But with appliances being a ‘you get what you pay for’ type of category, it can be difficult to find one worth buying.

To help you out, we’ve compiled a few models from some of the most popular air fryer brands to inspire your search. We’ve also shared some tips on how to get the most out of your air fryer.

One of our favourite budget buys is the Russell Hobbs SatisFry Air Fryer which uses a built-in fan to circulate the hot air around the fryer for evenly cooked and crispy meals.

Another high rater is the Ninja XXXL FlexDrawer Air Fryer that can make up to eight portions and cook two meals in separate draws at the same time.

OUR TOP PICKS

BEST AIR FRYERS UNDER $300

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Air and Grill Multi Cooker, $239.96 (down from $299.95) at Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

This Russell Hobbs air fryer ensures all your food is cooked evenly and with a crunch thanks to its built-in fan. This circulates air reaching up to 260°C around the air fryer to create a crispy coating all over.

You can choose from seven cooking functions: Air Fry, Slow Cook, Roast, Grill, Sear, Bake and Keep Warm. These can be selected on the touchscreen digital display along with cooking time and temperature. Your meals will also be on the table faster, with this fryer being up to 76 per cent quicker than cooking your meals in a conventional oven.

Several Amazon buyers have praised its air frying capabilities. One found that it cooks fried chicken “quickly and evenly” while another rattles off several other meals cooked to perfection including soup, stew, chips, steak and bread. To top it off, a third thrilled shopper says it’s now their “go to appliance”.

Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer, $277 at Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

Designed for “family-sized” portions, this Ninja air fryer is large enough to cook a 2 kilogram chicken or 1.5 kilos of fries – that’s equivalent to eight meals. The 10.4L fryer can be used on its own or separated into a dual basket air fryer with a removable divider to make two meals at two different temperatures simultaneously.

You can make a range of foods using its seven cooking functions along with the recipe guide that’s included. As a bonus, clean up is as easy as putting the parts in the dishwasher.

The product has been described by one buyer as “a fantastic addition to our kitchen” for cooking delicious air fried food, all while it uses up to 45 per cent less energy than a traditional oven.

PowerXL Air Fryer Oven, $249.95 at Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

This versatile air fryer offers eight cooking presets and seven cooking functions that allows users to make a huge variety of meals. It has a large 10L capacity making up to six servings and you can see the cooking process through its glass door. It also has dishwasher safe parts that one customer said were “much easier to clean than [my] previous fryer”.

It also includes a wide range of accessories that aren’t provided by other air fryers including a rotating mesh basket, three airflow racks, stainless steel skewers and a rotisserie set. You’ll also be supplied three cookbooks containing air fryer recipes for rotisserie cooking, dehydrating and a collection of the best air fryer meals.

Baccarat The Ultimate Fry XL Air Fryer & Oven, $229.99 (down from $459.99) on Baccarat

What You Need To Know

This Baccarat air fryer toaster oven makes large quantities of air fried food with a huge 20L capacity and several accessories. They include an air fryer cage, a drip basket, a wire basket and rack and a rotisserie kit.

Unlike most air fryers preprogrammed with eight to 10 preset cooking functions, you’ll be able to choose from 16 setting to make a huge selection of meals as you watch how your family meal is cooking through its glass window. One buyer praises how quickly their meals come together, saying “I love how fast it is to cook in comparison to cooking the same thing in an oven”.

If you’re needing cooking inspiration, it’s got that covered too with access to a digital recipe book provided.

BEST AIR FRYERS UNDER $200

Philips 2000 Series Air Fryer, $189 (down from $229) at Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

The 6.2L 2000 Series is one of the most popular Philips air fryers on the market and boasts a powerful cooking performance of 1700W. Described by one buyer as “very silent, efficient, and cheap”, it uses RapidAir technology to move the air evenly and quickly around the fryer while cooking with one of 13 presets.

Once purchased, you’ll gain access to the HomeID app to read tailor-made air fryer recipes to try for yourself. You can then watch these recipe coming along through the built-in cooking window.

Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer, $177 at Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

Great for foodies who want to whip up different meals at the same time, this Ninja dual basket air fryer packs two 3.8L baskets that can simultaneously cook two different ways, allowing you to make mains and desserts in a fraction of the time or simply double the servings.

There are six customisable settings to choose from including Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate and Reheat. The unit also offers a wide temperature range compared to other available air fryers is “worth every dollar!”, according to one thrilled buyer.

“It has so many different cooking functions and allows you to sync the timing so that it all finishes cooking at the same time. Very excited to use it more. We are limited with kitchen and oven space so this is a great addition to our kitchen,” a happy customer posted on the Bing Lee website.

