feature.

Q: Can I cook more than one food item at the same time?

A: Many models offer dividers that keep different food items separate during a cooking cycle. We recommend only combining foods with similar prep times or temperatures to avoid overcooking or undercooking.

Q: Can I cook frozen meats or vegetables in an air fryer?

A: Yes, in most cases you can prepare meats and vegetables from a frozen state in an air fryer. The superheated air and convection action draw excess moisture to an exhaust port, so frozen foods won't become mushy from unwanted steaming. It is important to keep in mind that cooking times may be extended considerably when starting from frozen.

Q: Can I use aluminum foil or other baking paper in an air fryer?

A: Since air fryers do not use microwave technology, you can safely use aluminum foil or metal containers. Parchment paper will also work in an air fryer. The important thing to remember is that the superheated air requires free circulation to work. Food wrappers should not block the natural flow of hot air around the cooking chamber.