What Is The Best Air Fryer For The Money? – Top Budget Friendly

When it comes to fried foods like french fries, fried chicken, and bacon, we often feel guilty. After all, the grease and fat that come with these delectable treats can pose a serious health risk if taken in excess.

However, one small kitchen appliance is attempting to change this by allowing people to enjoy their favorite fried foods without oil, pan-frying, or a lot of kitchen space.

The Philips Electronic air fryer was the first of its kind, appearing on the market in the third quarter of 2010, allowing users to prepare meals without excess fat. However, they did not become common until 2017.

There are many micro convection ovens on the market nowadays, and in this 2023 purchasing guide, we will look at what they are, how they operate, what you can prepare with them, and what is the best air fryer for the money?

What Is An Air Fryer and How Does It Work?

An air fryer is a counter-top-friendly, tiny convection oven that, despite the name, does not fry your food but instead simulates the process using air.

The inside of the oven contains a blower that circulates hot air through the fryer, swiftly heating your food. Although some recipes will still require oil, keep some on hand; you will find that you only need a tablespoon or two at most, rather than the cups that traditional recipes require.

In addition to using air, the convection oven bounces air off the bottom of the air fryer and back up through the food, thoroughly frying it in minutes by jump-starting the Maillard reaction. This is how you get those crispy edges without using any oil.

It is easy to dismiss air fryers as merely a substitute for deep-fried dishes, but they are capable of much more than French fries. You can cook a delicious steak, bake a pizza, and even make desserts like cake.

Read More: What’s The Best Air Fryer On The Market – Top 6 High-Recommended

What Type of Foods Can You Make With It?

The possibilities are nearly unlimited for the types of cuisine you can cook, and it all depends on how creative you want to be with your meals.

Garlic chicken parmesan, fried pickles, turkey, hamburgers, hot dogs, cinnamon rolls, jalapeno poppers, taco crunch wraps, pork taquitos, garlic potatoes, sweet potato tots, doughnuts, banana bread, funnel cake, meatballs, Brussel sprouts, roasted salmon, salad, and so much more are all possibilities.

Anything you can roast on a baking sheet or prepare from frozen will undoubtedly have a recipe. Let us look at the top budget air fryers on the market now that you know what types of meals you can prepare.

Read More: How To Reheat Quiche In An Air Fryer? – Easy Steps Guide

Top 12 of the Best Inexpensive Air Fryers Currently Available

#1. COSORI Air Fryer 5.8 Quart

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It has a built-in digital touchscreen display with eleven presets and temperature and time settings. The temperature range is 170-400F, with an F/C degree changeover option, and video instructions and recipes are available.

It boasts an ETL/FDA certification, automatic shut-off protection, BPA-free construction, and a cool-touch handle/button system.

The COSORI air fryer has a capacity of 5.8 quarts, enough to cook an entire chicken. Due to its counter-saving design, performance, and versatility.

#2. GoWise USA Programmable Air Fryer With 8 Cook Presets

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It also has digital LCD controls that are simple to use and read, enabling you to set the temperature anywhere from 180 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for one to sixty minutes. It also contains an indicator that will beep a few times when it is done, letting you know when your target cooking time has been reached.

It also comes with a recipe book that includes fifty different alternatives for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

#3. Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer, AF100

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The Ninja comes with a programmed base that lets you air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate food at 105 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This means you will be able to gently remove moisture from your meal while also controlling how crispy you want it to be.

The basket is nonstick and ceramic-coated, and it can hold approximately two pounds of french fries. It also includes a multi-layer rack to dehydrate items using the low fan speed/low-temperature combination option. It has a black/grey color scheme and is dishwasher safe.

#4. OMORC Air Fryer XL

With 551 reviews on Amazon, the OMORC air fryer has a very high rating of 4.7 stars. It is ideal for larger families because it has a total capacity of 6 quarts, which is considered significant for air fryers. It has a multi-functional knob that changes the timing, temperature, and optimal presets.

It is also dishwasher safe and has a stunning, sleek touchscreen design. It has a nonstick fry basket and pot, a cool-to-the-touch handle, and a detachable button guard. It is made of non-toxic metals, has an automatic shut-off feature, and includes a cooking guide.

Read More: Bring Comfort To Household With Breville Bov900bss Review

#5. Dash Compact Air Fryer

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It takes a few minutes to pre-heat and is amazingly simple to use; fill the basket, set the temperature, and set the timer. It has an automatic shut-off mechanism to prevent your food from overcooking and a cool-touch casing and knobs.

