Looking for a new air fryer, and notice the basket type are far more prevalent than trays (like a regular oven). What's the reason for this? I'm thinking the tray style would allow multi-level cooking, and easier cleaning options, but could be wrong.
Air Fryer Questions
RangaWal on 21/02/2025 - 21:32
Comments
Deep fry with Olive Oil
do you know how expensive olive oil is?!
Use avocado oil then
Is that possible with the smoke point of olive oil?
The basket gives better airflow an thus an even cook, but harder to clean especially when cooking marinated meats. Think of a BBQ grill vs a hotplate. Soaking the basket in the base and using a dishwasher brush works well.
Alternatively just get a tray and periodically toss/rotate whatever you're cooking. You'll still need to do this with things like chips anyway if you're using a basket.
I use a basket-style and depending on what I'm cooking use baking paper liners.Basket flips upside down and goes straight in the dishwasher. No oven cleaning. Or smoky dirty oven.
I think they are usually like "convention ovens" where the fan circulates the heat throughout, thus the need for basket with holes for the heat to be fanned down the below and come up.
I have used those silicone trays to make it easier to clean up, but I find they work great for items you can heat like say chips (that you flip part way), but if you say try to bake a quiche the top burns and the bottom doesn't cook/heat up.
Switched to the tray type recently for the same reasons you mention and find it great. Definitely better for family size dinners and quicker than the regular oven in terms of preheating and cooking time. Things come out nice and crispy still too for the things you want to be crispy like chips. But it also has a standard oven which might be better for some things. We regularly cook one tray of salmon and one tray of roast veggies at the same time. Or chicken tenders and chips at the same time. I also find being able to put the trays and basket in the dishwasher means they get a good clean. There is some splatter that gets on the walls of the oven which it best to wipe soon after cooking however I’ll use oven cleaner to tackle it if it starts to build up. Overall I’m happy with the switch to the tray style.
Which model did you choose?
I got this but it’s sold out now and I got an extra 50% off so it was only $85
https://www.myer.com.au/p/cucina-prestigio-french-dor-25l-he… I think it’s a no name brand stocked by myer maybe very similar to this https://www.myer.com.au/p/healthy-choice-french-dors-convect… however I’d probably get the Kmart one if I was buying without the discount https://www.kmart.com.au/product/25l-air-fryer-and-oven-silv… it looks very similar too.
Have the oven type here, no problems.
In theory baskets have better air circulation, which means that the food browns more evenly. In practice you may not notice much difference.