If you are from the late ’80s or early ’90s, you would surely remember the growing craze and trend of the microwave oven in every household as a must-have. The microwave oven has proven to be a useful appliance to heat your food along with its many other versions in the newer upgrades.
In the era of Netflix and chill, we all are rushing our lives at the speed of light, we need some gadget that doesn’t require as much time to cook food. Today, the microwave ovens have been surpassed by multi-function appliances like the air fryer. Sure – you could stand over a pot of boiling oil, eyeing the thermometer while you make your fries, or you could get yourself an air fryer.
How does an air fryer work?
Air fryers are counter-top mini-ovens that work by circulating hot air through the vessel and tray the food is on. Air fryers have a basket ‘tray’ or oven-type trays that act as a cooking chamber. A small amount of oil is added and the fan inside uses rapid air technology to heat the interior to a temperature of 200 degrees. The rapid flow of air helps to distribute the minimal oil and heat to give a deep-fried, crispy texture. Air fryers are very to use and the result is evenly cooked healthy food.
The best air fryer is easy to use, with simple settings, and enough space to fit your desired foods – everything from crispy-skinned salmon to lemon-roasted asparagus, or even a jumbo serving of spicy chicken wings. We’ve carried out extensive research to find the top air fryer in Australia, and here are our top picks.
The best Air Fryers in Australia
- Budget-Friendly Kmart Anko 5.3L Air Fryer
- Best for Large Group DeLonghi IdealFry Digital
- Best Overall Philips Daily Collection Airfryer HD9218/51
- Tefal Fry Delight
- Philips Airfryer XXL Smart Digital
- Sunbeam Copper-Infused DuraCeramic Air Fryer
- Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
1.Budget-Friendly Kmart Anko 5.3L Air Fryer
With its price under $100, the Kmart Anko 5.3L Air Fryer is an absolute winner. It is spacious enough for juicy roast chicken and cooks a big batch of homemade sweet potato fries in a jiffy. At 1800 watts, this is a little gadget that'll earn its worth on any kitchen benchtop.
Shop now
The Kmart Anko 5.3L Air Fryer is our best find for Australia's budget-friendly air fryer because it is perfect for its size and performance with affordability. Its features are similar to the Philips Original Airfryer, although it also boasts an indicator light with room to boot. You can fit an entire roast in this contraption, and reviews show it wins the battle of air fryer vs oven, hands down.
At $89, this 5.3L Anko air fryer is Kmart's largest model. It's one of the highest-rated and best-reviewed air fryers we found under $100, although it's not reviewed by CHOICE. Aussies on ProductReview.com.au were blown away by how much easier it is to use compared to their ovens, saying it saves time and power. They didn't seem to like the dials so much, but both of Kmart's smaller options have LED-displays if it's a deal-breaker.
A few said it's not the best air fryer for chips, as it can dry them out a little, but most raved about its crispy skin chicken and pork crackle. Others were doubtful about the non-stick quality, with some mentioning a smell that went away after a couple of uses. It's also less beautiful than some of the pricier models, but we are sure it's a fair trade at this price.
Why Kmart Anko 5.3L Air Fryer is a considerable option?
Easy to use
Cooking guidelines on the front of the machine with two simple dials for temperature and timer make it easier to comprehend and use.
Huge
Ideal for preparing food for a large number of people.
Value for money
At under $100, it's one of the cheapest air fryers considering its size and performance.
Indicator lights
One to tell you it's on, another to tell you when it's reached temperature. Simple.
Cons
Basic settings
No guarantee of precision.
Uneven cooking
Some complained it didn't cook as evenly as other air fryers, and you have to shake the basket a few times as you cook.
Cheaply-made
The machine may outlast the basket's non-stick coating, and reviewers say it smells for the first few uses.
In summary
The Kmart Anko 5.3L Air Fryer is one of the fastest ways to turn a hungry crowd into a happy one. It'll fit a large cut of meat or a deluxe batch of sweet potato fries, and the controls are so simple that even the most hopeless of cooks are in safe hands. Sure, it's not the very best air fryer on the market, but at this price, it surely is an amazing deal.
2.Best for Large Group DeLonghi IdealFry Digital
The DeLonghi IdealFry Digital has a large capacity bowl that can feed up to 8 people, and it is crammed with user-friendly technology. This includes a digital display, labeled buttons, preset programs, and a removable transparent lid. If you need to feed the fam, we recommend this is the way to go.
