Should You Buy an Air Fryer? Here are 5 Affordable Brands Under RM300

The air fryer is no stranger to the market, the hype began a couple years ago with many gravitating towards the magic of getting  food cooked without oil - in one pot nonetheless!

With the current stay-at-home situation, you may find yourself browsing e-commerce platforms to find cooking appliances that will make your time in the kitchen easier. If this is the case, you probably have come across air fryers, or even have one added to your shopping cart. So, is an air fryer worth it? 

Here are some quick facts about the air fryer:

• How exactly does an air fryer work? As the name suggests - it cooks food with air! Instead of using excessive amounts of oil, the basic technology of an air fryer uses hot air that circulates quickly to cook the food and get that crisp brown coating, while any excessive fat is drained out into the bottom tray. It works similar to a convection oven which, instead, uses a fan to distribute hot air. 
• Does food taste the same as normal fried food? Ironically, the air fryer does not actually deep fry food.  When food is traditionally deep-fried in oil, the heat transfers extremely quickly and it cooks the food fast to get the crispy layer and juiciness we love. However, this does not mean food made with the air fryer is not delicious - it really depends on what you're cooking.  You can still get that crispy texture, don't worry. We've read reviews that say air-fried french fries taste the same as deep-fried ones!
• Does it use zero oil? There is no one-size-fits-all situation when it comes to food. So, some foods can be cooked completely without oil, while some are better with a few teaspoons of oil. Some air fryers recommend zero oil for a healthier meal. 
• What are the benefits? The main selling point of an air fryer is it offers healthier food because you use less oil than you normally would when cooking - this means less calories, less fat. 
• Which foods are best to cook in an air fryer? Frozen food such as french fries, fish fingers and nuggets are great for an air fryer. Other than that, any foods you usually fry, grill, roast or bake can be cooked with an air fryer. 
• Are all air fryers the same? No. While most use the same basic technology, different brands offer different features which can include temperature control, timers and inclusion of other cooking methods. 

So, should you buy an air fryer? 

If you are looking for an easier way out when it comes to cooking, an air fryer will definitely be your best kitchen friend - all you have to do is stick your food into the basket, set your timer, choose your temperature and leave it be. It's great to own, especially if you have children and want to fry up some snacks without the hassle (and a ton of oil!).

Additionally, it cooks food much faster than the traditional methods such as grilling or baking in an oven - you can have you food ready in a matter of 15 minutes! So, we say yes, go for it.

Here are 6 affordable ones we found:

• SIRIM & Suruhanjaya Tenaga Certified
• Basket capacity is 2.6L, pan capacity is 3.8
• Easy to clean
• Adjustable thermostat
• Rapid Air Technology
• Multicooker - can be used to bake, grill and roast
• Cool-touch hand-grip

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• 3.5L capacity
• 1500W power
• Adjustable temperature (80 to 200)
• Adjustable thermostat
• Removable pot with non-stick coating
• 30 minutes timer with alarm/indicator

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• 2.6L capacity
• High speed air circulation
• Adjustable thermostat (up to 200)
• Auto shut down heater for additional protection
• 1,400W power

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• 1300W power
• Temperature control (up to 200)
• 2.8L capacity
• Timer up to 60 minutes
• Removable pot with non-stick coating
• Overheating protection and handle button cover

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• 2.6L capacity
• Adjustable timer 
• Temperature control (up to 200)
• Cool touch handle
• Detachable frying basket with protection cover on release button

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With that, happy cooking! 

*Please note the current prices are subject to sales and promotions