Shop Air Fryers

Find Your Perfect Air Fryer

Whether you’re looking for extra capacity, smart features, or the crispiest results, our expert guide helps you choose the best one for your kitchen.


Shop Air Fryers

Our Best Air Fryers in New Zealand

When it comes to modern cooking, there’s no better appliance than the versatile and efficient air fryer. A growing trend for families in New Zealand and around the world, the air fryer is your ticket to healthier, faster, and simpler cooking.

A decade ago, you might not have heard the term ‘air fryer’ before — and you wouldn’t be the only one. Since its introduction by Philips in 2010, enthusiasm for this simple appliance has gripped the cooking world and made the air fryer into a must-have device for every household.

What’s so great about an air fryer, you might ask? Besides its compact design and low power consumption, an air fryer cooks everything from frozen foods and leftovers to roast chicken and grilled veggies, while reducing the amount of oil used for cooking.

The air fryer’s healthy heating technology makes it a great way to reduce your consumption of saturated fats while sticking to the foods you love. Air fryers come in a range of models with multiple preset cooking functions, automatic temperature and timer controls, removable and dishwasher-safe cooking trays, and more.

Learn more about how air fryers work and what products you should consider below.


In this article, we’ll cover these topics:

We’ll also review these products:

What is an air fryer?

How do air fryers work?

What foods can air fryers cook?

What styles of air fryers are available?

What to consider when buying an air fryer?

What is the best medium capacity air fryer?

What is the best premium air fryer?


Breville the Air Fryer Chef

Russell Hobs 5.7L Brooklyn Airfryer

Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer

Philips Airfryer XXL Digital Smart

Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer



What is an air fryer?

An air fryer is a small kitchen cooking appliance that heats your food with convection, similar to a countertop convection oven. These appliances are designed to simulate the effects of a commercial deep fryer — using less oil to deliver healthier and better-tasting meals.

Air fryers experienced a surge of demand in New Zealand over the course of the COVID lockdown, joining a global trend that is rocketing the product’s popularity upward. If you’re looking to get in on the air fryer craze, there has never been a better time to buy this new kitchen gadget.



How do air fryers work?

Despite what the name might suggest, air fryers do not actually ‘fry’ your food. Instead, these appliances heat your food by circulating hot air at high speed, the same as a convection oven using the ‘fan-bake’ setting.

When you close the drawer of an air fryer, a fan pushes hot air from the heating mechanism into the cooking basket and rapidly circulates it. The appliance’s rapid convection heat produces the crisping and browning effect, which is similar to the results of deep frying, but much healthier and requires less oil. 

This quick circulation is one of the main differences between an air fryer and a larger convection oven. In addition, air fryers use a small cooking basket, so your food is closer to the heating element and there is no idle air circulating. That means you don’t need to bother pre-heating your air fryer as you would with your oven — an air fryer starts cooking right away!



What foods can air fryers cook?

Air fryers are versatile appliances, able to cook a wide range of foods depending on the specific model. Most air fryers come with a range of preset cooking functions, which makes it easy to cook on the go. 

Here are a few different types of food that can be cooked in an air fryer:


  • Frozen Foods. Almost any kind of frozen food can be cooked in an air fryer, in the same way as a conventional wall oven or a benchtop toaster oven. From frozen chips to chicken nuggets, you can be sure that your frozen food will come out of the air fryer hot and crispy!
  • Roasted or Grilled Meat. Air fryers can be used to cook a variety of meats, including whole roast chickens, burger patties, ribs, steaks, lamb chops, or seafood. Often air fryers include accessories like grill pans or cooking baskets to make it easier to cook certain types of meat. 
  • Roasted Veggies. Do you love crispy, roasted veggies? Air fryers are a great option for baking or grilling a variety of vegetables, including potatoes, kumara, aubergine, zucchini, asparagus, onions, capsicums, asparagus, cauliflower, and more. Some models can also be used to dehydrate fruits and vegetables as well for tasty snacking.
  • Baked goods. Air fryers can also be used to bake dishes, from sauce-based options like casseroles or lasagnas to bread or muffins, by inserting a small baking tray. Baking capacity depends on the features of your specific air fryer model, so if you’re planning on baking often then make sure you do your research — we recommend looking for a toaster oven-air fryer hybrid for more ambitious baking projects.
  • Leftovers. Air fryers are also a fantastic way to heat up leftovers of all sorts, even better than a microwave. From hot chips and wings to cold pizza slices, a few minutes in the air fryer will make your food crispy and delicious once again. Check out air fryers with special reheat functions if you’re keen on using this feature.


What styles of air fryers are available?

When considering air fryers, you have two main options to choose from:


  1. Basket-Style Air Fryers
  2. Toaster Oven-Air Fryer Hybrids

Each type of air fryer has its own advantages and disadvantages and every model comes with a range of features to help you out in the kitchen.


