With the price of cooking oils through the roof, the air fryer is the kitchen appliance hero once more. The hot kitchen gadget has been hailed by many as a game changer in the kitchen, enabling them to cook dinner in minutes and fry chicken, vegetables, and other foods without submerging them in oil. Whether you’re trying to save a few bucks or are looking to make fuss-free healthier meals, investing in an air fryer is sure to improve your time spent in the kitchen.
Also read: Top 3: Best Air Fryers for Every Budget
What is an air fryer, and how does it work?
Simply put, it’s deep frying without the oil. While a deep fryer flash heats food in a bath of super hot oil, an air fryer uses a convection fan to surround the food with hot air instead of oil. The air bounces off of the bottom of the air fryer and back up through the food, cooking it all over to create that crisping effect in just minutes. Not only are you getting that coveted taste and texture without the part that makes it unhealthy, but you’re getting it in half the time.
But it’s not just fried foods, air fryers can also grill, roast and even bake, giving you even more options in the kitchen. An air fryer can be used for a wide range of things like grilling a steak or even baking a pizza. It’s like having a combo oven and deep fryer, except it fits on your counter and doesn’t require frozen food to be thawed before cooking. Most fryers are also made of non-stick material and are dishwasher safe which helps make for a quick and easy clean up.
PriceCheck tip: But how do you go about finding the best air fryer for your budget and needs? Here is a quick buyer’s guide on everything you need to know before buying an air fryer in South Africa.
What type of air fryer do you need?
There are many brands of air fryers on the market, but most brands offer one of two models or types of air fryers: a convection-oven air fryer or a basket air fryer. Decide which type is best for you and your cooking needs before choosing which air fryer to invest in.
Convection-oven air fryers resemble a convection oven. The basket air fryer (or solo air fryer) is the smaller more traditional air fryer that uses a drawer-like compartment to cook food.
Convection-oven air fryers are often more expensive and offer more features and cooking options, like broiling, toasting, and roasting. This type of air fryer is usually also larger and enables you to cook larger quantities of food at one time.
Air fryers with a pull-out drawer and basket require manual shaking every five minutes or so to ensure even cooking. These models are best for foods you’d normally shallow fry or grill, such as fish, chicken, meatballs, vegetables and crumbed foods. Solo air fryers are also usually the most budget-friendly option. Unless you buy a double basket (or dual) air fryer, you can only cook one food at a time, so recipes that call for both meat and vegetables to be cooked in the air fryer will take longer.
Shopping for the best price on air fryers in South Africa is not an easy task, but if you just want to try air frying but don’t want to commit a lot of money or kitchen space, then opt for a basket air fryer.
PriceCheck tip: Looking for a new coffee machine, microwave, or countertop dishwasher? Check out the best deals on kitchen appliances on PriceCheck.
Does an air fryer suit your needs?
An air fryer would best suit people living in one-person or small households who enjoy frozen pre-cooked foods (this includes university students living out of home). Many air fryers are best for one to two servings and can’t really be used for big dinners. Air fryers are great for reheating, especially if it’s food that you want to keep crispy and not soggy, like pizza and battered foods.
If you don’t have an existing oven or if you prefer to do weekly meal-prep and then reheat pre-made meals, then an air fryer could be for you. An air fryer is also ideal for home cooks who enjoy experimenting with crispy foods such as vegetable chips (sweet potato or kale). You probably don’t need an air fryer if you have a large household, and you already have an oven, a grill and a stove top. Some air fryers can use more energy than an oven, so it may not necessarily be a more sustainable option if you’re looking for an appliance to cut down on electricity use.
Take size into consideration
When shopping for an air fryer, make sure you know how much counter space you have available. If you make chips regularly, you might want to leave it out permanently. Be aware that top-opening models could be out of the running if you have restricted space above the counter, as the lid needs to be opened upwards. If you’re planning to pack away your air fryer after use, then look for a compact size with a uniform shape to slot easily into a cupboard.
You should also take into account the manufacturer’s claimed capacity or volume. But, keep in mind, that this volume or size should be taken with a grain of salt as the claimed capacity or volume can be misleading. Some manufacturers measure the whole space inside the air fryer and not the actual useable capacity. A ’10-litre’ model may only be able to cook about 500g of chips and a ‘2500-gram’ model won’t actually be able to accommodate that weight of food.
Digital or dial?
You will also need to decide if you want a digital air fryer or one that is controlled using a dial. This will ultimately come down to your budget. Dial-controlled air fryers are more basic and less accurate, consisting of just a temperature dial and a timer dial that dings when the timer ends. If you opt for a less expensive dial model, then look for a timer that can be set for longer than 30 minutes.
Digital controls have a touch display with an accurate timer, temperature readings and some may also have pre-programmed settings. Look for models with easy-to-understand icons and an alarm that sounds when cooking is completed.