Air fryers have been about since 2010. Really. But they hit cult status only in the past five years. And in the lead-up to Christmas, no doubt more shoppers will be considering purchasing one. So what should you be considering and which brands should you avoid?
First, if you’ve missed the whole show and are wondering what an air fryer is, the story goes like this.
Air fryers were the brainchild of Dutch inventor Fred van der Weij, who wanted crisp chips without deep frying – healthier of course. He developed an air fryer in 2005 and the patent was bought by Philips, which launched the first model at a Berlin trade fair in 2010.
An air fryer works by placing food close to the heating element and adding fierce air flow. For the technically minded, an air fryer “accelerates the Maillard reaction between amino acids and sugars, which gives foods their savoury flavour”.
An air fryer uses only a couple of teaspoons of oil to cook chips, rather than a whole bottle, so the chips are healthier. Though so are chips roasted in a traditional oven.
Read: Cooking tips to get the perfect pasta every time
Anyway, consumer advocate CHOICE has tested a range of the latest air fryers and shares buying tips, plus the models to avoid.
How to choose an air fryer
More functions, but bigger isn’t better
CHOICE kitchen expert Fiona Mair notes that the more recent iterations include functions such as grilling, roasting and steaming, and even slow cooking.
Ms Mair says the steamer on the Tefal Easy Fry Grill & Steam XXL Air Fryer was great for cooking pork and other roast meat, as it helped retain the juiciness of the meat by combining steam with the air frying process.
She adds that in air fryers with drawers, there has been an increase in the basket capacity of many models. The larger-capacity baskets can accommodate something as big as a two-kilo meat joint or a kilo of chips, she says. And look for a larger capacity drawer if you want your fryer to cook cakes and biscuits.
Ms Mair cautions that bigger isn’t always better.
“Keep in mind that some of these appliances are very tall and bulky, and would be tricky to fit in the cupboard, so you need to ensure you have space on your kitchen bench,” she says. “The extra-large models are also very awkward and tricky to clean in a standard kitchen sink.”
CHOICE warns that some models can do one task well but fall down in other areas.
“For example, some models we tested turned out perfect fries and crumbed chicken but fell down when it came to cooking marinated chicken wings,” says Ms Mair.
Another model had a filter that soaks up oil and aromas. “Although this could be a handy feature, keep in mind that these filters will need replacing regularly, so they’re an added cost you have to take into account,” says Ms Mair.
Be wary of capacity claims
CHOICE says manufacturers’ measurements should be taken with a grain of salt and can be misleading.
“Some manufacturers measure the whole space inside the air fryer rather than the actual useable capacity,” says Ms Mair. “For example, a lid-opening air fryer that states it has a 10-litre capacity may only accommodate 500 grams of chips in the roller basket accessory.”
What to look for in an air fryer (hint: price doesn’t always equal performance)
The CHOICE advice is not to buy on price alone. Many expensive models performed well, but some cost less than a third of the cost of more expensive fryers and tested well.
Ms Mair says to ensure an air fryer comes with comprehensive instructions, including cooking guidelines and recipes.
Read: Why and how to use the whole vegetable when cooking
“Digital controls give better accuracy, and pre-programmed settings take the guesswork out of choosing a temperature and cooking time and may also give you a reminder to shake the food to ensure even cooking.”
Worst performing air fryers
Kitchen Couture 3.4L air fryer
- CHOICE expert rating: 66 per cent
- Performance score: 65 per cent
- Price: $349
CHOICE says: It might have the looks, but the Kitchen Couture’s strengths lie in its form rather than its function. It received the lowest score of all the air fryers tested. And it’s not cheap. Our experts found it was very good at cooking thick-cut frozen chips but failed to impress in the other cooking tests.
Kmart Anko 9L Twin Air Fryer AFD2906
- CHOICE expert rating: 67 per cent
- Performance score: 65 per cent
- Price: $129
CHOICE says: While many Kmart appliances delivers great bang for your buck, this isn’t one of them. It disappointed on tests such as cooking frozen thick-cut chips and crumbed chicken, and was rated as only okay overall.
Miracle Chef 7 in 1 Multi Cooker TXG-DT10L
- CHOICE expert rating: 67 per cent
- Performance score: 67 per cent
- Price: $349
CHOICE says: Despite scoring a very healthy 75 per cent for cooking crumbed chicken, this unit isn’t the miracle it claims to be. We’ve tested plenty of models for this price (and cheaper!) that perform far better. It’s particularly poor at cooking marinated chicken wings, scoring just 40 per cent for this test, and our experts say it’s not especially easy to use and the shelves only have a small surface area.
Healthy Choice AF1300
- CHOICE expert rating: 70 per cent
- Performance score: 72 per cent
- Price: $200
CHOICE says: A score of 70 per cent overall isn’t terrible. But if you’re going to drop $200 on an air fryer, you might as well buy one that works well. Our experts found it fiddly to use and clean, and they had to redistribute food several times during cooking to make sure the food was evenly browned.
For more tips on buying an air fryer, go to CHOICE.
Are you a fan of air fryers? What are the pros and cons? Do you have any tips for prospective buyers? Why not share them in the comments section below?
