OneRoof’s Ask the Expert series is aimed at helping consumers cut through the noise when buying goods and products for their home. It’s hard to make a decision when there’s so much out there, so who better to trust than the people who have the expertise and use these items for a living?
For families juggling work, sport and school schedules, air fryers have become one of the most used appliances in the home.
And with fuel and electricity prices rising, they are also great at reducing energy bills.
OneRoof wanted to know if the cheaper models held their own against the more expensive brands, so we asked the experts who use them every day: members of the Mum’s Collective on Meta.
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They all agree that air fryers are a lifesaver for busy households, with most saying it is the one appliance they wouldn’t be without. And while Ninja is certainly the brand of choice, Kmart models have their fans and are still going strong after three years.
“If you have kids, it’s a lifesaver ... just chuck something in and turn it on. It automatically turns off at the end of the timer,” one parent said.
“We use ours every single day,” said one member. “Don’t remember the last time I used the oven.”
Which air fryer is best?
The Ninja Dual rates very highly, while the Ninja XXXL Flexi Drawer gets a special mention for its removable centre partition, which can create a mega zone for cooking ( big enough to fit a leg of lamb, said one member). If you want to go really large and cook up to four different foods at once, there is also the Ninja Stack.
“100% a must, we highly rate Ninja,” one member said.
Another added: “Ninja dual one. Best $330 ever spent.”
The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer is a popular and well-reviewed model. Photo / Supplied
Look out for special offers at the likes of Briscoes, which has been known to discount the full Ninja range during sale periods.
Kmart offers air fryers for those on a strict budget. However, low prices don’t mean lack of quality, with many Mum’s Collective users praising the brand for its value. “Kmart $89 one lasted me years ... quick and easy for busy nights,” one mum said.
“We have the double drawer Kmart one ... six years old now and still cooks just as good as new,” another added.
Even those who later upgraded recommend that buyers start with a Kmart version to test if an air fryer suits their lifestyle.
The 9 Litre Twin Air Fryer represents good value at $89 and is rated four stars by users. There is also the smaller 7 Litre version with a window.
Kmart's 9 Litre Twin Air Fryer can be snapped up for $89. Photo / Supplied
Kmart's range of air fryers includes compact styles, which it says are great for one or two people; fryers with larger baskets, which are good for family meals or entertaining; and fryers with two drawers, allowing users to cook mains and sides together.
If you don’t want to go all in on a Ninja or a Kmart fryer, there are mid-range options from Russell Hobbs and Sunbeam, which are rated as reliable and have better build quality than entry-level models.
“Really impressed ... easy to clean and cooks well,” one user said of their Russell Hobbs model.
The Russel Hobbs Satisfry represents good value with good reviews, but shop around as prices vary widely. The dual basket options seem comparable in price to a Ninja.
The Sunbeam Alinea Max also gets good reviews, as does the Sunbeam Multizone.
Russell Hobbs' Satisfry Air Fryer 5.5L. Photo / Supplied
Why should you buy an air fryer?
Air fryers heat quickly, cook faster than a conventional oven and don’t require preheating, making them ideal for busy families. “Definitely useful and saves a lot of power by not preheating/using the whole oven for smaller portions,” a Mum’s Collective reviewer wrote.
Air fryers also excel at the everyday basics, from after-school snacks to quick dinners. “From chicken tenders, garlic bread, fries, pizzas or homemade roasties ... we use ours every day,” another user said.
For some, it’s the small upgrades that make the biggest difference to their cooking lives. As one member posted: “Ever bought a pie on the way home and thought, ‘dang, if only I could just crisp it up a lil’ more?’ Or reheated corn fritters or pikelets in the microwave and lamented about the softness? Wanted to cook chips, but don’t quite have enough time? Serious adult problems, ya know. The air fryer is the answer to all of those.”
Parents also post that air fryers make cooking easy for teenagers and reduce the risk of burnt dinners.
What to look for when buying an air fryer
Based on feedback and reviews from real-world users, the features that matter most seem to be:
- Capacity: Choose a larger capacity with drawers or dual zones for families to allow cooking of larger meals
- Ease of cleaning: Look for versions with dishwasher-safe parts for ease of cleaning.
- Safety features: Look for auto shut-off functions and timers, particularly if you want teenagers and older children to use it and take on some cooking responsibilities.