Shop now
If you’re to serve a group, you’ll love the DeLonghi IdealFry Digital Hot Air Fryer. You can fry for up to 8 people, making it ideal for feeding the whole fam. It can hold up to 1.5kg of fresh potatoes or 1.25 of frozen.
As said earlier, it is rimmed with features that make it easy to use. These include 5 preset cooking programs (fries, cake, snack, meat, and manual). For more control, you’ve got an option of an adjustable thermostat with 4 different power levels and a 90-minute timer which lets you know when it’s done! Both can be operated by an easy to see and use digital control panel. Plus, the non-stick bowl is lightweight and easily removable, for simple shaking and tossing of your food.
Thanks to its transparent lid, you can always see what’s going on inside. It’s packing ‘Rapid SHS Double Technology’. This means it has 2 heating elements: an upper 1400W and a lower 300W. You can switch the bottom heating element off and only use the upper heating element.
Finally, you can download a free recipe app with over 200 recipes for meal inspo. You can expect to pick one up for under 3 hundy.
Why DeLonghi IdealFry Digital is a considerable option?
Size
You can cook food for up to 8 people and it can handle up to 1.5kg of fresh potatoes.
Preset cooking programs
Make it easy to get dinner right by using the preset cooking programs. Also, you can trust the newbies with this fryer.
Adjustable thermostat
If you need more control, you’ve got 4 different power levels.
Timer
Its in-built timer has a ‘ready!’ signal so you know when dinner’s done.
Digital control panel
It’s easy to use thanks to the digital control panel and labeled buttons.
Lightweight bowl
When you need to shake and mix your food, the lightweight bowl makes it easy.
Transparent lid
You can check on your food through the transparent lid.
Removable lid
The lid’s also removable to make cleaning an easier task.
2 heating elements
Including your choice of using the upper only.
Free recipe app
Get access to over 200 recipes for mealtime inspo
Cons
No stirrer
You'll have to shake the basket a few times for even cooking.
No accessories
It only comes with a recipe app - not even a hardcopy recipe book.
Instructions
Similar to IKEA, the instructions have diagrams only, no text. Honestly, they’re a bit tricky to figure out.
Limited Aussie consumer reviews
It’s not on ProductReview.com.au yet so we’re not sure how it goes in Aussie kitchens. It has some Amazon reviews and has been put through its paces by CHOICE too.
In summary
The DeLonghi IdealFry Digital is our pick for the ideal air fryer for families. Thanks to its large capacity bowl that can feed up to 8 people. It’s got some great tech to make using it (and cleaning it) simple. This includes a digital display, labeled buttons, preset programs, and a removable transparent lid. If size matters to you, this air fryer is the one for you.
3.Best Overall Philips Daily Collection Airfryer HD9218/51
The Philips Daily Collection Airfryer is everything you need for quick fish and chips, spring rolls, or samosas at home. It even has a non-stick basket for easy cleaning. Just set the temperature and the timer, pop in your fave snack, and off you go.
Shop now
It's the perfect size for small families, and has a simple temperature dial and an integrated timer up to 30 minutes. Once the time's up, it'll beep to let you know your meal is evenly cooked to crispy perfection.
Like most air fryers, you'll have to give your food a bit of a shake every now and then, but the pan slides back smoothly, and the non-stick basket makes for easy cleaning. The basket is dishwasher-safe, but handwashing is the best way to keep non-stick in tip-top shape. It also has a 2-year warranty, but a review on ProductReview.com.au mentioned theirs lasted 8 years.
Other users on ProductReview.com.au love the Philips Daily Collection Airfryer for perfect roast veg, and are stoked about being able to cook with less oil. They weren't such a fan of how basic the instructions were, or how there's no temperature indicator light. Overall, it's a this nifty little machine will put dinner on the table faster than preheating your oven.
Why Philips Daily Collection Airfryer is a considerable option?
Simple controls
Simple control that are easy to understand and use.
Easy to clean
Dishwasher-safe non-stick pan makes cleaning a breeze.
Perfect size
It's not so big it'll take over your benchtop, and it is sufficient for couples or young families.
Audible timer
Loud beep than other air fryers to let you know when dinner's ready.
Quick
Rapidly-cycling hot air puts samosas and fish fingers on your plate faster.
