The price of an air fryer depends on many factors, including the type you purchase, the size of the air fryer itself, and whether or not you're buying a brand name.
Generally, you can purchase an air fryer anywhere from $25 to $500.There are many options to consider when determining which air fryer is best for your family.
Here's a breakdown of all the variables that warrant your consideration before making your decision.
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Types of Air Fryers
Types of Air Fryers
There are three main types of air fryers, and each has its own price point and energy consumption averages. Smaller air fryers are less expensive and use less energy, but depending on how many people you're feeding, their cooking times are also worth noting.
Cooking one portion of food requires much less time and energy than four portions. When determining which kitchen appliances are best for you, think about your family size, your budget, and your counter space.
Basket Air Fryers
These stand-alone units are some of the most popular on the market. The basket-style fryers get their name from the removable basket that holds your food. They are some of the smallest available and have the lowest entry price.
Some of the cheaper models can be found for as little as $25. Their sizes range anywhere from less than two quarts to more than ten quarts.
Of course, the larger the size, the higher the price. Additionally, brand names, like the Ninja air fryer, also come with a heftier price tag and can easily cost over a hundred dollars.
While a basket air fryer is usually quite energy efficient, this isn't always the case.
One of the downsides to basket-style air fryers is that their overall size is often much larger than the cooking basket itself. This sometimes results in having to cook multiple batches, which inevitably adds more energy costs.
Air Fryer Toaster Ovens
These oven-style air fryers resemble a mini conventional oven that typically has removable trays for holding your food. Toaster oven air fryers not only have a larger food capacity, but many of them come with additional cooking options like baking, toasting, or rotisserie.
When it comes to crispy food with a deep fryer taste, air fryer toaster ovens do it best.
Toaster air fryer ovens have a capacity anywhere in the neighborhood of 15 to 30 quarts. Because of their larger size, they offer more cooking space, but these air fryers can also cost substantially more.
On average, air fryer toaster ovens run in the neighborhood of $75-100. While their larger size also allows you to air fry larger portions of food, they're often less efficient than their basket-style cousins.
Paddle Air Fryers
Paddle-type air fryers are a relatively new kitchen appliance that features rotating bowls and/or stirring paddles so you can 'set it and forget it.'
So, how does a paddle air fryer work?
The air fryers more or less stir and flip your food with paddle attachments, so you don't have to monitor it so closely. Many even come with halogen heating elements that work in conjunction with the fan to blow hot air around the chamber, which ultimately cooks food faster.
These air fryers are quite convenient, but they do have their drawbacks. Most notably, food sometimes gets stuck under the stirring paddles. These units are also quite pricey ranging in the $200-500, and are often not as energy-efficient.
Size of Air Fryers
Since air fryers aren't as large as a conventional oven, it's important to make note of their size. You want an air fryer that's large enough to feed your household so you do not have to cook in batches.
Small Air Fryers
If you're simply looking for an air fryer for one to two people, the small 2-quart air fryer is one of your best options. They work perfectly for single servings and quickly heating frozen meals, making them some of the most popular air fryers on the market.
Off-name and economical brands like Mainstay can be had for as little as $25-40. Your well-known brand names, however, like Vortex and Ninja cost twice as much in the $80-100 range.
Medium Sized Air Fryers
For three to four people, consider a 4-quart air fryer to a 6-quart air fryer. They're large enough to cook full meals in addition to heating frozen foods. They're the perfect option for grilling chicken or fish or even cooking casseroles.
These popular air fryers run in the neighborhood of $80-$130, depending on the brand name and the amount of features offered.
Large Air Fryers
If you're looking to feed an entire family, a large air fryer is a must-have. Otherwise, you'll end up cooking in batches. A toaster oven air fryer combo is a good option for larger families. They typically provide both a baking tray and an air fryer basket for multiple cooking options.
They can still be obtained for under $100, but the more elaborate units can run upwards of $300.
Extra Large Air Fryers
Newer models tend to offer even more cooking space in addition to more elaborate features. The cooking time of these powerhouses is usually expedited with their higher wattages, but they also utilize more energy. So if you're concerned with utility costs, this is something you may want to consider.
Take the Emeril Lagasse Everyday French Door 360 Air Fryer, for example, which runs slightly over the $300 range. It offers a whopping 25-quart capacity with two separate cooking zones. But it's also 1750 watts.
Air Fryer Features
The more features your air fryer has, the more it's going to cost. The best air fryers offer plenty of convenient options like touch screens, quick start resets, and an abundance of added accessories.
Some offer added cooking features like a rotisserie option or dual baskets for cooking multiple foods at the same time. Some air fryers even double as pressure cookers. Of course, these multifunctional air fryers cost more.
For example, the Ninja Foodi offers two separate baskets making it easy to place chicken wings in one and french fries in the other. The two separate air fryers cook two different foods in two different ways at the same time.
You can expect to pay around $150 or more for these types of air fryers. While the air fryer pressure cooker combos run anywhere from $130 to over $200.
Brand Name Air Fryers
You're also going to pay more initially for name brands like Vortex and Ninja Air Fryers. Big-name brands tend to put a lot of money into research, development, and advertising. These added costs are always passed down to the consumer.
Likewise, if your brand-name appliance has additional features like app integration or smart technology, the cost is even higher.
Energy Costs of an Air Fryer
Besides your purchase price, you should also consider its energy costs, which is something that you'll continually pay over time. How much energy your air fryer uses largely depends on its wattage. Higher-wattage air fryers use more energy and therefore cost more over time.
For example, a 1500-watt air fryer will cost around 19 cents an hour at an assumed rate of twelve cents per kilowatt hour. Whereas that 1750 Emeril Lagasse I mentioned will run you around 21 cents an hour.
Household Dynamics
Your household dynamics are directly proportional to your household costs. Larger households spend more money, whether it's upgrading to a larger air fryer or cooking more batches.
While most air fryers cater to family sizes of three to four, a small quart-size is the favorite air fryer for cost-effectiveness. However, if you're using a smaller air fryer to cook for a larger family, the costs add up.
If you find you're running your air fryer through several cycles to cook enough food for everyone, purchasing a larger capacity would be advantageous.
Cost to Your Health
Many consumers choose to air fry their food for health reasons. Compared to deep frying, air fryers provide the crispy texture we all love without the extra calories or added grease.
As the world becomes more health conscious, people are leaving traditional frying behind in exchange for a healthier lifestyle. Healthier people require fewer doctor visits, which inadvertently saves a tremendous amount of money.
Wrapping Up
The best air fryer for you is the one that can cook enough for everyone in your household in a single batch while not breaking your budget. While a multifunctional air fryer seems appealing, it might not be necessary if it's outside of your price range.
If you're still searching for your perfect kitchen companion, these articles are sure to help:
Instant Pot vs Air Fryer: A Comparison
Pressure Cooker vs Air Fryer
Ninja Foodi 2 Basket Air Fryer Review
Air Fryer vs Toaster Oven: Which Should You Choose?
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