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An air fryer is useful for healthier, faster, and more convenient cooking. Instead of using the traditional method of hot oil over fire, the air fryer cooks food by circulating hot air, giving the food a crispy texture similar to deep frying.
As someone with little to no experience in cooking, I find myself using the air fryer very often as it simplifies the entire process - just throw everything into the air fryer and wait. No more fear of hot oil, no longer need to stand by the stove and watch the food. Best part: no messy clean-ups after.
An air fryer is a compact, countertop kitchen appliance that functions like a small, powerful convection oven. It doesn’t “fry” food in the traditional sense of submerging it in oil. Instead, it uses a high-powered fan to rapidly circulate very hot air around the food.
This “rapid air technology” mimics the effect of deep-frying by cooking the food from all sides, creating a crispy, golden-brown exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy. The perforated basket allows the hot air to reach all surfaces of the food, and any excess fat or oil drips down, resulting in a dish that is often healthier than its deep-fried counterpart.
Fun fact - Philips launched the first consumer air fryer, the Philips Airfryer, in 2010 at a consumer electronics fair in Berlin.
Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill & Air Fryer, $384
If you are a big fan of char-grills and steaks, you may wish to get an air fryer that can also prepare your favourite grills without the smoke and charcoal. The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill & Air Fryer is a combination of both a grill and an air fryer, making it more convenient for those who enjoy having grilled and fried food. The Ninja brand is also highly recommended on Reddit for its high quality and ease of use.
Besides grilling and frying, the Ninja Foodi is able to bake, roast, reheat and dehydrate, making it versatile and multi-functional for any occasion. It also has smart features such as automatic temperature controls to adjust cooking times and temperatures, WiFi connectivity to help you track cooking progress on the Ninja app so you don’t have to be standing in the kitchen watching over it.
The air fryer comes with a 3.8 litres non-stick ceramic coated crisper basket, a 5.7 litres non-stick ceramic coated cooking pot and a 740cm² grill plate that is big enough to grill 6 char-grilled steaks at once. Overall, for a premium price, you are investing in a multi-purpose appliance that looks sleek and nice too.
Reviews: Very easy to clean, hotter than usual air fryers, grills very well.
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill & Air Fryer can be purchased from Lazada.
Mayer MMAF505 5.5L Air fryer, $55
With more than 7,000 units sold on Lazada, the Mayer MMAF505 is one of the most affordable air fryers of this capacity. It has a similar capacity as the Ninja Foodi and is suitable for families of 4 to 5 people.
The Mayer air fryer uses Rapid Air Technology to cook food with little to no oil. Compared to the other brands, this model is slightly more basic with manual temperature control up to 200°C and a 30 minutes timer.
Even though there is a lack of automatic functions, the safety features are well-thought out to minimise the possibilities of hazards. These include overheating protection, safety auto switch off when you pull out the basket and a cool touch handle that is non-slip.
The Mayer MMAF505 is suitable for you if you are looking for a basic large capacity air fryer and not particular about design and extensive functions.
Reviews: Value-for-money, easy to use, timer can only be extended and not shortened after it is set.
The Mayer MMAF505 5.5L Air fryer can be purchased from Lazada.
Simplus 6.5L Air Fryer, $46.90
When I saw almost 1,000 reviews on this air fryer, I was not surprised that the Simplus air fryer would be a popular choice as it has a nice design that reminds me of Smeg. Simplus is a very young brand started by a Hong Kong company, but established itself in Thailand in 2021 and expanded rapidly into Southeast Asia. Besides air fryers and other kitchenware, Simplus carries a range of lifestyle products including hair appliances, air purifiers, coffee machines, steamers and vacuum cleaners.
The Simplus 6.5L air fryer makes use of Rapid Air Technology and a powerful 1500W motor to ensure fast cooking and even heat distribution. The air fryer looks minimalistic with a glass window for easy observation of the cooking progress, and a touchscreen at the top for adjustments of temperature and cooking time. There are 10 preset menus to select with just one click.
Although there are no smart features on this model, it has a safety auto power off function that turns off the air fryer automatically when you pull out the basket, and reheats again when you put it back.
Reviews: Fast heating, love the transparent window, easy to remove for washing.
The Simplus 6.5L Air Fryer can be purchased from Lazada.