Fair price
At around $200, we are sure it's a quality product that reflects value for money.
Quality
This is one of the original air fryers, and reviews show they last years.
Cons
Not a fan of knobs
The dial-style controls are less precised.
No stirrer
You'll have to shake the basket once or twice, but few models are self-stirring.
No indicator light
There's nothing to tell you when the machine is at a certain temperature.
Limited instructions
No recipe book, and very basic instructions, but Philips does have a 'NurtiU' app with many recipes.
In summary
The Philips Daily Collection Airfryer is a nifty little machine that helps you cut down on both UberEats and your oil intake. It has simple settings, and enough space for a small family or flat. If you've never owned an air fryer, this is the perfect place to start.
4. Tefal Fry Delight
We think the Tefal Fry Delight is a higher-quality option for small capacity air fryers. Tefal is a French company, famous for uniting teflon and aluminium to create non-stick cookware. Naturally, it offers a non-stick basket, which is easy to clean. The Tefal Fry Delight makes French fries for 2 in 15 minutes, and has an adjustable timer up to 30 minutes.
Shop now
The Tefal Fry Delight is reviewed by CHOICE, and Aussies on ProductReview.com.au. Users give it nearly 4.5 stars. It is a better-performing air fryer than other smaller air fryers across our research, and has a retractable cord for easy storage. Reviewers say it makes great bacon, although some find the manual timer frustrating. Other Aussies are annoyed by how long spare parts take to arrive, but all in all, it's a quality air fryer for its size.
A good option if… You want a small air fryer with top notch performance.
5.Philips Airfryer XXL Smart Digital
The Philips Smart Digital Airfryer XXL is a first class flight in air fryer luxury. Unlike your significant other, it remembers exactly how you like your potatoes, with a 'save your favourite' function. What sets this air fryer apart is its smart sensor, which takes the guesswork out of cooking. It also keeps your meal at the perfect temperature after it's done.
Shop now
It comes with a recipe book, which is a plus point and its mesh insert is dishwasher-safe. Philips also claims it has 'Fat Removal technology that separates and captures excess fat,' but it's not clear how well it works or whether this is different from other air fryers.
The 7.3L capacity basket is one of the biggest we've seen, and reviewers on ProductReview.com.au say it cooks evenly without drying out. Some are annoyed it doesn’t come with all the accessories, especially since it's $500+. But with nearly 5 stars from over 50 reviews and an award winner 2020 and 2022, the Philips Smart Digital XXL lives up to the expectations.
A good option if… You want a space-age air fryer that boasts smarts, size and good looks.
6. Sunbeam Copper-Infused DuraCeramic Air Fryer
Proving that air fryers can be affordable, the Sunbeam Copper Infused DuraCeramic Air Fryer has a retail of $160. Because it’s infused with copper, Sunbeam claims that it is durable and conducts heat well, with no flaking or peeling.
Shop now
Compact, its 3L capacity will handle a 600g bag of fries, which will be plenty for a few people. Easy to use, it’s got dials to set the temperature and the time and an indicator to show when it’s in use. And that’s it - no fancy preset programmes here.
This Air fryer gets almost 4 stars from a handful of reviews on ProductReview.com.au and we assume for the price, it’s hard to go wrong.
A good option if… You want a compact, affordable air fryer with no bells or whistles.
7.Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer looks more like a microwave than an air fryer. It also holds more functionality than an air fryer. It’s a good option if you’re looking to replace multiple kitchen appliances with just 1. It’s got 10 cooking functions. As well as air fry, it can toast 6 slices or crumpets, grill, bake, roast, warm, pizza, reheat or slow cook. It’s got a huge 22L capacity, which can handle a whole chicken, 30cm pizza or a 9-cup muffin tray.
Shop now
The LCD display lets you know what setting it’s on and when it'll be ready, thanks to the automatic countdown timer. An inside light lets you peep inside.
We like that it comes with everything you need, including an air fry basket, enamel roasting pan, 30cm non-stick pizza pan, wire rack and grilling rack. It also has a 2-year replacement warranty, like your regular oven, it’s got replaceable parts.
Users give good reviews on ProductReview.com.au and almost 4 stars. Breville is also Canstar Blue’s 2nd most popular air fryer brand. These independent insights give you some confidence in the price tag: a steep RRP $550.
A good option if… You want an air fryer that’s so much more than just an air fryer.
