Resisting a heaped pile of fried chicken wings, golden fries, fried onion rings or crunchy vegetables isn’t easy. Although most of us love these foods, they are quite unhealthy due to the thick layers of fat and grease and lots of unwanted calories.
But an air fryer will let you satisfy all your fried food cravings without the guilt.
How? Well, this appliance doesn’t actually fry the food.
Air fryers are small convection ovens that circulate hot air around the food to “fry” it. So even when you don’t add any oil, you’ll still get that oh-so-satisfying crispiness and delicious taste – and in less time than you would with a regular oven. Air frying reduces the risks associated with fried foods as well.
Keep reading to discover the best air fryers to enjoy your favourite fried food, sans the pinch of guilt.
Our Shortlist: The Best Air Fryer Australia, 2022
Before talking about the air fryers in detail, here’s a list of our top picks:
- FRY per BAKE per GRILL per ROAST- You can make hundreds of dishes in your Airfryer - Fry; bake; grill; roast and even reheat your meals
- FAMILY SIZE MEALS- XXL family size Airfryer fits a whole chicken or 1.4 kg of fries
- EASY TO CLEAN- QuickClean basket with non-stick mesh cleans up in 90 secs and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe
- FAT REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY- Separates and captures excess fat for healthier dishes
- FRY per BAKE per GRILL per ROAST- You can make hundreds of dishes in your Airfryer - Fry; bake; grill; roast and even reheat your meals
- FAMILY SIZE MEALS- XXL family size Airfryer fits a whole chicken or 1.4 kg of fries
- EASY TO CLEAN- QuickClean basket with non-stick mesh cleans up in 90 secs and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe
- FAT REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY- Separates and captures excess fat for healthier dishes
- Touch Screen Technology - operating time and temperature is faster and more convenient. Featuring 7 Built-in smart modes. Just press the M key and choose the cooking food you want. Time range from 0-60 mins.
- Healthy and Delicious - The air fryer cooks your food brown and crispy outside and keeps its moist inside without the excessive use of oils that contains too much fat, leading to fewer calories, lower fat and cholesterol consumption and a healthier lifestyle.
- Large Capacity - 7L large capacity cook more food at a same time, enabling you to prepare a meal for the whole family in record time, perfect for frying up your friends and family favorite snacks and foods with ease and less time consumed.
- Multifunctional - cooks many ways-Broils-Roasts-Bakes-Grills-BBQ-Broils. Meeting all your needs, you can make fries, shrimp, chicken, meat or cake just using one machine. Reheating the rest fried chicken, toast and retain the original flavor and taste.
- Easy to operate - Simply insert food into the hot air fryer, set the time and temperature or use the preset modes, your ingredients can be cooked efficiently and healthily. Equipped with BPA free plastic and overheat protection cutoff mechanism, it's reliable for you to use.
What to look for
Air fryers – just like other kitchen appliances – are available in different shapes, designs, and purposes. This is why you need to consider specific factors, cooking functions and features when deciding on the best air fryer for your kitchen.
Read on as we discuss this in more detail below:
Size
Air fryers have a basket for cooking food that can be either a pull-out drawer or top lid. Irrespective of the basket style, it’s the size that you need to consider since it‘ll determine the quantity of food your air fryer will cook.
Generally, the capacity of these baskets ranges from 1.5-2.7 L. The catch here is that sometimes the manufacturers purposely exaggerate the total amount of food that can be stored in these baskets.
Our tip would be to look for the cooking or working capacity, and if you don’t find one, visit a store to physically check the size of the air fryer you want. This can be especially useful if you have a larger family to avoid ending up with the wrong model.
Size can also refer to the whole appliance. You should choose a model depending on your storage space. If you have a smaller kitchen, a more compact model would be a smarter choice. If not, you can, of course, opt for a bigger one.
Cooking Performance
When we talk about cooking performance, we mean the speed of cooking of food.
A good air fryer should be fast, which will only be possible if it’s got an efficient hot air cooking technology. It should be noted that a deep fryer is quicker to an air fryer simply because oil cooks food faster than air.
An air fryer can be as quick as 30 minutes or take as long as two hours, so you need to consider the heating power (wattage) to understand how fast the appliance is. Try to adjust your cooking time expectations accordingly.
