How to Choose the Right Air Fryer

Start with what you usually cook and how much of it needs to fit in one batch. A compact basket may be enough for snacks and smaller meals, while families or meal preppers may benefit from a larger basket, two independent drawers or an oven-style model. Once you know the format you need, compare its dimensions, power, useful features and price. 

What Size Air Fryer Do I Need?

Air fryer capacity in Australia is usually listed in litres. The right size depends on household size, portion size and the types of food you plan to cook.

 

As a general guide:

Treat capacity as a starting point rather than a serving guarantee. Basket width, depth and layout determine what will actually fit. A wide 6L basket may be more useful for chicken pieces or vegetables than a deeper model with the same advertised capacity. With dual-drawer models, remember that the total capacity is split between two smaller cooking zones. 

Does Air Fryer Shape Matter?

Capacity tells you how much space an air fryer has, but not how that space is arranged. A wide single basket is useful when food needs to sit in one layer. Dual drawers are better when two foods need separate settings, while oven-style models provide shelves or trays for larger and more varied meals.

Check the external dimensions as well as the litre capacity. Larger models need enough room on the benchtop and clearance around their vents, so measure the intended space before buying.

How Many Watts Does an Air Fryer Use?

Many household air fryers have a power rating somewhere between about 1,000 and 2,000 watts, although the exact figure varies by model and size.

Wattage tells you how much electrical power the appliance can draw while operating, but it does not tell you the full story about running costs.

Energy consumption depends on both power and cooking time.

A higher-wattage air fryer that cooks a meal quickly may use a similar amount of energy to a lower-powered model that runs for longer.

When comparing models, look at wattage together with capacity and typical cooking duration rather than assuming lower wattage automatically means lower electricity use.

Are Air Fryers Energy Efficient?

Air fryers can be energy efficient for small and medium-sized meals because they heat a relatively compact cooking chamber.

Compared with using a full-size oven for a small portion, an air fryer may require less time to preheat and less energy to maintain the cooking temperature. However, this depends on the appliance, the amount of food and how many batches are required.

A small air fryer may be efficient for one or two portions, but cooking a large family meal in several batches can reduce that advantage.

To estimate electricity use, convert the wattage to kilowatts and multiply it by the total cooking time in hours:

Power in kilowatts × cooking time in hours = estimated energy use in kilowatt-hours

For example, a 1,600W air fryer running for 20 minutes would have a simple maximum-use estimate of approximately 0.53kWh. Actual consumption may be lower because the heating element may cycle on and off once the appliance reaches temperature.

Single Basket vs Dual Basket Air Fryer

The choice between a single basket and dual basket air fryer depends mainly on whether you regularly cook more than one food at a time.

A single basket air fryer has one cooking zone. It is usually simpler, more compact and often less expensive. It works well if most meals involve one main food or several ingredients that can cook at the same temperature.

A dual basket air fryer has two separate cooking zones. This allows you to prepare foods at different temperatures or for different cooking times.

For example, you may be able to cook chicken in one basket and vegetables in the other.

Dual baskets give you flexibility, but the advertised capacity is divided between the two drawers. A 10L dual model may provide two 5L cooking zones rather than one uninterrupted 10L space, which matters if you regularly cook larger items. 

Is a Dual Basket Air Fryer Worth It?

A dual basket air fryer can be worthwhile if you regularly prepare two foods that need different cooking settings.

It can be particularly useful for families, meal preparation or dinners where a protein and side dish need to finish at the same time.

Some models also offer synchronised cooking functions that allow both baskets to finish together even when the cooking times differ.

For individuals or couples who mainly cook smaller portions, a dual basket model may add cost and take up extra bench space without providing much practical benefit.

Choose one based on how often you would actually use the second cooking zone.

Basket Air Fryer vs Oven Air Fryer

Basket air fryers and oven-style air fryers both use hot-air convection, but their layouts are different.

A basket model is usually a good fit when you want quick cooking, easy shaking and a smaller appliance. An oven-style model offers more room for trays, racks and larger foods, although it will generally occupy more benchtop space. Some larger models also add functions such as baking, grilling, rotisserie cooking or steam.

Should You Consider a Steam Air Fryer?

A steam air fryer combines circulated heat with steam cooking.It may appeal to households that want to retain more moisture in foods such as vegetables, fish or roasted meats while still achieving browning in a combined steam-and-air-fry mode. Some models can also operate in full-steam mode, making them more versatile than a standard basket air fryer.

The trade-offs are a larger appliance, a water tank to manage and additional cleaning requirements. Consider one if you will genuinely use the steam functions rather than choosing it for the feature list alone.

What Features Should You Look for in an Air Fryer?

Useful features should make the appliance easier to use rather than simply adding more settings.

Look for:

• adjustable temperature controls

• a clear timer

• removable baskets or trays

• dishwasher-safe parts where available

• dual cooking zones if you need them

• synchronised finish functions on dual basket models

• a viewing window if you prefer checking food without opening the appliance

• clear and easy-to-read controls

Do not choose an air fryer only because it has a long list of preset programmes. Capacity, basket layout and ease of cleaning are often more important in everyday use.

What Affects the Price of an Air Fryer? 

Decide first whether you need a compact basket, two independent drawers or a larger oven-style appliance. After that, compare models with similar capacities and layouts. Paying more for extra presets has little value if you mainly adjust the time and temperature yourself. Features such as larger capacity, independently controlled drawers, viewing windows or steam cooking are more likely to change how you use the appliance. 

The best air fryer is not necessarily the largest or most expensive. It is the one that matches your household size, cooking habits and available kitchen space.

Start with the meals you cook most often. That will tell you whether you need one wide basket, two independent drawers or an oven-style interior. Once you know the format, compare usable cooking space, appliance dimensions, cleaning requirements and price. Wattage and preset counts should help narrow the shortlist, not make the decision for you.