Using an air fryer at home, you can get delicious smoked meats, excellent pastries, kebabs, baked meat or cutlets, grilled vegetables and a lot of other interesting dishes. From this article you will learn how to choose a convection oven for your home.
Do you know that healthy and even dietary food can be really delicious? When nutritionists say that fried and smoked foods are harmful, they mean frying in a frying pan with oil or smoked foods from the store, which in fact are not such, and their favorite taste is given by special additives.
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To choose an air fryer, you need to decide on several basic characteristics.
Air fryer power
The main feature of this device is that it operates at a fairly high power for a long time. Consider this factor when deciding to purchase this kitchen device.
On average, air fryers consume about 1 kW, but there are also more powerful models with a power of 1300 and even 1700 W.
At first glance, this is not much, but preparing a dish usually requires turning on the appliance for about an hour, so the total consumption is not so small.
It is also worth considering the following point: for good uninterrupted operation of the convection oven, a constant normal voltage level in the network is required. And the more powerful the convection oven, the more critical this moment is.
If you know that the wiring in the house is, to put it mildly, “not very good,” then choose a convection oven with a low maximum power, preferably no more than 1300 W.
How to choose and what to pay attention to?
- Pay attention to power . The best option is from 1.2 kW.
- Heater type . The convection oven operates from a heating element, halogen or carbon heater. A regular heating element is considered more reliable, but the cooking time increases significantly. The carbon heater has become popular - it saves energy, heats up quickly, and reduces cooking time.
- Control type . Can be mechanical or electronic. The last type is advanced, usually looks like buttons or a sensor with a display.
- Bowl volume . For a family of 2 people, a container of 3-8 liters is enough. For a large number of household members - from 10 liters.
- Explore additional options . It’s good if there is a timer, heat support, airflow adjustment, automatic heating, food drying, self-cleaning,
- Complete set . The model should be fully equipped: have racks, nets, skewers, baking trays, and tongs.
Airflow (convection) speeds and temperature range
Most air fryers have the same operating temperature range, which starts at 65 and usually ends at 260 degrees.
The cheaper the model, the smaller the temperature adjustment range or step may be.
In expensive models there are up to 9-12 temperature settings.
But for many dishes, just adjusting the temperature is not enough. If possible, try to choose convection oven models that have the function of setting different fan speeds.
The maximum that is found in such devices is three options for convection speed:
- fast,
- average,
- slow.
There are also convection ovens that have only fast or slow airflow.
Is the heating element heating element or halogen?
Air grills are available with different heating elements. The majority of such devices today are equipped with halogen heaters, but sometimes heating elements are also found.
It is believed that halogen is more environmentally friendly, but it also has a rather important drawback - usually a halogen lamp only lasts about 2 years.
A high-quality halogen heating element can work much longer, but it is impossible to distinguish the real quality of this part of the air fryer at the time of purchase.
In addition, an air fryer with a truly reliable halogen lamp will be quite expensive.
The heating element will definitely last longer, but there is an opinion that such a heating element dries out the food being prepared more strongly.
However, as a rule, the degree of dryness or juiciness of food depends more on the original product and the temperature and convection settings.
How the air fryer works
Purchasing an air fryer is an option for those who love functionality and comfort, because you can cook almost everything from soups to pies in it.
Sometimes it is compared to a Russian stove. And this is no coincidence, since the operating principle of the convection oven is based on the circulation of hot air inside a closed space.
The device consists of only a few parts:
1. glass flask , which is directly a container for preparing dishes.
2. The lid is an important part of the device. A heating element and a fan are attached to it, which supplies hot air to the prepared dishes. If you lift the lid of an air fryer while the air fryer is running, the heating element may automatically turn off, but the fan continues to operate. When the lid is lowered, the set automatic program will continue to cook. This scheme is typical for electronically controlled machines with a hinged or retractable lid. But the completely removable lid also has its advantages - by removing it to the side, you are protected from accidental burns from hot air.
3. Grids and other devices for laying out products.
The cooking technology is elementary. Food is placed in the cooking container and sealed with a lid. Using the control system, the desired temperature and time are set, and then all that remains is to wait for lunch. At the same time, you will not smell, you will not be bothered by steam or smoke from frying - this device is absolutely self-sufficient. It is possible that housewives all over the world loved him so much for this quality.
Now let's move on to the individual features and functional parts of the air fryer.
Cover type
There is one more fundamental difference between air fryers - the type of lid. They can be folding (on a bracket) or removable.
It's difficult to say which option is more successful. The choice should be made depending on where and how the convection oven will be permanently installed and used:
- If there is enough free space above the device, then it will be convenient to use a hinged lid, since you will not have to look for a place to place it.
- If, for example, there are wall kitchen cabinets above the convection oven, then you can purchase a device with a removable lid.
Please note that some manufacturers offer a mount for a removable cover. This is very convenient, since it is quite bulky, weighs a lot and must be handled carefully so as not to damage the lamp.
Therefore, it is better not to throw the air fryer lid “wherever you have to.”
additional characteristics
Control type
Depending on the process control system, all convection ovens can be divided into three types.
The mechanical type of control is the simplest and most reliable. In this case, the device is equipped with several switch knobs. With their help, the device starts and stops working, the temperature and cooking time are set on it - everything is simple and familiar.