Basket-Style Air Fryer

The basket-style air fryer is the traditional type of air fryer. This style features a vertical drawer that can be pulled out to insert food for cooking, typically with a removable cooking basket and crisping plate that is dishwasher safe.

These types of air fryers are fast, efficient, and easy to use. They can vary from your basic, compact models to more premium options with a range of advanced cooking configurations. These models take up very little counter space and offer low energy consumption.

Figuring out the cooking functions is fairly simple, but it can take some time to get used to cooking with a new air fryer. It may require some trial and error to heat different foods to your preference. In addition, these types of air fryers may have limited capacity, depending on the model.

Air Fryer-Toaster Oven Hybrid

Often referred to as a ‘windowed’ air fryer, these fryers combine the features of a benchtop toaster oven with a conventional air fryer. The style features a toaster oven-style door and removable accessories, which can be used for making a variety of meals.

These hybrid air fryers are versatile, offering better capacity and more control over the cooking process than traditional air fryers. The windowed design makes it easier to monitor your meal, so you can get the temperature right.

While hybrid fryers are great in many ways, they will take up more room in your kitchen and consume more power. So much cooking capacity comes at a cost — typically the price of hybrid toaster oven-air fryers is higher than conventional air fryers or toaster ovens.



What to Consider When Buying an Air Fryer

There are many factors to consider when looking for a new air fryer. Here are a few of the most important things to check when you’re shopping online or in-store.

Size / Capacity

Do you have a big family? Or are you just cooking for yourself and a partner? 

One of the key features of an air fryer is its size and cooking capacity. Some air fryers are built for heating smaller portions of food, either a smaller meal or a part of a meal, while others have the capacity to heat portions for four or even six people. 

Make sure your air fryer is the right size and capacity for your needs. Check our guide below to figure out what’s the best option for your household.

Sustainability / Power Consumption

Choosing sustainable products is becoming more and more important for families in New Zealand — and it’s also important to the team at Noel Leeming. While air fryers typically offer better energy efficiency than your standard convection oven, many people want to go a step further with their purchase.

Finding an environmentally-friendly air fryer is a matter of choosing one with the best power consumption for your needs. When browsing, make sure you find a model whose capacity fits the size of your household or you’ll end up using it several times for each meal, which won’t help you save energy in the long run.

Cooking Functions

Another factor when choosing an air fryer is the availability of cooking functions. If you’re looking for an appliance that will help simplify your weeknight dinner prep or allow you to cook a wider range of dishes, this might be a key consideration.

Most air fryers come with a number of preset cooking functions, but some models will be better suited to baking, dehydration, reheating leftovers, and so on. Check the details before you make a purchase or talk to the experienced specialists at one of our stores.

Price / Cost

Budget is an important consideration for many families. That’s why we’re pleased to highlight a range of air fryers from compact and budget options to large capacity and premium models, available online or in-store from Noel Leeming. 

Check out our top recommendations below to find the right fit for the needs of your household. And remember, if you’re looking to upgrade in the future (or aren’t ready to make a purchase yet), check back and look for savings during next season’s deals. 



What is the best medium capacity air fryer?

Looking for an air fryer with the capacity to cook for the whole family? Check out these options below to find the right fit for your household.


Pros

Cons

Great price point for its capacity

Wide range of presets and features 

Low energy-efficiency for its size


Capacity: 5L / 3kg - Material: Plastic - Dimensions: 390(W) x 390(D) x 410(H) mm - Power Consumption: 1600-1900W - Controls: Digital - Price: $249.99

Other Features:


  • 11 preset cooking functions
  • Non-stick and easy-to-clean cooking basket and pan
  • Temperature control up to 200°C 
  • Adjustable cooking timer up to 60 minutes with auto shut-off
  • Reminder alerts to shake or turn food for best results
  • 1 year replacement warranty

The Breville The Air Fryer Chef is a popular and affordable air fryer featuring 11 preset functions and the capacity to feed the whole family. This appliance is sure to make life easier in the kitchen with its cooking possibilities, including functions to dehydrate, roast, fry, bake, and grill, or to cook seafood, chicken, vegetables, fresh chips, frozen chips, and frozen snacks.

The Air Fryer Chef offers unmatched capacity for its price point with an extra-large 5L/3kg non-stick cooking basket that can fit an entire roast chicken. The appliance’s simple touchscreen panel offers a digital display with variable time and temperature control up to 200°C, plus an auto shut-off.

This model provides unmatched value for your household with a great capacity and a number of features that you won’t find on similar models.

Simply put, there are good reasons this was the #2 most popular model of air fryer for Noel Leeming in 2022. Find out what you’re missing and simplify your cooking today.



