An air fryer is a speedy solution to cries of "I'm huuuuungry" that doesn't involve a trip to Macca's or slaving over a hot stove.
If you've lost track of the number of nuggets you've air fried over the years, you want to mix up your weeknight meals, or maybe you just feel like experimenting, it could be time to expand your horizons.
These tips from CHOICE's kitchen experts will help you elevate your air fryer status from amateur to ace.
1. Go large (or go multi)
Can't get enough of all the air fried goodness coming out of your machine? Do the kids clamour for air-fried everything each night?
Most people start out their air fryer journey with a basic model.
And there's nothing at all wrong with that: an appliance that does one thing and does it well is a winner in our book.
(Check out the best air fryers under $250 for the best on a budget.)
But if you feel like your air fryer has taken you as far as it can go, it might be time to part ways and continue your journey with a different machine.
Which type is right for you depends on how you want to cook and how much you want to spend.
Twin air fryers allow you to cook larger portions and different foods.
Double your luck
Size up with a twin (aka double-basket) air fryer or a larger-capacity air fryer that has just one drawer.
Diversify
If you don't have one already, treat yourself to a rotating basket air fryer. These bake, grill and air fry. The rotating basket means you don't have to shake the food as it cooks, so you'll get perfectly-browned nuggets every time.
Change teams
Air fryers aren't the only appliances that can air fry.
Some multi-cookers and benchtop ovens have added air frying capabilities to their repertoire – and some of them do a good job of it, too, performing very well when we test their air frying skills.
Rather than dedicating bench space to an appliance that does just one thing (air fry), you could opt for a machine that not only air fries but can also slow cook, pressure cook, saute, sear, steam and more.
2. Give your menu a glow up
So you're turning out beautifully golden nuggets and fries with the perfect amount of crunch every time? Nice work!
You could just keep on doing what you know you're good at (and there's nothing wrong with that), or you could challenge yourself to create more complex and unusual recipes.
There's chicken wings, chicken schnitzels, and even whole roast chickens if your air fryer is big enough. But there's more to air fryers than just chicken.
You might be surprised by the perfect crackling and juicy meat a good air fryer can turn out
As part of our air fryer testing, CHOICE's kitchen experts assess and score each air fryer's ability to cook roast pork belly. You might be surprised by the perfect crackling and juicy meat a good air fryer can turn out.
This delicious-looking pork belly was cooked in an air fryer.
(Hot tip: pat the meat dry before cooking to encourage browning and crisping.)
But our experts like to push the envelope even further, whipping up foods you might not have thought about cooking in your air fryer.
Here are a few foods they've cooked up recently:
Banana bread: You can use any cake recipe, but all air fryers are different, so it could take some trial and error to get it right.
Soft-boiled eggs: Cook at 140°C for 12 minutes for soft-boiled eggs and 15 minutes for hard-boiled.
Roasted chickpeas and nuts: An air fryer is ideal for this task because nuts need to be shaken frequently and monitored to avoid overcooking, so they're much easier to cook in an air fryer than an oven.
Bread rolls: Use the same recipe that you'd use for baking in an oven, but reduce the time and temperature.
Pizza: For the best results, go for a thin dough and cook it for a few minutes in the air fryer before putting the toppings on. Cook until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden.
"Foods that can be cooked in an oven can also be cooked in an air fryer, but if you can vary the temperature in your air fryer, that will give you more options," says CHOICE kitchen expert Fiona Mair.
"You may need to reduce the cooking time and temperature from what you'd normally use when cooking in your oven."
There's a whole world beyond air-fried nuggets and fries, including soft-boiled eggs, banana bread, pizza and bread rolls.
3. Get fruity (and vegetable-y)
While our kitchen experts have been busy baking bread and soft-boiling eggs in air fryers, they've also been experimenting with the dehydrator function that some new models sport.
They've trialled semi-dried tomatoes, kale chips, dried apple crisps, fruit leathers and beef jerky.
"Interestingly, the air fryers did the job faster than standalone dehydrators and we were impressed with the results," says Fiona.
"But the downside is that air fryers can't fit the same volume of food that dehydrators can."
Any air fryer that can cook as low as 60°C can double as a dehydrator
Six of the 37 models in our current review have dehydrator mode, but you don't necessarily need to buy an air fryer with this function if you want to try dehydrating: any air fryer that can cook as low as 60°C can double as a dehydrator.
An air fryer can double as a dehydrator to preserve foods.
4. Put the fun into functions
Even fairly basic air fryers have pre-programmed settings for particular foods or tasks, but the next generation of air fryers are multi-skilled, multi-functional, and multi-featured. (Is that even a word? It is now.)
If you feel like it's time to move on from your entry-level fryer, think about what you want to cook and how you'd like to cook it.
How many functions are too many?
Then from there, suss out what options are available on the market and choose an air fryer with functions that align with your needs.
"Bear in mind that the more functions an appliance has, the more expensive it tends to be – so ask yourself which functions will actually be useful and which ones you probably won't end up using," says Fiona.
The more functions an appliance has, the more expensive it tends to be
Fiona Mair, CHOICE kitchen expert
"The same goes with multi-cookers that air fry: sixteen different functions might sound appealing, but how likely are you to make your own yoghurt or sous vide a salmon steak?"
Get out of the kitchen
App-controlled appliances aren't exactly a new thing, but not many air fryers have had this feature.
Air fryers are already a convenient way to cook; adding an app makes them even more so.
Some apps are fairly simple, giving you step-by-step cooking instructions which makes cooking a new dish easier.
The Philips 7000 Series Air fryer Combi XXXL Connected HD9880/90.
But a recent addition to the market goes a step further.
"The Philips 7000 Series Air fryer Combi XXXL Connected HD9880/90 is one of the most innovative air fryers we've tested so far," says Fiona.
"The app not only guides you through the cooking process, but also connects to the air fryer so you can monitor the food's cooking progress and (most impressively) allows you to control the cooking time, temperature and fan speed remotely.
"It also has an integrated smart food thermometer that helps make the perfect roast: first it allows you to measure the meat's thickness and once you've input it into the app, it chooses the optimum cooking time and temperature.
"Then it measures the meat's internal temperature as it cooks so you can make sure it's cooked to perfection."
The Philips 7000 Series Air fryer Combi XXXL Connected is one of the most innovative air fryers we've tested so far
Fiona Mair, CHOICE kitchen expert
But this fancy feature doesn't come cheap: at $750, the 7000 Series is the most expensive air fryer we've tested, costing even more than multi-cookers such as the Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot.
"These features can benefit even the most advanced air fryer cook," says Fiona.
"They take the guesswork out of cooking times and temperatures as well as giving you many recipe options.
"If you're an amateur air fryer cook then it will make cooking so much easier."
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