Russell Taylors Skylight View Bladeless Air Fryer, $96.99
The Russell Taylors Skylight View Bladeless air fryer caught my attention with its name and design. It has a transparent window not on the side but at the top of the air fryer, giving you the same view as when you pull open the basket, without having to do so.
The other unique feature would be the Bladeless Air Circulation Technology that heats up the air fryer to 200°C in just 3 seconds, making less noise than traditional air fryers that have a fan blade. The Russell Taylors air fryer is hence more energy-efficient, transferring the noise energy to work the air circulation system more effectively.
The air fryer comes with 8 preset settings, adjustable temperature from 80 to 200°C, and adjustable timer from 1 to 60 minutes. They can all be adjusted with a touch button at the top of the appliance.
The most unique feature would be the shake alert indicator with notification to remind you to give it a shake for more even cooking, which is especially useful when you are cooking fries!
Reviews: Big capacity, easy to use, able to check on the food without opening it.
The Russell Taylors Skylight View Bladeless Air Fryer can be purchased on Shopee.
Philips NA120/09 12-in-1 Airfryer, $82.44
The Philips NA120/09 12-in-1 Airfryer is another versatile kitchen tool that offers 12 preset cooking functions, so you can make a variety of dishes with just one appliance. It has a cooking capacity of 4.1 litres which is a common size amongst Phillips air fryers, and big enough for a family of 2 to 4 people.
Some special technology used in the air fryer would be the Philips’ Fat Removal Technology that separates and removes excess fat from food as it cooks, and the Rapid Air Technology that circulates hot air around the food to ensure even cooking. You can cook literally anything with the 12 cooking modes which include air fry, bake, grill, roast, dehydrate, reheat, toast, keep warm, defrost, sear, slow cook and steam.
In terms of physical design, the air fryer comes with a digital touchscreen display that allows easy navigation between cooking presets, time and temperature adjustments. It is also equipped with a QuickClean basket that has a non-stick coating, making it easier to clean after cooking.
Reviews: Lighter and quieter than older Philips models, suitable for smaller families, nice matte black design.
The Philips NA120/09 12-in-1 Airfryer can be purchased from Shopee.
Cornell 25L Air Fryer Oven, $143.40
The Cornell 25L Air Fryer Oven is a premium full size toaster oven with a built-in air fryer that is able to serve both cooking and baking needs. The large 25 litre capacity also means that you can easily fit a whole chicken, bake an entire cake or prepare large batches of food for hosting parties and gatherings.
The air fryer oven has 5 heating modes which include air fry, turbo convection, convection, ferment and defrost. The turbo convection mode is especially useful during baking and roasting as it enhances hot air circulation for even results. The temperature and timer modes are manually adjustable with conventional dial knobs.
In terms of physical build, the air fryer oven has a double glazed door for effective heat retention. It also comes with a removable crumb tray for easy cleaning and extra accessories such as a baking tray, air fryer basket, grill rack and tray handle to fulfill all cooking needs.
Reviews: Very easy to clean, good functions, the handle can get hot very quickly, temperature and timer can be quite hard to read.
The Cornell 25L Air Fryer Oven can be purchased from Harvey Norman.
Tefal FW2018 Easy Fry Air Fryer Steam & Grill, $399
We have seen air fryers that can grill, bake and roast, but how about steam? The Tefal FW2018 combines several cooking functions including air frying, grilling, and steaming, allowing you to make healthier food compared to other models.
Like other air fryers, the Tefal FW2018 uses hot air circulation to cook food with little to no oil. Its grill function uses direct heat, allowing you to achieve grilled textures similar to what you would get from a barbecue. The unique steam function allows you to cook delicate foods like fish, vegetables, dumplings while preserving their nutrients and keeping them moist.
The Tefal FW2018 comes with digital controls to set the temperature and timer, and select from the 7 preset cooking modes. It also has a 1.1L water tank for the purpose of steaming. Some reviews mentioned that the default settings for this model is “grill” with a very high temperature, so you will have to adjust the settings each time before use.
Reviews: Bigger than expected, the steam function works well, have to take note that the water tank produces steam while in use.
The Tefal FW2018 Easy Fry Air Fryer Steam & Grill can be purchased from Gain City.
Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer 6.5L, $95
If you are looking for a smart appliance, the Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer is equipped with advanced features and smart functions, all while delivering healthy cooking options. Its 6.5 litre capacity is a perfect size for smaller families of 2 to 4 people.
