Air Fryer buying guide
An air fryer is a must for any modern kitchen, delivering fast and crispy food without the need for oil, at the touch of a button. With handy features such as pre-set cook modes for easy dinners, digital controls for precision cooking, and dual drawers to make multiple dishes at once, there’s an air fryer for every kitchen, lifestyle and budget.
Key takeaways
The Good Guys’ Air Fryer Buying Guide explains the main types of air fryers—benchtop models, multi-function cookers, and ovens with air-fry modes—helping you choose based on your cooking needs, space, and lifestyle. Benchtop air fryers are compact and ideal for quick, healthy meals with minimal oil, while multi-function models offer extra features like roasting and steaming. Larger appliances with built-in air-fry settings suit batch cooking or those short on counter space. Capacity matters too: 1–2L suits singles, 2–4L for couples, and 5–7L or dual-drawer units are best for families. Overall, air fryers are great for fast, healthy cooking with easy cleanup.
Which Air Fryer is right for you?
Whether you want a standalone benchtop air fryer for easy midweek meals, a versatile multi-function model that does much more than just air-frying, or an oven with a built-in air fryer for bigger batches, this buying guide has everything you need to know to find the ideal air fryer for your needs.
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Like a mini oven for your benchtop, standalone air fryers circulate hot, dry air that cooks from all angles to produce crispy, crunchy, evenly-cooked food fast.
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Multi-function air fryers do more than just one job. They can also roast, grill, bake, dehydrate and even steam and slow-cook food to offer extra versatility in the kitchen.
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For those who want to enjoy crispy, air-fried flavours in bigger quantities, air-fry cooking functionality is also available in selected benchtop ovens, toaster ovens, convection microwaves and electric ovens.
Types of Air Fryers
There are plenty of air fryers to choose from, and one of them is the perfect match for your kitchen. Whether you want to understand the difference between basket-style and oven-style air fryers, or you just need to find the right air fryer without getting lost in technical details, this air fryer guide is here to help you pick the perfect option for your home, budget, and lifestyle.
Benchtop Air Fryer
Standalone benchtop air fryers work by circulating hot, dry air rapidly inside a pull-out drawer or basket to produce evenly cooked food with the texture and golden brown colour of fried cooking. Needing just a drizzle of oil, or even none at all, they offer a healthier way to enjoy flavourful fried foods such as French fries or chicken nuggets. Their compact design, user-friendly interfaces and easy pre-set cooking modes make air fryers a popular choice for busy households. With no need to preheat before cooking and easy-to-clean compartments, benchtop air fryers also help streamline meal prep; some models even have Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can control them from your phone. Air fryers come with either a single large drawer – some with capacity to roast a whole chicken – or dual drawers that let you cook smaller portions of several food items, such as fish and veggies, at once. Air fryer cooking capacity can range from a compact 1L for single-serve cooking to 7L (to fit a kilo of fries), and even right up to 9.5L (ideal for family feasts).
Multi-Function Air Fryer
As the name suggests, multi-function air fryers earn their benchtop real estate by giving you more ways to cook, while still offering you the same convenient, compact design and functionality of a standard air fryer. The most versatile models can air-fry, roast, grill, bake, defrost, dehydrate, steam, and cook ingredients sous vide. What’s more, they come with a range of pre-set programs and extra accessories, such as grill plates, temperature probes and water tanks for steam cooking, giving you endless options at mealtimes. With a multi-function air fryer, you can roll several appliances into one, gaining back precious cupboard space and streamlining your kitchen.
Air Fryer Oven
Due to the huge popularity of air fryers, most leading kitchen appliance brands now also offer air fryer functionality in select larger cooking appliances, such as benchtop ovens, toaster ovens, convection microwaves and electric wall ovens. A benchtop oven with air fryer functionality is a smaller version of the traditional electric wall oven and can typically be used to cook, roast, bake or air-fry a range of recipes, making it a great choice for small households. Toaster ovens are usually a bit smaller and have a more limited range of settings but can heat up quickly. A convection microwave with air fryer capability contains an additional heating element and fan. It offers a convenient all-in-one cooking solution by combining convection cooking, microwave cooking, grilling, roasting and air-frying. Wall ovens with a built-in air-frying feature work by circulating hot air very quickly around the surface of the food on the rack when in Air Fry mode, to replicate the golden, crispy finish of a standalone air fryer. Because ovens are larger than benchtop air fryers, cooking times can be longer. However, because they have more capacity, you can cook more at once.
Watch our helpful Air Fryer buying guides
Our buying guide covers everything you need to know about finding the perfect air fryer for you. Find out how to pick an air fryer for your home and take a look at some of our available range.
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“Air fryers are a staple in busy kitchens because they can turn out crispy, golden food in a flash, without all the oil; and they are great for everyone from hungry teens wanting an afternoon snack to frequent entertainers wanting the option of an extra oven. Tracey Ellis, The Good Guys Buyer – Portable Appliances
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Finding your perfect fit Air Fryer
Now you know about all the different types of air fryers, it’s time to find the best air-frying appliance for your tastes. Here are some tips and advice to help you find your perfect size and match.
What size Air Fryer should I get?
With so many different air fryer options around, it can be confusing to decide which model you’ll get the most out of. If you are planning on fitting out a new kitchen soon or are tight on bench space, shopping for a new oven with air fryer functionality makes perfect sense. If you are a keen cook and can easily envisage yourself making beef jerky with the dehydrator setting, taking advantage of steam cooking to enjoy healthier meals, and frequently preparing crispy, air-fried treats for the family, it might be worth spending a little more on a multi-function air fryer.
When it comes to standalone air fryers, basket capacity is really important because the bigger the basket (or drawer), the more you can cook at once. Generally speaking, a 1-2L appliance will suit a single-person household, a 2-4L air fryer is ideal for couples, while a 5-7L machine is perfect for families with three to five people and a kitchen with ample bench space. If you want the versatility of cooking different things at once, go for a double-drawer model. If you want to roast a whole chicken, an air fryer with a single drawer is your best bet.
Benefits of an Air Fryer
The many benefits of air fryers have helped make them a modern kitchen classic. Being able to savour fresh-fried crispiness without using vats of oil tops the list, with their speedy cooking time and user-friendly design running a close second. Here are some more air fryer benefits to consider:
Air fryers are safe, making them a good option for older kids who are starting to cook
Their affordability and their size are great for small households or those without access to a good oven
They can work in tandem with your oven for streamlined catering
They’re fantastic at reviving leftovers, so can help stretch your fridge’s contents further
Many models come with a non-stick coating and dishwasher-safe parts for hassle-free clean-ups
The vast trove of online air fryer recipes means you can explore endless new taste trends.
What can I cook in an Air Fryer?
Air fryers bring a world of delicious tastes to any kitchen. They are best suited for foods that require dry heating methods such as roasting, baking and frying, more so than braising or steaming, and are perfect for frozen foods and those that are usually deep-fried (think any type of fries, spring rolls, fish fillets and nuggets). Air fryers also turn out succulent roasts, moist brownies and crispier, tastier vegetables – great for tempting fussy little eaters. Some of the most popular recipes are for air fryer pork belly and air fryer salmon, plus you can toast paninis, grill sausages and even “boil” eggs to perfection. You can also use an air fryer to reheat leftovers and restore crunch. For best results when using an air fryer, remember to shake or flip food midway through cooking to ensure every side is evenly crisped, and don’t overcrowd the basket.
More tips & advice
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What is an Air Fryer and how does it work?
