Unless you’ve been living underneath your safety bunker and gone entirely off the grid, it’s impossible not to notice the uproar about the air fryers. These amazing countertop appliances have grown in popularity over the years.
Let’s be honest: getting your favorite frozen food snacks cooked faster and crispier without firing up the oven or submerging them in a deep fryer sounds fantastic. Unsurprisingly, these small ovens are quickly becoming a household staple.
And if you’ve come across this post, you’re probably thinking about purchasing your air fryer, but with so many brands available, you’re not sure what size to buy at your local store. But don’t worry; we at DaDongNY will be breaking down the air fryer size selection process to make things as plain and simple for you as possible.
How Do You Pick the Best Air Fryer?
Small to Medium Air Fryers
When choosing an air fryer size, one of the most important things to consider is the type of food you plan to cook. For example, after a long and stressful day, you spend most of your evening eating frozen burritos and mac & cheese, and you want an air fryer to cook your food and get the perfect texture and taste you crave.
Choosing a small to medium-sized air fryer will work since it doesn’t matter what shape or size your equipment is because you can very much put bit-sized food into any air fryer and get the same result.
Small to medium-sized air fryers are preferable whether alone or with a small family because they take up little space on your countertop or shelf.
Medium to Large Air Fryers
If you plan to roast meats such as beef, pork, or whole chicken, you will need a large air fryer to accommodate the size of these foods.
A small and spherical basket cannot air fry large volumes of meat since they will barely fit. In other cases, such as with whole chickens and beef, a larger air fryer will be required to cook them fully.
Hence, before purchasing an air fryer, consider how you intend to use it in your everyday cooking routine. Is your new air fryer solely used for snacks, or will it also be used to prepare dinner at home?
Estimating how many people you will be cooking for is also important. If you have a large family, it’s a no-brainer to get a large air fryer with plenty of cooking space for air fryer dinners. Just make sure you have enough room to place your air fryer and that it is well-ventilated to keep your equipment and kitchen from overheating.
Benefits of Picking the Right Air Fryer Size
- Cooks food faster and more evenly;
- It uses less energy because you don’t have to cook food in batches;
- It saves time because there is no need to preheat or change the settings for various food with different sizes;
- Minimize the mess by adjusting the cooking temperature and time without replacing racks or trays;
- And provides convenient storage since smaller air fryers take up less space in cabinets and cupboards.
Tips On Picking The Best Air Fryer
Ask For Recommendations
Here are some of our top picks for the best air fryer models this year. These are our top overall air fryers in their respective categories, and having them in your kitchen will please you as you cook simple and tasty air fryer recipes for your family.
- TOA-65 Digital Convection Toaster Oven Air Fryer (Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combos Overall)
- Ninja AF161 5.5-Quart Air Fryer (Best Air Fryers for Family of Four Overall)
- Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer (Best Air Fryers for Chicken Wings Overall)
- Panasonic Homechef 4-In-1 Microwave Oven With Air Fryer (Best Air Fryer Microwave Oven Combos Overall)
Big Is Always Better
Once consumers try air fryers and realize how diverse they are compared to slow cookers, almost all of them upgrade from small to larger models within a year of purchasing them, which is quite wasteful when you think about it.
You should invest in a larger air fryer than you think you’ll need. A larger one can help you save energy consumption by avoiding the need to cook meals in separate batches.
Look For Special Offers
When you finally decide which air fryer you want in your kitchen, you should take your time shopping around in your local stores or online since there could be special offers and discounts that will save you a lot of money.
Amazon has some amazing air fryer deals, especially over the holidays, which will be an advantage for you.
What Exactly Should You Consider When Choosing The Right Air Fryer Size?
When you decide on the size of air fryer you want, you should consider what you’ll need from the said appliance. There are several factors to consider when looking to invest in an air fryer to ensure that you are getting the most bang for your buck.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Number of persons in your family;
- The food you are cooking;
- Size and shape;
- Countertop space;
- And budget
For more information on each of the things mentioned, continue reading…
Number Of Persons In Your Family
One of the major things to consider when determining what size air fryer is appropriate for you is the number of people you will need to cook for. You can get a small air fryer if you live alone or only cook for yourself. On the other hand, a little air fryer will not be enough if you intend to make enough French fries to feed a large family.
The Food You Are Cooking
While air fryers are seen as a healthy alternative to deep fryers, they are significantly more diverse in terms of the foods they can cook. Air fryers can be used to cook everything from snacks to desserts. And therefore, when choosing the size, you should consider this.
Size And Shape
You should also consider getting an air fryer to accommodate your cooking needs. A ‘snacks-only’ air fryer will be different from one you will use to regularly prepare meals for your family.
When it comes to air fryers, there’s also the ‘circular vs. square’ dispute. Square-shaped air fryers or those with inbuilt racks can accommodate pans, whereas circle air fryers are only suitable for little dishes that can be cooked easily and evenly.
