Consumer group CHOICE has revealed the worst performing air fryers from their latest testing, with models from Kitchen Couture, Kmart and Sunbeam scoring at the bottom.
"Air fryers are a popular and easy to use appliance for roasting, grilling and even baking food. However, there are a lot of poor performing air fryers out on the market, so make sure you do your research or you may bring home a dud," says CHOICE kitchen expert Fiona Mair.
These three air fryers were the worst performers in our testing:
Kitchen Couture 3.4L Air Fryer
CHOICE Expert Rating: 66%
Price: $149
"The Kitchen Couture 3.4L air fryer received the lowest score in our testing. It failed to perform in many of the cooking tests, and we ended up with a long list of complaints about its numerous idiosyncrasies," says Mair.
Kmart Anko 9L Twin Air Fryer AFD2906
CHOICE Expert Rating: 67%
Price: $125
"Unfortunately, the Kmart Anko 9L Twin air fryer isn't one of Kmart's greatest products. Certain foods cooked better than others - roast pork and chicken wings cooked excellently, whereas frozen chips and crumbed chicken disappointed. We recommend investing in other twin air fryers that have more redeeming features if you're looking to cook two different foods at once," says Mair.
Sunbeam 22L Multi Function Oven + AirfryerBT7200
CHOICE Expert Rating: 69%
Price: $299
"The oven feature of this Sunbeam product was underwhelming, with foods such as chicken nuggets coming out soggy and not cooked through properly. Plus, despite its variety of controls, the air fryer doesn't have a prompt to shake or turn the food during cooking, so you'll have to set your own timer to complete these steps," says Mair.
Here are some tips on what to consider if you're buying an air fryer:
Space
"Air fryers can take up a lot of space, so we recommend finding the perfect spot for it on your bench or in your cupboard before purchasing," says Mair.
Capacity
"Air fryers usually have a small capacity, so if you're planning on cooking a meal for a large family, be mindful that you'll have to cook in multiple batches," says Mair.
Controls
"When choosing an air fryer we recommend looking for a model with clear instructions and easy to use icons. Digital controls allow for better accuracy and pre-programmed settings provide an effortless experience where timers, reminders and even setting the right temperature is done for you," says Mair.
Energy efficiency
"As air fryers are smaller compared to ovens their cooking time is faster, making them more energy-efficient. However, if you need to cook multiple batches, it would be more energy-efficient to use an oven as you can cook the whole meal," says Mair.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