Russell Hobbs Brooklyn Air Fryer, $149 (down from $169.95) at Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

With a 5-star review on Amazon, the Russell Hobbs Brooklyn Air Fryer is one of the most popular at this price point, with one buyer saying it “fits comfortably on any kitchen surface, and is very easy to use and clean.” Cooking frozen foods and meals to a tee, it has seven meal programs and can cook frozen fries up to 82 per cent faster than regular electric ovens. It’s also easy to store and move to your benchtop with a carry handle on top.

Instant Pot Vortex Slim Air Fryer, $199 (down from $269) at Myer

What You Need To Know

This small 5.7L air fryer is designed to fit in compact spaces and is ideal for couples, housemates or small families. Its EvenCrisp technology ensures your meal has a crispy coating all around while using up to 80 per cent less energy than standard electric ovens.

To personalise your meals, you can customise its cooking programs to your liking. It also boasts a one-year warranty and Quiet Mark certification for a quieter operation. One buyer compliments the latter, saying; “This isn’t my first air fryer, I’ve owned a few but this is by far the quietest and easiest to use”.

Auspure Premium Digital Air Fryer, 129.99 (down from $249.99) at Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

Try out healthier alternatives with 10 presets to choose from, and enough capacity to cook a whole 1.8 kilogram roast chicken. You can also expect a shake alarm to let you know when to give the items a toss or flip for even cooking. Other features include touch screen controls, timer, non-stick and washable baskets, adjustable temperature up to 205 degrees Celsius and auto shut off. This Auspure air fryer additionally includes a recipe book with 100 delicious meals to get you started.

“Everything I have cooked so far (vegetables and meat) are so crispy on the outside and soft in the middle! Also love the fact I can put both baskets in the dishwasher – very easy to clean,” an Amazon customer wrote, rating the product five stars.

“One of the things I was worried about was the noise but this isn’t noisy at all. It’s probably the same noise as my microwave … my kettle is louder!”

“I can’t begin to share how much oil I have saved myself from, not just eating but buying all that oil as well. The is beautiful and looks like it will last a long time (unlike my last). I like the interface and the heating levels are just right on this one,” agreed another reviewer.

Tefal Easy Fry & Grill Classic Air Fryer, $124 (down from $269.95) at The Good Guys

What You Need To Know

Household favourite Tefal offers the two-in-one Easy Fry and Grill Classic Air Fryer. It’s loaded with a 4.2L capacity, 60-minute timer and an intuitive control dial, along with a diecast aluminium grilling plate to create juicy steaks and delicious seared veggies. This Tefal air fryer also has a space-saving design, making it great for a small cooking space inside apartments and caravans.

Whether it’s dishing out dry roasted almonds within just a few minutes or making an entire chicken roast with the most tender meat and crispy skin, shoppers are loving the results and say this Tefal air fryer is “so easy and convenient to use”.

“I never bother doing reviews but we’ve had this now for maybe six months and it was such a great price and awesome machine. Love it. Does exactly what it’s meant (to), not fancy, but sleek and efficient!” an impressed shopper posted on Google Reviews.

“Absolutely loving this air fryer, and using it most days. It’s small but big enough for two people, and so easy to clean,” agreed another.

Sunbeam Copper Infused DuraCeramic Air Fryer, $149 (down from $179) at Myer

What You Need To Know

Don’t want to give up your favourite fried foods? Sunbeam’s Copper infused DuraCeramic Air Fryer promises to use 99.4 per cent less oil compared the brand’s own regular deep fryers, so you can still enjoy crispy homemade fries and nuggets –– with much less grease. The model features a Copper Infused DuraCeramic Coating for durability and provides 1500W of power for fast cooking.

“Easy to use, easy to clean! What’s not to love about this,” a happy reviewer wrote.

“(It’s) great value and (c)ooks well, especially salmon and vegetables,” agreed another.

Ninja Airfryer Max, $178 (down from $299.99) at Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

The Ninja Air Fryer Max is built to cook up to 1.4 kilograms of chicken wings or French fries at temperatures of up to 240°C. This high temperature range is boosted by a smart heating element that automatically adjusts the temperature to evenly distribute the heat.

You can choose from cooking programs for air frying, roasting, baking, dehydrating and reheating as well as the Max Crisp air fryer function for making even crunchier meals.

Proving its popularity, there are many positive reviews on Amazon from home cooks. One says it “packs a powerful punch with its quick heating and efficient cooking capabilities”. They also say “the results are consistently excellent — food comes out evenly cooked and deliciously crispy”.

BEST AIR FRYERS UNDER $100

Healthy Choice Digital Air Fryer Oven, $64.95 at Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

Described by one buyer as “very high quality at budget price”, this Healthy Choice air fryer is the ideal choice for an entry-level air fryer.

Alongside its five star Amazon rating, it offers eight cooking functions to make a range of meals and watch how it’s coming along through its viewing window. It also has a non-stick coating for easy clean-up.