Ease of Cleaning
If you buy an air fryer that isn’t easy to clean and operate, you will eventually stop using it. To avoid this, we would recommend you carefully go through the instructions and cleaning processes suggested by the manufacturer. This will give you an idea of whether it’ll be convenient for you or not.
It would be best to opt for a model with dishwasher-friendly and nonstick parts. Additionally, instructions should be clear and precise, giving you full information on how to clean every nook and cranny of the appliance.
It’s necessary to thoroughly clean air fryers as otherwise a layer of grease will get accumulated on it. Not only is this bad for hygiene reasons as you may suffer from stomach problems, but it’ll also be unpleasant to see.
We would also suggest you consider your kitchen’s ventilation system. Proper ventilation will significantly reduce the total smoke discharge in your kitchen in case your air fryer smokes.
Noise Level
All air fryers make noise – some are quiet, some are almost silent. The maximum noise produced by the appliance shouldn’t be more than an air-conditioner. After all, you wouldn’t want to torture your ears every time you feel like having something crispy and golden.
Availability of Controls
One of the best things about an air fryer is that they come with preset cooking functions and features.
For instance, you can find models with a timer dial, a temperature dial, or maybe both. These digital controls let you enjoy complete control over the cooking process by adjusting the temperatures in the frying basket and the overall duration.
That being said, you might not find them on every model. Plus, the more advanced your air fryer, the more expensive it will be. So while having more controls is beneficial, it shouldn’t be out of your budget.
Speaking of budget…
Price
You’ve decided to buy an air fryer? Great! The next thing on your to-do list should be determining the budget for it.
In the case of air fryers, the price range can vary a lot. You can have models starting from AU$50 to ones as high as AU$600. The structure, model, features, and extra accessories are the biggest influencers of the price.
You’ll find advanced features such as temperature control and 360-degree rotation system, or a rotisserie spindle in digital models. Even accessories like tongs, lift tray, viewing window, grill pan, and so on come included with models and may inflate the price.
Availability
Air fryers, when compared to other kitchen appliances, are not exactly common in use. You won’t find every store stocking all the models.
For instance, you can get several Phillips and De’Longhi models on Harvey Norman and the Big W, but if you want other models like Kmart, Sunbeam, or Tefal, it will be better to try out Kmart, Target, or Amazon.
The air fryer selection at Myer and The Good Guys though wasn’t quite impressive as the options were very limited.
Top Pick: Philips Avance Collection Air Fryer XXL
- FRY per BAKE per GRILL per ROAST- You can make hundreds of dishes in your Airfryer - Fry; bake; grill; roast and even reheat your meals
- FAMILY SIZE MEALS- XXL family size Airfryer fits a whole chicken or 1.4 kg of fries
- EASY TO CLEAN- QuickClean basket with non-stick mesh cleans up in 90 secs and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe
- FAT REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY- Separates and captures excess fat for healthier dishes
Runner Up: Kmart 5.3 Litre Air Fryer
The Kmart 5.3 Litre Air Fryer enjoys a 4.8-star rating on ProductReview.com.au despite being a new entry in the air fryer market. It has a 5.3 L capacity that makes it suitable for people living alone, those on a tight budget like students, or a small family.
We liked how this appliance is very functional with its removable frying basket and a convenient 30-minute timer setting. So not only is cleaning this air fryer easier, but you can also adjust the cooking settings according to your schedule.
The device has a handle on the basket release, reducing the chances of any accidental spills. You can also adjust the temperature up to 200°C depending on the recipe.
It is very easy to operate, but in case you do face any difficulty, you can refer to the user manual that has clear and easy to understand instructions. Moreover, the device has been tested and found to comply with applicable Australian electrical safety standards.
For us, however, the most appealing feature this air fryer has to be the surprisingly low price tag.
The affordability factor can be especially useful for those who don’t have the kind of money that buying a model from Philips would involve. At just AU$89, you will have a durable and efficient machine that gives you crispy snacks and dishes in just 15 to 20 minutes.
This brings us to the other advantage of the Kmart 5.3 Litre Air Fryer – the reduced cooking time. When compared to cooking fried chicken or chips in the oven, the Kmart is much more efficient. A reviewer noted that if it takes you around 45 minutes to prepare a meal using an oven, it’ll take you just about 15 minutes on this air fryer.
