It seems like there is always a new gadget available for your kitchen. If you are like me you are constantly asking yourself, “Do I need an instant pot? What about an immersion blender? I’m pretty sure I really do need an espresso machine.” In all honesty, I don’t own any of those items, but I do have an air fryer and what I want to do here is give you my opinion of the pros and cons to help you decide if you should get one, too.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I might make some extra coffee money at no extra expense to you if you buy something through one of my links. Read more about that here.
Pro 1: It cuts down on oil
This is probably something you are already aware of since it’s kind of the big selling point that most companies stress as they market their air fryers, but it’s true. Just a spritz of oil goes a long way and so far I’ve never had anything stick. My husband likes when I make potatoes this way because he says they aren’t as greasy as they are even from the oven.
Pro 2: It saves time
I find that things cook a little faster in the air fryer than they do in the oven. I like to use it for potatoes, sweet potatoes, meatballs, and more, and it usually cuts about 20% of the cook time out.
Pro 3: It doesn’t heat up your kitchen
I should clarify – it doesn’t heat up your kitchen as much. It does still pump some heat out the back but it’s less than opening an oven and cools down faster.
Con 1: It takes up counter space
My biggest obstacle when adding anything new to my kitchen is where to put it. This might not be true universally, but the air fryer I have kind of takes up a lot of space on my counter. I don’t love that, but it might not be something that bothers you, or maybe you have plenty of room to spare.
Con 2: It’s loud
It might be faster and use less oil, but the oven is certainly quieter. Again, this complaint might depend on the model, but mine is a little noisy.
Con 3: It’s kind of a pain to clean
Mine breaks down into two pieces that need to be cleaned after each use, and they are a little bit bulky and hard to maneuver in the sink. It does have a good nonstick surface that wipes clean easily, though.
If you are on the fence about whether or not an air fryer is a worthwhile purchase, I hope the pros and cons from my experience help you make your decision. If space and money aren’t an issue then go for it! (And use my affiliate link when you go for it, if you don’t mind). The bottom line is that nobody really needs an air fryer — but it sure is a cool tool to have around! There are a lot of experiments that I have yet to try with mine so if you ask me again in a few months I might even be an air fryer evangelist.
I’d love to hear your experiences as well! Is there pro or con I’ve left out? Let me know in the comments.