Hot air fryer: test and guide
Which is the best air fryer? What are the different types of hot air fryers? What should I look out for when choosing a good deep fryer? And why are deep fryers without oil so popular at the moment? We'll answer these and many more questions in our large guide. We'll introduce you to different models, explain advantages and disadvantages as well as similarities and differences. This way, you can buy the right hot air fryer for you, and then prepare crispy chips, delicious snacks and much more in it. Let's go!
Hot air fryer: comparison of features and performance
On this page we would like to introduce you to all types of hot air fryers. From the small hot air fryer with a volume of 5 litres to the large hot air fryer with a rotating basket and a volume of up to 12 litres. In addition to size, we will also compare other factors such as functionality, cleaning, performance and much more. The practical kitchen devices have one thing in common: They help you to cook healthier, save fat or oil and live more consciously. And without any loss of crispness or deliciousness - promise.
Hot air fryer 5 litres - AeroVital Deluxe
Product tip
AeroVital Deluxe
With its drawer, the AeroVital Deluxe is easy to use. Thanks to preset programs, every dish is cooked perfectly.
- Varied: Fry, roast, grill and bake with 8 programs
- Digital: With LC touch display
Hot air fryers with a capacity between 2.5 and 5 litres are compact and relatively light, and yet powerful. As in this example, deep fryers with drawers are very easy to use. They are also particularly easy to clean, as the cooking basket is usually dishwasher-safe. With preset programs and operation via digital display, the preparation of chips, crispy snacks or even muffins is made easy.
- Compact and light
- Easy operation
- Simple design
Advantages
- Larger quantities must be prepared in several rounds
Disadvantages
Hot air fryer 7 litres - VitAir Smart
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VitAir Smart
Cooking easily via app? The VitAir Smart makes it possible. Thanks to preset programs, the hot air fryer can be easily controlled via app.
- Smart: Easy operation via app
- Versatile: Ready for everything with lots of accessories, 20 programs and 1400 watts
Larger hot air fryers with a capacity of 7 litres, such as the VitAir Smart, boast limitless possibilities. Whether with a grill cage, grill spit or in the practical inner pot with non-stick coating: You can bake, roast and deep-fry as you please. The VitAir has a large selection of 20 preset menus. If that's not enough, you can easily control your hot air fryer with an app. The 3D Airdynamics technology ensures uniform air circulation.
- App control
- Versatile preparation
- Cool-touch housing
Advantages
- Many accessories more difficult to clean
- Requires space above because of the lid
Disadvantages
Hot air fryer 10 litres - AeroVital Fry
Product tip
AeroVital Fry
Compact design, large volume and many possibilities. With many accessories, everything gets crispy in the AeroVital Fry hot air fryer
- Complete: With 6-piece accessory set
- Compact: Slim design with high capacity
Hot air fryer with a capacity of 10 litres: Thanks to the practical flap, these hot air fryers work almost like ovens. The only difference is the type of heating. This is because they work with a 3D heating system with 1500 watts and up to 220 °C. With a digital display and preset programs, you can fry and bake as much as you can on a tray, grid, rotisserie skewer and in the grill basket.
- Many accessories for maximum flexibility
- Compact design
- Easy to operate
Advantages
- Accessories and hot air fryers require storage space
Disadvantages
Hot air fryer 12 litres - AeroVital Cube
Product tip
AeroVital Cube
One of the really big hot air fryers in the range. With a capacity of 12 litres, 13 programs and 3 functions, the AeroVital Cube is a real all-rounder.
- Varied: In addition to frying and baking, you can also defrost, keep warm and dry food
- Powerful performance: 1600 watts for full power
Here come the big ones: our XXL hot air fryers with an interior capacity of 12 litres can not only easily keep up with small ovens, they are even more practical! With programs for chips, cake, popcorn, vegetables and much more, you don't have to think long about the settings. Thanks to Touch Control and Easy Start control, operation is easier than ever. Whole chickens and large batches are no problem for this large air fryer.
