Need to know
- An air fryer owner says his house could have been destroyed after the popular appliance starting burning his kitchen wall
- The episode is a warning to consumers that air fryers should be treated carefully
- CHOICE experts say users should be aware of how much heat air fryers produce and leave ample space around them
Australia's love of air fryers is a burning desire that only seems to get more intense with every passing sales season.
The national market for these appliances is estimated to be worth more than $58 million this year – unsurprising when you consider that they regularly feature on lists of products consumers are looking to buy.
Roger's air fryer burnt his kitchen wall after it got too close. Image: supplied
A scorching story
But as one CHOICE member discovered, an air fryer has the potential to seriously damage your home if you're not careful where you leave it.
Roger Campbell and his wife use their air fryer multiple times a week for cooking and reheating their favourite foods, but the couple recently realised the device had been leaving a mark on their kitchen in more ways than one.
"We were just doing a bit of spring cleaning and moved it from its usual position and then discovered the blistered paint [behind it] on the wall," he recalls. "[The wall] has been subject to excessive heat repeatedly, on a number of occasions."
Roger says he's thankful the appliance wasn't sitting in a different part of the kitchen, fearing it could have resulted in catastrophe.
"We've got timber cladding in our kitchen," he explains. "If it had been aimed at [that], it could have been an absolute disaster. It could have burned the house down."
Consumers need to be careful
CHOICE kitchen expert and air fryer tester Fiona Mair agrees that the popular benchtop appliances have the potential to start fires if they're left too close to flammable materials.
"Vulnerable surfaces too close to an air fryer can burn and even catch fire if the machine is running at a high temperature for a long period of time," she explains.
Fiona says air fryers' portability can lead to people being careless about where they put them.
Air fryers' portability can lead to people being careless about where they put them
"You might think you can put an air fryer anywhere, but they're essentially small ovens running on fan-forced mode, so they can do damage if left in the wrong place," she says.
CHOICE kitchen expert Fiona Mair has been testing air fryers for years.
How to use your air fryer safely
Fiona says air fryer owners should understand that all models will vent out hot air when in use and they should therefore choose a safe place in their kitchen to keep their appliance.
Allow airflow around your air fryer and never place it in a cavity
CHOICE kitchen expert Fiona Mair
"It's important to allow airflow around your air fryer and never place it in a cavity," she advises.
"It's also best to keep it near or under a rangehood to allow for any smoke to escape when cooking fatty foods."
An air fryer's instruction manual will often recommend a minimum distance to keep clear around the appliance, but as a rule of thumb, we suggest leaving at least 20–30cm of free space above and around the surface of the device.
Clear space is particularly important around the appliance's vents, where it expels hot air during cooking.
Place your air fryer on a suitable surface
It's also important to pay attention to what's underneath your air fryer – we've previously heard from users who've had their kitchen benches suffer heat damage after an air fryer was left running on top.
"Some kitchen surfaces such as laminate aren't heat resistant," says Fiona. "So if it's not safe to place it directly on your bench, put a silicone mat or a heat-proof board underneath your air fryer to prevent damage."
Make sure it doesn't shuffle too close to sensitive surfaces over the course of regular use ... otherwise it may end up cooking more than just your food
Once your air fryer is in a safe place, ensure it stays there.
Make sure it doesn't shuffle too close to sensitive surfaces over the course of regular use, such as when you're opening and closing the drawer, otherwise it may end up cooking more than just your food.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
