When it comes time to cook a meal, one of the most common appliances you tend to turn to in your kitchen is your oven. Able to bake, roast, fry, and grill a wide variety of dishes, these trusty kitchen companions have been the go-to choice for generations. The downside to your oven, however, is that it can easily be one of the most time consuming methods for cooking, and not only will your dish need to sit inside it for ages, but preheating can be an endless task that makes it inconvenient and slow. Thankfully, there is a newer, more modern solution available, and if you’ve been searching for a way to speed up your culinary creations and get dinner on the table in a more timely manner, then you may want to consider investing in an air fryer. 

Benefits of an Air Fryer

Taking the power of your oven and transforming it into a smaller, faster, and more efficient appliance, an air fryer is a popular kitchen tool that is known for its ability to cook food quickly using hot air circulation and a minimal amount of oil. Whether you're whipping up crispy snacks, perfectly roasted vegetables, or juicy cuts of meat, the air fryer's convenience, versatility, and health-conscious approach to cooking make it an easy-to-reach-for option when you want delicious food, in a fraction of the time. Not only is an air fryer faster both when preheating and cooking, it’s also significantly healthier than traditional frying methods, and users love that they can still enjoy food that is just as crispy and flavorful as their deep-fried counterparts, without the excess calories. 

If you’re new to the world of air fryers and are unsure about how they might be able to improve your cooking experience, some of the key reasons why they have become such a preferred solution include:

For most ovens, preheating takes around 15 minutes in order for it to get up to 350º, with additional time required if you want it even hotter. Wasting both your time and electricity, this problem is easily solved when you opt to cook with your air fryer, as it can cut down the preheat time to only 2-5 minutes depending on the size of your model. On top of that, you can now produce entire meals in less time than baking would take, and since it’s significantly more energy-efficient, you’ll be saving on your electricity bill as well. 

As the name implies, an air fryer utilizes hot, circulating air in order to “fry” your food, and this makes it not only a great alternative to baking in an oven, but to frying foods in oil as well. When you shallow fry in a pan, or deep fry in a fryer, you’re adding a huge amount of excess oil and calories to your dishes, and this can have a noticeable impact on your weight and overall health. Instead, air fryers eliminate the need for copious amounts of oil, allowing you to achieve crispy, delicious results that are healthier and more weight-conscious. By using only a small amount of oil or even none at all, air fryers significantly reduce the calorie and fat content of your favorite fried or crispy dishes, ensuring you can still indulge in tasty comfort foods without regret.

Deep frying may be a great way to achieve fun, extra-crispy textures and flavors, but this enjoyable cooking method does come with certain safety concerns. Achieving temperatures of up to 375°F or more, hot oil can pose a serious hazard in the kitchen, leading to painful splatters, severe burns, and even fires if not handled with the utmost caution. Air fryers, in contrast, offer a safer alternative to traditional deep fryers, and since there is no vat of scalding oil that you’re putting your food into, you won’t have to worry about dangerous splatters and burns during the cooking process. In addition, air fryers often feature safety mechanisms like automatic shut-off functions, which will ensure that your food won't overcook and that the appliance won't pose a fire hazard should it start to overheat. 

Thanks to its compact, convenient size and efficiency, an air fryer is ideal when you want to prepare a snack, cook just for yourself, or whip up a batch of treats for just a couple of people. Unlike your oven, you won’t have to spend excess time or energy using such a bulky appliance for such a small amount of food, and this also makes them the perfect choice for impromptu meals or when you're craving a quick, satisfying bite. With that said, air fryer models do come in a wide range of sizes, so if you are looking to feed an entire family or big groups, then there are options available that will allow you to accomplish this. 

What Size is Right For Me?

Air fryers aren’t a one-size-fits-all type of product, and before you run out and grab one to add to your kitchen, you’ll first need to understand which size is going to be appropriate for your household, and your needs. Do you live in a tiny, studio apartment with limited kitchen space and only plan on making snacks for yourself? Or do you have ample countertop space and want the ability to whip up delicious, healthy meals for your entire family each night? Choosing the right size is one of the most essential factors in ensuring you are able to get a lot of use out of your new appliance, and the best size for you is easiest to determine when you start by looking at how many people you plan to cook for.

If you live alone or in a small space like a tiny apartment, a compact air fryer with a smaller capacity (usually 2-3 quarts) may be the perfect fit. These will typically have only a single basket for cooking in, and their compact size won’t take up a lot of space on your counter. Able to accommodate around 6 chicken wings at a time, a full chicken breast, or an individual portion of fries, this size will be sufficient when space is limited and you only need to cater to yourself, and maybe one other individual. 

If meal times almost always include 2 portions, not just 1, then a mid-size air fryer that’s around 3-5 quarts may be the perfect sweet spot for you. This size allows you to comfortably prepare meals for two without having to cook in multiple batches. Easily fitting 2 to 3 chicken breasts, 8 or more wings, and more than enough fries for 2 people, a 3-5 quart air fryer offers the versatility and capacity needed for couples, while still remaining compact and energy-efficient. 

Larger families should consider air fryers with capacities ranging from 5-10 quarts or more, as these models can accommodate bigger batches of food, making it easy to cook for multiple people and prepare family dinners. At this size, you’ll now have the ability to roast an entire chicken or cook a rack of ribs, and in some models you may even be able to comfortably fit a whole pizza. While this size will require more counter space than the smaller models, it will still be faster, more efficient, and smaller than a full oven, and you’ll be able to enjoy delicious, healthier foods in significantly less time. 

Key Features

After you’ve narrowed down your search and settled on the exact size of an air fryer you desire, the next thing you will want to explore is the various features and settings that may be included with the model you purchase. Not all air fryers are going to offer you the same options, and these features can significantly impact your cooking experience and provide you with more versatility in the kitchen. While browsing, a few things you may want to look at and consider will include:

With some air fryer models you will be able to set a precise temperature when cooking, but with other models you will only be able to select between low, medium, or high. Which you prefer will be a matter of personal preference, however, if you plan on using your air fryer to create full meals, or you want to be able to follow along with recipes that have exact instructions, then opting for more precise temperature settings will likely be the right choice for you. 

An air fryer isn’t just able to “fry” your foods, and in fact, a lot of models will have pre-set options that will enable you to select between frying, baking, roasting, grilling, and even reheating. These versatile cooking options can expand your culinary capabilities and allow you to prepare a wide variety of dishes with a single appliance, and it can reduce the number of appliances you need to keep in the kitchen. In some cases, certain models may even be able to be used as a lid on top of your existing instant pot if you already own one, taking up even less space and increasing the overall functionality. 

When it comes to the cost of an air fryer, this can range significantly, and you can find everything from basic models that start at around $50 to more advanced, feature-rich models that can cost several hundred dollars. How much you’ll need to spend will really come down to what size you’re seeking as well as what settings and temperature ranges you want, and if you’re hoping for the latest and greatest in technology, then you should be prepared to spend a bit more. 

Bottom Line

Ultimately, when it comes to purchasing an air fryer you always want to be on the lookout for the model that truly fits your lifestyle, kitchen, and needs, and that will enable you to create culinary masterpieces faster, and more efficiently. With their health-conscious approach to frying, and their delicious results, air fryers have become an invaluable addition to many kitchens, and a worthwhile purchase that will help you to make meal preparation more convenient and enjoyable.