- Easy to use
- With matching accessories
- Ideal for families
Advantages
- Comparatively large
Disadvantages
Hot air fryers in comparison
| AeroVital Deluxe | VitAir Smart | AeroVital Fry | AeroVital Cube | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.4 litres | 7.75 litres | 10 litres | 12 litres |
| Weight | 5.7 kg | 6.1 kg | 7.4 kg | 6.8 kg |
| Power | 1700 watts | 1400 watts | 1500 watts | 1600 watts |
| Features | - LC touch display - Non-stick coating - 8 pre-installed programs |
- Completely controllable with the Klarstein app - High resolution LCD display with push button control panel - Removable inner pot with non-stick coating |
- Digital display - 9 selectable programs - Removable handles for frying basket, rotisserie and grill drum |
- Digital display - 13 selectable programs - Functions: Frozen Food, Keep Warm, Dehydrate |
Hot air fryer or oven?
Air fryers and ovens basically work the same way, don't they? That in itself is correct. Nevertheless, we would be happy to show you a few advantages and disadvantages of the respective devices. When it comes to power consumption, ovens and hot air fryers are very close. The difference is with pre-heating. An oven takes much longer to reach the desired operating temperature. In addition, the air circulates faster in the air fryer than in the oven, which makes chips, nuggets, etc. even crispier. When cleaning the deep fryer with hot air, you have to be a little more thorough. However, the cooking basket and similar accessories can often be placed in the dishwasher.
You can cook pretty much anything in an oven. Hot air fryers are more suitable for everything that needs to be really crunchy. The right accessories make the variety even bigger here. Be careful with baked goods in the hot air fryer, as they often dry out faster.
The preset programs of the hot air fryer offer another advantage. Without thinking too much about preparation, the right program can be selected on the digital hot air fryer and, thanks to the timer, the device will notify you when the program has finished. It really couldn't be easier.
Buying an air fryer: What should I look out for?
Which hot air fryer is the best? There are, of course, a few things to consider. Basically, it depends on what you want to use your deep fryer for. For example, if you are primarily interested in crispy chips without the addition of fat, we have specially developed our VitAir Pommesmaster. With lateral rotation, the chips are turned around during frying, making them extra crispy. But if you want to try a lot of different things, we recommend an air fryer with accessories such as a rotisserie skewer, grill and much more. You should also pay attention to the design. Depending on where the new little gem is to be placed, the colour and model should match. When it comes to performance, you should make sure that at least 1400 watts are specified. And in the temperature range, even a small hot air fryer should reach up to 200 °C.
FAQ
Contrary to popular belief, hot air fryers are very common. Yes, they make incredibly chips and potato wedges. But you can also use them to make fried chicken, steamed meats, muffins, and more. A little inspiration? Then take a look at our hot air fryer recipes in the Klarstein Magazine!
This mainly depends on the temperature and the thickness of your chips. For thin chips and sweet potato fries, we recommend 200 °C and a preparation time of 25 minutes. For wedges, potato wedges or whatever you like to call them, the preparation time is 35-40 minutes at the same temperature. Of course, it always depends on how crispy and brown you like them.
Most hot air fryers run on 1400 to 2000 watts. On average, a 2000 watt fryer uses about 2 kW per hour.
Basically, as the name suggests, an air fryer swirls hot air in an enclosed space. That means there is a heating coil and a fan. The spiral heats the air to the set temperature. The fan distributes the air and makes it circulate in the space. Due to the high circulation, food is brought into contact with the hot air more quickly and over a larger area, and is therefore cooked and crispy.
The hot air fryer is basically a fryer without fat. Compared to a conventional fryer, it prepares food with much less fat, and is therefore healthier. Other advantages are the lower power consumption (compared to a deep fryer or the oven that would have to be pre-heated first), ease of use, uniform cooking without effort, easy cleaning, the lack of odour development and the versatility.
The few disadvantages usually include the higher noise level (compared to an oven). In addition, you can usually only prepare smaller quantities in hot air fryers than in the oven. And compared to a deep fryer, it takes longer to prepare chips in the hot air deep fryer, for example.
The price range for air fryers is large. We have small hot air fryers under 100 euros like the Crisp-Pro or the AirVital. Our large models, such as the Vita Pro with 18 litres capacity, steamer insert and many other accessories, are around 250 euros. Find your affordable hot air fryer in our shop!
That cannot be said in general terms. Depending on the model and type, the sizes are different. When making your selection, it is better to pay attention to the performance and the various preparation options and programs of the device.