'What I wish I had known before buying an air fryer' reveals a kitchen appliance expert

Before you buy your first (or next) air fryer, there are a few things you need to know. Whilst they're speedy, easy, and convenient ways to cook, they're also big, versatile, and sensitive to different ingredients. We've been using them for years, we've made all the air fryer mistakes, and now we've got everything you need to know before you buy an air fryer.

I hate to be that person, but I was using air fryers before they were cool. Ten years ago, even the best air fryers were clunky and big. Now they're slick and smart, with app controls, dual drawers, and super smart technology. They've come on leaps and bounds. Even though everyone seems to have one, I'm not convinced that everyone knows how to choose and how to use an air fryer properly.

With years of experience testing and writing about air fryers, I consider myself an air frying expert. I sat down with Clare Andrews, the author of The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook, so we could put our heads together on all the things we wish we knew before buying an air fryer. After hours of chatting, we came up with this guide for everything you need to know before buying an air fryer, including the best air fryer deals.

What you need to know before buying an air fryer

Before we get into the specifics of air frying, it's a good idea to know exactly how they work. The average air fryer is a lot like an oven, but smaller. There's a heating element at the back, right beside a fan. When you turn your air fryer on, it blasts hot air around the inside of your air fryer basket. This will quickly crisp up your food without needing any oil or anywhere near as much time as your classic oven. You can see why it's so appealing.

1. Choosing the right one requires some research

You can make your first air fryer mistake before you even buy one. No two air fryers are the same. They offer different features, sizes, functions, and designs, each suited to different kinds of cooks and kitchens. Before you even think about buying an air fryer, you need to know what you're looking for.

The key decision-making factors that you need to account for are: capacity, versatility, power, and price. I'll go deep into the details of how to choose an air fryer further down, but here's a table that breaks down the basics. It's a rough guide, because I've said that an air fryer for small homes should cost £40-70. However, if you want an air fryer that combines eleven functions into one, compact appliance, you'll need to up the budget a little.

Our top 3 air fryer picks

If you think you've got everything you need to know already, these three air fryers are our favourites. We've tested plenty more and rounded them up in our guide to the best air fryers on the market, so if you want more options, head over there.

2. Air fryers are actually quite big

Air fryers are always being described as 'compact' and 'small', but that's in comparison to ovens. I was fooled by the fact that an air fryer is a small kitchen appliance, thinking they would seamlessly fit onto my organized kitchen countertops. In reality, they’re surprisingly bulky. 

If you want enough space to cook for more than one person, it's worth making space on the counter. "I always make sure that I have enough room to cook for friends or the kids," says Claire, "the whole point of air fryers is that they're convenient and if you suddenly can't use them because you went for one with no capacity, you won't actually be able to make the most of your shiny new air fryer."

If I’m honest, I don’t have space for one in my kitchen and it does encroach on my worktop, but that's why I worked on making space in my cupboards to store the air fryer away when I'm not using it. However, when I told Claire about this, she said "I found that doing so meant that I stopped using it. Claire recommends biting the bullet and "selecting a model that complements your kitchen style, so people can admire it without it becoming an eyesore."

If you want a small air fryer, our eCommerce Editor, Laura, has tested and would recommend the Cosori Lite, £65, which is powerful but with a small footprint.  

Clare Andrews

Clare is an award-winning cookbook author who enjoys creating easy, delicious and low-energy recipes for air fryers and slow cookers. The titles, both available on Amazon are The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook and The Ultimate Slow Cooker Cookbook

3. You can't sit an air fryer right against your walls

Naturally, we tuck these big appliances right up against the wall so that it's not poking out onto the worktop. "The problem with this," Claire says, "is that your air fryer won't have a good air flow at the back, which is where it kicks out all the hot air." This is both dangerous in your kitchen and damaging for your walls, so you'll need to leave a little space behind it. Again, another reason to make sure that you're investing in the perfect size for your kitchen counter.

4. Air fryers aren't foolproof

While they are pretty straightforward to use – you put something in the basket, turn on the temperature, function and time and press start – it is easy to make air fryer mistakes. 