Unless you are not only going to use air fryers to make some snacks that you can nibble on, we recommend a square or rectangle-shaped air fryer.
Countertop Space
Another to take into account when choosing an air fryer is storage capacity, which is especially important if you don’t have a lot of counter space or if your kitchen already has a lot of appliances. You’ll need to find an air fryer that fits on your counter or can be stored until you’re ready to use it.
If your air fryer is too big for your kitchen, it may not be easy to use. Furthermore, the lack of space will likely encourage you to utilize the device less, making it not worth the buy.
Budget
Much like buying any new appliance, the bigger the air fryer you buy, the more parts and materials are employed to construct it, and thus the more expensive it is. As a result, the size of the air fryer you choose should be decided by your budget.
After considering this, you can narrow your choices and start looking for an air fryer. However, before you drive down to your local store, there is some additional information you should consider before making a decision.
Why Is Choosing the Perfect Size of an Air Fryer Necessary?
Now that you know what variables to consider when choosing which air fryer is best for you, you are probably wondering if it really matters what size you choose. What if you purchase a device that is too big or too small for your needs?
If you select the wrong size air fryer, you’ll have to cook meals in batches. If the air drier is overly large, it will use more energy and cost you more money. As a result, buying an air fryer that is large enough to cook in but not too large is necessary.
Dinner preparation will be difficult if your air fryer is too small. If your air fryer can only cook enough fries for one person and you need more people, you might have to cook them in multiple batches. This significantly increases cooking times and becomes an inconvenience to you.
Bigger air fryers often have a larger compartment and a more extensive heating element. Therefore, your equipment consumes more electricity to operate. If your air fryer is way bigger than it needs to be, you can use far more energy than needed.
Energy consumption is important to save money on utility bills and limit energy usage for environmental reasons. Electricity production relies on fossil fuels, which destroy ecosystems and contribute to climate change.
Air Fryers For A Single Individual
If you are the only person in your household, the smallest air fryer size should be enough. The smallest air fryers typically have a 2-quart capacity and can cook up to 8 servings.
It can easily fit on any countertop due to its tiny size and low power consumption, and it is great for single servings of snacks or side dishes. These air fryers are perfect for individuals who live alone or do not require a large amount of food.
Here are our recommendations for purchasing and air fryer in this size:
Air Fryers For A Family Of Two
An air fryer with a capacity of 3-4 quarts is often recommended for a family of two. This air fryer allows you to cook two chicken or fish filets while still leaving room for some vegetables on the side. It’s the perfect size for warming leftovers and crisping up frozen foods.
Here are our recommendations for purchasing and air fryer in this size:
Air Fryers For A Family Of Three
For a typical household of three, a 4 to 5-quart air fryer will do. Consider upgrading to a 5-quart air fryer if your family of three cooks a large portion of food.
Here are our recommendations for purchasing and air fryer in this size:
Air Fryers For A Family Of Four
The large air fryer size is the best option for families of four. These air fryers usually have a capacity of 5-6 quarts and can cook up to 16 servings.
If you have a household of four, the 6-quart air fryer is ideal as it provides enough space to cook meals for up to 16 people while taking up little counter space.
Not only does it accommodate huge pieces of chicken, steak, fish, veggies, and other side dishes, but its size is also ideal for larger households that require more food but lack kitchen space.
Here are our recommendations for purchasing and air fryer in this size:
Air Fryers For A Family Of Six
If you have a family of five or more, you should get the largest air fryer you can fit on your counter. Even a 6 quart may be too little for 6 people, especially if you’re planning to prepare dinner meals in the air fryer.
Here are our recommendations for purchasing and air fryer in this size:
FAQs
Can I Use A Larger Air Fryer Than Recommended?
Yes, you can use a larger air fryer than recommended, but keep in mind that it may be less energy efficient and take up more kitchen area, so before making a purchase, make sure to measure your kitchen space.
What Is The Largest Size Air Fryer Available For Purchase?
The largest air fryers on the market typically have a cooking capacity of roughly 18 quarts, which is excellent for commercial use or large families but may not be necessary for residential spaces.
Do Air Fryers Include Racks And Trays?
Yes, of course, most air fryers come with a number of accessories, such as racks and trays, to assist you in cooking a variety of foods. Before making a purchase, double-check to see what is included.
Do Air Fryers Require Any Extra Care?
Yes, most air fryers require regular maintenance, such as cleaning the filter, emptying the oil tray, and wiping down the outside regularly.
For more information on how to care for your air fryer, check the link here.
Bottomline
At the end of the day, you get to choose which air fryer size best meets your family’s cooking needs. Using the guidelines above, you can narrow down all the variables you’ll need to consider when choosing the best kitchen equipment without wasting money, storage space, or time.
To understand more about air fryers, visit the link to discover everything you need to know about this handy kitchen appliance.
