If you’re planning on buying an air fryer, you might be wondering whether it’s worth it. This post takes a look at the pros and cons of air fryers – are they all they’re cracked up to be?
Let’s take a look.
I have to admit, that I am firmly in the ‘I love my air fryer and couldn’t be without it’ camp.
My Mum, on the other hand, didn’t get on with her air fryer at all.
In fact, it’s sitting in my kitchen cupboard as a backup in case my trusty air fryer ever decides it’s had enough of being used three times a day and gives up the ghost.
Thankfully it hasn’t happened yet because I do love my current air fryer.
Anyway, I know not all gadgets work for everyone and I am a big fan of a pro/con list so let’s get started shall we?
Air Fryer Pros
There are quite a few pros to having an air fryer.
Do you agree with all of these?
Air Fryers Are Cheaper To Run Than A Conventional Oven
Air fryers heat up more quickly than a conventional oven and their small size means hot air circulates more efficiently.
This equates to less cooking time for most foods and therefore less electricity is used. Over a year, this could save most households quite a bit of money.
Air Fryers Are Healthier
Air fryers are healthier than other cooking methods as less fat is needed.
Air frying is much healthier than deep frying or shallow frying in oil.
While you do get similarly healthy results with a standard oven, I find food cooked in an air fryer is more evenly cooked
Recipes:
Garlic And Chilli Air Fryer Potatoes
Air Fryers Make Food Crispier
Oven chips cooked in an air fryer are typically crispier and more evenly cooked than when done in the oven.
Well, that’s my experience anyway.
Of course, nothing is ever going to beat freshly deep-fried French fires, but the air fryer is about as close as you’re going to get.
Air Fryers Cook Food More Quickly
If you’ve had a busy day then you’ll want dinner to be on the table as soon as possible.
An air fryer’s small size means it heats up and cooks food much more quickly than a conventional of oven.
Air Fryers Are Easy To Clean
Do you hate cleaning your oven? Me too!
One of the great things about an air fryer is its small size means it’s easy to take apart and clean in the sink as and when needed.
Perfect For Small Families / Singles
If you live on your own, sometimes it can maybe feel like it’s not worth putting the oven just for one small item.
As the air fryer is so small it’s perfect for small families and those living on their own who might not always want to run their oven.
Air Fryer Recipe: Bread Pudding
Air Fryers Are Easily Portable
Their small size means that air fryers are easily portable and can be taken with you when you go on holiday for tasty and cheap meals while away.
Just make sure to double-check the policy on electrical items before you go (for example, air fryers are not allowed in self-catering accommodation at Butlins or Center Parcs as it invalidates their insurance as it’s not been PAT tested).
Another benefit is that air fryers can easily be used in a different room in your home – perfect for tasty meals during a kitchen renovation.
Related Post: 50 Best Chicken Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Cons
Okay, so far we’ve seen there are a lot of positives to having an air fryer.
It’s time to take a look at some of the cons:
Is an air fryer all it’s cracked up to be?
Are there any drawbacks to owning an air fryer?
Consider The Initial Cost Of Buying An Air Fryer
The first thing to consider when buying an air fryer is the cost.
Like most appliances, the air fryer market offers a range of makes and models to suit all budgets and circumstances, from the very cheap and simple to the full bells and whistles package costing hundreds of pounds.
It can be hard to know how much to spend if you don’t know how often you’ll use it and if you’re not sure it’s right for you.
And even though air fryers can save you money on your electricity bill, it could be a year or more before that money is recouped.
The best suggestion that I can give is to start with a budget air fryer and go from there.
Perhaps not the cheapest on the market, but the budget-friendly end of the range.
If you love the air fryer and find yourself using it daily, you might feel it’s worth upgrading to a snazzier model.
Conversely, if you’ve barely used it after a year, you won’t have wasted too much money and could sell it second-hand to recoup some of the cost.
Air Fryers Aren’t Always Worth It For Large Families
Air fryers are great, but they are small. And while that is often part of their appeal, that might not always work for larger families.
For example, it can be hard to cook enough chips in an air fryer for more than three or four people, even if you have a slightly larger model with two compartments.
In this situation, you might end up cooking food in batches while keeping some portions warm in the oven. You might as well just cook in the oven to begin rather than running two appliances.
Settings Can Be Complex
I have a very basic air fryer. I set the temperature and turn the timer and that’s it.
However, I know some of the fancier models have more complex settings for cooking different foods and this could be tricky to learn if you’re not used to this type of kitchen gadget.
Air Fryer Pros And Cons: Conclusion
In my experience, the pros of having an air fryer far outweigh the cons. It cooks food quickly and efficiently, saves money on my electricity and is both portable and easy to clean.
What more could I ask from a kitchen gadget?
What do you think? Do you think an air fryer is worth it?