Air Fryer

Air Fryers

An air fryer is a small convection oven. A fan pushes hot air fast around the food so the outside crisps the way it would in oil, using a spoon of oil or none at all. Anson’s carries 19 models from around ₱3,800 to ₱32,000.

How much does an air fryer cost?

• ₱3,800 to ₱5,500. Basket air fryers, roughly 1.5L to 8L. Dial or basic digital controls. Does the job for chicken, fries, reheating and roasting vegetables.
• ₱5,500 to ₱9,000. Better basket models with presets and digital control, plus the entry level air fryer ovens at 23L to 30L. This is where most people land.
• ₱13,000 and up. Premium countertop ovens with air fry built in. More precise temperature control, better build, more cooking modes. You’re buying a serious second oven, not just an air fryer.

Prices move with promos, so sort by price low to high to see where the range actually sits today.

Basket or oven?

This is the real decision, and the two are quite different appliances.

Basket air fryers are the pull-out drawer type, usually 1.5L to 8L. They heat fast, crisp well because the food sits close to the element, and they’re easy to clean since the basket lifts out. The limits are capacity and shape. You’re cooking in a deep bucket, so flat things and large pieces don’t fit well, and you’ll cook in batches for more than two people.

Air fryer ovens are 22L to 30L countertop ovens with an air fry function, often sold here as turbo air fryers or air fryer toaster ovens. You get racks and trays instead of a basket, a glass door so you can see in, and enough space for a whole chicken or a pizza. They also bake, toast, broil and roast, so they can replace an oven toaster rather than sitting next to one. The trade-offs are counter space, longer preheat, and slightly less aggressive crisping than a basket.

If you already have a turbo broiler or an oven toaster, a basket model adds something new. If you don’t, an air fryer oven does more for the money.

What size?

For basket models, litres are the volume of the basket, not what you can usefully cook:

• 1.5 to 4L. One person, or snacks and sides. Small footprint.
• 5 to 6L. Two to three people. The most common size.
• 7 to 8L. Four people, or fewer batches when you’re cooking for a group.

Dual basket models split the space into two compartments so you can run two things at different temperatures at once. Useful if you’re always cooking a protein and a side together.

For oven models, 22L to 23L handles most household cooking and 30L gives you room for a whole chicken or a full tray.

Features worth paying for

Digital versus dial. Dials are cheaper and perfectly usable. Digital gives you exact temperatures and presets, which matters more if you follow recipes closely.

Preset programs. Shortcuts for fries, chicken, fish and so on. Convenient rather than essential, since they’re just time and temperature combinations.

Non-stick removable basket. Standard on most, but check whether it’s dishwasher safe. This is the part you’ll be washing constantly.

Steam function. Some models add steam, which helps keep food from drying out on longer cooks.

Glass basket or door. Being able to see the food without pulling the basket out saves opening it every few minutes.

Wattage. Most sit between 1,200W and 1,800W. Higher wattage heats faster. Check your outlet can take it if you’re running other appliances on the same circuit.

A few things to know before you buy

Air fryers need clearance around them for the exhaust, so they can’t be tucked under a cabinet or against a wall.

Most need a few minutes of preheating for best results, even though the marketing suggests otherwise.

Battered or wet-coated food doesn’t work well, since there’s no oil to set the batter. Breadcrumbed and dry-rubbed food does.

You’ll cook in batches more often than you expect. Overfilling the basket is the most common reason people find their air fryer disappointing, because the air can’t circulate and the food steams instead of crisping.