The Xiaomi Smart air fryer offers a wider range of temperature from 40 to 220°C that is controlled by a built-in NTC smart temperature control technology to precisely monitor the temperature during the cooking process. With a minimum temperature of 40°C, it can maintain a constant temperature for defrosting, fermentation and fruit drying. With a maximum temperature of 220°C, it is proficient in roasting, frying and baking.
Being a smart air fryer goes further than allowing you to adjust temperatures using an app on your phone. The Xiaomi Smart air fryer is able to schedule cooking up to 24 hours in advance, so you can add the ingredients the night before and wake up to freshly cooked breakfast. This function would be particularly useful for working parents with primary school children as you can prepare the ingredients in the morning and schedule for lunch to be ready by the time the kids return from school.
Other smart features include accessing more than 100 recipes on the app and sync with Google Home to control the air fryer using voice assistance.
Reviews: Modern design, syncs seamlessly with Mi app, stains can be seen easily because of its white colour.
The Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer can be purchased from their website.
PowerPac Air Fryer 3L, $39.90
Live alone or seldom cook at home except to make some fast finger food? Perhaps a 3 litre mini air fryer is good enough for you. The PowerPac 3L air fryer is a fuss-free and easy-to-use air fryer that has all the functions that you will need.
It uses Rapid Air Technology that is able to go up to 180 to 200°C for heating up and cooking various types of food. The temperature is manually adjusted with a dial at the top and has a 60 minutes timer. The removable grill plate is dishwasher safe and works as an oil filter to ensure a healthier and less greasy meal.
The design is compact and equipped with safety features such as a cool touch handle, anti-slip and overheat protection. It also has a large window for you to monitor the cooking process. This model has good reviews from users in single or rental households, and would be great if you need a small and functional cooking appliance to make quick lunches in the office or dormitory.
Reviews: Very compact, easy to wash, perfect for singles.
The PowerPac Air Fryer 3L can be purchased from their website.
TJean Electric Oven Multifunctional Air Fryer 18L, $83.86
An oven style air fryer, the TJean Electric Oven Multifunctional Air Fryer is able to air fry, roast, bake, steam, grill, toast and dehydrate. Only 28.2cm in width and 25cm in height, the oven air fryer is compact and space-saving while still having a large capacity enough for big families and large batch cooking.
Some of its features include 360° hot-air circulation for oil-free and even heat distribution frying, adjustable temperatures from 80 to 230°C and a 60 minute timer. The oven air fryer has 3 knob controls for power, temperature control and time settings.
If you enjoy baking, you don’t have to purchase baking accessories separately as this model comes with a 12-inch baking tray, baking Mesh and slag tray that are non-stick and easy to clean. With one product, you can get dinner and dessert ready!
Reviews: Air fryer mode can be quite noisy, heats up very quickly, gets very hot so have to be careful when opening and taking things out.
The TJean Electric Oven Multifunctional Air Fryer can be purchased from Shopee.
5 Things to look out for when buying an air fryer
Size and Capacity
Air fryers come in a range of sizes and the size will affect your meal portions and even the types of food you can cook. A compact model with a smaller capacity will save space on kitchen table tops, but you may find yourself having to cook in batches. Also, a smaller capacity means that you may not be able to cook a whole chicken or fish, or bake a cake as well.
Type of Air Fryer
Air fryers come in different styles. The most common would be the pull-out basket that is generally easy to clean but has a smaller capacity. Oven style air fryer looks like a conventional oven that allows multiple types of food to be cooked at the same time.
Heating Technology
Most air fryers use the Rapid Air Technology that circulates hot air quickly to cook food evenly and make it crispy. Some may use the dual or triple heating elements to speed up cooking and ensure even heat distribution.
Features
Some basic features to take note of when choosing an air fryer would be the control, temperature and timer settings. Some air fryers have manual dials or buttons, while some have digital touchscreens.
Adjustable temperature controls would allow you to have more flexibility when cooking and preset functions would automatically set a time and temperature for cooking specific food such as frozen food, fresh meat or seafood.
Ease of Cleaning
Similar to pots and pans, air fryers require cleaning after use for hygiene and longevity. Take note of how easy it is to remove the basket or trays. If you use a dishwasher, check if the parts are dishwasher safe. Non-stick coatings can also make cleaning easier, but check if the non-stick material is durable and free of harmful chemicals.
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