While we really like the affordable price point and ease of use, it does fall short when compared to our top pick, the Philips, in certain aspects.
You don’t have any colour options. It only comes in one colour: black. Also, this device is a little bulky. So you need to ensure you have sufficient storage space to fit the air fryer.
Having said this, we would recommend this air fryer for those who don’t want to splurge but want a reliable machine that’s good at what it does – making delicious, crispy and healthy food.
Don’t forget to oil the pan (this is mostly for the food as the pan has a high-quality nonstick covering) and use the same amount of cooking oil as you would for roasting food items in an oven to prevent the food from drying out.
Other options
Sunbeam Multi Function Oven + Air Fryer
If you‘re health-conscious and want little to no oil or fat in your food, you should consider getting the Sunbeam Multi Function Oven + Air Fryer. With its 2-in-1 design that combines an oven and an air fryer, you can fry your favourite snacks as well as bake pizza in the same appliance.
The oven has a 22 L capacity, with two rack positions and accessories such as a mesh air fry basket, wire rack, baking pan, and removable crumb tray. While the air fry basket has a 750 g capacity, the baking pan is big enough to hold a large chicken along with vegetables to prepare a hearty dinner.
You can cook a 30 cm pizza, roast meat and vegetables, grill salmon, toast bread, waffles, and muffins or cake with the Sunbeam Multi Function Oven + Air Fryer. This versatility is one of its biggest pros considering its AU$249 price and that it uses 99.6% less oil when compared to the Sunbeam deep fryer.
It uses Turbo Heat Fan Technology that makes the process faster as well as ensures that the hot air is evenly circulated. You can use the convection setting too that will shorten the cooking duration by up to 30%. Other features include a 60-minute auto-off dial timer and the ability to support temperatures up to 230°C.
You won’t have to preheat the oven when you use the air fry setting. The Warm function has two applications: warming the food and keeping it warm after cooking until you’re ready to serve.
It has a compact size that makes it ideal for households with limited space. Cleaning is super easy as well; you just need a damp cloth to wipe the inside clean. The baking pan, wire rack and mesh fry basket are dishwasher-friendly as well – provided you use the top section.
It’s a clever appliance that is simple to use and maintain. You get a one-year warranty and a selection of recipes for some culinary inspiration too.
We haven’t given this appliance our top pick status as we felt that since it’s an oven + air fryer, the capacity is greatly limited. And while it has a 4.9-star rating on ProductReview.com.au, only 14 customers have reviewed the air fryer. Plus, a few customers have pointed out how the baking tray needs to be turned halfway through as it doesn’t cook evenly on the left and right-hand sides.
Philips HD9621 Viva Collection Air Fryer
- FRY per BAKE per GRILL per ROAST- You can make hundreds of dishes in your Airfryer - Fry; bake; grill; roast and even reheat your meals
- FAMILY SIZE MEALS- XXL family size Airfryer fits a whole chicken or 1.4 kg of fries
- EASY TO CLEAN- QuickClean basket with non-stick mesh cleans up in 90 secs and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe
- FAT REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY- Separates and captures excess fat for healthier dishes
Maxkon Air Fryer
- Touch Screen Technology - operating time and temperature is faster and more convenient. Featuring 7 Built-in smart modes. Just press the M key and choose the cooking food you want. Time range from 0-60 mins.
- Healthy and Delicious - The air fryer cooks your food brown and crispy outside and keeps its moist inside without the excessive use of oils that contains too much fat, leading to fewer calories, lower fat and cholesterol consumption and a healthier lifestyle.
- Large Capacity - 7L large capacity cook more food at a same time, enabling you to prepare a meal for the whole family in record time, perfect for frying up your friends and family favorite snacks and foods with ease and less time consumed.
- Multifunctional - cooks many ways-Broils-Roasts-Bakes-Grills-BBQ-Broils. Meeting all your needs, you can make fries, shrimp, chicken, meat or cake just using one machine. Reheating the rest fried chicken, toast and retain the original flavor and taste.
- Easy to operate - Simply insert food into the hot air fryer, set the time and temperature or use the preset modes, your ingredients can be cooked efficiently and healthily. Equipped with BPA free plastic and overheat protection cutoff mechanism, it's reliable for you to use.