Pros

Cons

Unique dual-drawer cooking capacity

Flexible options with dual-zone design

Higher price point for innovative features


Capacity: 7.6 L (3.8L x 2) / 1.8 kg x 2 - Material: Plastic - Dimensions: 320 x 390 x 360 mm - Power Consumption: 1670W - Controls: Digital - Price: $249.00

Other Features:


  • 2 independent 3.8L cooking baskets
  • Match or sync settings across 2 cooking zones
  • 6 customisable cooking programs
  • Wide temperature range from 40°C - 240°C
  • Non-stick crisper plates and baskets for easy cleaning
  • Removable and dishwasher safe components
  • 1 year manufacturer warranty

The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer offers one of the most unique and innovative designs for an air fryer in New Zealand, providing unparalleled flexibility and versatility for your household. The appliance’s signature dual drawers can be programmed to cook two foods in two ways at the same time — making sure you always get your dinner ready on time.

The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone features 6 customisable cooking programs, including Max Crisp, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. The best part is that the model’s smart cooking technology will sync cooking times in each zone to ensure your meal is finished at the same time. Don’t worry about things sitting out and getting cold!

The appliance features removable crisping plates that are non-stick and dishwasher safe to make cleaning easy. Each cooking drawer offers 3.8L of capacity, allowing enough space for a 1.8kg bag of frozen fries in each.

Check out this different take on air fryer design today and get the dual zones working for you!



What is the best premium air fryer?

If you want your air fryer to go a step beyond with smart technology, advanced features, and extra capacity, look no further. These air fryers offer the best for your household.


Pros

Cons

Known and trusted brand with 10+ years expertise

Advanced smart features make cooking easy

More advanced features at a premium price point


Capacity: 8.3L - Material: Plastic - Dimensions: 335(W) x 351(D) x 433(H) mm - Power Consumption: 2200W - Controls: Digital - Price: $699.99

Other Features:


  • Guided cooking by connecting your airfryer to NutriU app
  • Rapid CombiAir Technology automatically adjusts time, temperature and air speed
  • 22-in-1 cooking functions and auto-cook programs
  • Easy cleaning with dishwasher-safe QuickClean functionality
  • 99% less added fat for healthy cooking
  • 2 year manufacturer guarantee

The Philip Airfryer XXL Digital Smart is a premium, large capacity air fryer with advanced features to make cooking easy for you and the whole family. With its sophisticated Rapid CombiAir Technology, this appliance will automatically adjust time, temperature, and air speed controls to create perfectly cooked and crisped dishes.

The XXL Digital Smart offers a 8.3L capacity cooking basket that is large enough to fit a whole roast chicken or a large bag of frozen fries. A sleek LED display and intuitive digital touchscreen provides 22 cooking functions and simple auto-cook programs.

Short on inspiration? When you purchase a Philips airfryer, you can connect your airfryer to the NutriU app to access hundreds of tasty and healthy recipes from around the world. The more you use your airfryer, the more your app will be able to recommend recipes tailored to your preferences.

A trusted leader in the market, Philips is responsible for creating the world’s first air fryers and has over a decade of experience in the industry. They are known for producing high quality, durable and energy efficient appliances.

There is no question that the Philips 7000 series is one of the top premium air fryers on the market — and a top choice for Noel Leeming customers.


Pros

Cons

Option to use air fryer or toaster oven features for cooking

Huge capacity and advanced cooking features

Occupies a large counter space, compared to basket-style fryers

High power consumption


Capacity: 22L - Material: Brushed Stainless Steel - Dimensions: 480(W) x 400(D) x 278(H) mm - Power Consumption: 2400W - Controls: Digital - Price: $729.99

Other Features:


  • 10 preset cooking functions 
  • PID temperature precision control
  • Two-speed super convection fan
  • Powered by Element IQ® smart cooking system
  • Includes air fry basket, roasting pan, 6-slice toaster and 12"/30cm pizza pan
  • 2 year replacement warranty

The Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer is a premium, large capacity air fryer-toaster oven hybrid that delivers a huge range of cooking options combined with high-tech features. The appliance offers 10 different cooking functions in a single appliance, including Air Fry, Slow Cook, Reheat, Warm, Pizza, Toast, Crumpet, Bake, Roast, and Grill.

Keep in mind that this appliance is larger than your typical air fryer! The Smart Oven Air Fryer offers a whopping 22L capacity and includes space for an air fryer basket, a whole roast chicken, a 6-slice toaster, a 9-cup muffin tray, or a 30cm pizza. Accessories include a cooking basket, roasting pan, non-stick pizza pan, wire rack, and grilling rack to help with any kind of meal that you could imagine!

If the versatility and meal-prep options of the Smart Oven Air Fryer weren’t enough, the model also features Element IQ® smart algorithms to create the ideal cooking environment. The PID technology senses and eliminates cold spots for precision control that takes the guesswork out of cooking. Higher temperatures and super convection speeds up cooking time for the perfect crispiness.

If you’re looking for a deluxe cooking appliance to simplify your life in the kitchen, look no further than the Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer.