Aussies have rated Ninja as the top pick in Canstar Blue’s latest air fryer ratings, with five-star reviews in all categories: performance, value for money, ease of cleaning, durability, features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
Our review compares air fryers on customer satisfaction, so you can find out what other Aussies think about the compared brands before you go ahead with a purchase. Think of it as like asking hundreds of your closest mates which air fryer they think is best!
Canstar Blue surveyed 1,062 Australians for their feedback on the air fryer(s) they’ve purchased and used in the last five years.
The winning brand is the one that receives the highest overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.
• Ninja
• Kmart
• Philips
• Sunbeam
• Kogan
• Breville
• Mistral
• DeLonghi
• Ambiano (ALDI)
• Tefal
• Bellini
Find more detailed information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.
Not sure which air fryer to buy? Check out our buying guide below.
Ninja scored five stars in all categories: performance, value for money, ease of cleaning, durability, features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
Ninja is renowned for its quality, feature-rich kitchen appliances, including food processors, ovens, blenders and, of course air fryers. Most Ninja air fryers have digital timers, dishwasher safe parts, a wide temperature range and auto-programs. The Ninja Foodi range features a selection of dual-zone air fryers, allowing users to cook two food items independently at the same time. Ninja air fryers are offered in multiple capacities, starting with 5.2 litre models, all the way up to 10.4L options.
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Kmart scored four stars in all categories: performance, value for money, ease of cleaning, durability, features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
Budget-oriented retail chain Kmart offers a few air fryers, most of which feature pre-set functions, adjustable temperatures, overheat protection and automatic shut-off capability. Kmart’s 9L Twin Air Fryer fits up to 4.5L in each compartment and comes with 11 pre-set functions, an oil drip tray and a 60-minute automatic shut-off function. Kmart also sells multi-functional air fryer ovens and an air fryer microwave.
Philips scored four stars in all categories: performance, value for money, ease of cleaning, durability, features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
Philips air fryer designs are typically sleek, with easy-to-use settings and capacities ranging from 4.1L to 7.3L. Some Philips air fryers have fat-removal technology for healthier cooking. The Philips Premium Airfryer XXL uses smart tech to save preferred cooking settings and has a keep-warm mode.
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Sunbeam scored four stars in all categories: performance, value for money, ease of cleaning, durability, features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
Sunbeam offers a fairly affordable line of mid-range air fryers with between 3L and 10L capacity. Multi-function oven and air fryer combinations are also available. These models can cook up to 22L of food, which is said to be equivalent to a 12-inch pizza, a 2.8 kilogram chicken or a bag of fries. Other features you can find on Sunbeam air fryers include dehydrate, bake, grill and warm.
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Kogan scored four stars for performance, value for money, features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction. It scored three stars for ease of cleaning and durability.
Kogan has one of the most versatile air-fryer ranges on the market, with models that feature modes such as steam, oven and rotisserie. The capacities range between 4.2L and 7.2L. Most Kogan air fryers have pre-set functions, rapid air circulation technology and a digital display. It’s worth keeping in mind that the retailer often lists discounts on Kogan-branded products.
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Breville scored four stars for value for money, ease of cleaning, durability, features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction. It scored three stars for performance.
Breville’s air-fryer range mostly comprises air fryer ovens, each offering 10 smart functions (including air fry). Its Air Fryer Chef models feature pre-set functions, deep cooking baskets and variable temperature control. These air fryers can dehydrate, roast, grill and bake.
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Mistral scored four stars in all categories: performance, value for money, ease of cleaning, durability, features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
Mistral has one of the widest air- fryer ranges on the market. Most models are digital, with LED touch screens, various cooking modes, adjustable temperature controls, timers, heating-up indicator lights and detachable non-stick components for easy cleaning. Capacities range from 3.5L up to 25L for a multi-function air fryer oven. The mid-range Mistral 10L Digital Air Fryer features seven dedicated cooking functions, a 60-minute timer and 1800W of power output.