My first attempt at cooking air fryer crispy kale was a disaster. I incinerated a big bag of kale in minutes. And yes, I also burned the first batch of chips I cooked. But like any new appliance, it takes time to learn the nuances.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to look for things such as timers and temperature settings, all of which should make things easier.

AO’s air fryer expert Thea Whyte says: “Having a timer function on your air fryer means you’ll never have to worry about overcooking your food. Models with this will either let you know when your food’s done, or they’ll simply turn themselves off.” We can recommend the best Ninja air fryers as exceptional models to use.

What I will add to that is when you use your air fryer for the first time, always err on the side of caution. Opt for a shorter cooking time rather than a longer one to ensure you get a feel for how the appliance operates.

5. Air fryers don't actually fry

Despite their name, air fryers don't fry food in the traditional sense. Instead of submerging food in hot oil, they use convection to circulate hot air around the food. The appliance typically has a heating element and a fan that rapidly circulates the hot air, creating a crispy layer on the food similar to frying.

Claire says "this surprises some people, who might try making battered fish or doughnuts in the air fryer." If you've ever tried this, you'll realise that it doesn't work. Air fryers don't do well with wet batters, but Claire has a workaround: "when I was writing the book, I swapped battering fish with breading it. You still get a great crisp and crunch and I don't actually miss the batter." Similarly, she's worked out how to make a cake in an air fryer as well as baking doughnuts rather than frying them.

In essence, air fryers are miniature convection ovens with a concentrated airflow, which is why many compare air fryers to ovens. They still need oil to get that delicious crispy texture, but essentially, they are a healthier way to enjoy traditionally fried foods.

This is one of the reasons, I put off buying one for so long. My family and I don’t eat fried foods, but once I realised what you can cook in an air fryer extends beyond chips and chicken nuggets, I was hooked.

6. Air fryers are more versatile than I first thought

“Some air fryers also come with lots of different cooking functions, meaning you can make all sorts of meals,” says Thea. “They’re great for baking, frying, roasting and more, giving you everything you need no matter what’s on the menu.”

Since I’ve had my air fryer, I’ve done all the regular stuff like making homemade chips, heating sausage rolls and cooking burgers. I’ve also pushed the boat out and made a cake, a mini-Christmas dinner (including the sprouts) and even poached eggs using a silicon mould. We also discovered you can cook toast in an air fryer, who knew?

I'm fully embracing Clare's passion for air fryers and their incredible versatility. “I always go with the same rule – whatever you can cook in an oven, you can most definitely cook in an air fryer,” she tells me. 

Yet, certain things shouldn't be cooked in an air fryer, like pasta and rice. And when it comes to popping popcorn, it's advisable to stick with the trusty microwave, as my son and I discovered the hard way. Our attempt in the air fryer left many kernels unpopped, as it couldn't quite reach the necessary temperature. Safe to say for popcorn the air fryer vs microwave debate is solved.

7. You can't use oil sprays in an air fryer

Chances are, you're using your air fryer to make easy, healthy swaps in your diet. This means that you're probably also using a light oil spray too. Whilst this makes complete sense, it's actually really damaging for your air fryer. Claire says "most cooking sprays will have soy lecithin and aerosol chemicals that break down when you heat your air fryer. This will destroy the non-stick coating of your air fryer, damaging the lining and it can also be toxic if you ingest it."

Claire recommends buying an oil  bottle from John Lewis and then filling it with olive oil if you want a lighter layer of oil. It's a simple trick that'll give you effective results. Alternatively, you could invest in an air fryer that doesn't use non-stick chemicals that are easy to break down. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid, Ninja AF160, and Paris Rhône air fryers all use stainless steel and ceramic, which is a safer option to combine with lighter oil sprays.

8. Air fryers need a lot of cleaning (but liners can be a godsend)

Thankfully, the removable components of air fryers, such as the basket and tray can be bunged in the dishwasher to make cleaning an air fryer a relatively easy task.

