Knowing how to choose suitable air fryer sizes is tricky for those new to this kitchen gadget. Because the introduction of air fryers has brought tremendous benefits to human life, more and more people use them nowadays.
If you are reading this post, it implies that you’re concerned about choosing a suitable air fryer for your kitchen. Good for you! You’re going to venture into a new and compelling experience in cooking. Keep scrolling, and I will take you to the world of air fryers to discover more about them.
Common Knowledge About Air Fryers
Knowing what an air fryer is, how it works, and what tasty food you can cook with it is key to discovering the best suitable sizes. Therefore, let’s look at a brief overview of this device first.
Definition
In contrast to its name, an air fryer is not a fryer in the sense of a large container for frying food. Instead, it works like a miniature convention by circulating hot air inside it with the help of a fan.
Additionally, it is small enough to place on your kitchen counter. It can cook almost everything an oven can, but the primary appeal is that it uses very little oil. Furthermore, it can give foods a crispy exterior and a moist, tender interior, an effect similar to deep-frying.
How Does It Work?
An air fryer works based on the heat circulation created by the heating mechanism and the fan on the machine’s top. When you start the engine, the heating mechanism starts to radiate heat, which the fan circulates around the food to cook it.
Therefore, you don’t need a lot of oil or fat, making air-fried food more wholesome and healthy (1). This amazing appliance also consists of a pull-out basket and a detachable tray at the bottom to catch any cooking drips.
You can learn more about how air fryers work here.
What Food Can You Cook With It?
Air fryers can create perfectly fried food, especially deep-fried dishes. They can keep the food’s crunchy texture without too much oil.
Roasted delicacies are another option. They have a crisp taste and browning color when cooked in air fryers. Veggies, like potatoes and asparagus, are also perfect if you want to make a healthy meal.
All About The Capacity Of An Air Fryer
Generally speaking, the capacity of an air fryer is the amount of food you can put in it in one cooking time. People usually use a quart (as a unit of volume) to measure air fryers’ capacity.
People convert a quart to 1.13 liters in the UK and 0.94 liters in the US.(2) This statistic will tell you whether the size is proper, depending on how big your meals are and what kind of food you are about to cook. You can easily look up this information on the label or packaging.
Main Types Of Air Fryers You Need To Know
There are many types of new fryers on the market to supply the increasing demand for oil-free meals. Here, I will give you some helpful information about the two prominent types of fryers.
Basket Air Fryer
This machine doesn’t take as much time as the other type of air fryer. When you start it, the heat blows down while the basket moderately rolls over and over inside the air fryer, taking only two minutes to reach a sufficient cooking temperature.
You can cook your food evenly with the moderately moving cylindrical basket. Moreover, this well-organized air fryer is compact and allows consumers more free space in the kitchen.
However, one of the drawbacks of this gadget is that it can only offer a single function (frying). Its limited capacity is another problem. Even a large basket air fryer is unlikely to hold as much food as a comparable oven air fryer.
Oven Air Fryer
Like what their name suggests, oven air fryers combine the best of both ovens and air fryers. They are typically multi-functional since they have multiple functions.
The oven air fryers are quite spaced-occupied as they are too big compared to other fryers. However, it also means they have a more extensive capacity, which can reach 25 quarts or even more.
Choosing The Suitable Air Fryers Sizes
I will provide you with helpful information about the sizes of air fryers to help you have a better shopping choice.
Small Air Fryers
If you have a modest kitchen, then a small air fryer will be the best choice for you. Besides that, cooking with these air fryers will be appropriate for those with a busy lifestyle, as cleaning them takes a short time.
Small air fryers have a food capacity of roughly 1 to 3 quarts (0.95 to 2.8 liters) and are suitable for a single individual or a small group of two people.
In terms of food volumes, they are big enough for one small chicken breast with some chips. Alternatively, you can cook two chicken breasts or four to six chicken wings in a 2- to 3-quart air fryer.
