There are few appliances as popular as air fryers. It’s no joke! Here at GH, our air fryer recipes and air fryer buying guides are always in demand. And as an editor, I’ve covered everything from things you shouldn’t cook in an air fryer to how to deep clean an air fryer – the interest never ends!
And yet, while many of us buy into the air fryer hype, this handy appliance often ends up gathering dust in the back of the cupboard. What happened? Why did we change our minds? This feature will look at why some of us give up on our air fryer, and how you can improve its performance, so it can earn a spot back on your kitchen counter.
1. Impractical
Few of us realise the space limitations of cooking in an air fryer. While the advertising might show a batch of French fries loaded to the brim, sadly that’s not the reality. While you can stack fries, you can’t load the basket to such an extent – the heat wouldn’t circulate efficiently and the fries wouldn’t cook evenly.
And as for other foods, these generally need to be laid flat across the floor of the basket, with space between each item for the air to flow and cook. So, naturally, if you’ve purchased a compact air fryer, or even a dual basket air fryer, there’s often much less space than you’d realised in each basket.
If you’re finding your air fryer too small, you can purchase racks to sit in the basket and effectively double the available space, although you need to make sure the rack will fit your specific air fryer. For instance, some racks are designed to fit particular Cosori models, while there are racks available for the Ninja Dual basket, too.
Don’t forget, there’s always the option of batch-cooking, too, if you’re finding the space too constrained.
2. Limited uses
Another reason the air fryer gets shelved is because some believe its uses are limited and rather unhealthy. Air fryers were initially marketed as a tool to use to prepare a range of fried foods and snacks, including breaded chicken and French fries – so that was what many of us did and still do.
The fact is air fryers can do much more than this. An air fryer doesn’t technically fry; it circulates hot air with a fan, making it a mini convection oven – essentially a smaller version of your full-size oven. So, you can actually make all kinds of recipes here, and it only requires about a tablespoon of oil per batch, meaning you can cook healthier options, too.
You can make all kinds of recipes in your air fryer, from cheese toasties to pork chops to carrot cake. I even made a whole roast dinner in my air fryer once to save some time.
3. Taking up too much counter space
Unfortunately, air fryers are bulky appliances and they’re more practical than they are pretty. We might not realise how much of the countertop they hog until we get them out of the box, and due to the sheer size, they can make for an obtrusive and unsightly addition. In the end, we retire them to the back of the cupboard to claim back our kitchen counter and tell ourselves we will get it out as and when – but few will actually go the lengths of moving an air fryer around between uses, unless it’s very compact.
Of course, there’s no way to make your air fryer any smaller, but you could revisit your kitchen’s layout and consider whether it was initially given the best placement. Ideally, you’d want it near ventilation, whether that’s a window or an extractor fan. You also want to make sure you leave enough ventilation space around the sides and you need space above if the food is loaded and lifted vertically.
If you want to make regular use of your air fryer, but hate the way it looks, there’s always the option of installing a breakfast cupboard. This is intended to help hide unsightly appliances while still giving easy access to them. Some even come with built-in power sockets, so you can use the air fryer in situ, but you’ll need to consult with a professional to make sure there’s adequate ventilation, and remember to keep the doors open when in use. Shelving above will also need to be distanced.
4. A lack of confidence
If you’re new to air fryers, it can be overwhelming when there are no cooking charts to guide you. An entry-level air fryer doesn’t come with specific settings for different types of food, either – it’s just a time and a temperature dial, and no viewing window, so you can’t even see what you’re doing.
Air fryers cook much more quickly than the oven, so the instructions aren’t convertible. And without specific directions, it’s tricky to cook precisely and achieve the desired texture, without overcooking. With such effort and attention required, it’s easy to give up, put the air fryer away and revert back to the trusted oven again.
The good news is more and more foods are coming with air fryer cooking instructions printed on the pack, especially those that are typically cooked in air fryers, such as party foods. There’s even food advertised specifically for cooking in the air fryer.
There are plenty of cooking charts available online, too – not to mention endless air fryer recipes – so there’s much more guidance than there used to be. Look out for air fryer cooking instructions as you buy your food, so you’re not eyeballing the result. For meat, there’s always the option of using a thermometer to confirm the internal temperature.
5. Not a fan of the texture
Finally, air fryers are known to produce a crispy texture – crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. But, it can be easy to overcook or dry out ingredients if you cook at too high a temperature for too long – even a few minutes can make a significant difference. This in toll can impact the flavour of the food, too.
You can avoid this problem, though, if this has put you off using your air fryer. First, you can cook at a lower temperature for longer, which will give you more control over the finish. You can also brush butter or oil on to the food to help retain moisture; oil is handy for helping loose seasoning to stick to the food, too.
The GHI's Top 3 Air Fryers 2025
Ninja Foodi AF400UK Dual-Zone Air Fryer
Score: 95/100
A near flawless performance on test; fairy cakes were evenly baked in just 15 minutes and it scored top marks for crispy chicken Kyivs. The double drawer design is intuitive to use too.
Score: 95/100
An innovative design which scored top of the board in our tests. Two glass cooking containers which function as both the basket and serving dish means you can air fry on the go.
Score: 95/100
Tying for the winning spot, this air fryer stands out for it's steaming capabilities which helps it to achieve healthier dishes with a range of textures. A whole chicken was well-cooked, evenly browned and delicious.
Features you should be using
Twin baskets
If you’re lucky enough to own a model with twin baskets, you should certainly be taking advantage. This lets you cook two different things at once, synced to finish at the same time – ideal if there’s a vegetarian at the table. If you want to have enough space to cook a whole roast chicken but like the two-basket design, look out for a model with one large basket and a divider instead, so you can do both.
Additional functions
There are all sorts of additional functions available on multi-cooker air fryers. From slow cooking to grilling and roasting, these extra settings open up a whole host of recipe possibilities. Steam is handy to use in conjunction with air frying, as it helps to retain moisture. Some oven-style air fryers even come with rotisserie accessories, so a whole chicken can be browned evenly.
Shake alerts
Your air fryer basket will need a shake on occasion to redistribute your food. It’s easy to forget or even ignore this step and be left with uneven results – that’s why alerts are a useful addition for reminding you. Some air fryers will also alert you when the timer has finished, which is very handy, too.
Keep warm
If your model comes with an automated keep warm setting, this is brilliant for keeping your food at an adequate temperature once the timer has finished. It can help to prevent lukewarm results if you’re not quite ready to serve up.