“Lots of air fryers come with dishwasher-safe components,” says Thea. “They’re removable, meaning nothing gets in the way of wiping the inside and putting everything in the dishwasher makes the clean-up easy.”

However, our basket is quite sizable and occupies a significant chunk of the dishwasher space, prompting me to occasionally opt for handwashing. It's not the most enjoyable task, dealing with leftover fat and gunk at the bottom, but sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do.

Given the glossy finish of most air fryers, regular surface wipes are also essential to keep them looking pristine. Mine really shows up the dust and fingerprints. 

To keep the interior low-maintenance, you can invest in some air fryer liners that keep the basket grease-free. 

FAQs

What should I look for when I'm buying an air fryer?

There are some key factors to account for when you're thinking about buying an air fryer:

Capacity
Air fryers come in all shapes and sizes. One litre models will be enough to air fry a plate of chips and then as you creep up to 2 litre air fryers, you might be able to get a small roast chicken in the air fryer basket. Then, anything from 4.5-10 litres will cover the needs of the whole family. Make sure that you know how much space you need and double-check that your air fryer is delivering on that. Sometimes, the capacity will be split between two drawers, which is great for making full meals, but can make life hard if you want just one big drawer.

Settings
Some air fryers are really useful and they'll come with presets for every kind of food that you might eat. Others will need to be set manually, which is fine, but it'll require you to do some more research. It's always worth looking at what's on offer in your air fryer, since automatic timers, shut-off. and keep warm functions can be really useful.

Extras and accessories
Some air fryers come with special racks, skewers, baking pans, and lots of useful extras, whilst others will be more on the side of pared-back. There's no wrong or right, but accessories might help you to make the most out of your model. Check that they're dishwasher safe though, because that'll make them a lot easier to clean.

Price
Whilst I wish money was no object, it is. You can pick up a decent air fryer for just £50, but you can equally spend up to £300 on one too. Neither is outrageous, as long as you pay for what you need. I've tested the Ninja 11-in-1, which should cost £280. That's expensive for someone who might want a simple air fryer, but it could be incredible value for those who would use all eleven functions. Buy what you need.

Is there a downside to air fryers?

The popularity of air fryers doesn’t seem to be waning. Recent annual sales figures from Lakeland show that sales of this popular appliance were up 1,175% on last year. But surely there must be some negatives? Air fryer devotee Claire can’t seem to see any but does say they do require that initial outlay. 

“I personally can’t see any downsides to air fryers, but of course I would say that as I love them!” she says. “The cost can be quite steep. It’s an investment for sure, but well worth it in my opinion, they save you time and money off your electricity bill.”

For me, it is definitely the size that put me off buying one for so long – even after I’d tested them and was converted. I wish they were a bit nicer looking as well – many are just large black and silver pieces of plastic – but I can’t deny that the end product makes it all worthwhile.

Don’t expect them to be the only appliance you’ll need either. Even though fans like Claire cook everything in them, there’s nothing quite like a roast dinner cooked in an oven or crunchy green beans steamed in the microwave.

Overall, air fryers are a versatile and convenient addition to the kitchen, as long as you know what to consider when buying one.

Should I get an air fryer?

If you like easy, speedy, convenient cooking, you'll love air fryers. There's a reason that they've taken the nation by a storm and that's because they're actually really useful. 

The only reason I wouldn't recommend an air fryer is if you don't feel like you have the space or the need for one. For example, one of my friends loves her oven. She uses all the space inside and wouldn't make much use out of an air fryer. Someone like her doesn't need an air fryer.

Are air fryers safe?

If you know how to use an air fryer and you follow all the rules and regulations (don't leave it running empty), keep an eye on your food, and don't use it if it's damaged, then air fryers are perfectly safe to use. The one factor you should always keep an eye on is the non-stick. If that's damaged, you stand a chance of ingesting some of it, which isn't pleasant. 

It might look like there's a lot to learn about air fryers and there is. I put this list together because I wanted to share the things that I wish I'd known before I bought an air fryer, but what I should also emphasise is that I wouldn't be without mine now. I love it and if you invest in one, I think you'll love it too. There's a reason that they're everywhere.