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Air Fryer Buying Guide
This guide covers all you need to know about air fryers and what they can do for you in the kitchen.
Air fryers are an amazing way to give your kitchen an upgrade. By cooking food healthier and quicker, they can make all sorts of delicious meals. But did you know air fryers come in lots of types and sizes? Our handy guide will help you find the best choice for you.
What is an air fryer?
Put simply, an air fryer is a small appliance that sits on your kitchen counter – don’t worry, there’s still lots of space for tasty treats! They work by spreading hot air really quickly around the inside, cooking your food quickly and giving it a wonderful crispy finish. Some come with different settings like grilling and dehydrating as well for even more options with your meals.
Type of air fryer
Basket air fryer
As the name suggests, a basket air fryer has a basket with lots of holes that your food sits in. These holes let hot air through to heat your food from all angles. Not only will that tasty chicken be cooked quickly, but it also means you don’t need to leave it sat in any cooking oil either.
Paddle type air fryer
If you like to rustle up lots of meals in one go, or just don’t want the hassle of constantly checking your food, then a paddle air fryer is for you. It constantly and gently stirs your food to keep it cooking evenly, meaning you don’t have to do any shaking or stirring yourself. Instead, you can get on with other dishes, or just put your feet up until it’s ready.
Rotisserie
If you love nothing more than a succulent Sunday roast, then a rotisserie air fryer is for you. They’re fantastic for all sorts of meat dishes, and usually come with lots of functions, as well as cooking racks and a skewer for turning and crisping meat.
Mini-oven style
If your kitchen’s tight on space, then a mini-oven air fryer would be a great option. They’re about the size of a microwave, and usually come with racks and baking trays, so you can easily rustle up plenty of your favourite treats.
Ninja Foodi Dual Zone AF300UK Air Fryer - Black
Tower Vortx Vizion 11L Dual Basket T17102 Air Fryer - Black
Ninja Double Stack XL SL400UK Air Fryer - Black / Grey
Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone AF451UK Air Fryer - Black
Tower Vortx Vizion 9L Dual Basket T17100 Air Fryer - Black
Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone AF400UK Air Fryer - Black
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer AF100UK Air Fryer - Grey
Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Dual AF500UK Air Fryer - Black
Ninja Foodi AG301UK Air Fryer - Black
Tefal EasyFry 9in1 FW501827 Air Fryer - Black
What capacity should I get?
Air fryers come in a range of capacities to suit different numbers of servings, so here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide which is the right one for you. Smaller models with a capacity between 0.6-1kg are good for 2-3 servings, 1.1-1.5kg are ideal for family-sized servings of 4-6 helpings, and anything above 1.6kg will happily cater for 7 servings or more.
Air fryer vs a fan oven
Air fryers and fan ovens effectively work the same way – but you can’t fit a fan oven on your kitchen counter! Both products work by spreading hot air round the inside, but because air fryers are smaller, the air can move a lot faster, so your food cooks quicker. Their size means they’re easier to clean too, and any movable parts they come with like racks and trays are usually dishwasher safe.
Air fryer vs fat fryers
There’s a big difference between air fryers and fat fryers – air fryers don’t actually fry your food. They use fast-spreading hot air instead, which means you don’t need extra oil to get those delicious meals cooked to perfection. And when you do need a drop of oil for that crispy finish, it’ll be far less than a traditional fat fryer, so your dishes will be a lot healthier and just as tasty.
Key features to look out for
Timer
You’ll never have to worry about overcooking your food with a timer function. Models with this will either let you know when your food’s done, or they’ll simply turn themselves off. Say goodbye to charcoaled chicken.
Dishwasher-safe components
Lots of air fryers come with dishwasher-safe components. They’re removable, meaning nothing gets in the way of wiping the inside, and putting everything in the dishwasher makes the clean-up easy. Now you’ll have no trouble keeping your air fryer looking its best.
Multiple cooking functions
Some air fryers come with lots of different cooking functions, meaning you can make all sorts of meals. They’re great for baking, frying, roasting and more, giving you everything you need no matter what’s on the menu.
Temperature controls
Enjoy complete control over your cooking with temperature controls. Just like an oven, you set the precise temperature you need, so every meal you make will come out perfectly. You’ll find all our air fryers with temperature controls.
What can you cook in an air fryer?
A good rule to follow is if you’d cook it in a fat fryer, then it’ll be done just as well in an air fryer, so treats like chips, wedges and chicken will come out perfectly. Air fryers are just like mini ovens, so they’re really versatile, and you can use them for all sorts like steak, pizza, fish and even cakes. They’re great for vegetables as well, although you might want to give them a sprinkling of oil before cooking to make sure they have that lovely crispy finish.
FAQs
- Where can I buy an air fryer?
Right here with us! We’ve got a full range of air fryers waiting for you. And with next day delivery, 7 days a week, you’ll soon be cooking up a storm in your new favourite appliance.
- What size air fryer for a family of 4?
An air fryer with a capacity of 1.1-1.5kg would suit a family of 4 perfectly, and you’ll find our range right here.
