What Features Should You Look for in An Air Fryer?

In the ever-expanding world of countertop kitchen appliances, few things are as hilarious as the air fryer. Perhaps the buzz about how it will revolutionize your cooking has officially pushed you over the edge and you're in the market for one of these gadgets.

Now that these machines have been on the market for a few years, there's a dizzying array of models - single-basket air fryers, double-basket air fryers, mini air fryers, oven-style air fryers with smart cooking features . Each type serves a different purpose and is best suited for different people. Below, we detail the types of air fryers you can buy and the types of air fryers we recommend.

What is an air fryer and do you need one?

An air fryer is basically a small convection oven. It works by using an internal fan to circulate hot air from the heating elements throughout the machine. Keeping the hot air moving allows you to cook and, more importantly, crisp up your food with less oil. The most important thing you need to do is shake the basket occasionally to ensure even cooking.

The appeal of using an air fryer over a convection setup in a wall oven or on a stovetop is mainly the ease of cooking small portions and the speed of heating. Because they are so compact, it only takes a few minutes to reach cooking temperature, whereas a full-size oven may take some time. Therefore, when it comes to the question of whether or not you need one, it depends on the situation. If you are completely satisfied with convection cooking in your current oven, you may find the air fryer to be an extra kitchen gadget that takes up space on the counter. However, if you're just realizing as you read this article that your oven actually has a convection setting, then purchasing an air fryer can actually improve your daily cooking experience. They make reheating or re-heating food, as well as many other cooking tasks, easier and faster, so if you're someone who is often stressed out at lunch or dinner time, then it may fit your lifestyle.

What Features Should You Look for in an Air Fryer?

The first thing you need to determine when buying an air fryer is whether you want a basket or oven style. Basket styles feature a bucket that you can slide out of the air fryer to put in your food. Most have only one basket, but there are some high-capacity models that have two baskets. These removable baskets are also usually dishwasher safe, making cleanup much easier. In terms of size, basket air fryers usually range in capacity from around 2 quarts to over 5 quarts.

Oven-style air fryers, also known as multifunction ovens, are essentially toaster ovens with increasingly powerful additional features for different foods. The cooking space in these air fryers can be quite large. For example, if you're dreaming of using an air fryer oven for Thanksgiving this year, some can accommodate a whole chicken or a 14-pound turkey.

Like any other kitchen appliance, air fryers (no matter the type) usually have specific cooking features, such as baking, roasting, or dehydrating, as well as smart programs for making frozen French fries, pizza, chicken wings, or shrimp. Even the most basic air fryer can still cook all of these things, so the number of cooking functions and smart features really depends on whether you prefer extra buttons and dials on the touchscreen.