The air fryer’s convenience is inarguably unmatched. But is it really worth it? Like most things, it depends. How many people are you cooking for? Will the air fryer live on counter or in a cabinet or closet? How heavy is it? Depending on your cooking needs and kitchen space, an air fryer may be your new kitchen bestie or be functionally impractical.
In all, I think air fryers can be useful resources that make cooking more convenient and accessible for busy professionals, working parents, or lazy cooks. No matter your lifestyle, we can all use a helping hand.
WHAT IS AN AIR FRYER? HOW DOES IT WORK?
An air fryer is not really a fryer. It does not fry food and you may have something similar in your kitchen already. Air fryers are modern rebrands of mini convection ovens (think: toaster ovens). The air fryer uses a powerful fan and exhaust system to rapidly circulate hot air and cook food suspended in a perforated basket. The circulating hot air cooks food fast and allows the exterior to brown, crisp, or caramelize in a way that mimics deep frying with little-to-no oil. As the small but mighty exhaust system whisks away any moisture in the closed oven, it also manages to keep the food interior moist and juicy. It can also bake and roast meat, fish, and vegetables more evenly and in less time that it would take in an oven.
There are two types of air fryers: (1) cylindrical, pod-shaped air fryers and (2) larger oven-styled air fryers (convection toaster ovens). The size and cook capacity of both options vary. The pod shaped air fryers are smaller, typically have a 3-quart basket, and are good for cooking for 1 or 2 people. The toaster oven models are rectangular in shape, larger, typically have a basket of 5 quarts or larger, and are good for cooking for 3+ people.
Beyond size and capacity, the different models are similiar in terms of how well well they cook food. Price ranges from $50 to $300 depending on convenience and style (i.e., power, presets and temperature display, noise, weight, accessories, and ability to easily clean).
BACKGROUND: I USED TO HATE AIR FRYERS
For full transparency, I previously disliked the air fryer and all its hype. “Dislike” doesn’t fully capture the extend of my disregard. In hindsight, my dislike was based on using a model that didn’t fit my lifestyle. In 2017, I tested a first-generation Philips Air Fryer (now discontinued). The massive pod shaped appliance consumed a lot of premium kitchen counter space in my small apartment and I didn’t have the storage space to hid it. I am committed to a clean, clutter free kitchen aesthetic.
My other grievances were based on its back of functionality. Despite the appliance’s large size, the interior fry basket was small. I found myself having to cook one meal in multiple batches which would extend a seemingly quick cooking sesh into an hour whenever I cooked wanted to roast large quantities of different ingredients. Additionally, the single heat source at the top of the appliance caused food to sometimes cook unevenly. The air fryer’s powerful fan was obnoxiously loud and sometimes caused the food to overcook and burn. Lastly, cleaning the mesh basket screen by hand was an absolute pain.
Simply put, the air fryer model I had was not conducive to my space or lifestyle back then. I was disappointed, and slightly resentful to be honest, given the hefty price tag (~ $300). It was not giving what it was supposed to give, yall. So I gladly returned it and went back to using my full-sized oven with a sheet pan and cross-grid wire rack which achieved the results (but required more time).
So what changed my mind? Circumstances. A few months ago, I moved from DC to Texas, into a house with a spacious kitchen. I also received a new air fryer as a gift. With ample kitchen space, I felt like it was time to give the appliance another try. I know so many people who adore and stan for their air fryer. I was curious to explore why. Ultimately my goal is to help people feel confident in the kitchen and inspire them to cook smarter ways. This requires me to have an open mind to evolving kitchen appliances.
AIR FRYER REVIEW
From the start, I noted how the newer pod-shaped models are more compact and better designed than the first generation models. The new small air fryer models generally occupy less counter space and are easier to clean… BIG offerings over here.
I ran the air fryer through a number of tests to see if it held up to the hype. I cooked wings and leaner cuts of protein like chicken breasts, along with roasted vegetables (e.g., hand-cut sweet potato fries, sliced plantain, garlic roasted broccolini), and frozen finger foods.
