Air fryers have become popular in many households for their ease of use and fast cooking abilities for a wide range of food. Consumer group CHOICE has put a range of air fryers to the test, revealing the newest features and tips to help you decide which one to buy.
"If you've been looking to add an air fryer to your kitchen but aren't sure which one is best for you, there are a few things our experts have learnt that may help you make the best choice," says CHOICE Editorial Director, Mark Serrels.
CHOICE's top takeaways from our latest air fryer test:
1. Multi-cookers may be the new air fryers
"Air fryers have changed a lot since we started to review them. In our latest testing, we are seeing air fryers morphing into multi-cookers. Many models combine the functions of several appliances, including grilling, roasting and steaming, slow cooking, and even dehydrating," says Serrels.
"So if you're looking for an appliance with multiple functions, our experts highly recommend swapping your single-function air fryer to either a multi-functional air fryer or a multi-cooker with an air fryer function. They're a great way to save space in your kitchen and broaden your cooking repertoire," says Serrels.
2. The steam air-fry function is great for meat
"In our latest testing, we reviewed air fryers with steam air-fry functions. Our experts noted a steamer function can be great for cooking pork or other roast meat as it gives the meat that crisp golden texture while retaining the juiciness on the inside," says Serrels.
"Another bonus of the steamer function is it's useful for reheating foods such as pizza and bread. You can either use the steam function in combination with the air fryer function or use it on its own for things like vegetables," says Serrels.
3. Many models aren't good all-rounders
"Our experts found in the latest testing that some air fryer models may cook one food well but not others. For example, some models served up perfect chips but scored poorly when cooking marinated chicken wings," says Serrels.
"We recommend doing your research before purchasing an air fryer to find the best performer for your needs. Our experts also note that you should not buy based on price alone - many models we recommend cost less than a third of the price of the most expensive model we tested," says Serrels.
4. Choose accessories carefully
"Many air fryer models now come with accessories such as the roller basket, rotisseries and skewers. However, accessories are now also available to buy separately - from pizza trays, air fryer liners and even silicone cookware," says Serrels.
"If you're thinking of buying any extra accessories, make sure they are specifically designed for your model so they'll fit. Also, it's important to consider if you'll actually use them. Otherwise, they'll just end up collecting dust and taking up space in your kitchen," says Serrels.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
