An air fryer oven is highly worth it if you have the counter space, frequently cook for a family, or want to replace multiple appliances. It gives you the crispy results of a traditional air fryer with significantly more capacity, while using less energy and heating up your kitchen much less than a standard full-size oven.
Disadvantages of Air Fryers
An oven with a built-in air fryer is worth it if you want to cook large batches of food, save counter space, and avoid storing a separate appliance. While dedicated countertop units often provide superior, faster crisping, oven models are excellent for family-sized meals and reducing clutter, providing a versatile, "all-in-one" cooking solution.
People are getting rid of air fryers due to a mix of kitchen clutter, appliance redundancy, and safety concerns. Because air fryers are essentially mini convection ovens, many users realize they can achieve the exact same results using a standard oven, toaster oven, or emerging gadgets like halogen ovens.
Air frying is an excellent, diabetes-friendly cooking method. By using hot air circulation instead of vats of oil, it drastically reduces calories, fat, and harmful carcinogens like acrylamide compared to deep-frying. This makes it easier to manage blood sugar and maintain a healthy weight.
The #1 absolute worst foods for your blood sugar are sugar-sweetened beverages (sodas, sweetened iced teas, fruit punches, and energy drinks).
Air fryers may be better for you than deep fryers, but they're only as healthy as the food you put inside. They won't magically remove the saturated fat from bacon or the trans fats from a bag of processed chicken wings. To reap the benefits, reach for better-for-you options like vegetables and lean proteins.
An air fryer is useful, but not healthy. Acrylamide is a cancer-causing chemical that can form on high-heat starchy food, even in air-frying. Oil is a moisture buffer that protects the surface. In an air fryer, that buffer isn't there, there's only high heat.
To replace parts or a whole air fryer, the easiest route is to check online retailers like Amazon Air Fryer Parts or the manufacturer's official site (e.g., SharkNinja Parts & Support or GoWISE USA Accessories). Measure your current unit and have your exact model number handy before ordering.
The air fryer 20/20 rule is a, roughly, 20-25% reduction in both cooking temperature and time when converting standard oven recipes. Specifically, it means reducing the temperature by 20–25°F (or 15−20∘𝐶) and reducing the cooking time by 20% to avoid overcooking and burning food due to rapid air circulation.
Which is better: an air fryer or air fryer oven? Air fryer ovens offer many of the same benefits as standalone air fryers but with added convenience. Integrated into your oven, they save counter space and offer a larger capacity for family meals.
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is widely considered the best overall oven and air fryer combo. With 13 cooking functions, an incredibly spacious interior that fits a 14-pound turkey, and superior Element IQ heating technology, it delivers crispy, even results and can comfortably replace a full-sized oven.
The rule of thumb is to lower the temperature by 25°F to 50°F when converting an oven recipe to the air fryer. This is because the air fryer's concentrated heat can cause the outside to brown before the inside is fully cooked.
You can prevent stubborn grease from forming
Air fryers accelerate this process because of the high heat and circulating air, creating tough layers that get harder to remove each time you cook. Use protective liners like parchment paper or silicone mats in the basket to catch grease before it hits the surface.
While air fryers are incredibly versatile, they are essentially miniature, high-powered convection ovens. Because they circulate air at high speeds, you should avoid cooking foods with wet batters, excess liquids, or loose, lightweight ingredients.
It's only when the food surface is charred or burned that the levels of acrylamide start to take off and exceed safe levels that there is any risk. What does that mean for air-fryer users? As long as you follow the manufacturer's recommendation and don't burn your food, you have absolutely nothing to worry about!
When shopping for an air fryer, avoid ultra-cheap models (under $70) that use thin plastic. Steer clear of appliances with flaking, traditional non-stick (PTFE/Teflon) coatings linked to forever chemicals, as well as units with unstable temperature controls and loose basket handles.
Yes, you can absolutely use aluminum foil in an air fryer to make cleanup easier. However, because an air fryer relies on rapid air circulation to cook and crisp your food, you should use it carefully to avoid blocking airflow.
A proposed class action was filed against Breville in California federal court, alleging that the glass front windows of the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (Model BOV900BSSUSC) can spontaneously shatter, explode, and cause fires without warning.
It's not just about fat.
“Air frying has been shown to lower acrylamide levels compared to deep frying,” says Dr. Wu. “That's a definite win for your health.” And it's even better if you're air-frying vegetables or lean proteins.
Shop top-rated picks, including the Our Place Wonder Oven Pro, Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven, and Ninja Crispi.
Both appliances are healthy, but they excel in different ways. The air fryer is healthier if you want a crispy, low-fat alternative to deep-frying. The microwave is healthier for retaining water-soluble vitamins during gentle reheating, though it doesn't reduce fat or calories.
Air-frying equipment is not known to cause cancer, but the process of air frying does result in the formation of certain compounds, like acrylamide, that are linked to cancer development. Acrylamide is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using an Air Fryer
Use fat-free cooking sprays. Air-fry foods (without butter or oil) Read food labels, and choose foods labeled “low fat”, “non-fat”, “fat-free”, and “light” Research low-fat menu options before eating out.