Imagine a typical evening: you want to cook a serving of potatoes or a few pieces of chicken, but that means heating the entire oven. An air fryer sounds like a good buy at times like this. Put the food in the basket, set the time and temperature, and get on with something else.
But will you use it every day, or will it just take up kitchen space after a few weeks? That depends on what you cook and how much of it you make.
What do we mean by an air fryer?
This article is about a compact, basket-style air fryer. Inside are a heating element and a fan: hot air moves around the food and browns its surface. It works on a similar principle to a convection oven, but the cooking chamber is much smaller. How the air circulation works — Philips.
Despite its name, an air fryer does not cook food submerged in oil. A little oil may help with flavour and browning, but you do not fill the basket with it as you would a deep fryer.
The short answer
An air fryer is convenient for small portions and quick everyday cooking: vegetables, potatoes, chicken wings, patties, or reheating food when you want to bring back a crisp crust.
An oven is more convenient for a large household, several dishes at once and food in a large baking dish: a pie, casserole, pizza or a full tray of vegetables.
If you already have a good convection oven, an air fryer will not introduce a fundamentally new cooking method. Its advantage is convenience and a compact cooking space when you do not want to switch on a large oven for one or two portions.
What makes it convenient?
Hot air circulates quickly inside the small chamber. For a small amount of food, this often means less cooking time and lower electricity use than a full-size oven. Results still depend on the food, appliance and portion size. Which? compares cooking in an air fryer and oven.
Reheating is another useful feature. If you have leftover pizza or roast potatoes, circulating hot air can bring back some crispness. A microwave will usually just make them hot.
For everyday cooking, you also do not need to find the right-sized baking tray. You will, however, have to wash the basket and rack afterwards. That becomes part of the routine.
Are there any drawbacks?
The most obvious limit is space inside the basket. A quoted capacity of 6 litres does not mean you can fill every bit of that space tightly with food.
Pile potatoes too high and some pieces may brown while others stay soft. You may need to shake or turn food during cooking. An overfilled basket can also heat food unevenly, as the US Food Safety and Inspection Service explains.
If you are cooking for four or five people, you may need several batches. The first could cool while the last is still cooking. In that situation, a full-size oven is often more convenient.
An air fryer also needs storage space or a permanent spot on the countertop. Before buying, check its external dimensions and the manufacturer's instructions for the clearance it needs around it.
Does it save electricity?
For one small portion, often yes. A smaller chamber does not need as much space heated.
But if you have to run the air fryer two or three times for the same meal, the advantage may shrink. The fair comparison is the electricity needed to cook the whole dinner, rather than one air-fryer cycle against one oven cycle.
The wattage printed on the box does not tell you the whole story either. Cooking time and the way the appliance maintains its temperature matter too.
What is better cooked in an oven?
An oven wins when you need space: a large pizza, several batches of biscuits, a casserole dish or lots of vegetables on a tray. It is easier to cook a main course and a side dish at once, if your oven's size and settings allow it.
An air fryer is better suited to compact meals that fit in the basket with room for air to circulate. It can complement an oven, but is unlikely to replace it completely for someone who bakes often or cooks large portions.
A quick comparison
| What matters | Air fryer | Oven |
|---|---|---|
| One or two portions | Usually convenient and quick | A larger chamber needs heating |
| A large dinner | May take several batches | More can be cooked at once |
| Crispy surface | Good for small portions | Also possible, especially with convection |
| Baking in a large dish | Limited by basket size | More room and choice of dishes |
| Cleaning | Wash the basket and rack | Wash the trays and oven |
| Kitchen space | Takes up counter or cupboard space | Usually has a dedicated place already |
Do you need an air fryer?
If you often make small portions and do not want to switch on the oven each time, an air fryer could become a handy everyday appliance. If your kitchen is small and the oven is already busy with full trays of food, first consider where the air fryer would go and how often you would use it.
