Air Fryer Confusion

[barry1010]

My neighbour wants to buy an airfryer but doesn't know anything about them and has asked me to recommend one.

I don't have one, have never used them and looking online there is too much choice, maybe you can help.

It is a two person household but he has a big appetite.  She tells me she uses her oven to cooks chops,  gammon, shop bought pies, fresh wet fish, small joints such as belly draft, chicken. Also thick cut oven chips, frozen potato croquettes, home made roast potatoes. She bakes fruit cake and sponges.

She fries steak, bacon,home made fried potato slices.  

They don't eat pizza or anything battered or crumbed.

She wants one to save money on her electricity so doesn't want to pay more than £100.

I have seen a lot of brands I have never heard of in this price bracket but also some well known makes.  

What is the minimum size she should buy?  Would two drawers or one bigger draw be better (two drawers means two heating elements = double cost to operate if both used, I think).

All advice and recommendations will be helpful.  It's a flipping minefield 

 

[Old_Geezer]

No expert but I do know that two drawer versions are controlled separately so presumably it isn't double the cost over using one drawer twice.

[gingejbee]

A good place to start...

 

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/5-things-you-should-know-before-you-buy-an-air-fryer-aJHcT8T3TGNn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[barry1010]

OG, it is double the cost if one drawer is too small to get two pies in or enough chips, but a single larger drawer is big enough

[barry1010]

Thanks ginge

[Samuraisan]

I have an airfryer and use it nearly every day, in conjunction with my traditional oven. If I need to cook say chips and chicken wings I do not have enough room in my AF so need to use my oven. I regret not getting a larger one, although most of the time only cook for two. So my advise is get the biggest and best you can afford. 

[barry1010]

Thanks, Sam.  When you cook your chicken and chips do you do both in your oven?

[Old_Geezer]

Oh yeah, one big drawer will be slightly costlier than one small one. But two drawer models are used when you need to do different things. They tend to be big enough for most needs as there's a limit to how much mixing of items you want.

[Samuraisan]

Well yes. No point putting on both. It's a great machine though, heats things up too very quickly, i.e. quiche, pies and so on. They should have a look to see what accessories are available, I recommend silicone liners and the oven paper liners. My AF makes delicious chicken kebabs ! Ithink I'll make some today.

[pastafreak]

I got a small, 4.7 litre Cosori several years ago. I switch between that and my slow cooker. Prices have come down and amazon has £30 -40 discounts on some...and Prime week is in 2 days.

This looks huge with many functions including a rotisserie. Would be a bit over £100 with discount...

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendationref=sr_1_9?crid=3SGDBV4EIH118&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YuAj9Ullng_tv0eu42wkyr4reVX9S9gnmaAu0TEkulyZDpcbG_nRNn3bCf_cwWuct_c6twPv_GO_PiUbQl8lpmuEjR2iSeSN7Te0NxdEtN2c38jSK_hgL3vTXq7YZMPgTOJ8P3IH7H7gg-SdCGdoBqhu-gx5JpIxs4qkRwotT1RrRDgksoAJEfwHOZZQxmntSvmMfluLeXHac2lOWgOerv1KzH1ZTBKhpAZ5tHhc11w.VM27bv1eX7VMnUnWXAhVUBT1UH2CLw3WPAB4efZZpPw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cosori+air+fryer&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1732015848&sprefix=Cosori%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-9&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS%3AUK_IHI_5M_AUTOMATED

 

[TheWinner]

Some things to take into consideration Barry, 

1. Size of space on your worktop. Small space, small airfryer. If he has a big appetite, it won't be big enough.

2. Check the highest temperature setting. Some only go up to 180 degrees, whilst others go 200.

3. A lot of your baking dishes at home won't fit in the drawers.

We have one, but ours has three shelves inside that you can move up or down, like your oven.

Treat it like your normal oven, its just smaller and quicker. 

[barry1010]

Thanks all, still too much choice, though.

 

[Buenchico]

With the requirements that you've specified, Barry, this is probably what I'd go for.  It's currently on a Black Friday deal, at just £50, in most larger branches of Morrisons:
https://progresscookshop.com/dual-view-air-fryer-7-l/