December 14•5 mins readIf you love all things crispy and crunchy but hate those extra calories, an air fryer could be just what you’re looking for. Compact in design, but big on functionality, air fryers are quickly becoming the must-have benchtop appliance in kitchens across Australia. Unlike traditional cooking techniques that seem to require more and more oil, air fryers use a combination of super-heated air and a little ingenuity to turn your favourite dishes into crispy delights with just a sprinkle of oil. If this sounds too good to be true, or you’re still wondering ‘How does an air fryer work? Don’t worry, we’ll show you everything you need to know and give you a few handy tips along the way.
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August 26•4 mins readConstantly craving the perfect crispy and crunchy French Fries? This compact, functional device could be the newest helper in the kitchen you’ve been searching for, and could help you satisfy your cravings, without those extra calories that we all hate! Enter Air Fryer. Quickly becoming a kitchen favourite, and must-have appliance, Air Fryers make your favourite snacks, minus the guilt factor.
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February 15•3 mins readWhat’s for dinner? Whether you’re short on time or can’t find the energy to cook after a long day, an air fryer is the answer. Our love affair with air fryers is still going strong! An air fryer can save you money, be your oven’s ultimate sidekick for streamlined catering, or be a standalone benchtop appliance for creating healthy and speedy meals.
“Air fryers cook with circulated hot air instead of heated oil, so you can put a healthy, homemade spin on your favourite takeaway dinners,” says Tracey Ellis, The Good Guys Buyer – Portable Appliances.
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February 15•4 mins readAir fryers are a global phenomenon – let’s be honest, they’re the must-have small kitchen appliance of the 2020s. If you’re after that satisfying crunch without the calories, you simply can’t go past this nifty piece of equipment. Having said that, there’s a reason why deep fryers have stood the test of time. Just think Southern fried chicken burgers with slaw and crispy, perfectly golden fries!
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“If you’re looking for a healthier and cheaper alternative to getting takeaway meals, an air fryer is the answer,” says Tracey Ellis, The Good Guys Buyer – Portable Appliances.
“If that’s not reason enough, you can often cook your food in less time than it takes the delivery driver to arrive – and it’s fresh!”
If you thought fast food couldn’t be more convenient, our MVP of benchtop appliances, the air fryer, is here to prove you wrong. After all, what could be faster than a meal coming from your very own kitchen? And, best of all, delivery won’t cost a thing.
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How to make the best beef jerky in An Air Fryer
January 23•3 mins readSo you bought yourself an air fryer and quickly mastered bagels, zucchini fritters and more hot chips recipes than you care to admit. Looking for something air-fried, tasty and nutritious for your next trick? It’s got to be beef jerky! With a benchtop air fryer, a dehydrator or an oven with air fryer functionality, you can be snacking in a flash.
Need more convincing? Jerky is a great on-the-go snack. Going hiking? It’s lightweight and high in protein. Camping? Jerky can last for weeks. School lunches? You don’t need to put it in the fridge.
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Summer is the best time to upgrade your small appliance arsenal, and Ninja has plenty of options for your household – whatever its size. Get ready for a flavour-packed summer with the supersized Ninja XXXL Flexi Drawer Air Fryer, big enough to cook a leg of lamb and sides in a flash. And make sure you have drinks covered too, with the New Blast Portable Blender – it’s just the thing for blitzing a berry smoothie at the beach, or making mocktails at a friend’s party.
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The best Christmas canapé recipes to make in your Air Fryer
October 24•4 mins readWhile your chestnuts are roasting on an open fire (aka barbecue) and the turkey is cooking in the oven, it’s time to call on your trusty air fryer to help whip up some tasty Yuletide canapés. When it comes to Christmas entertaining, this must-have benchtop appliance is the sous chef you’ve always dreamed of having in your kitchen.
This Christmas, think of your air fryer as Santa’s little helper – it’ll help you whip up all the air fryer party food you could possibly need to satisfy every guest. Not sure what to make? Here are eight mouth-watering Christmas air fryer canapés to get the bauble rolling…
Want more entertainment ideas? Check out our Christmas Hub for all the inspo!
Air Fryer Technology Glossary
Check out below to get clued up on all the jargon before you start shopping.
