When air fryers first appeared on the market in 2010, they were barebones appliances with limited features. But thanks to technological advances, they nowadays come with many sophisticated features. Plus, they come in various shapes and sizes. So, with numerous air fryers on the market, it may be a challenge to know how to pick the best model. This air fryer guide will explore what to consider before buying an air fryer to help you choose suitable models customers will love.
Table of Contents
What are air fryers?
What can air fryers cook?
What to consider before buying an air fryer
Conclusion
What are air fryers?
The word air fryer is a bit of a misnomer. While the name implies air fryers fry food, they don’t actually ‘fry’ food. Instead, they cook food by circulating hot air around it like convection ovens. Thus, air fryers aren’t a replacement for deep fryers but rather a substitute for convection ovens in a compact form.
What can air fryers cook?
Air fryers are ideal for cooking foods like chicken, french fries, pork chops, roast potatoes, bacon, and meatballs. Besides these foods, air fryers are also great for cooking veggies like Brussels sprouts, zucchini, cauliflower, and even baked goods. Incredibly versatile, they’re also perfect for reheating leftovers.
What to consider before buying an air fryer
There are numerous air fryers on the market, each with its pros and cons. Before choosing a model, here’s what to consider.
Size
One huge difference between air fryer models is their size. Smaller models fit less food and are designed to cook for a few people, while larger models can fit more food and cook meals for several people.
When choosing an air fryer, check the capacity to determine how many people the air fryer can cook meals for. For instance, 1.5-liter models are ideal for cooking meals for one to two people.
On the other hand, 9-liter models can cook meals for up to eight people, making them perfect for consumers with large families.
Controls
No frills air fryers used to be the norm when air fryers first appeared on the market. But nowadays, new models come with several bells and whistles. For shoppers looking for sophisticated features, consider offering digital models.
Digital air fryers have digital controls that allow users to set the cooking time and temperature with just the touch of a button. Many digital models also have presets for common dishes like chicken, steak, fish, french fries, and vegetables, making them great for people who don’t want to fine adjust temperature and time settings when cooking meals.
However, some customers may prefer manual air fryers to digital ones. Unlike digital air fryers, manual models typically have two analog dials — one for setting the temperature and another for the cooking time. While manual models don’t have as many sophisticated features as their digital counterparts, they often cost less, making them an excellent option for cost-conscious customers.
Cleanup
Air fryers have holes that can become caked with pieces of food after cooking. As a result, air fryers should be cleaned thoroughly after use. While most air fryers are generally easy to clean with just soap and water, some are easier to clean than others.
When looking for an air fryer, check whether it’s dishwasher-friendly. Also, check whether it’s a non-stick interior model. Air fryers with both these features are much easier to clean.
Warranty
When choosing air fryers, look for models with good warranties to give customers peace of mind. While most air fryers have a one or two-year warranty, some models have shorter warranties of 180 or 60 days.
Design
There are two main air fryers: basket air fryers and air fryer ovens. As the name suggests, basket air fryers cook food in a basket or drawer.
On the other hand, air fryer ovens, also known as tray air fryers, look and operate like convection ovens.
Basket air fryers are ideal for people with limited counter space since they’re compact. However, while air fryer ovens take up more space, they are suitable for customers looking for more than just air fryer functionality. Unlike basket air fryers which only have one function, air fryer ovens can bake, toast, roast, broil, and dehydrate, making them perfect for consumers looking to maximize their counter space with an all-in-one appliance.
Plus, thanks to their glass door designs, air fryer ovens can allow users to see the food while it’s cooking. As a result, unlike their basket counterparts, users won’t need to open them to check how far their food has come. This can help to prevent heat loss and speed up cooking time.
Conclusion
Air-fried foods are healthier than deep-fried foods. Air fryers use far less oil than deep fryers, and they can cut calories by up to 80%. As more consumers look for healthy alternatives to deep-frying food, air fryers will continue to be in high demand. If you want to provide consumers with air fryers that will meet their needs and preferences, consider these factors before buying air fryers for your business. Check out Alibaba.com for a wide range of air fryer models for every consumer.