Cuisinart Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- ENDLESS FUNCTIONS: This Compact design AirFryer Toaster Oven takes less room on the countertop an is equipped with a convection bake, convection broil, AirFry, toast, bagel and warm – all in one appliance
- CAPACITY: Large enough to airfry up to 2.5-pounds, toasts 4-slices of bread, bakes a 3-pounds of chicken
- SUPERIOR OPERATION: Equipped with an adjustable timer thermostat up to 450-degrees, 60-minute timer/auto-shutoff and a toast shade selector-timer to ensure your meals are cooked to your perfection – also has quiet operation
- INCLUDES: This unit comes with the essentials – an oven light, oven rack, baking pan, air fryer rack/basket, crumb tray and has a nonstick easy-clean interior to make mess cleanup simple
- LIMITED 3-YEAR WARRANTY: Refer to user manual for troubleshooting steps and questions surrounding warranty policies – this product is BPA free
How Does An Air Fryer Work?
As mentioned before, an air fryer has the same purpose as a deep fryer. The only difference is the technology used and the varied outcomes.
An air fryer uses very little oil (nearly 80% less) for grilling, baking, and of course, frying food items, especially when compared to a traditional deep fryer.
The appliance is basically a convection oven that circulates hot air around foods kept in an attached basket. You can use as little as only half a tablespoon of oil and you’ll still get that golden brown and crispy texture.
It can cook all types of food – be it chicken wings, French fries, or chicken breast – without any pre-heating or cooking odours.
Just How Much Healthier Is an Air Fryer?
Air fryer manufacturers claim that the appliance is the best way to enjoy your favourite fried food. While it’s great that air fryers can help lower the overall fat content of food items like chicken wings and fish sticks, is it enough to truly make a difference?
We decided to investigate to see just how healthier cooking with an air fryer is.
Let’s take a look:
Cuts Down the Overall Fat Content
It was found that deep-fried chicken breast has nearly 30% more fat than the same portion of roasted chicken. On the contrary, when you use an air fryer, the overall fat content reduces by up to 75%.
You see, air fryers use only one tablespoon or 15 mL of oil as opposed to the 750 mL requirement of deep fryers. The oil usage is nearly 50 times less which, in turn, can be useful in reducing risks of inflammation and heart diseases.
Even experts have found out that air fried French fries had considerably less fat – despite a similar colour and moisture content – when compared to its deep-fried counterpart. For other foods, the number of calories consumed is reduced by nearly 70-80% on average.
There are several air fryer recipes that you can try that require only two tablespoons of oil. For example, 225g shrimp skewers when air-fried have only 59 kcal while cooking six regular-sized salmon patties will have only 104 kcal.
Reduced Formation of Harmful Compounds
Frying foods has two direct consequences: a higher fat and calorie intake, and the creation of potentially dangerous compounds like acrylamide.
For those who aren’t aware, acrylamide is a compound formed when carbohydrate-rich foods are subjected to high heat cooking methods like frying. It’s also classified as a “probable carcinogen“ that might cause cancer.
Air frying, on the other hand, will lower the acrylamide content of your fried foods by nearly 90%. But yes, there is still a chance that other harmful compounds might form during the process of air frying.
We require more research to understand the formation of other potentially dangerous chemicals through the air frying process in greater detail.
A Possible Aid to Control Weight
Deep-fried food items are drenched in calories; a direct consequence of which is a possible weight gain. So when you swap your deep-fried food with air fried food, not only will you lower your calorie intake, but you can promote weight loss as well.
The Bottom Line: Which Air Fryer is Worth It?
We considered multiple features, went through several customer reviews and studied the pros and cons of various models to narrow down our best picks.
Either of our two top picks, Philips Avance Collection Air Fryer XXL and Kmart 5.3 Litre Air Fryer, would be an excellent addition to your kitchen. For us, these two are definitely the first and second-best options for the best air fryer Australia has on the market as of 2022.
- Best Overall Air Fryer: Philips Avance Collection Air Fryer XXL
- Best Air Fryer for Value: Kmart 5.3 Litre Air Fryer
- Best Air Fryer for Versatility: Sunbeam Multi Function Oven + Air Fryer
- Best Air Fryer for Small Kitchens: Philips HD9621 Viva Collection Air Fryer
- Best Multifunctional Air Fryer: Cuisinart Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven
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