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Air fryer is a countertop appliance that cooks food using the convection mechanism. Simply put, this device circulates hot air around food to cook through evenly, with very little or no oil at all. With air fryers, one can fry, grill, roast, or bake tasty food without worrying about all the excess calories. Moreover, they are a good option for all those who are looking to switch to a healthy cooking alternative.
Nutrichef, the prominent kitchen appliances brand, believes that it is always better to have nutritious home-made food than fast food. In an effort to encourage healthy eating, their range of appliances are user-friendly and low maintenance, apt for all kinds of users. Before looking at their top 5 air fryers, it is prudent to consider two key aspects before purchasing one.
Capacity
An important feature to look for before deciding on a model of the air fryer is the capacity of its basket. 3 to 5 quarts is a standard size, which should be convenient for a family of four, while 2-3 quarts will be ideal for cooking smaller portions. However, if you are looking for a larger capacity, suitable for family gatherings or for cooking whole chicken/turkey and pizzas, etc., it would be safer to invest in a 6 to 10 quarts air fryer.
Despite the variation in the basket size, the counter space occupied by the models are more or less the same. In fact, they all look relatively compact.
Presets
Most of the models today come with what is called presets, that is preprogrammed cooking modes such as poultry, seafood, pizza, steak, cake, etc., to make the cooking experience simpler and hassle-free. Each of these modes come with a preset temperature and time required for the specific recipe. This way, one need not check on the food frequently.
However, if you prefer to manually set the time and temperature, we suggest you opt for a model with dials, to regulate temperature and time, rather than a touch-screen version.
Here is the list of Nutrichef’s top five air fryers (in no particular order):
NutriChef Air Fryer PKAIRFR54
This 3.7-quart air fryer from NutriChef features an LCD digital display and button controls for temperature-time settings. While the temperature range is 176°F to 392°F, the time may be adjusted to a maximum of 30 minutes. There are separate ‘power’ and ‘cancel’ buttons as well.
The presets in the model include chips, chicken, steak, shrimp, meat, fish, cake, and warm-up. One can easily try different cooking methods, including broil, bake, fry, roast, grill, and barbeque with this air-fryer.
The detachable frying basket is Teflon coated non-stick, and therefore is stain-resistant and easy to clean. Moreover, it is dishwasher-safe.
NutriChef Air Fryer 2.7 QT
With a capacity of 2.7 quarts, this model is ideal for cooking smaller portions.
While the temperature and time settings are similar to that of PKAIRFR54, this model differs in terms of the controls and presets: this version features knob controls instead of buttons, and there are no presets available.
Also, this unit features indicator lights in place of on/off controls, and it automatically turns off once the timer ends.
Nutrichef PKAIRFR18 Air Fryer Oven
This model flaunts a simple, easy-to-use design with turnable temperature-time dials. The cooking capacity of this model is only 2 quarts, and may not be a preferred choice for family-sized meals.
However, the presets more than makes up for this limitation. With seven presets including chicken, fish, steak and french fries, this compact model from Nutrichef combines utility with ease.
Another useful feature in this model is the air vent, which prevents overheating of the unit and ensures durability. It is also backed by a one-year warranty.
Digital Air Fryer PKAIRFR65
The most striking feature of this model is its basket capacity. With a 5.6 quart basket, one can easily cook a meal serving 6 to 7 plates.
Apart from this feature, all other aspects of this model, including the removable, stain-resistant non-stick basket, temperature-time settings, and cooking modes, are similar to that of PKAIRFR54.
NutriChef Air Fryer PKAIRFR42
The PKAIRFR42 features an LCD and touch-screen controls to set time, temperature, and presets. This 3.4-quart air fryer is perfect for a family of four, and like all other air fryers from NutriChef, this model also comes with a Teflon basket, which is dishwasher-safe.
The maximum value on the timer is 30 minutes in this model as well. However, the temperature range here is 170°F – 400°F. All NutriChef air fryers are lab tested to ensure quality and efficiency.