The electronic type of control activates the device by pressing conventional or pseudo-touch buttons. And the real touchpad works with a light touch of your fingers. In a good way, these two types are similar, since they make the device work using an electronic microprocessor; only the external visible part of the control unit differs.
The electronic method has slightly wider functionality compared to the mechanical one. For example, such machines are able to regulate the speed of convection inside the flask. This reduces cooking time and improves cooking quality. The hot air supply speed is recorded on indicators: it can be expressed as “low”, “high” or “medium”. The fan speed is selected using the convection speed control button.
Most convection ovens have up to 10 automatic cooking programs . The device starts with a single press of a button to stew, grill or fry meat. The smart machine itself knows the optimal temperature and cooking time for a particular dish.
It should be noted here that using a mechanically controlled device, you can also cook all these dishes, you just need to read the instructions and set the modes manually.
Another convenient feature is automatic delay start . It’s convenient when you can load food into the air fryer in the morning and receive the finished dish in the evening upon returning from work. This feature can be present in convection ovens with both mechanics and electronics, just like the ability to use a timer .
preheat function sets a mode that is used to warm up food and before certain cooking functions, such as baking cakes. After switching to “warm up”, the convection oven operates for several minutes at maximum temperature and hot air flow rate.
All working parts of the air fryer, except the lid, can be easily washed in the dishwasher or by hand. The lid is carefully wiped with a sponge and dried thoroughly. Some models are equipped with a self-cleaning . In this case, it is necessary to fill the flask with water and detergent and turn on the device at a temperature of slightly more than 100°. After this, everything is thoroughly rinsed and dried.
Control block
The next parameter that is worth taking a closer look at is the air fryer program control unit.
Budget models are usually equipped with a mechanical control unit. In this version, everything looks quite simple: two rotary knobs, one of which is for adjusting the temperature, and the second is a timer.
In more expensive models with an electronic control unit, in addition to the temperature and timer, the convection speed can also be adjusted, and sometimes it is possible to delay the start of cooking.
Such functions are very convenient and allow you to cook with minimal human intervention in the process.
The best brands and models of air fryers
Below we provide a list of the most popular air fryer manufacturers. The most successful models of the brand are indicated in brackets.
- Нotter (HX-2098 Fitness Grill). This is a well-known manufacturer of air fryers. The model range is represented by several devices with different price ranges. A distinctive feature of the brand is the excellent quality of its products. Also, many users note the high power of the devices and the many different settings. The optimal price-quality ratio is also included in the list of advantages of this brand.
- VES (AX 725). Another well-known manufacturer of kitchen appliances. Air grills are characterized primarily by electronic control over cooking. The brand specializes in the production of halogen models. One of the disadvantages of devices of this type is their fragility. However, the affordable price and compromise quality have increased user confidence in this brand.
- Polaris (PAG 1204). For those who do not want to overpay for additional options. The manufacturer specializes in budget entry-level and mid-level devices. The average price tag for a Polaris model ranges from $100 to $150. The type of heaters is predominantly halogen. Models are equipped with a mechanical control unit, which has fewer control capabilities and fewer settings, but is simpler and more reliable in everyday use.
- Mystery (MCO-1506). One of the main competitors of Polaris in the entry-level and mid-price segment. Despite the widespread use of this brand’s equipment, there are a number of claims regarding the quality of their products. The devices fail due to the electronic filling being unstable to voltage surges. However, the affordable price tag allows you to turn a blind eye to some design and engineering shortcomings. The average price for models from Mystery is $100-120.
For everyday use, it would be better to give preference to a trusted brand and purchase a device that is not the most affordable - it will last longer, and it will be much more pleasant to cook with it. Budget models from not the most famous brands are suitable for those who prefer to use the air fryer infrequently, when the need arises. In this case, you can safely purchase a device with basic functionality and try it out.
Choosing an air fryer is not at all difficult, because today there are many models on the market to suit every taste and budget. The main thing is to decide on your needs and indicate the price you plan to spend on purchasing the device. Before purchasing the chosen model, it is best to study user reviews and expert advice to find out whether it meets all the necessary requirements and wishes.
Weight and volume of the air fryer flask
In fact, air fryers are, by definition, quite large and heavy devices.
There are, of course, smaller and larger models relative to each other, but in any case, be initially prepared for the fact that such equipment will take up a lot of space.
Moreover, there is little point in choosing very small models, since in this case you will be able to cook an extremely limited number of dishes.
Evaluate the possibilities rationally, since not every kitchen can accommodate a really large air fryer.
Also remember that the larger the volume of this device, the more weight it has. It may be quite difficult for a woman to clean a heavy glass flask on her own.
The vast majority of manufacturers produce convection ovens with expansion rings, thanks to which you can significantly increase the volume of the flask.
Accessories
Like any other household appliance, different models of air fryers have different options for additional accessories. This applies to special grids, tongs and other devices that can be used inside the flask.
There are gratings that form 2-3 levels. This way you can cook a large amount of food at the same time or several different dishes at the same time.
Remember, if you choose the right convection oven, you will get an assistant in the kitchen that can replace many different household kitchen appliances.
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