Food & Kitchen buying guide

How to choose an air fryer

An air fryer is a compact convection oven that crisps food with little oil. Capacity and shape matter more than presets: a basket that is too small means cooking in batches. Check the power draw for your kitchen circuits, how easy it is to clean, and the coating on surfaces that touch food.

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Weighted criteria

What matters when choosing air fryers

Weights add up to 100 and reflect how much each factor usually decides satisfaction. Change them to fit you in the scorecard.

  1. Capacity & shape

    25%

    Usable basket or tray area for your household; a wide, flat basket crisps more food in one layer.

    How to check: Compare usable basket area, not just litres, and think about the largest item you cook.

  2. Cooking evenness

    20%

    Even browning without constant shaking.

    How to check: Look for independent tests; test with frozen chips or vegetables during the return window.

  3. Ease of cleaning

    20%

    Dishwasher-safe parts and few hard-to-reach crevices.

    How to check: Check which parts are dishwasher safe and whether the heating element can be wiped.

  4. Materials & coatings

    15%

    The basket coating or uncoated alternatives such as stainless steel or ceramic.

    How to check: Read what the cooking surfaces are made of and the care instructions to avoid damaging coatings.

  5. Power & running cost

    10%

    Wattage and whether your sockets and circuits can handle it alongside other appliances.

    How to check: Check the wattage on the label and avoid using extension leads unless the maker allows it.

  6. Safety & warranty

    10%

    Cool-touch exterior, auto shut-off, and recall history.

    How to check: Check recall lists for the model and read the warranty term.

Avoid

Red flags

  • Health claims such as "fat-free" or "cancer-safe" cooking.
  • No information on basket coating material.
  • Unknown sellers with no safety marks for your region.
  • A burning plastic smell that does not go after the first few uses.

Before you pay

Checklist

  1. Decide how many people you cook for.
  2. Choose basket or oven style.
  3. Check usable area and dishwasher-safe parts.
  4. Check wattage against your kitchen circuits.
  5. Search the model on recall lists.

Ask the seller

Questions to ask

  • What is the basket coating made of?
  • Which parts are dishwasher safe?
  • Are replacement baskets sold separately?

After you buy

Warranty & returns

Air fryers commonly carry a one or two year warranty; damaged coatings from metal utensils or abrasive cleaners are often excluded.

  • Use wooden or silicone tools on coated baskets.
  • Leave space around the unit for airflow.

Track the return window and warranty end date

Common mistakes

Myths vs facts

Myth Air-fried food is always healthy.

Fact It usually uses less oil than deep frying, but the overall healthiness depends on the food itself.

Myth Bigger capacity always means faster cooking.

Fact Overfilling any basket slows cooking. Spread food in a single layer for even results.

Where this comes from

Official sources

Criteria and weights are AltFTool's editorial judgement, not a statement by these bodies. This guide is general consumer information, not professional advice.

FAQ

Air Fryers: common questions

Basket or oven-style?

Baskets heat up fast and crisp well for one to three people. Oven styles fit flat foods and larger batches.

Can I put foil or paper in it?

Only as the maker allows. Loose liners can blow into the heating element.

Does it replace my oven?

For small portions it can. For large trays and baking, a conventional oven is still useful.

Free tools

Use these with this guide

Weighted scorecard

Review pattern checker

Complaint letter writer

Warranty & returns tracker

True cost calculator

Also handy: air fryer converter

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