DeLonghi scored four stars for features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction. It scored three stars for performance, value for money, ease of cleaning and durability.
DeLonghi’s IdealFry range is relatively small, with a digital and traditional model that both feature a surround heating system and preset cooking functions. DeLonghi’s traditional air fryer has a manual control panel and a maximum capacity of 1.25kg. The digital model has an electronic control panel, a 360° viewing window and four power levels.
Ambiano Scored four stars for value for money, features and functionality and design. It scored three stars for performance, ease of cleaning, durability, ease of use and overall satisfaction.
ALDI has sold several types of air fryers and air-fryer ovens during its Special Buys sales events, including the Ambiano brand. The Ambiano Air Fryer comes with many of the same features as available on ALDI’s other models, which can include automatic programs, adjustable temperature controls, overheat protection, a 60-minute timer and 2.4L basket. Keep in mind that because air fryers are a Special Buys item, there’s no guarantee the same model(s) will be stocked more than once.
Tefal scored four stars for value for money, durability, features and functionality and design. It scored three stars for performance, ease of cleaning, ease of use and overall satisfaction.
Tefal’s air fryer line-up has capacities ranging from 1.2L to 6.5L. Premium models have multiple pre-set programs including fries, nuggets, roasted chicken, pizza, meat, fish, vegetables and desserts. Other models have four cooking options: fry, roast, grill and bake.
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Bellini scored three stars in all categories: performance, value for money, ease of cleaning, durability, features and functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
Target’s Bellini range offers both small and larger units, available to buy in-store or online. Most Bellini models come with basic features such as digital controls, adjustable temperature settings, pre-set menus and blue LED displays. Its largest air fryer has an 11L capacity, while smaller models are around 5.7L. Bellini also has an air fryer accessory kit that includes a non-stick cake barrel, silicone cupcake pans, skewers and a skewer rack.
Not all brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are several more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.
An air fryer is a benchtop kitchen appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air around it, much like an oven. It usually looks like a large rice cooker (or a mini-oven, if it’s an air-fryer oven) and contains a removable tray that can be filled with food and easily put back inside. Dual air fryers (otherwise called twin or double air fryers) are available for households wanting the convenience of cooking two dishes at the same time, including at different temperatures. These typically come with 8L-9L capacities (including twin baskets).
One of the main benefits of air fryers is that they’re claimed to use significantly less oil than other appliances, such as deep fryers (about 70%-80% less), to cook similar foods, resulting in healthier meals. They are also easy to use and should require little to no maintenance. In addition, they make the process of frying less messy because there are no grease spatters escaping an open pan.
An air-fryer oven is a small benchtop oven that works the same way as a regular air fryer, but offers more versatility in cooking method options (similar to multi-cookers). Air-fryer ovens can usually function as an oven, rotisserie and dehydrator, in addition to air-frying. They differ to a standard, full-size convection or fan-forced oven that would typically offer additional cooking modes, including air-fry.
Air fryers use rapid air technology, another term for the circulation of hot air, to cook foods that would otherwise be dipped in oil, such as chips and chicken. With the help of an exhaust fan that sits above the cooking chamber, plus a perforated basket or cage, the appliance circulates hot air (up to 200°C) throughout the cavity and heats the dish from all angles at the same temperature, allowing the dish to cook evenly and become nice and crispy.
Air fryers additionally come with an internal cooling system that includes a fan mounted on the motor axis to control the internal temperature and makes sure that fresh air passes through the filters.
Since air fryers have many of the same features and settings, cost and size will ultimately be your biggest considerations. Our survey found that price swayed most of our respondents (31%), followed by ease of use (22%) and size (11%).
Here are some must-have features and attachments to look out for in an air fryer:
Air fryers can cost anywhere between $60 and $700. Our latest survey results found many consumers stuck towards wallet-friendly models, spending an average of $132 on a new air fryer. Keep in mind that air-fryer ovens tend to be more expensive than basket air fryers because they usually have a much larger cooking capacity.
