Top Features to Look for Before You Buy an Air Fryer

In Nigeria, air fryers are no longer perceived simply as a fancy kitchen trend. We, Nigerians, aspire to have one, and many of us already own one. Using an air fryer is all about enjoying your favourite crispy chin chin, fried plantain (dodo), or chicken with up to 80% less oil, and without sacrificing that satisfying crunch. It is a game-changer for health-conscious food lovers.

It has a simple, easy-to-use design that should be easier to pick than a refrigerator or a microwave, which come with complex features. Yet, when we step into a store or go online to buy one, we find ourselves utterly confused, as if we are navigating a crowded market during the festive season rush. Store shelves (and category pages) are often crowded with a variety of air fryers from a range of brands and priced from affordable models to high-end, digital types. The range available somehow validates the expectation posted in the Industry Research report of 2025 that the air fryer market in South Africa is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3%, and in West Africa, too, the air fryer will gradually become an indispensable home appliance. However, cost remains a major barrier to purchase for about 40% of consumers in Africa.

The number of options available leaves us simply wondering what to buy. Yes, the sales assistant at the store provides the necessary information to narrow down our options and make our selection, but sometimes that is not enough. When you are trying to get the best value for money, you need a clear roadmap.

Our air fryer buying guide highlights the top air fryer features to evaluate so you can find the best air fryer tailored to your kitchen size, budget, and cooking style.

1. Select the Right Size

To begin, you would want to check the space available in your kitchen for placing this new appliance and using it safely with sufficient clearance. You would also want to know the capacity of the air fryer that is ideal for your usage. You wouldn’t want to end up with a device that is too small to really be of any use or just too large that it consumes too much power.

Let’s break down the capacity landscape:

• Small (1 to 3 Litres):Perfect for singles, students in university dorm rooms, or couples who only need to whip up quick, individual sides.
• Medium (4 to 6 Litres):This is the ideal size for average families of 3 to 4 people. A medium-sized appliance comfortably fits a whole small chicken or a generous side of fries. A stellar example in this category is the Bruhm Air Fryer 4.2L, which strikes an incredible balance between internal space and a modest kitchen footprint.
• Large (7+ Litres):If you regularly cook for a large household, love hosting weekend gatherings, or are a dedicated meal-prepper, a large capacity air fryer is non-negotiable.

2. Select the Right Type – Basket-Style vs. Toaster Oven-Style

Once you have decided on the amount of space available for your appliance to be placed safely in your kitchen, you will have to decide which type of air fryer you would like to opt for. Typically, an air fryer is of two types – the basket-style and the toaster oven-style. Choosing between them depends on how you interact with your food.

Basket Style Air Fryer

This is the classic design in air fryers – one with a pull-out basket and a heavy-duty handle. These are usually compact, unless you go for a twin-basket air fryer. Other important benefits of this air fryer are how it heats up very quickly and how easy it is to pull it out and shake the contents for even browning and crispiness.

However, if you plan to cook complex recipes that require layering, then the toaster oven-style air fryer is a better bet.

Toaster Oven-Style (Convection Ovens)

These look just like mini ovens, which you can place on your countertop. You can toast bread, bake small cakes, dehydrate fruits, or even use a rotisserie spit. Plus, they feature glass viewing windows so you can watch your food cook.

While they are wonderful for cooking your elaborate recipes, they take up a considerable amount of counter space and are priced higher than the basket-style air fryers.

3. Pick the Suitable Controls – Digital Precision vs Analogue Simplicity

Like the microwave, air fryers also come with the options of analogue and digital touchscreen control panels. Digital touchscreens will provide the kind of precision you would need for your complex recipes – greater control over timing and temperature. These digital touchscreens come with several presets and make cooking effortless. Of course, these digital control panels are priced at a premium.

Analogue dials are easy to use, intuitive, durable, and cheap, but go for these only if you plan to cook something that does not require precise control over cooking time.

Wattage

We highly recommend looking for models rated between 1400 and 1800 watts. The Bruhm BFM-421500B clocks in perfectly at 1500W, and the heavy-duty Bruhm BFE-903200B utilises a robust 1600W system. High wattage means the appliance preheats in seconds and recovers its internal temperature almost instantly when you toss in cold or frozen food, giving you that rapid, deep-fried texture.

Temperature Range

The best air fryer must have a temperature range of approx. 40°C and 200 °C to be able to prepare any recipe.

4. Look for Ease of Cleaning and Some Smart Extras

Many air fryers come with features that meet the needs of a modern cook. We recommend you look for baskets engineered with high-quality, PFOA-free non-stick coatings and components that are labelled dishwasher-safe. For a more future-proof kitchen, explore energy-efficient air fryer models with high-end smart features. Dual-zone baskets, like that of the Bruhm BFE-903200B, allow you to cook two entirely different foods (like fish in one side and yam fries in the other) at completely different temperatures and times. You might want to opt for a dual-basket model if you often fall short on time. Other premium models feature Wi-Fi connectivity and smartphone app integration so you can preheat and monitor your dinner directly from your phone while relaxing in the living room.

Lastly, you would want to check how tedious the cleaning process is for this appliance. Using the air fryer for cooking is the easy part. If cleaning is too cumbersome a process, trust me, Chale, you are not going to pull out the device for cooking too often. So, make sure cleaning after is not too complicated.

Once you have figured these out, we are sure you will be pointed to the ideal air fryer for your kitchen. If you carefully match your household’s eating habits to the correct capacity, pick your preferred control style, and choose a configuration that fits your kitchen layout, you will love the convenience and health benefits the air fryer brings to your home.

Prepared to go the healthy way? Visit our physical showroom in Nigeria or browse our online inventory to find the best air fryer model by price.

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