Air fryers with such a small size make quick and simple no-mess snacks and light meals. They are also an excellent substitute for the microwave for warming food since they can heat up quickly and keep your dish juicy.
Medium Air Fryers
If small air fryers can’t suit your needs, you don’t need to worry, as there are many air fryers with bigger sizes that you should consider. Medium-sized ones might be a safe option.
They have a food capacity of 3 to 5 quarts (3.79 to 7.73 liters) and are ideal for small families or groups of three to four members.
Furthermore, they can give you more cooking choices and allow you to cook larger items. The three to four quarts air fryers can cook half a packet of chips or four chicken breasts.
Large Air Fryers
If your kitchen room is more spacious, buying a larger air fryer size will be the right choice. Besides having a larger capacity, it also cuts down on preparation time when you can simultaneously cook many items in just one go session.
Having a capacity of 5 to 6 quarts (4.73 to 5.67 liters), these large-sized air fryers (usually about 14” H x 11” W x 15” D) allow you to cook various foods at one time.
In addition to this, with the help of their 5-quart basket, you can easily make a big meal for a group of five to seven people. You can also cook a whole chicken or a packet of chips without having to divide it.
Extra Large Air Fryers
An extra large air fryer is the best choice if you want to cook for many people. However, you should consider your kitchen room before purchasing since air fryers of this size may take up much of your kitchen’s space.
With its food capacity of 6 quarts (5.67 liters) and above, this air fryer can be as big as 15.91” H x 15.35” W x 13.7” D. It will help you cook many types of food in greater quantities, such as whole turkey, pizza, and about two bags of fries.
In addition, with their spacious chamber and trays, you can use them for baking, grilling, or dehydrating food. The 8-quart basket will assist you in preparing food for large families, gatherings, and so on.
How To Choose The Right Air Fryers
Choosing the best air fryer is a challenging job, given the large number of brands and models out there. It depends on your needs to choose the perfect one. Below are some helpful principles that help you find the right-sized air fryer.
Shape
The shape of the air fryer is the first factor you should look for before selecting one. Air fryers with baskets can come in square, rectangular, or round shapes. Meanwhile, an oven air fryer is understandably rectangular or square in shape like an oven.
The Counter Space
Determining the air fryers that suit your counter space is the most decisive factor and a big challenge for those who shop online.
Specifically, if your kitchen is large and has more free room, you should buy the large or extra large air fryer size due to their tremendous benefits. However, small or medium is good for those having a tiny kitchen space.
Recommended Air Fryer Brands For Knowledgeable Shoppers
Let me shorten your shopping time by introducing to you the best names when it comes to air fryers. In case you don’t know what to choose, follow my lead!
Instant
This company was founded in 2009. It has launched many kitchen appliances with a variety of models and sizes. Concerning air fryers, Instant Vortex 6-Quart Air Fryer is an ideal option.
With a 6-quart capacity, this product allows you to cook all your food in one go session. Additionally, its 4-in-1 functionality serves your multiple cooking purposes, such as air-frying, broiling, roasting, and reheating.
Corosi
Corosi is one of the most globally famous air fryer brands that you should consider when buying one. Most kitchen gadgets of this brand are best-seller products on Amazon, and COSORI Pro Air Fryer is one of them.
With 13 cooking functions to choose from, you can cook various kinds of food, such as chicken, veggies, fish, and so on. Its large capacity of 5.8 quarts can help you cook an excellent meal for groups of three to five people in one go.
Ninja
Mark Rosenzweig – the founder of this brand – launched this brand with the purpose of bringing the best cooking experience with their products of multiple functions to customers.
You should try Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Quart 6-in1 DualZone Air Fryer to experience the Foodi’s Smart Finish feature, which finishes cooking two distinctive foods in two different ways at the same time. Its 6-in-1 functionality allows you to air fry, air broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate, and roast.
Dash
Dash stands out from other housewares brands due to its colorful and beneficial products. Dash Compact Air Fryer Oven Cooker is one of its top-rated products you should consider.
These 2-quart air fryers only have half the weight of a standard air fryer, an ideal feature for those with modest kitchen counters.
Things You Shouldn’t Put In An Air Fryer
An air fryer can cook various types of food, from grilled to even baked food. However, there will be some exceptional food that you need to avoid putting into your air fryer.
You can gain a deep understanding of which type of food you should never put in an air fryer from this guide.
Wet Battered Food And Cheese
Battered food and cheese will never be a good choice for cooking using air fryers. Wet batter or coating will drip off through the perforations before it can crisp.
Likewise, cheese can ooze out and create a mess. You can dip battered food or cheese in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs if you want a crunchy bite.
Raw Rice
You should refrain from putting plain rice or grains that require hot boiling water into the air fryers. The reason is that the air fryer can never reach the needed temperature to cook raw rice. Therefore, cooking rice or any grains with air fryers is a waste of your time and energy.
Dry Seasoning
An air fryer works by circulating the air, which is not suitable for putting dry seasoning in. This is because when you put dry chili flakes or herbs seasoning in the air fryer, its airflow will blow these seasonings over, making it hard to clean after cooking.
Toast
Toasting a piece of bread with an air fryer is not ideal. The bread will move around and cook unevenly due to the high air pressure in the air fryer. Additionally, bread crumbs will fly and cover your fryer during the cooking process.
Leafy Greens
You should consider putting leafy greens into your air fryer. They are delicate and light, so using an air fryer to cook them could lead to uneven cooking or burning. As a result, you need to avoid putting spinach or lettuce into air fryers.
Plus, if you’re craving fresh leaves, you can add a little oil to gain more weight for the veggies like kale chips.
Popcorn
Popcorn is also a thing that won’t work well in an air fryer. The best popping corn temperature is usually between 400℉ and 460℉ ( 204 ℃ and 238℃), and most air fryers cannot reach that high heat. Therefore, if you want to enjoy a popcorn bag, try using the microwave instead.
Fantastic Recipes Using Air Fryers
You can use air fryers for cooking many delicious recipes with numerous benefits. Here are four fabulous and delicious recipes you should try to cook for your beloved ones.
Air-Fryer Southern-Style Chicken
This treat is the best choice if you are a big fan of fried chicken. Contrary to the traditional deep-fried chicken, this dish will limit the amount of oil and thus help you eat healthily and save your budget.
I ensure you will be amazed by the golden, crunchy, crisp fried chicken at the first bite. Within a few minutes and some simple steps, you can serve your family a perfect treat.
Air-Fryer Garlic Bread
If you have some leftover bread at home and want to make something tasty to eat, this dish is a perfect and easy option for you. The combination of the characteristic aroma of garlic with the crispy taste of bread cooked in an air fryer will surely satisfy you.
With a few simple steps and easy-to-find ingredients, you can make an amazing treat with bread.
Air-Fryer Coconut Shrimp And Apricot
This dish is for seafood lovers. The fresh flavor of shrimp covered in a rich and tangy coconut – apricot sauce will make you fall in love with it the first time you try it. On a nice day, prepare this yummy treat to serve with cool drinks for your friends and family.
FAQs
I ensure that the information above will help you to choose suitable air fryers, and I will provide you with some extra information to make sure you are equipped with all knowledge about air fryer sizes.
Choosing Air Fryer Sizes Is Not A Big Challenge
Do you have your go-to air fryer? I hope that with the in-depth information in this article, you can select the suitable one according to your personal needs and preferences. No matter what the sizes are, air-fryers are always the cutting-edge gadgets to solve all of your cooking recipes.
Would you like to write about your choices in the comment section? I will enjoy reading them very much, and other readers can use some examples as well. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends. Who knows, they may be looking for a good air fryer like you!
References
- Link, R. (2022) Should you cook with an air fryer?, Healthline. Healthline Media.
- Quart (2022) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
