At this stage, you’d have to be living under a rock to not have heard of the modern kitchen miracle: the air fryer.
The humble kitchen appliance uses a fan to whip scorching hot air around food (a method called convection cooking), crisping it up perfectly with just a fraction of the oil compared to oven cooking or deep frying. The result? Guilty pleasure food, only minus any guilt.
Are air fryers energy efficient?
Air fryers have been flying off the shelves lately, thanks in part to the cost-of-living crisis. They’re incredibly energy-efficient and can cook enough portions to feed the whole family without needing to pre-heat, as you would with an oven. Because the inner compartment is so much smaller than an oven, food doesn’t need as long to be cooked either - which means less usage time, which should in turn translate to lower energy bills. A general rule of thumb is to halve the oven cooking time when using an air fryer.
Retailers across the board are struggling to keep air fryers in stock. In fact, in January 2023, the CEO of Very.co.uk revealed the site had sold so many of the cooking devices in seven weeks to December that it worked out to one every 30 seconds. Talk about a hot commodity.
What can you cook in an air fryer?
If you don’t own an air fryer, there’s a very good chance you know someone who does. And we bet that someone has not stopped praising the machine’s convenient, low oil, high-crunch attractions.
The good news is that the air fryer isn’t just a flash in the pan in terms of trends, like say, a chocolate fountain or doughnut maker (RIP). This is down to their versatility. Sure, you can use one to make McDonald’s-worthy French fries from frozen, but they’re also great at turning out restaurant-level steak, crispy, juicy chicken wings, jalapeno poppers, roasted veg salads, fajitas, tandoori chicken, empanadas - the sky’s the limit.
They’re headed for the kitchen appliance hall of fame; you only have to glance at #airfryer hashtags on TikTok and Instagram to see the feast of air fryer recipes clever home cooks have devised. These babies aren’t going anywhere.
So, if you’ve decided the time is right to change your life - or at least your mealtimes - by welcoming one of your own, here’s what to look for when buying an air fryer.
How to buy an air fryer in the UK
Types of air fryers
Not all air fryers are created equal. There are the straight-up models with one chamber and one function which will appeal to those who like to keep things simple. Then there are air fryers with dual baskets, allowing you to cook double portions, or your mains and sides simultaneously so that everything arrives hot on the table.
While these options are certainly worthy of a browse, a multi-cooker offers the most bang for your buck. These are kitchen heavyweights that can not only air fry but do other cooking functions like roast, saute, steam, bake, dehydrate, pressure cook, slow cook and even make yoghurt all in one device.
Air fryer capacity
Air fryers come in all shapes and sizes, and the vast majority will sit happily on a kitchen countertop. The capacity you choose will depend on two things: how many you’re cooking for, and the frequency you cook.
For those living in a single- or two-person household, a smaller unit with around 3L capacity will be perfectly adequate and means you can store it out of sight in a cupboard when not in use (air fryers are many things, but they’re never going to win any beauty contests). They also come with a clutch of accessories like baskets and stands which will all need storing when they’re not being used.
They also come in 3.8-5.7L (for three to four people) and 6.6-7.6L for (five to six people).
On the other end of the scale, there are air fryers which can cook up to 12L. If you’re struggling to visualise it, you can fit an entire chicken to roast inside.
Air fryer temperature controls
The ability to turn up or down the heat according to whatever dish you’re making is golden. It means better results and a lower likelihood of your efforts ending up burned and binned. We haven’t come across an air fryer yet with just one temperature option, but it’s worth ticking the box and making sure it’s there before you buy.
If your machine can do more than air fry, it’s all but guaranteed to have various temperatures that you can flit between. Manufacturers often set the default temperature to 200°C which is about right to cook almost anything once you’ve worked out the timings.
Air fryer pre-set functions
Just like a microwave, many air fryers come with pre-sets to make the job of cooking popular foods even more speedy. If you’re one for tucking into chicken and chips in the evening or prefer a light fish supper on weeknights, look for machines that offer these pre-set functions.
They eliminate the need for cooking time guesswork, offering a shortcut to sate your grumbling stomach. Once you’ve gotten into your air frying groove, you’ll know food timings like the back of your hand.
Air fryer timer
One of the greatest things about cooking with an air fryer - aside from all the delicious nosh you’ll be plating up - is that once you’ve put your food into the basket, closed the lid and set the timer, you can walk off and leave it to do its thing.
No longer are you chained to the stove or oven, supervising the cooking process. An air fryer will cook food to the right level and then either switch itself off (saving energy) or engage a keep warm function so you don’t have to reheat food if you’re busy doing other things.
Some smart air fryers can even be turned on to cook by app alone, so you can cook food remotely - though you’ll have to get your fresh or frozen ingredients into the basket first.
Where to buy an air fryer in the UK
We hope this buying guide has helped demystify air fryers and whetted your appetite in owning one of your own. On a personal note, I have one and I use it for almost every meal. It’s put most of the other appliances in my kitchen into early retirement.
Here at ES Best, we’ve written the book on air fryers with roundups according to price, type and function.
For general air fryer stockists, these retailers usually turn up trumps.
