Anatomy of an Air Fryer
Peer inside an air fryer and you may not immediately be able to tell what makes it work. Here we illuminate the key elements found in many air fryers and point out the attributes that we like.
While air fryers come in many shapes and sizes, and can even vary in how the food is placed inside, they all operate in a similar way. If your air fryer model doesn’t have all the features we mention here, don’t fret. We’ve tested our recipes in a variety of models to ensure that they will work in every air fryer.
Not all air-fryer drawers are removable, and some models load from the top rather than the front and do not have a drawer at all. Be sure to read your air fryer’s instructions manual to check whether the drawer is removable. Some air fryers have tiered racks or shelves rather than a basket. You can make all our recipes in this type of air fryer by using the bottom rack or shelf for cooking.
Some brands of air fryers come in extra-large (XL) sizes; these have a bigger drawer capacity. All our recipes will work in XL air fryers, but we crafted them with standard-size air fryers in mind, so an XL model is not necessary.
1. Chamber
The rounded chamber promotes air circulation. Our winning air fryer had adequate space both above and below the basket, which helped the hot air to flow around all sides of the food.
2. Heating Element
An electric coil located above the basket heats the air fryer's small space much faster than an oven can.
3. Fan
Air fryers, like convection ovens, use fans to circulate heat around food for faster and more even cooking.
4. Exhaust
An exhaust at the back of the air fryer releases some of the hot air to prevent the pressure and heat inside the chamber from getting too high.
5. Controls
Dial or touchscreen controls allow you to select temperatures and set cook times. We prefer digital dials and flat displays that can't be bumped or that have to be confirmed before the cooking temperature is changed.
6. Drawer
Also called a pan, the drawer found in the most air fryers is the container for the basket. Excel oil and drippings will collect at the bottom. We liked models with removable drawers for easy cleanup.
7. Basket
Most air fryers contain a nonstick basket that suspends food in the chamber so air can flow around it. We liked the roomy, square shape of our winning air fryer's basket, which made it easy to space out food.
