Shopper’s warning after Kmart air fryer allegedly cracks kitchen bench

It’s a cult kitchen item that costs a fraction of the price of other brands, but one woman shared an urgent warning for anyone using a Kmart air fryer.

They’ve become the cult item in kitchens across Australia but you might want to think twice the next time you set up your air fryer for cooking on your kitchen bench.

A woman has shared a warning online to others after her Kmart air fryer allegedly cracked her stone bench top.

In a post shared in the Kmart Hacks & Decor group she said the damage had left her husband “quietly rocking in the corner”.

“Just an FYI and warning!” she wrote, according to 7news.com.au.

The woman alleged her stone bench top had cracked as a result of her air fryer. Picture: Kmart Home Decor & Hacks Australia.

“Bought the big air fryer and have been loving it … till I noticed a big crack in my bench top.

“I didn’t realise the heat the air fryer made underneath and has now cracked my stone bench top!”

While it’s recommended that air fryer users also put a heat-resistant pad underneath the appliance while using it, it turned out the woman wasn’t alone in not knowing this.

“I had no idea this could happen,” one person commented.

Others said they used a chopping board to protect their bench top, with one person advising: “We have a tile under ours, I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

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Kmart recommends that its air fryers be used with an “insulated heat pad”. Picture: Kmart via NCA NewsWire

A Kmart spokesperson said the appliance’s instruction manual had several recommendations for ideal operation.

“At Kmart, we’re committed to designing and creating great quality products for our customers; and we’re proud to offer families a wide range of cooking appliances,” the spokesperson said.

“Air Fryers are one of our most popular appliance categories; with a 5-star customer rating and dedicated fan page on Facebook with over 398,000 members.

“When it comes to electrical appliances, we recommend customers familiarise themselves with the safety precautions outlined in our User Manuals.

“This will ensure products are used correctly. Placing air fryers on dry, level, stable, and heat-resistant surfaces (away from overhead cabinets or presses, which may be damaged by steam) is recommended.”

At a fraction of the cost of other brands and with prices starting at $49, Kmart’s air fryers have attracted a cult like following.

There’s even a Facebook group, Share Kmart Air Fryer Recipes Australia, dedicated to the appliance with more than 398,000 members.

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Costing a fraction of other brands, Kmart's air fryers have attracted a cult following. Picture: Instagram/@milkchamtea

WHAT IS AN AIR FRYER?

Air fryers cook meals by circulating hot air around food, creating a crispy outside similar to deep-fried food.

They’re popular for cooking some foods faster than a conventional oven as well as not heating up an entire room – a must when cooking during summer.

According to Healthline, you can use just one teaspoon of oil to make fries in an air fryer that taste almost identical to the much less healthy deep-fried version.

Because of this the cooking gadget has been labelled as a sneaky way to lose weight – however, one dietitian has warned that it won’t magically make unhealthy foods suddenly better.

“But if you’re using your air fryer to whip up treats all day long, I’ve got some bad news. You see, a brownie is still a brownie, regardless of how it’s cooked,” Melissa Meier wrote for Body and Soul.

“My suggestion is to simply exercise a little common sense with your air fryer if good health is on your radar – veg, wholegrains and lean proteins are good-for-you everyday foods that can form the basis of a healthy meal, while chocolate, pastry and butter are not.”