The Air Fryer: The Latest Hot Kitchen Appliance
If you’ve paid any attention to the media, you’ve probably heard of an air fryer convection oven. They hit the market a few years ago and recently made waves according to Kitchensity. Touted as a healthy option for fried foods, lots of people have tried them and sing their praises. Nearly 40% of homes had an air fryer as of July 2020, a number that is likely to grow even higher.
But are they as good as everyone says? Are they worth the space they take up on the kitchen counter? We’ll take a look into the world of the air fryer craze and examine these claims so you can better help your customers—and net some extra sales.
What is an air fryer and how does it cook?
An air fryer is a small kitchen appliance that relies on convection baking to heat up food with little to no oil. There’s a tray inside the fryer that food is placed on. The term “convection” refers to hot air rising and cold air sinking. An air fryer utilizes that movement, using fans to move the hot air in a continuous rotation through the machine.
Some air fryers can be big enough to feed six to eight people, while others are meant for only one or two people. The drawback to the smaller ones is that if a few friends come over, the owner can only do a small amount of cooking, meaning they need to cook in multiple batches.
Types of Air Fryers
There are 2 main types of air fryers: pod and oven.
A pod air fryer (or “basket air fryer”) looks a bit like an Instant Pot or Crock Pot, but utilizes a basket that inserts into the front of the machine.. These are small, vertical appliances that work well for saving space. They also have a cheaper price entry point, so they are more affordable to consumers just getting started in the air fryer craze.
Example: https://order.petra.com/brentwood-appliances-af-350w-3-7-quart-electric-air-fryer-white.html
Air fryer ovens are also known as toaster ovens. According to the NY Times, toaster ovens underwent a rebrand around the time that the traditional pod air fryers started popping up. Since pod air fryers use similar convection baking, manufacturers of toaster oven decided to capitalize on the trend. You’ll see the terms “air fryer oven” and “toaster oven” used interchangeably, but both refer to a smaller, countertop oven with a window on the front for a view inside. This version gives buyers more options for cooking their meals.
Example: https://order.petra.com/koblenz-hkm-1500-c-24-liter-kitchen-magic-collection-convection-oven.html
Important Features
With so many options available in the market, your customers might be unsure of which the best air fryer for them is.
SIZE: One of the most important features to take into account is size (both in terms of capacity and overall unit size). Because air fryers rely on the circulation of air to effectively heat the food, users will need to avoid overcrowding. If the food is too close together, the air won’t circulate correctly, and the food won’t cook.
If they’re limited on space or are buying for personal use, the smaller pod models would work best. However, if they have more room on the countertop or have a place in the cabinet to store them, a larger air fryer oven may allow for more cooking versatility and feed more people.
DESIGN: What if your customer’s kitchen looks like a blast from the past and the newer-looking air fryers don’t fit their vision? They’re in luck because there are retro fryers. They work just as well as their modern-looking counterparts. They come in a variety of colors, and their design is suited to meet a retro kitchen lover’s taste.
Air fryer accessories
Maybe your customer already has an air fryer, but they want more. There are a ton of accessories for the air fryer.
Liners make cleaning up after cooking easier. They’re non-toxic and non-stick so you don’t have to worry about cooking with them. Baking and grill pans mean you can cook specialty foods without heating up the whole kitchen with the oven, handy in the summer, while cooking racks maximize the cooking space of the fryer. You can make muffins with muffin tins specifically designed to fit in the smaller space of an air fryer. Tongs, of course, help you turn items in the fryer and take them out when done cooking.
Air fryer accessories mean that there’s a market for add-on sales or repeat customers.
Conclusion
Air fryers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon with an expected market growth rate of 7.3% between 2021 and 2031. They come in all kinds of sizes and colors to match anyone’s needs so even if your customer already has one, they can still be in the market for one as a gift or looking for accessories.
Are your customers looking for a healthy, easy to use alternative to traditional frying? Maybe they want to take part in the latest kitchen appliance craze? Whatever your product needs are, we’re ready to meet them. Be sure to check out order.petra.com for our selection of air fryers and more!