Top 12 Best Air Fryers in Malaysia 2023 (Recommended Models)

Summary

Our picks for the Best Air Fryer are based on the below considerations:

• Size & Capacity: Between 3L to 7L in capacity.
• Temperature Control & Timer: 60 – 200 Celsius and up to 60 minutes.
• Price: Between RM100 to RM700. Most around RM300.
• Ease of Use: Some with digital display but all have presets.

Based on these factors, we found these Best Air Fryers brands to be worthy of your attention:

• Best Overall Air Fryer: Philips Specter Essential HD9200 Air Fryer (4.1L)
• Best Air Fryer at Shopee (Mid-Range): Tefal Ultra Fry Digital Air Fryer EY111 (4.2L)
• Best Digital Air Fryer: Corvan F50 XXL Air Fryer (5L)
• Affordable Air Fryer: Riino Rapid Air Fryer XL (4L) – AF3501
• Best Affordable Air Fryer: PerySmith 3D Air Fryer Ecohealth II Series PS1530 (4.2L)
• Best Cheap Air Fryer (Large Size): Simplus Digital Air Fryer KQZG005 (5L)
• Best Compact Air Fryer: Giselle KEA0198 Air Fryer (3.0L) 
• Best Glass Air Fryer: MMX Sirocco Glass G38 Glass Air Fryer
• Best Large Sized Air Fryer at Lazada: Philips Smart Sensing Air Fryer HD9860 (7.3L)
• Best High Ratings Air Fryer at Lazada: Russell Taylors AF-24 Air Fryer (3.8L)
• Best Air Fryer at Shopee Below RM200: Russell Taylors Z1 3D Air Fryer (4.2L) & Samu Giken Digital Air Fryer AFD30RGB (4.2L)

Air Fryers at a Glance

What is an Air Fryer?

In recent years, cooking with an Air Fryer has become a worldwide trend. With the introduction of affordable air fryers to the Malaysian market, most of us can now enjoy the convenience this kitchen appliance provides.

Essentially, air dryers are a small countertop kitchen appliance used to fry foods using hot air instead of oil. This is the brilliance of Air Fryers: they operate by circulating hot air around the food, resulting in a delicious, crispy exterior while reducing your calorie intake from cooking oil. This allows you to indulge in fried foods without guilt, making it an ideal option for those on a diet. After all, who doesn’t love fried foods?

Why Should You Get an Air Fryer?

With an air fryer, you can cook a wide variety of foods, from chicken wings to sweet potato fries, all with just a few sprays of oil. And cleanup is a breeze because there’s no messy oil to deal with, especially when the model includes a non-stick rack.

Admittedly, food fried with oil does have a superior taste, but the aftermath of cleaning up a pot full of oil can be a hassle. That’s where an air fryer comes in as a game changer. It provides a convenient and easy-to-clean alternative to traditional frying methods without sacrificing much in taste (as long as you know how to use it properly – we’ll cover that below).

Types of Air Fryer

There are two main types of air fryers: basket-style (in Malaysia, we just call them air fryers) and oven-style (Air Fryer Ovens). Basket-style air fryers are more compact and generally less expensive, but they have a smaller capacity. Air fryer ovens are larger and can handle bigger batches of food, but they take up more counter space and usually are more expensive.

How Do Air Fryers Work?

The Mechanics of Rapid Air Technology

Now that we have a basic understanding of what air fryers are, let’s take a closer look at how they actually work. The air fryer operates similarly to a convection oven, with the addition of a twist. The device contains a heating mechanism and fans located at the top of the unit.

As the heat builds, the fast-rotating fans distribute the hot air at high speeds from top to bottom, creating a result that looks and tastes as though the food has been fried, but with a shorter cooking time. This revolutionary technology is known as Rapid Air Technology.

How To Properly Use an Air Fryer

The first thing to do after getting your air fryer out of the box is to read the user’s manual since not all air fryers are the same. In addition, don’t forget to contact the manufacturer’s customer service for additional help.

Here’s 8 tips on how to use your air fryer:

1. Ensure that your air fryers are plugged in safely.
2. Cut food to fit in the basket and leave room for air to circulate. Fry in batches if needed. Don’t try to fill up the basket, leave some room around the food.
3. Some like to preheat their air fryers, but we find in most cases, it’s not necessary.
4. Use minimal oil by spraying it directly onto the food.
5. Don’t grease the basket with cooking oil, especially if the basket has non-stick coating.
6. Select a preset or follow a recipe to determine cooking time.
7. Shake the basket or flip the food occasionally to achieve better crispy results.
8. Use tongs to remove food and avoid placing the hot basket on your kitchen countertop surface.

What Can You Cook with Air Fryers?

Due to the way it works, the use of air fryers is not just limited to fried foods, but a wide variety of other dishes and the way to operate it can’t be any simpler – definitely less of a hassle than if you use oil and pots!

Here are some dish ideas you can make with an air fryer. For detailed recipes, delish.com is a good website.

• Korean Fried Chicken
• Stuffed Meatballs
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Tandoori
• Rice
• Cakes & Muffins

Pros & Cons of Air Frying

The main advantage, as we’ve mentioned, is that it’s a healthier cooking method. Additionally, it’s faster than baking and produces crispier results than microwaving (even with microwave ovens).

On the downside, air frying can sometimes result in dry, overcooked food if you’re not careful. And some foods, like battered items or wet batters, don’t work as well in an air fryer.

Air Fryers Buying Guide

Here are some key features to look for when choosing the best air fryer for your needs:

• Size and Capacity: The average size of air fryers in the Malaysian market is around 4 – 5L. Anything above 5L can be considered quite big. Consider how much food you want to cook at once and make sure the air fryer can accommodate it. Also consider if you have the space to store it (check the dimension of the product too).
• Temperature Control: Most air fryer models have a temperature control that allows you to precisely control the heat from 60 – 200 degrees. Anything above 200 degrees is probably too hot.
• Cooking Settings and Presets: Some air fryers come with pre-programmed settings for different dishes, which can be helpful if you’re new to air frying. So, check the preset menus before you pick one.
• Ease of Use: Some air fryers have a digital touchscreen, making it easier for you to navigate across the menus and settings. However, they are usually pricier, but really good to have.
• Timer: Most air fryers allow you to cook up to 60 minutes, which is way more than enough. As a reminder, air fryers cook food faster than conventional methods.
• Accessories: Check to see if the air fryer comes with any additional accessories, like a baking pan or grill rack.
• Price: Air fryers can range from under RM200 to above RM500. You can get a decent one for just around RM300.