Based on my testing and research, there are clear advantages and disadvantages to the air fryer. The disadvantages are not deal-breakers but important to know.
PROS:
- Efficient af. Cooks food faster than food prepared on the stovetop or in a full sized oven
- Healthier, lower fat alternative to your favorite fried foods
- The smaller models offer low volume cooking and are THE perfect appliance for single people
- Simple, straightforward interface, easy to use (great for novice or “lazy” cooks)
- The timer feature allows for precise cooking and safe multitasking
- Portable electric appliance that can be moved around
- Appliance will not heat up the entire home like an oven
CONS:
- Size constraints. Both models require adequate counter space
- Limited cooking capacity; models are not suitable for high volume cooking or for a crowd
- It’s not completely hands off. Depending on model, may need to periodically shake basket or flip the food for even cooking
- Longer cooking times compared to traditional frying
- Because food cooks fast, the fan can quickly burn or dry out foods if you’re not careful
(there’s an initial learning curve to using your air fryer).
Despite a few ongoing functional limitations, I enjoy my air fryer. I mostly use mine to meal prep chicken and “fry” plantain, a staple in my home. I love the consistently juicy chicken breasts, which we all know can be drier than the Sahara. And the air fryer’s ability to achieve PERFECTLY caramelized plantain with less than a tablespoon of oil?! Omgoodness. This African woman was SOLD; no additional testing needed. It’s been a game changer to finally enjoy my favorite comfort food in a healthful and equally delicious way.
SO SHOULD YOU GET AN AIR FRYER?
You should get an air fryer if:
- You want an easy, no fuss approach to meal prep/ cooking
- You want healthier, lower-fat alternatives to traditionally fried foods (like plantain)
- You have the space for another kitchen appliance
- You don’t mind paying for the convenience (prices range from $50-$300)
- You don’t want your home to smell like fried food
CHOOSING THE RIGHT APPLIANCE
If you said yes to these considerations, the next important question will be which air fryer model to get. When deciding between which model to buy, consider the size of the appliance itself (how much space it will consume, weight) and the capacity of the basket.
If you usually cook for 1-2 people or servings, I recommend getting the smaller, pod-shaped air fryer.
If you usually cook for 3 or more people/ servings at a time, I recommend getting a larger air fryer model with a basket of 5 quarts or larger — the toaster-oven air fryer model or a high end convection toaster oven. The larger models have a larger capacity which makes bulk cooking quicker and more efficient will allow you to cook more food at once. It’s also a more versatile appliance. If you can afford it, get it– the toaster-oven air fryer models can do everything an air fryer can do and more, like toast bread, bake desserts, cook a whole chicken, etc.
WHAT CAN YOU COOK IN AN AIR FRYER?
Golden rule: If you can bake it, you can air fry it.
An air fryer is great for cooking protein, vegetables, and reheating frozen foods. For lean cuts of meat or foods with little to no fat (like vegetables, chickpeas, or plantain), you’ll need a light application of oil for the food to properly brown and crisp up. For best air frying results use avocado oil or any other high-heat oil (this means the oil wont smoke or burn the food in high cooking temperatures).
If using a cooking oil spray, choose a “propellant-free” option. If the meat already has fat on it, (e.g., dark meat chicken like wings, salmon, or fatty cuts of beef), you can skip the oil. But you’ll still want to spray the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.
AIR FRYER ALTERNATIVE
Overall, I recommend it for its efficiency and convenience. Do you NEED one? No.
If you don’t have space for an air fryer or don’t want to spend money on yet another kitchen appliance, you have options. Remember that air fryers are basically powerful countertop ovens. You can get similar “air fried” results baking food in a regular oven; it just takes longer to cook because of the oven’s larger size.
For optimum results, bake or roast the desired food in a regular, full-sized oven using a (1) a baking sheet pan and (2) a roasting/ baking wire rack. You likely already have a baking sheet at home. You can purchase a roasting rack for less than $20 or purchase a set.
FYI: HomeGoods is the plug for this kinda stuff.
LOOKING FOR AIR FRYER RECIPES?
-Air Fried Plantain