(Photography: John Paul Urizar | aremedia)
The trusty air fryer is one of my favourite kitchen appliances. They cook food in half the time the oven does, and are small and easy to carry in and out of my walk-in pantry. Plus, they are easy to clean and simple to use – all I need to do is put the food inside, set a time and click start.
It’s the ultimate, lazy day cooking appliance.
But the other day, I came across a ‘smart air fryer’. My first thought was what on Earth is a smart air fryer? And how can it be better than the $69 one I bought from Target? Although skeptical, I did some digging on the second generation of air fryers, only to discover they have:
a) voice control
b) smartphone or tablet control
c) one-touch preset buttons for chicken, fish, vegies and other types of food.
Despite those ‘fancy’ features, I still wasn’t entirely convinced. Why would I need voice control to start the air fryer when I need to open the tray to put the food inside anyway? Is this one appliance they’ve pushed too far?
Determined to see what the fuss is about, I turned to a Reddit thread to get the lowdown from real people.
To say I was surprised with some of the comments is an understatement.
Did I misjudge the smart air fryer?
I’m the first to admit I sometimes judge a book by its cover. First impressions count. But I will also take the time to try to understand things better.
In this case, despite doubting the point of a smart air fryer, I gave it a chance to prove me wrong. And it may have done just that.
What’s so good about a smart air fryer?
1. Progress notifications
In a busy household, you’re never just cooking dinner. There’s likely a load of washing on, pets or kids may be running amok – not to mention the massive mess you keep putting off cleaning.
Being stuck in the kitchen unable to get other things done after a busy day of work can be frustrating… that is, unless you have a megaphone on the little ‘ding’ that sounds when the air fryer is ready.
Well, this is where I can agree a smart air fryer could be helpful.
A Reddit user said, “I do use [the air fryer app control] for pre-heating and I like that I get notifications to shake or flip my food, or an alert when the food is done while I get other things done around the house.”
This is a major tick that could convince me to go for a smart air fryer.
2. Recipe customisation
There’s a ‘my recipes’ feature for those of us who cook the same thing a couple of times each week. You input the picture, temperature and cooking time so the food comes out exactly as you like.
Or, if you’re using an air fryer’s presets but feel it isn’t cooking to your liking, you can customise that too!
A Reddit user said: “Without this smart app feature integration, I would have to keep reaching for my iPhone to search on Google every time I cook, especially for recipes which don’t have air-frying instructions. The app also lets me customize 3 of the 5 preset buttons, so I was able to set “Bacon” preset to 400F for 9 min (as I like my thick cut bacon extra crispy; the default setting for Bacon preset is 320F for 12 min).
3. Voice control with Alexa or Google
If you’re someone who doesn’t want to learn how to use the buttons, you can connect certain smart air fryers to Alexa or Google. If you’re in the middle of cooking and your sides are waiting patiently in the air fryer, you can use your voice to command it to start cooking. That way, it’s ready at the exact time you wish.
A Reddit user said: “I owned one for a couple of years now and never learned how to use the buttons. I only use Alexa. It is much faster to say Alexa, cook 20 minutes at 375 degrees on air fryer than to punch a bunch of buttons.”
4 smart air fryers for easy, convenient cooking
01
COSORI Smart Wifi Air Fryer 5.5L CS158-AF
from $169, Woolworths
Best for: busy bees cooking up a storm
The Cosori CS158-AF Air Fryer is more convenient than ever. Easily connect to the free VeSync app to adjust settings and program recipes from your phone. Featuring smart capabilities that let you control and monitor right from your smartphone, dinner time is always a breeze.
Key features:
- WiFi smart control
- 100 recipe cookbook
- 50% faster than traditional ovens
- 13 functions, 11 presets
- LED touch screen
- Comes with skewer rack set
- 5.5L square basket
- Dishwasher safe
02
Philips 5000 Series Air Fryer XL
from $349, Amazon
Best for: multi-tasking cooks
This smart air fryer can be controlled from a phone or via Alexa. Not only is it compact, simple and effective, it will also save up to 70% energy and cook up to 40% faster than using your oven.
Key features:
- Superior heat circulation with RapidAir+ Technology
- Go beyond air frying with 14 in 1 cooking functions
- XL capacity of 6.2L
- Touch screen with 7 presets
- Easy to clean & dishwasher safe
- Cook & control from mobile app
03
Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill & Air Fryer
from $349.99, Ninja Kitchen
Best for: apartment living
This smart, small appliance sears, sizzles and air fries! With the innovative smart cook system and XL capacity, achieve the perfect doneness from rare to well done on family-sized meals at the touch of a button. It has a 6 in 1 functionality, smoke control technology and comes with a variety of accessories. This product does not have voice or app control features.
Key features:
- Smart cook system
- Virtually smoke-free
- Dishwasher-safe components
- Grill, air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, reheat
- 2 years warranty
Available at:
- $349 from The Good Guys
- $329 from Bing Lee
- $349 from Harvey Norman
04
the Smart Oven™ Air Fryer
from $579, Breville
Best for: space-saving solutions
Get maximum performance and versatility with the smart oven. It has smart algorithms which replicate the ideal cooking environment for air frying, as well as 9 additional cooking techniques. Plus, it uses up to 35% less power compared to a built-in oven. It does not have voice or app control.
Key features:
- Oven and air fryer in one
- Element IQ® system
- 10 cooking functions
- Dual speed convection
- LCD display and interior oven light
Available at:
- $498 from Harvey Norman
- $499 from The Good Guys
- $499 from Bing Lee
What is a smart air fryer?
A smart air fryer can take cooking to a new level. Imagine whipping up delicious meals while lounging on the couch. It connects to smartphones or smart home devices via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, letting you control it with a tap or a voice command. It comes with recipes in a digital cookbook, complete with pre-set cooking modes that make frying, baking and roasting a breeze. You can check in on your food from anywhere and get alerts when it’s time to feast.
Is a smart air fryer really worth it?
The answer isn’t so black and white. Whether a smart air fryer is worth it really depends on your own cooking habits and lifestyle. If you love the convenience of remote control, recipe integration and being able to monitor your meals from your phone, it can be a game-changer. The tech features can save time and simplify meal prep, especially for busy people. However, if you’re someone who doesn’t mind manually adjusting settings or already has a traditional air fryer that works fine, you might not feel the need to upgrade. Plus, smart air fryers can be pricier than their basic counterparts, so it’s essential to weigh whether the extra features align with your cooking style and budget.
Looking to save money? Check out our coupon codes for Bing Lee and more.