Adjustable temperature
Many air fryers give you the option to cook using pre-set programs, or a manual temperature dial with an adjustable temperature range for precision frying.
Air Fryer Basket
A pull-out perforated basket or drawer that allows hot air to circulate around food on all sides.
Alerts
Some air fryer models beep when cooking is finished or it’s time to shake the basket to ensure even, crispy cooking.
Dehydrate
Some air fryers come with additional features such as dehydration, allowing for more versatile cooking options – think beef jerky or dried fruit.
Divider
Some single-drawer air fryers come with a divider, so you can create two cooking zones when needed to prepare multiple dishes at once.
Dual Zone
An air fryer with two self-contained drawers with separate heating elements and fans, allowing for different temperatures and cooking times in each.
Grill Plate
Some people like to use a grill plate accessory inside their air fryer when cooking to enjoy classic grill marks on their food.
Match
Some air fryers with dual zones have a match (or “copy”) function that lets you use the same cooking setting in both zones.
Pre-Set
Pre-set functions allow you to cook various dishes without needing to know the exact cooking specifications – a big advantage for those new to air-frying.
Smart Air Fryer
Some advanced air fryers are now Wi-Fi- and Bluetooth-enabled, so you can control them with your voice or phone and access recipes.
Sync
The Sync setting on a dual-zone model ensures both sides finish cooking at the same time.
Timer
Many air fryers come with digital timers that count down the remaining cooking time.
FAQs
Yes, some people use baking paper in their air fryer for easier clean-ups. However, this means hot air will not come into direct contact with all sides of your food, so it will be less crispy.
Air fryers work by blowing hot, dry air rapidly around food in a perforated basket to produce a convection effect that cooks and browns the exterior of the food, for a result that’s closer to frying than baking.
Air fryers use heated air to cook, not oil, so food cooked in an air fryer is healthier than that same food would be if cooked by deep-frying or frying in a shallow pan. Some ingredients still require a brush or spray of oil to ensure a crispy texture.
Easy! Simply wipe the outside of the appliance with a damp cloth, then remove the basket or drawer, and either handwash it or pop it in the dishwasher (if your instruction manual says it’s dishwasher safe). You should clean your air fryer after every use. Avoid using metal utensils to remove grease from the cooking chamber, as they may damage the non-stick coating.
It is safe to use foil in an air fryer. However, ensure the foil is weighted so it doesn’t blow around the basket, and make sure it doesn’t touch the heating element. Wrapping food in foil may also reduce the crisping effect of the air-frying process.
For restaurant-worthy salmon that’s crispy on the outside and flaky and tender in the centre, you can’t beat an air fryer. Place your seasoned salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, skin side up, and air-fry for 6-10 minutes at 180℃, depending on their thickness.
Absolutely, you can. Air fryers are perfect for cooking frozen food.
You don’t need to use foil in an air fryer, but you can—as long as it’s used safely. Foil can help catch drips or prevent sticking, especially when cooking messy or greasy foods. However, make sure:
It doesn’t block airflow (which is key to even cooking)
It’s not touching the heating element
You only use it in the basket, not the bottom tray (which collects oil and crumbs)
Yes, if you often cook more than one dish at once or need to feed a family quickly. Dual basket air fryers let you cook two different foods at different temperatures and times, making meal prep faster and more flexible. Some models even have a “sync finish” feature to make sure everything’s ready at the same time.
Yes, air fryers are generally more energy-efficient than ovens. They cook faster, use less power overall, and don’t require preheating in most cases. This makes them great for saving both time and electricity, especially when cooking small meals or reheating food.
While air fryers are super versatile, there are some things best avoided:
Wet batters (like tempura) – they won’t set properly and can make a mess
Leafy greens (like spinach) – they can fly around and burn
Cheese alone – it melts into a gooey mess unless breaded
Soups, stews, or sauces – liquids are not suitable for air fryers unless using a special insert