It is light and may be used in a college dorm, a camper/RV, or a small kitchen. The nonstick frying basket is dishwasher safe, and it comes with a 15-item recipe book.

#6. Simple Chef Air Fryer

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Spring rolls, drumsticks, pork chops, steak, fries, potatoes, cakes, and other dishes can be prepared without messing up. It is dishwasher safe, has a 30-day money-back guarantee, and can be returned.

#7. Philips Viva Airfryer (Original).

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It contains a single knob for setting the temperature and timer and an indicator light that keeps you informed at all times.

You set the cooking time and temperature, and the automated shut-off will notify you when your food is ready. It is dishwasher safe and comes with a free smartphone app.

#8. Avalon Bay Air Fryer

It has a low-to-medium price point and Amazon’s Choice label.

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The basket is detachable, allowing for simple food transfer and cleaning.

#9. Black and Decker Purify Air Fryer

The air fryer’s entire cooking surface is nonstick, and the air frying basket and basket separator are also dishwasher safe.

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#10. GoWise USA 7-in-1 Programmable Air Fryer

The GoWise USA 7-in-1 programmable air fryer is one of their newest models, featuring seven innovative programs for chips, meat, chicken, shrimp, fish, and steak.

The fryer has an automatic standby feature, a 30-minute timer, and a standby mode to turn into when the food is done, just like previous GoWise models.

It has a detachable basket, is black, and is equipped with touchscreen technology.

Read More: PowerXL Air Fryer Grill Reviews in 2023: What To Expect?

#11. NutriChef Electric Hot Airy Fryer Oven

It is a portable multi-cooker that’s also electric and has many customizable options on the touch button controls and an LCD digital display.

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The basket and the pan can be removed from the device and washed by hand or in the dishwasher.

#12. FrenchMay Air Fryer

On Amazon, the FrenchMay air fryer has a high rating of 4.6 stars and 112 reviews. It is a multi-functional air fryer that may be used to prepare conventional foods such as french fries, steak, roasted potatoes, veggies, and onion rings. You may, however, bake with it if you like, and it has no oil smell, no splatter, and no mess policy.

It has industry-leading dynamic airflow technology that circulates hot air quickly throughout the gadget, giving you the appearance of a uniform cook. It boasts a touchscreen control, a 60-minute timer, and a digital temperature range of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. When the timer reaches 60 minutes, it will automatically shut off.

It includes meat, shrimp, steak, fish, chicken, cake, fries/chips, and other items. This air fryer is distinguished by its dishwasher-safe construction, built-in cool-to-the-touch enclosure, and replaceable parts.

Are Cheap Air Fryers Any Good?

This is a question that has been asked several times. A cheap price tag appears to create concerns. We immediately begin looking for weaknesses to explain the low price.

However, the price alone does not tell the whole story. In truth, some air fryers are only pricey because of the brand’s reputation, while others are less expensive because consumers are unfamiliar with the brand. An inexpensive air fryer may be equally as good as a more costly one.

Cheap air fryers can still produce delicious food with the crispy perfection we desire, but they may be smaller and feature fewer presets than a more costly model. Whether or if an air fryer is suitable for your needs is a matter of personal preference. The models we have selected in the list above function admirably and come at a reasonable price.

Every model may not be ideal for you; in fact, the most excellent air fryer is the one that best meets your needs.

Read More: Best Air Fryer Under $150: Top 5 Picks You Shouldn’t Miss

A Few Tips When Using Your New Air Fryer

Even if it indicates it does not need to be pre-heated, always pre-heat the air fryer before cooking because you will get better results this way. It simply needs to be pre-heated for one to three minutes.

Make sure the basket or pan is not too full! If you overcrowd it, you will not get the most significant outcomes, and you will wind up with soggy or unevenly cooked food instead. It can also lengthen the time it takes for the meal to cook.

Remember to flip your food when frying. If you are breading items ahead of time, turn them in during the cooking process to obtain the best results.

After each usage, be sure to clean your air fryer. Food particles will get everywhere, and the build-up from not washing your appliance will cause it to decay faster over time. According to the manufacturer’s recommendations, allow the fryer to cool before cleaning it.

Read More: Philips Airfryer Manual  – How Do I Start My Philips Airfryer?

Conclusion

Overall, you can’t go wrong with any air fryer you choose; just be sure to choose one that’s the right size for you (quart size) and has the features that best suit your cooking style.

Hope our article can help you answer to question “what is the best air fryer for the money?” and find the best suitable one for your kitchen