How much food you can fit in an air fryer might be less than is claimed by the manufacturer, particularly because air fryers can’t be packed to the brim otherwise the food won’t cook thoroughly and evenly. For example, a 3.8L model may only fit up to 700g of chips. As such, opt for at least a 4.2L model that can handle a wide range of food options.
Air fryers are worth purchasing if you’re looking for a simple way to cook small batches of food, such as snacks and side dishes, fast. They’re not a perfect substitute for deep fryers because air fryers don’t work well with ‘wet’ food such as battered items. Here are a few advantages and disadvantages of buying an air fryer:
| Air fryer pros | Air fryer cons |
| Cook foods quickly and evenly | Can be loud |
| Require little or no oil | May require time to work out the best temperature and timer settings |
| Less messy and easier to clean than deep fryers | Requires regular intervention – flipping food, shaking the basket |
| Can also reheat, roast and bake foods | May need to cook in multiple batches |
| Easy to use and don’t splatter oil everywhere | Can take up a big amount of bench space |
Over one- third (36%) of consumers we surveyed said their air fryer was their favourite appliance in the kitchen, and almost half (47%) also found that they used their other cooking appliances less since having bought an air fryer . Most respondents bought an air fryer as a healthier alternative to frying because it uses less oil (33%), and because it was quicker than other cooking methods (24%).
There are a range of food items that can be easily cooked in an air fryer, including frozen foods, raw meats, vegetables, baked foods and nuts.
Almost any frozen food you would put in an oven can be cooked in the heat air of an air fryer. The most common one is chips but you can also do snacks such as chicken nuggets, fish sticks and potato gems. Cooking times vary but tend to be around 10 minutes.
Some air fryers come with accessories such as a baking cage or grill pan that allow the cooking of meat in your air fryer. A whole roast chicken can be done in about 30 minutes, while some cooks say roast pork and BBQ ribs can done in as little as 10 minutes. Other popular meats that can be cooked in an air fryer include burger patties, steaks and lamb chops.
Vegetables you’d typically grill can also be cooked in an air fryer, with common choices including capsicum and cauliflower can be grilled in the machine. Some models come with a round ceramic bowl with a stirring paddle that allows you to fry green vegetables like you would in a skillet. Other veggies you can cook in an air fryer include peppers, corn, zucchini, kale and asparagus.
You have the option to cook using non-stick baking dishes in your air fryer, which can be very useful for baking small items like cupcakes, muffins and even lasagnes. Small baked goods can be cooked in as little as 10 minutes. If you plan on baking with your air fryer, look for a model that comes with a baking dish.
Roasting peanuts, almonds and any other type of nut can be done with your air fryer. Peanuts and almonds take about 10 minutes, whereas walnuts will be ready to go in less than eight minutes.
Despite their many uses, there are still a lot of foods and snacks that you shouldn’t put in an air fryer. This includes wet battered-coated foods, certain vegetables and pasta and rice.
Batter-coated food is generally not suited for air frying, since the fast-moving air can push away the wet batter from the food and spray it all the interior of the air fryer. Some cooks have had success by frying the batter-coated pieces in a pan first and then frying them in an air fryer once the exterior is sealed, but this will make the cooking process longer.
Vegetables that are usually steamed, such as beans, may not fare so well in an air fryer but carrot, which is often steamed, could be roasted in an air fryer.
Since their primary function is frying, it goes without saying that foods you generally boil, such as pasta and rice, aren’t suitable for use in an air fryer. For these, the old-fashioned way of boiling water is still best. Alternatively, you can get a rice cooker.
There are several attachments that can help you make the most of your air fryer. Here are just a few:
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Home & Lifestyle Content Producer Kate Lockyer. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Journalism at the University of Queensland and has written for a variety of different organisations and publications for multiple years.
Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.
Here are the past winners of Canstar Blue’s air fryer ratings:
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