An air fryer cooks with circulating hot air rather than immersing food in oil. Choose by considering how you will arrange the food, which dishes you will repeat and where you can use and clean the appliance.

Basket floor area determines each batch

Litres describe a volume, but do not reveal how many fillets or pieces can sit separately on the base. For even browning, piled-up food restricts circulation and can mean stirring or cooking several batches. Compare internal dimensions and the recommended load for your usual ingredients. Two drawers separate preparations, but each may be too narrow for one large item. A single broad compartment and two smaller ones meet different needs, even when their advertised total capacity is similar.

The food matters more than the programme name

A dry surface and space around ingredients produce a different result from wet batter that is not designed for this method. Do not expect every deep-frying recipe to transfer unchanged. Automatic programmes are starting points, not confirmation that the food is cooked inside. Check the food during use as instructed. A viewing window can help you observe the outside, but cannot establish internal doneness. Nor does the appliance itself make a meal healthy: the ingredients and preparation still determine what you eat.

Measure the appliance with the drawer open

Allow not only for external dimensions but also the specified ventilation clearance and the space needed to pull out the drawer. Consider where you will put the hot basket without blocking a walkway. Controls should make time and temperature adjustments clear. On dual-zone models, check how the zones coordinate and whether their functions can operate simultaneously. Rated power does not establish speed or lower energy consumption than another appliance. Such comparisons need evidence from the same task, food load and finished result.

Cleaning must reach beneath the perforated plate

Inspect which parts come out, how you reach grease residue and which components are dishwasher-safe. A large basket can cook conveniently yet be awkward in a small sink. Coatings need compatible utensils and washing methods; do not assume they last indefinitely. Look for replacement baskets or plates where available. Use paper liners and moulds only if the manufacturer permits them and without obstructing airflow. An accessory that physically fits can still worsen circulation or fall outside the stated conditions of use.