Braun MultiFry 3 HF3030 Air Fryer Oven, $99 (down from $189) on Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

This small air fryer oven from Braun simplifies cooking with eight presets along with digital temperature and timer controls.

Using RealAir technology, the built-in fan moves hot air around to evenly cook and coat your food. It is also great for making healthier meals as it uses up to 90 per cent less oils and fats than traditional deep fryers.

It will also alert you halfway through the cooking process, with a shaking reminder to help prevent sticking and also help the air reach every part of your meal.

With a five star Amazon rating, one buyer says it’s “a great purchase that won’t break the bank” while another says “the best feature is in my opinion is that it doesn’t heat up the whole kitchen like a conventional oven does”.

Instant Pot Vortex Mini Air Fryer, $89 on Amazon Australia

What You Need To Know

Described by one buyer as the “perfect air fryer for a single person”, the Instant Pot Vortex Mini Air Fryer may be small but it still packs a mighty punch. Its EvenCrisp technology flows air from the top to the bottom to add a satisfying crunch.

Boasting a “very modern interface”, you can select from the four customisable cooking functions using its smart control touchscreen.

One buyer tried it for themselves, saying; “We’ve used it to cook chips, nuggets, spring rolls and Dagwood dogs, and to reheat pizza, crumbed fish and chips”.

Another buyer praises the air fryer, adding “I’ve been using my air fryer for about a year now. It’s easy to use, easy to clean and cooks food beautifully”.

HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS

To help you find the affordable air fryer for your needs and budget, we asked former Food Director of Australia’s top food site Taste.com.au Kim Coverdale for her expert advice and recommendations on what to look for when buying a budget friendly air fryer. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best budget air fryer to help you find the right one.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING AN AIR FRYER?

Our resident food expert Kim Coverdale says air fryers are not just made for cooking frozen foods and hot chips, with many now recognising their status as a “must-have small kitchen appliance”.

“Air fryers are quicker to cook than your standard oven which means you can have juicy pork belly with the crispiest crackling in no time. From roast chicken, pasta bakes and pies to cakes, brownies and pavlova – basically anything you can cook in an oven can be cooked in an air fryer”, she told news.com.au.

“ … I can see why people are choosing air fryers over their ovens when it comes to cooking dinner.”

Air fryers are also kinder on our power bills compared to a standard electric oven and can cook food in a fraction of the time, according to Alan Pears, a sustainability expert at RMIT University.

“Air fryers use half of the electricity, and you get the same result,” he wrote in an article for Renew Magazine.

“It also uses a combination of radiant heat, which is instant, and high-speed circulation of hot air.

“High air flow over food dramatically increases the rate of heat transfer to the food. Think about the ‘chill’ effect of cold, high speed winter winds in reverse.

“Fan-forced conventional ovens use this feature to some extent, but air fryers take it to another level: The higher the air speed the greater the heat flow.”

HOW IS COOKING WITH AN AIR FRYER DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL FRYING?

Air fryers are known as healthier cooking appliances since oil isn’t as necessary compared to regular frying, and they only require a small amount of oil (or none at all).

“Traditional deep frying involves plunging food into a pot of hot oil to cook through and crisp the outside. The air fryer circulates hot air around the food in the basket which is sprayed lightly with oil,” Kim said.

“Frying in an air fryer can reduce the fat used in frying up to 80 per cent and can cook faster than in an oven.”

WHAT SIZE AIR FRYER DO I NEED FOR MY FAMILY?

According to Kim, basic tasks such as heating up chips can easily be done by air fryers with between 3L and 10L capacities as well as any dual zone air fryers. However, if you’re planning on cooking meals for four to six people you’ll need something bigger. The food expert also warns a large capacity air fryer simply means it has a deeper basket, which “only comes in handy for foods that need the depth such as a whole chicken or items that can be stacked for cooking and not kept in a single layer”.

DO YOU NEED TO PREHEAT THE AIR FRYER BEFORE COOKING?

Kim adds there’s usually no need to preheat an air fryer, unlike ovens, deep fat fryers and pans.

“You may find the odd recipe which requires the air fryer to be preheated but in most cases this is not needed. The air fryer cooks quicker and when cooking foods like pastries not preheating is better as it gives the food time to cook through before becoming crisp and golden on the outside and avoids you burning the food,” she explained.

Kim Coverdale, news.com.au checkout Food Expert

With more than 25 years of experience in the food publishing industry, Kim certainly knows her gadgets. Aside from taste.com.au, she’s also written content and developed drool-worthy recipes for major foodie titles including Delicious, Best Recipes and Better Homes and Garden.

More Best Air Fryer Coverage

• Review: Philips Premium Air fryer XXL
• Best smart air fryers
• 15 best air fryers in Australia

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