Want a bargain Air Fryer? I tried 6 – everything you need to know from size to calories & what’s cheap for Black Friday
THE Black Friday sale is upon us, and with that comes the opportunity to make big savings on a whole range of products – including air fryers.
However, with so many slashed prices and discounted appliances it can be incredibly overwhelming, and difficult to know where to start when choosing the one that’s the best investment for you.
Major retailers have already started to announce price cuts on air fryers ahead of the big Black Friday sale, with great discounts to be had across a range of the popular kitchen appliance.
One is expected to be sold every second today.
Thankfully, mum-of-two Hayley Dean knows a thing or two about the popular product, and has written her own book, How To Make Anything In An Air Fryer, packed full of easy meals.
Here, she shares her top tips if you’re looking to buy an air fryer in the Black Friday sales, helping you choose the right one for you…
Worth the investment?
Air fryers will, obviously as the name suggests, air fry, but they also grill and bake meals, with the process taking a fraction of the time compared to a conventional oven.
Recent research by Utilita found that an air fryer only costs £52.74 to use for a year, compared to the £316.64 bill you face with an electric oven.
This means fryer fans save time, money, and, because it uses hot air to cook your food, you don’t have to use as much oil – meaning the results are healthier too.
Hayley says: “I love my air fryer because it saves me so much time and money, as a great alternative to putting the oven on.
“Any dish you can use in the oven, you can put in your air fryer which I think people forget.
“You can easily check on your food too if you’re unsure of timings.
“You won’t lose heat like in the oven when you open it, so if in doubt, just open the drawer to check.
“I find it hard to go wrong.”
First things first
But with hundreds of options out there – to suit all budgets – where do you begin?
Hayley says: “If you want to buy an air fryer but don’t know where to start, have a think about who you are cooking for.
“There are very compact models available for one to two portions of food, and these are great, low-budget options.
“They’re also perfect for quick fixes like lunch for one.”
- For a family-sized air fryer, try the Philips XL Connected air fryer – currently £98 in the Black Friday sales, reduced from £179.
- If you’re single or a couple, try the magic bullet 2.5L Air Fryer – £39.99 in the Black Friday sales, reduced from £69.99.
Drawer-some
Also consider the number of drawers you want your fryer to have – do you want one, so you can cook larger quantities of the same dish, or do you want two, so you can cook two separate meals simultaneously?
Hayley says: “I love my large, one-drawer model as I can fit big items in as well and use proper oven dishes.
“Two drawer models are great for when you’re feeding a crowd or want to have multiple items cooking at once.”
- If you’re looking for a two-drawer model specifically, Lakeland’s five star reviewed Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer Air Fryer is £129.99 in the sales, with a £40 saving.
- If you’re after one drawer, the four litre Satisfry Medium Air Fryer from Russell Hobbs is £55, reduced from £94.99 – and scored an impressive 10 out of 10 when the Sun’s Lynsey Hope tested out the smaller version.
Air today… gone tomorrow?
If you’re one of the seemingly few to yet to invest in an air fryer you may be wondering if it’s a fleeting trend.
Debunking this myth, Hayley says: “People think that air fryers are a fad and aren’t worth the hype, but I think they’re here to stay.
“They take the faff out of cooking and help you save on bills, whilst cooking healthily.
“I think people don’t realise how versatile they are, which is why my audience are always so surprised when I show them how to cook everything from soup, to a whole roast.”
Ninja is one of the most popular brands, and they actually launched early deals at the beginning of the month, including:
- Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer- AF300UK, £149 (save £70.99) – shop here
- Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer 10.4L AF500UK, £219 (save £50) – shop here
- Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer ON400UK, £138 (save £111.99) – shop here
Money isn’t everything
While the cost of an air fryer can vary hugely, Hayley doesn’t believe you need to blow the budget to get the appliance that’s perfect for you.
Hayley says: “There are many different price brackets so you’ll be able to find one to suit your needs and budget.
“Larger ones can be a little more expensive but worth it for the
delicious meals you can make in them.
“On quality and brand, I think the top brands are definitely the highest price option, and these are great.
“But I use a couple of different brands, one cheaper than the other (Cosori versus Ninja), and they both work amazingly.”
- The COSORI 4.7L 9-in-1 Air Fryer is currently £69.99 in the Black Friday sale – saving £30.
Looking to upgrade?
If you already have an air fryer, you might be questioning if it’s worth upgrading for a better model while the Black Friday deals are around.
Hayley says: “Air fryers are quite hardy and last a long time, so when you invest in one it should keep going for many years.
“However, if you’re considering an upgrade, you might want a bigger size for more capacity.
“If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the choice, check out reviews as there are so many great opinions on the options out there.”
Product perks
Like many fryer fans, Hayley strongly believes the appliance is worth the investment for many reasons, and loves the fact that she saves time – and calories.
She adds: “Another amazing thing about them is that you hardly need to use any oil to cook, so it means that you can eat the food you love whilst saving on those unnecessary calories.
“A few sprays of spray-oil is more than enough to get the food perfectly cooked and crisped up, so it means you can eat what you like without using loads of oil.”
Recipe inspo
You can cook almost anything in the air fryer and Hayley has plenty of recipes for those looking for a little extra inspiration.
Hayley says: “My Yorkshire pudding wrap in the air fryer is such a winner for my family – my girls love it and it makes Sunday dinner way easier, and very fun.
“You can get a gorgeous rise on the pudding and fill it with all the best bits from your roast.
“I also love my fakeaway recipes, like sweet and sour chicken or smash burgers.
“They’re brilliant to cook in the air fryer as they’re a lot less calorific than a proper takeaway as you use so much less oil and it’s all home-cooked – it’s way cheaper to make and much healthier!
“I make caramelised baked bananas which feel so indulgent, and my daughters love them.
“You just pop them in for 10 minutes and they turn out
beautifully sweet and delicious.”